Title: Map of the World
Author: Bluehaven4220
Summary: Hephaistion and Alexander meet at six and seven, whilst Alexander is being groomed as heir to the throne and Hephaistion for the art of war. Can their differing backgrounds bring them together, or will the difference between their classes tear them apart?
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Disclaimer: Please please Mr. Stone, won't you let me have them for my birthday? No? You're mean! Okay, I don't own them, never will.
I remember my father saying that we were going to court to meet the King, and that I was to be on my best behaviour. If I put one foot out of line, I would receive a beating so severe I would wish for Hades' sanctuary. As we rode through the streets, I swung my feet back and forth, trying to keep myself entertained.
"Hephaistion, must you do that?" my nurse chided me. "Each time you do the carriage rocks forth and back."
"I'm sorry…" I muttered.
"Sit nicely!" my father hissed as we rode through the street, closer to the court. "You are toeing the line, Hephaistion."
I bit my bottom lip to keep myself quiet. My father could be a fair man, but not now. He said that there was too much at stake for our family. Father said that King Philip wanted to invade Persia, and he wanted my father to lead the second army. The only reason I was not at home right now, in the care of nurses was because my mother had died and Father said that I should learn the art of war while I was still young. Mother had always been opposed to such things, encouraging me to pick up paintbrushes and quills to draw and write instead of spears to kill people.
When we arrived at the court, Father jumped out of the carriage, put his hands under my armpits, and lifted me down. In turn, I turned around, and held out my hand. My nurse placed her hand in mine and carefully walked down the few small steps of the carriage.
I walked side by side with Father into the palace. We were greeted by King Philip and a young boy I could only guess was Alexander.
This was Alexander? He looked scrawny, not at all like how Father had explained him to me. He had said that Alexander, albeit six years old, was rather tall, and was dark and brooding, even for six. The boy in front of me was fair-haired, shorter than me, and smiling. He wasn't brooding at all. If someone brooded why would they smile?
"Wanna play tag?" I heard him ask.
"Okay," and Alexander and I ran.
"Hephaistion, come back here!" I heard Father's voice fading very fast.
"Ah, let them go, they are still young boys…" Philip chided. "They will know the art of war yet…" Philip put his arm around Father and led him into the palace. "Come, my good man, there are many a thing I want to discuss with you…"
Alexander and I chased each other until we collapsed on to the grass behind the palace. My nurse sat watching us, but I don't think she was going to say anything. I was having fun, and then Alexander pounced on me.
"Wrestle!" we shouted to each other. If there was one thing I didn't mind, it was wrestling. Mother hadn't approved, but Father said there wasn't anything wrong with it. Besides, he said, it would help train me to understand the art of war.
Everything I did he brought back to the art of war. Painting? Paint scenes of war, he told me. Studying botany? He said it would help me tend to my soldiers if they were ever injured. Philosophy? Philosophize battle plans, Hephaistion, it's always good to be prepared.
But here, as I wrestled with this scrawny boy who was next in line for the throne, there was nary a mention of war. We were just having fun together. When I pinned him between my legs he just laughed, and said that I had won, but it was the only time I was ever going to beat a Prince of Macedonia.
I laughed too, but little did I know that Father would come running toward us with a mean glint in his eye.
Alexander and I fled before he got to us, into the trees on the property, and if we had to stay there forever, we would.