Not sure where this came from...but inspired by the books written by Mary Renault. Rating is due to a part in the story that some people may not get, but better safe than sorry.
Summary: Hephaistion looks upon Alexander training and lets his mind drift to thoughts of Achilles.
Olympias was right. Alexander was the son of Zeus. He belonged with the gods. He deserved to be worshipped from head to toe, his booming voice deserved an audience whenever he spoke. He was far too good for the world of mortals, he didn't, he hadn't, he would never belong.
Apollo must have been shining a favoured light upon Alexander as he trained. The rays of sunlight outlined his muscles and made the sweat running down his arms, back, legs and face, shine like glistening, delicate pieces of gold, enhancing his handsome qualities. The other man involved in the training was by no means weak nor stupid, after all, he had managed to keep his sword in hand battling Alexander for this long; but he was missing something. His body was tense and lacked the fighting grace that Alexander carried about himself at all times.
"Alexander has told us that he could never beat you as boys." Ptolemy announced his presence, since it seemed Hephaistion had forgotten that he wasn't admiring Alexander alone.
"But yet, he was able to tame Oxhead. He can make any man or beast kneel down before him." Hephaistion replied
"I bet you know that well..." Cassander chuckled as Hephaistion's cheeks took upon a red colouring.
"He is a child of the gods..." Hephaistion managed to continue "He will triumph in everything he attempts. Forget the days when we wrestled as boys, fate was the hand and strength that made me win, that only made him stronger!" he paused for a second and let his words sink into the minds of his companions "He has become who he has always admired, and he will one day prove to be better than Achilles."
"You seem to forget dear Hephaistion, that even almighty Achilles fell from glory by a mere arrow." Cassander smirked, seeing a hint of truth in his words.
Hephaistion closed his mouth tightly. His mind ran over the tragic story of Achilles' death. Cassander spoke the truth. Every great hero, whose story was carefully recorded in Aristotle's books, had a tragic twist to them, adding to their pain and suffering.
Would Alexander end the same way? His weakness exposed and the life slowly leaving his body? Would his courage and strength become his downfall?
It was bound to happen. All of those who were loved by the gods died young, the stories told of many cases. Adonis, Hyacinthus, the list continued on and on.
But Alexander couldn't die. He still had too much to accomplish, many nations to conquer and savages of foreign lands to defeat. His power was growing stronger, not weaker and he was bound to fix and do all the things that his father had failed to complete or even start.
"You show very little hope in your king, Cassander." announced Hephaistion with new-found strength to stand up for his king. "He won't fail like many before him. He will not only impress all of us, but he will outdo Achilles someday"
Any review is welcomed.
A/N: Yes I'm aware that Apollo was not the god of the sun, but I have seen that he was the god of light, therefore I used him, Oxhead is the translated name for Alexander's horse