Alexander's right to the throne is in danger with the threat of a pure blooded Macedonian heir, and Hephaestion discovers that the hardest part of their exile might be going home.
All the usual stuff...I don't own the characters, the movie, or anything related to them. I love Alexander and Hephaestion and I'm grateful they allow me to play with them for a while.
Rating: T
As always, please forgive any historical inaccuracies.
I have a little bit of everything in here. Drama/angst/humor/romance...all of it.
Alexander was still seething with anger, tight lipped and eyes narrowed. He had spoken not a word, but merely rode in silence, his gaze focused on the road in front of him. The tension emanating from him was palpable, enough so that even Bucephalus fidgeted and tossed his head nervously as they rode.
Hephaestion glanced sideways at the angry prince, but wisely decided to leave him to his thoughts for the time being. He had never seen Alexander this upset before. Alexander was beyond livid, and rightfully so. More than that, he was hurt. Betrayal was not something the he dealt with well, nor was he accustomed to it. The fact that it had come from his own father…Hephaestion could scarcely imagine how that would have felt.
His head was still spinning with the events of the previous evening, and he was quite angry himself. Alexander was his best friend and his beloved. Any act against him was an act against Hephaestion as well. Though he had spent the hours since then trying to keep Alexander calm, truth is he had wanted to strike down the offending parties and make them pay. He could not afford to display his own anger for numerous reasons.
Hephaestion looked back at Olympias, riding just behind Alexander. Her face was a mask, revealing very little of her feelings, but her initial reaction to the whole wedding fiasco was one of shock and outrage. She had not spoken either for the last couple hours and, like Alexander, her gaze was fixed straight ahead. The grim set of her mouth belied her agitated mood. As with Alexander, Hephaestion prudently chose not to speak to her for now.
His mind flashed back to the banquet and the disaster that had resulted from it. Perhaps the wine was to blame, but the sentiments revealed there were real, of that he was certain. Philip and most of the others in attendance had all been quite drunk, and Attalus had indulged in more than his fair share. Alexander had, thankfully, remained sober. He had decided that he needed to keep a clear head, which rather surprised Hephaestion. He had thought that Alexander would have wanted to drown himself in his cups to temper his nerves about the whole affair, but was now grateful he had chosen not to do so.
Alexander had put on a good face and was playing his part dutifully until a drunken Attalus had stood to give his blessings to the nuptials. Hephaestion still could not believe the words that had come from the man's traitorous mouth. Alexander's reaction had been swift and completely understandable. The comment was bad enough. What was worse, and what Hephaestion still could not wrap his mind around, was the King's own response. Rather than jumping to his son's defense, Philip had reprimanded Alexander, and then had drawn his sword at him when the prince refused to back down. Hephaestion thanked the gods that the King had tripped. If he would truly have tried to kill Alexander he did not know. All he knew for certain is that Alexander had been betrayed and repudiated by his own father.
So, here they were. Alexander had decided immediately that he had to take his mother and leave Pella. He had told all of them to stay behind, that none of them were involved or would suffer any consequences, but his closest companions had rallied to his side and refused to leave him to travel alone. Alexander's exile was now theirs as well. Hephaestion knew what was at risk. He knew his career might be over and his place in the royal court was most likely finished as well, but no matter. Where Alexander went, he went. He would have followed him to Hades and back and would have accepted any circumstance, even if that involved living as a fugitive or mucking out stalls somewhere. Without Alexander, his life was meaningless. To be with him was everything.
Hephaestion heard a sniffle and cast a worried glance at Alexander. A single tear ran down the prince's cheek, which he brushed away angrily. Hephaestion longed to gather him into his arms to comfort him, but that is not what Alexander needed just now. He needed time to digest everything and work it out in his mind. Hephaestion knew that soon enough Alexander would want to talk about it, and he would be the one to face the furies when all the pent up emotions finally surfaced. And they would.
