Hephaestion tossed and turned in his bed, being visited by Phobos. His chestnut hair lay tangled and sweaty about his face, and all his muscles were tense with fear and pain.
"No, no please! Alexander! You can not leave me! Don't leave me, please!" He screamed in his slumber, unable to awaken from his dream.
"Lord Hephaestion, wake!" His oldest servant boy, Alkaios, ran into the inner bedchamber to attempt to shake him awake, "It is only a mare of the night, wake!"
When shaking didn't awaken the suffering general and his screams only became louder, Alkaios rushed out the door again to fetch the king. Alexander was again with Roxana for the night, but he came with the frightened boy as soon as Alkaios said the words, "Lord Hephaestion- Mare of the night-" while out of breath.
Tying a robe about his waist, he let the young boy take his hand and lead him to his and Hephaestion's rooms, where Hephaestion was both crying and calling out in his sleep.
"Hephaestion, Phai. Love, wake. It is only a dream. You are okay. I am here."
"Alexander, no! Don't leave me!" came the cry once more.
"I could never leave you, Phai," Alexander soothed as he climbed into their bed and took his suffering beloved in his arms even as he struggled against his nightmare, "Wake my love, you are safe. Open your beautiful eyes. I am here," Alexander cuddled as close as he could to his sleeping soulmate, kissing his temple.
Eventually, Alexander's closeness did wake Hephaestion whose face was still wet with the tears he had shed in his sleep.
"A-Alexander? But… how? I saw you- you took an arrow to the breast… You died... Please, do not tease me with this vision…"
"It is no vision, Phai. I live still, as do you. That did happen, but I did not die. Phobos showed me dying to you because that is what you fear. I am safe, and so are you. No more tears, Love, there is no reason to cry anymore. I know you are scared," when Hephaestion responded by clutching Alexander close and sobbing into the crook of his neck.
"Every night, Xander! Every night I see you die while I can do nothing to save you! I fear the night now! I dread sleeping! Please say you will never leave me!"
"I will never leave you, Love. It is only a dream. Dreams are not real. Sleep, I will stay with you," It was at this moment that Alkaios returned to entreat Alexander to return to the queen at her request, "Alkaios, please tell the queen that I deny her request and that I will not be retuning to her bed for a fortnight at least, perhaps longer. I have other things that require my utmost attention at the moment," here he turned and smiled softly at his tired lover, who immediately began to protest.
"But Alexander, you must have an heir-"
"Nothing comes before you, my dearest Phai. Besides, we have to wait and see if she will become with child. No need to worry. Now sleep, and I promise your dreams will be happy and calm from now on."
Names:
Alkaios (Ancient Greek) (Alcaeus is the Latinized form) = strength
AN: I tried to show that Hephaestion has a form of PTSD here, but I'm not sure if I did it correctly, as I do not have PTSD myself. It is not my intention to offend anyone. This story would occur after that scene in the movie where Alexander takes an arrow to the chest. I hope you all enjoyed!