Everyone in court and out of court knew that Arrhidaeus of Macedon, the son of Philip, King of Macedon, was ill. Not fit to rule. That was why the people, both of high standing and the common people, rarely saw him.

It was a rumor that he had taken to his bed and died. However, there was one person who would never believe the rumors, for he knew the unspoken truth that hung in the palace air like an angry, gray cloud.

His name was Alexander, and he too was a son of Philip. By that relation, he was also Arrhidaeus' younger half-brother.

Alexander knew that his father, ashamed of his older son, had locked him away in the deepest part of the palace, the dungeons.


As he got closer to the stairs that led down to where his brother was kept, Alexander could hear Arrhidaeus' moans, squeals, and screams. He made his way down the stone stairs quickly, taking the keys that hung on the wall near the cell and unlocking the door. Recognizing his brother, Arrhidaeus threw himself into Alexander's arms, moaning questioningly.

"There, there, Arri. I'm here. Your brother is here," as he soothed him, Alexander petted the older boy's dark hair, fighting the urge to gag when his hand came away covered in black slime.

He then noticed that the floor was wet and the cell smelled strongly of urine and feces. He sighed sadly, knowing there was very little he could do to get his brother away from his current situation.

But Alexander quickly changed his mind when Arrhidaeus began to sob, staring up at him. He saw Arrihidaeus grab his behind and groin, nearly howling in pain. Alexander shushed him quietly, dragging his thumb over his brother's pale cheeks to wipe away the tears. With careful but deft fingers, and only a little bit of embarrassment, Alexander lifted the skirt of his brother's filthy, in-tatters chiton to see what was the matter.

He found out soon enough. The skin on his brother's backside was flaking and cracked, bleeding from not being clean. His brother had open sores on his groin. Alexander did not understand what those little bumps were, only that they caused his sibling great pain.

Alexander stood as a plan began to form in his head. Assuring his brother that he would be right back, he ran up the dungeon steps, screaming for Hephaestion, his best friend.

Finally, he reached his friend's chambers and, panting, explained what his plan was. Hephaestion did not question him, only did as asked and packed his needed belongings and Arrihidaeus' belongings that were in a locked room not far from Hephaestion's and Alexander's. Satisfied that his plan was well on it's way to being complete, Alexander rushed out to the stables to call for both his and Hephaestion's horses.

It was slightly more difficult to sneak Arrihidaeus outside, but they managed by calling the guards upstairs to help the king. As soon as they reopened Arrhidaeus' cell, he began to moan loudly. Alexander soothed him with a lullaby and then scooped his very thin body up into his arms, and once Hephaestion said the coast was clear, was upstairs and soon enough, outside.

Alexander smiled down at his newly clean brother that slept against his chest as they rode calmly away. He was free. His brother was finally free.