He heard Ptolemy and Nearchus talking in hushed tones from just behind him. Harpalus and Perdiccas followed behind them, exchanging nervous glances from time to time, but remaining solemnly quiet. They had been riding since just before first light, heading out while it was still dark as not to attract attention to themselves. They had packed the bare necessities and only enough food for two day's ride since they would reach Epirus by midday tomorrow. It had been a very long and tiring day. The emotional strain was far greater than any physical fatigue they might have felt at this point, but between the two the entire group simply felt drained.
It was a great relief when Alexander raised his hand and brought them to halt early in the evening. "Let us stop and make camp here for the night" he stated, his voice hoarse and his tone flat. He had chosen a sheltered area among a grove of trees, near a stream where they could bathe and get fresh water. In silence, tents were raised and bedding laid out for the night's rest. Ptolemy got a fire going and Harpalus went to fetch drinking water. Nearchus and Perdiccas tended to the horses, making sure they were fed, watered and tethered for the evening.
Hephaestion watched as Alexander stood off to the side, quietly conversing with his mother. He had his issues with Olympias, but he honestly felt bad for her right now. She had been publicly humiliated and put aside in favor of Philip's new wife. Regardless of what Hephaestion thought of her, she had not deserved that. He set up Alexander's tent and set everything out for him that he would need. He would normally have laid out Alexander's favorite copy of the Iliad, as he liked to read from it before bed, but Hephaestion figured that he would not be in the mood for that this night. He also did not presume that Alexander would want company this evening, so he grabbed his gear and began to set up his own tent. He jumped at the hand that was laid on his shoulder.
"What are you doing, Hephaestion?" Alexander asked in a quiet voice.
"I am setting up my tent for the night, Alexander."
Alexander shook his head. "Don't." He turned and walked away, finding a place beside the fire to sit. He accepted some dried meat and fruit from Harpalus, and poured himself a cup of wine.
Hephaestion watched him. The prince had dark circles under his eyes and his shoulders slumped as he sat staring into the fire, lost in thought. It broke Hephaestion's heart to see him like this, and he wondered how long it would be until the inevitable meltdown occurred. That, he knew, was going to be ugly. He sat down next to Alexander and picked at his food. Alexander gave him a half-hearted smile and leaned against his shoulder. They ate in silence.
Finally Alexander spoke. "My friends, we probably should discuss our situation, but I do not have it in me right now to do that. For tonight, let us just rest. Tomorrow night we will be in Epirus. Perhaps then I will feel more like talking. As to this evening, I think I am going to retire to my tent. I am exhausted, as I am sure you all are. Thank you for coming with me. It means a great deal to me." He stood and looked at his closest friends. "Health to you, my friends. We ride out after first light." He reached a hand out to Hephaestion, who took his hand and let himself be pulled to his feet.
"Health to you all. Rest well." Hephaestion said quietly, then turned and followed Alexander into his tent. He was too tired to give much notice to the glare that Olympias shot in his direction. He closed the flap of the tent behind him and turned to Alexander. "What is it you need from me, my prince?"
Alexander shook his head, willing himself not to cry. "Only your presence, Phai. I do not wish to talk tonight. I simply want you with me. Please, come and lie down with me."
They stripped their dusty garments off and washed quickly with the bowl of fresh water that had been left for them. Alexander slid under the thick fur covering and held it open for Hephaestion, who slid in beside him. Hephaestion spooned behind Alexander, enfolding him in his arms and tangling their legs together so it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Hephaestion kissed Alexander's hair and held him close. "Sleep well, my Alexander. Remember that I love you, and I will always be here for you."
Alexander merely nodded, not trusting his voice to speak. He snuggled back against Hephaestion and fell into a restless, troubled sleep.
Hephaestion lay awake for a long while, softly stroking Alexander's hair and wishing he could ease the frown that he wore even in his sleep. Tomorrow would be another difficult day, but they would face it together. Finally, Hypnos claimed him as well.
