Title: "Secrets of Pella"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 1, "Punishment"

Rating: T for teen

Summary: Alexander and Hephaestion ponder what their relationship is, while Alexander had to cope with what it means to be a prince of Macedonia. Soon Alexander must face what love, betrayal, hate, and envy are.

A/N: As always, thanks to the readers. Review if you get a chance. I am sorry that it has taken so long to post something new. Hopefully school won't get in the way too much of this story though!

H/N: This story takes place in Pella. Alexander is sixteen, making Hephaestion seventeen.

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Alexander continued to stare at the view as the wind picked up a pile of leaves and scattered them over the gardens. As the sun was setting the land seemed to be illuminated and suddenly everything was a deep pink color. This was when he was happiest, when there was nothing beating down on him. It was just him. However, he heard the doors to his room opening. He didn't mind it either, not when he heard Hephaestion carefully shut the door and come across the room. It took him a full minute to reach the balcony, yet when he did, he was silent. He stood next to Alexander, gladly taking in the same view.

"Do you think that they hate me," asked Alexander after a moment of complete silence. Hephaestion tipped his head and slowly shook his head in a negative response. He said nothing yet though. Alexander turned his body toward him, taking in the sight of his cerulean eyes, awaiting at the same time a voiced answer of some sort.

"Your parents love you," Hephaestion spoke softly. His voice was beauty, one that could not be matched. Not only was he a Macedonian, but he had the tongue of an Athenian, and the slight accent to match. Alexander took each and every word that Hephaestion said to heart. There were philosophers, and one day, Alexander hoped that Hephaestion would join them. He had a way of shielding the world from itself. He could make what was ugly completely wondrous.

"They show it in ways I cannot measure."

He referred to his father sending him to his room without dinner. He hadn't eaten all day either, for he'd awoken early to train and had missed lunch with multiple lectures, followed by more training. His stomach made odd noises but that was not what bothered him. What bothered him was the fact that he would never be enough for his father. It seemed that no matter what he did, it was not enough. It never would be either, for he feared he could do no more, not without pushing himself to insanity.

"I brought you something," Hephaestion replied. For the first time Alexander noticed that Hephaestion carried with him a small bag made of old cloth. Hephaestion set it on the stone before Alexander and then stared out at the world. Alexander reached down and began to untie the strip of cloth that Hephaestion had used to keep the folded bundle together.

Alexander looked at what was in the bundle. There were two slices of bread, which surprisingly were still warm. There was also a piece of cheese, a slice of roast, and even a sugar coated roll that was considered a treat. Alexander glanced over at Hephaestion and gave him a smile.

"Thank you," he told him. "Did you eat?"

"I had lunch," Hephaestion said after a moment. That was all he said though. This only meant that what he'd brought had been his own dinner. How he managed to get out of the dining hall with it, Alexander did not know, but he was grateful. Yet he felt terrible about being the one that was going to deprive Hephaestion of his dinner. He glanced at him, asking with his emotions if Hephaestion was sure.

"Eat," Hephaestion told him firmly. He then turned away from the balcony and entered Alexander's room. He sat down in front of a desk and looked at a piece of parchment that Alexander had left there. Alexander carefully lifted his dinner and entered the room as well. He sat down on his bed as Hephaestion picked up a quill and began to scrawl over words that Alexander had written incorrectly. Alexander watched him, smiling slightly. Hephaestion was always better at writing Greek than Alexander.

"How bad is it," asked Alexander.

"You will be fine. You just have to watch your endings. You mistake what is feminine for what is masculine."

"Thank you," Alexander then repeated. Hephaestion glanced over at him and set the quill down. Nodding, he then stood and joined Alexander on the bed. After a moment Hephaestion lay back against the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"Do you really think they love me," asked Alexander again.

"They do," Hephaestion replied. "Your mother was the one that distracted your father while I got out of the dining hall with this food."

"You shouldn't have done so. If my father finds out I'm sure you'll be given a lashing. You should have let me go hungry. I deserve such a fate."

"Alexander," he said with his heart, "you deserve only what you want. When you were born the gods were scared. Your father fears you, which is why he is so hard on you."

"You believe that?"

"He wants to break you, for if he does, he'll never have to go against you. Your fate is your own. Be better than him, as you are now, and he'll never be able to hold you down. He may not believe in you. But I believe in you, Alexander."

"Why," asked Alexander with a whisper.

"Because," Hephaestion said as he sat up and put a hand on Alexander's cheek. He then just looked at him for a moment, his eyes peering deep into Alexander's as if perhaps he could see his soul. "I do not need a reason. I just know to believe in you. That is enough."

There was a sudden knock at the door that caused them both to turn. Hephaestion stood and quickly folded the cloth over the food once more. Taking the bundle, he quickly slid under the bed in silence. Just as he exhaled, the door opened, and Olympias entered the room. She shut the door behind her with a loud, and careless slam. Crossing her arms over her chest she looked at Alexander, as if disappointed in him.

"Where is Hephaestion," she then asked.

"Not here," the young prince lied. "He already left. Thank you mother, for the food."

"You know that your father was the one that punished you," she explained as she sat down next to him on the bed. She ran a hand over Alexander's hair and then looked at him before exhaling. "Your father thinks that you are weak. He says to others that you are not good with your trainings. I do not believe him. He fears you Alexander. You will overpower him soon. I await the day. Your father never wanted you, and now he definitely does not want you."

"Mother," he insisted. "I do not wish to speak of such things. I am tired. I was just getting ready to go to bed for the night."

"Ah," she said with a small laugh. "You mean that you were preparing to sneak out with Hephaestion. Please, Alexander, stay in for the night. Can you do that for me?"

"Just for tonight," he agreed as Olympias stood. She left the room in the same manner that she had entered. Alexander waited a moment before he glanced over the edge of the bed. It only took a moment but Hephaestion slowly came out from his hiding spot. He handed Alexander his food, then, as if something had come over him, announced that he had to leave.

"I will see you first thing in the morning," Hephaestion said as he made his way toward the door. Alexander stared after him. He called out to him as Hephaestion put his hand on the door.

"Thank you," he said one last time.

"Sleep well, Alexander."

Well how am I going to do that without you here, Alexander asked himself as he sat there. The door shut and he knew that he was once again alone. He continued to eat for a moment before he sighed. Perhaps I really am what my father says. Perhaps I am nothing at all.

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A/N: Thanks for reading, and review if you get a chance. I should have the next chapter up by Tuesday, if not sooner. Can't wait to see where this story goes. Hope you stick around to see it too! Baliansword