AN: This idea was given to me by deelove1. I promised you yesterday that I would start it today, so here's the first chapter! I hope you like it! Enjoy!
Hephaestion knocked on Alexander's bedroom door, having been called there for some important reason which the servant boy that came for him had not been privy to know.
Alexander's tone of authority rang out, "Enter, General."
Hephaestion did so, not speaking until he had closed the door behind him and was standing at attention in the middle of the room, "You wished to see me, my King?"
Alexander sighed, letting go of his air of business, "Stand down, Phai."
When Hephaestion relaxed and looked at his lover, he saw sadness in every motion he made.
"Whatever is wrong, Xander?" he worried, stepping closer to the man.
"A village in India has been ravaged and burned by a people I do not recognize. I need you to go and diplomatically appease them and the Indians."
Now Hephaestion was suspicious, and catching on to why Alexander was in this dangerous mood, "Alexander- just how long do I have to be away?"
"Eight months, possibly longer... You leave in a week with a quarter of the army..."
"Why did you not tell me?"
"I did not tell you because I did not know! I only got this letter of distress from the Indians this morning!" Alexander began to shake and his eyes became wet, already suffering from what the Companions called "Hephaestion Withdrawal."
"Hey, calm down. I'm not going yet. I'm all yours for a whole week, sound good?" Alexander nodded woodenly, taking a shaky breath.
The week went by too quickly for both Alexander and Hephaestion. The night before leaving Alexander helped Hephaestion pack, teary-eyed the entire time.
"Hey..." Hephaestion sat down on his own bed, facing Alexander, who was folding clean chitons into his lover's pack, "Do you want to talk about it?" after a moment of hesitation, Alexander nodded, and Hephaestion gathered him onto his lap, "I thought we had this solved. Everytime one of us goes away, we write personal letters to each other every week. Is that not helping anymore?"
"It is, but-" Alexander choked up briefly.
"But what, Love?"
"I need you..." Alexander sat up and looked into his eyes.
"You will always have me, Love. Always," very gently, Hephaestion laid Alexander back on the pillows, and, after blowng out the candle, gave his sad love all the comfort he needed.