Disclaimer: All these characters really lived at some point in time, and therefore nobody owns them but themselves. I only write about them for amusement, and because I happened to see the movie which was fantastic though Lotr is still tops.

This story from the point of view of Cassander, who was one of the Companions, and later regent of Macedonia. For most of the story except for the first chapter or so, we see the events happenings from his point of view. My apologies for any discrepancies occurred.

– Regent of Macedonia –

Chapter One:
Alexander's Death

The King was passing.

That fact was so obvious that even the blind would have known. There was some measure of silence in the King's chamber, as the Companions stood around his deathbed, eyes shining with hope of being named heir to Alexander's vast kingdom.

"Alexander! Name your heir!" were said in urgent whispers from the various men that the King considered his closest friends.

They watched as his eyes –one blue like the clear skies, and one black as twilight –flickered from each of their faces, as if trying to imprint their features into his mind. He saw greed upon their faces, their thoughts of ruling his kingdom, and of their tyranny. If he had ever wanted an heir, he would have chosen Hephaestion for it.

But alas! Hephaestion had passed sooner than called for, and now, he was following his dearest into the Underworld.

To him, the rest were unworthy of having his whole kingdom, and even as he watched them, his vision grew blurred, and the words were like far of muffled echoes that overwhelmed his ears.

The heir...the heir to my kingdom...heir...my son...

They watched as the King tried to utter the words, yet the words were stuck even as they went up his throat. He coughed, a weak feeble cough that belied the greatness of the ruler. Somehow in their hearts, they knew he would be unable to announce, or even just whisper the name of the new heir. The poison had gotten to him faster than the doctor had pronounced.

They had wondered among themselves who had been so brave as to poison the King of Persia, of Macedonia, and of Greece. Suspicious looks were abound in the meeting, as neither trusted the other, and shifty eyes looked upon his rival in the quest to be the heir. It could be one of them, then again not. The suspects were an endless list of people, people that loved, yet loathed Alexander the Great.

It could be any of the old soldiers that wanted more of the gold, or even the women whom Alexander had spurned, it could even be Bagoas –pretty and innocent-looking as he may be –or even Roxane, as revenge for her husband's accusations of her poisoning of Hephaestion.

Or perhaps even Olympias, from her place in Macedonia where she awaited her beloved son.

The killer would never be found, but nobody did care. All they wanted now was the name of the heir, and then they would return to life as normal as possible. The babe that still rested in Roxane's womb was still unborn, and even if he were given the Kingship as a toddler, he would never have the power to govern till he came of age at twenty.

Though many knew that whoever became the Regent of Macedonia would do anything in his power to prevent the boy from reaching that age.

They slowly watched in false anticipation as the King's eyes became transfixed on the Persian fan above him, his eyes following the motion of its swinging in their sockets, unaware of anything else. His body slowly relaxed, as if he was slipping off into another deep sleep, or perhaps hypnotized. They watched as his pupils dilated, until they knew that he could not see anything but a blurry swirl of colors.

Outside, a hawk called, and they knew that Thanatos had finally arrived.

Alexander took the ring off his hand, the one that Hephaestion had given to him that night so long ago when he had wedded to Roxane. I will always be with you, Hephaestion had told him, before they embraced each other passionately.

Hands trembling, he raised the ring to no one in particular, his eyes blank, yet looking into someplace distant. He saw the hawk come into the chamber, beak open in a silent call, its beautiful brown wings flapping magnificently. It had helped him fulfill his dreams, had been with him through all his battles, and now, had come to receive his soul. The hawk's brown eyes bored into his: a stare both unnerving, yet calming. Its talons were suddenly outstretched, aiming towards the ring for whom he held it for. It was coming

Nearernearernearerand his death was nigh.

And I with you...

His last shuddering breath was uttered, and he passed beyond the mortal world. His eyes were closed, and his face had the image of a man who had finally found his peace at last.

He was on a grassy plain that stretched endlessly into every direction, the sky so blue and cloudless it was impossible. He looked at his hands. No longer were they calloused and weathered with years of gripping swords and horse reins. No, they were smooth, like a newborn's. The arrow wound on his breast was gone, and so were the other scars that marred his body. He was young, at twenty.

And free.

A resounding neigh was heard in the distance, and a joyous shout. Bucephalas came into his view, and leading him, Hephaestion. A smile broke onto his face.

He had finally found his bliss.

-------------------

The ring was left forgotten on the floor as they mourned Alexander's death.

The herald had alerted the rest of the army to the King's death, and they slowly filed in, one by one, with tears shining in their eyes. Trying their best not to break down, they kneeled one by one beside the King, and kissed his hand, bowing their foreheads to his warm palm. And left, to pack up for the journey home.

When the soldiers were done, a debate was going on as the Companions argued furiously over who had the right to the King's kingdom. All knew that had Hephaestion survived, there would be no argument as to whom had the right. But now, both men were dead, their souls in Thanatos's keeping for good. The King's body was still not yet cold, nor was it but ten minutes past his the hour of his death, but they were already arguing as to who had the right to his body, and his subsequent burial.

Roxane had entered the room, hands clasped to her chest as she slowly walked to the husband's deathbed, her tears running freely down her cheeks, oblivious to the argument raging around her like a storm whipping at the coast. She broke down when she reached him, and sobbed openly upon his chest, calling out to him in desperate hope that he was but slumbering, or perhaps in deep sleep.

"Why couldn't you have held on for four more months?" she managed to choke through her tears. "To behold your son, and your heir?"

But she knew, somewhere in her heart, it was not Alexander's fate to look upon their son.

Wiping her tears from her eyes, she sought to stand, and her hand touched the ring that lay cold upon the floor, its red jewel flashing like fire. She palmed it, and gazed upon it, the events of her wedding night coming to her. Hephaestion may be her rival in love for Alexander, but still, they were lovers long before she came, and she would not see the ring go to ruin. Hesitating for but a tenth of a second, she slipped the ring into her robe's inner pocket, close to her heart, and joined the debate.

"My son is the true Heir."

The debate paused as they turned to look at the new voice in the quarrel.

"Well yes, he is, my Queen. But until he comes of age, we need a regent to rule the kingdom in his stead."

Roxane stood there, face drawn and refusing to acknowledge the fact that Perdiccas had pointed out. She was still Queen in the Kingdom, but had a lower position compared to Alexander's mother. All she wanted was to secure the throne for her unborn son, in hopes that there would be not usurper.

"What say you? Milady?"

"What about his body then? Would you feed it to the crocodiles, or the snakes that plague the earth? Or perhaps let it rot? I lay claim upon his body, whether you yea or nay. I am his Queen, and therefore have the right too. Whosoever disagrees can try to kill me, if you dare."

She watched as some hands instinctively went for their sword hilts, and gripped it, before their owner regained control, and the hands relaxed.

"I say we draw lots as to who get what of Alexander's kingdom. And his body will remain in Babylon. Where he died."

There were some murmurs of consents, and some mutterings of discontent, yet in the end, all agreed with Ptolemy's suggestion.

"But we have run out of ink," someone protested.

"We shall use Alexander's blood then."

Tbc...

Notes:
Bagoas –played by Francisco Bosch in the movie, he's the eunuch who first served the Persian King, and later Alexander.
Thanatos –Greek god of Death.

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