TITLE: "The Rise of the General"
AUTHOR: too_beauty.
CHARACTERS: Hephaestion, Alexander, Queen Roxanne, Queen Olympias, Aristotle, many Companions and one mean goddess.
RATING: PG to R.
CATEGORY: Historical Alternative Universe.
DISCLAMER: I don't know the people involved; they belong to History and to themselves.
NO BETA so all mistakes are mine.
WARNING: A bit dark and angsty, most of the characters are completely out of their comfort area and you have to have in mind while reading that even though some historical facts are mentioned they do NOT follow the chronological order they had really happened in history.
This is totally an Alternative Universe created with the simple aim of seeing these well-known characters under a new light, MY light. You must also remember that I am LadyLight indeed so I will make them act as I really drafted for this story.
Chronologies, facts, places and people had been altered with the only purpose to fit the following plot, so most of the companions and their parents are still alive except Cleitus the Black.
This is my NaNoWrimo novel 2011 and I really appreciate your feedback.
Hephaestion saw with horror how the long spear that an inebriated Alexander was holding in his right hand went through Cleitus's body, piercing the strong frame of the elder Companion, dragging muscles, skin and blood out of his body. Blood spurt out of his slightly cold lips while the older companion's black eyes turned blurry and glassy announcing the imminent arrival of his death. The former strong knees shook, giving away under him and due to their weakness, they finally bent and made the heavy black-clad body fall onto the floor, the spear still attached to it, as a clear reminder of the crazy act that had just happened.
Silence surrounded the present people and then muffled shouts and whispered nervous words escaped the lips of those who had been witnesses of the tragedy; running steps cleared the room of the Asian subjects who didn't want to take part in this domestic problem, especially because they did not know what consequences it could bring onto them.
The former lover of king Philip and right -hand man of king Alexander lifted his lifeless eyes towards his unrequited love and a mute "I love you" could be easily read in them, then his sight shifted towards his king and a single and painful "Why?" could be read in those nearly closed-forever eyes. The answer arrived late, when the warrior could no longer listen to it; the answer arrived as a single heartbreaking shout of "My poor Cleitus" from the King's lips, and he collapsed onto his knees as soon as he saw those dark eyes closed forever.
The discussion that had started as a simple compliment towards the new appointed satrap of the furthest eastern province of the Macedonian empire scaled up during the banquet, becoming a really heated battle of words. The rude exchange of insults between the king and Black Cleitus was helped by the enormous amount of uncut wine that both men had been drinking during the celebration.
Cleitus had made the mistake of mentioning King Philip and how Alexander would never be man enough to fill the former ruler's boots. He also talked about one of the most delicate topics among the eldest men in the Army, which was the incorporation of the Asian subjects not only as soldiers but also as proper members of the Macedonian empire. Cleitus told him that that was an insult to all the pure Macedonians who had followed him in his crazy campaign of conquering the East along so many stadia and so many long years, away from their families and homeland.
Alexander saw red at the simple mentioning of his father's name because even though he had had many victories and had gained a huge treasure as well as many peoples' recognition and loyalty, Cleitus had never seen him as his king but as the little imp he used to play with and torture when he was a child. Alexander tended to feel belittled due to the General's strength and bravery. The black General had also the bad sense to remind him, whenever he had the opportunity, especially if it was in a public event or meeting, about his courageous intervention and due to it, the salvation of Alexander's life during the battle at Issus; a fact that many of his Companions had already thanked the elder General for, especially a handsome young brunette, but that for Alexander that was a kind of stain or sin in his own brave image.
The young king, even with his mind very clouded by the excess of wine, just wanted a simple thing: he wanted Cleitus to shut up but the General had another idea, a very mean and dangerous one, because he continued mentioning and belittling every single action Alexander had done since he had been crowned as king after Philip's murder by the treacherous Pausanias until that very day. The elder man went as far as to give the impression that if Philip had not been murdered, Alexander might have not become king himself as Philip had had some doubts about his son's proper attitude and skills to be his heir, especially when his new wife was expecting a baby and her uncle was a respected member of the army. Alexander could not believe that Cleitus had had the guts to say that, especially because the very same Alexander had had the same doubts about his father appointing him as his rightful heir.
The rude conversation and mutual accusation continued getting more and more dangerous and its final blow was when Cleitus mentioned that he would have never conquered Asia without them, the pure Macedonians because the Army was his blood and he was too blind to see it. That was really a very low blow because Alexander loved his army above everything and he respected every single man that served under his command, considering each man as an important piece of that huge machine his empire had become in the last ten years.
By that time, wrath had taken control of the weaken-minded king and so the ruler of the known world took the worst decision, he took revenge in his own hand, killing the General without hesitating and without remorse. The attack was so quick, so unexpected that only Hephaestion could see a glimpse of what was going to happen but he was too late to stop his king. Hephaestion froze on the spot, seeing how the murder took place in front of his very own eyes and he felt impotent because he had not been able to prevent it, which was quite a strange situation because the brunette General was always one or two steps ahead his king.
Hephaestion realized that he had just lost not only a General Companion but also a good friend and his heart shrank with pain and grief; he also recognized in that moment that if Alexander had not been a larger –than- life- prince during Hephaestion's youth, he, Hephaestion Amyntoros, would have willingly accepted and become Cleitus's lover. Shaking that old but recurrent thought from his still clouded mind, Hephaestion knew that Alexander needed him more in that very same moment.
The brunette Hephaestion, even though he had been insulted previously by the braggart General who had called him a blind follower and sycophant, decided that he would take his time to mourn his friend properly later, when Alexander had found his calmness and peace of mind.
But when Hephaestion sought for his lover, he surprisingly saw that Alexander was being accompanied to his chamber by the Persian slut and he had loudly claimed that he only wanted and needed Bagoas by his side to be comforted by.
In that moment, Hephaestion Amyntoros, Macedonian General, loyal and steadfast friend, lover and beloved of the Macedonian king, knew that it had been enough, he had just reached the bottom of his patience and loyalty. He decided that for once; he would follow his brain and not his heart, which had been shattered by a proud and selfish king, who claimed to love him upon every person in the world in the safety of his chamber but that he showed something completely different in public.
Hephaestion decided that he would not do that anymore, he decided that if Alexander was king enough to go and conquer exotic lands and dangerous people and boast about his many achievements, he should have to be able to deal with the dirty aspects of governing too.
He was fed up of cleaning after his king whenever he had done something wrong, not only in the battlefield but also with the diplomats that used to come to deal peace treaties or surrender their freedom to the stormy Macedonian king.
Cleitus's death was the turning point in the blue-eyed man's life and so Hephaestion decided to deal with Alexander's dirt for the last time. He would help to deal with Cleitus's murder but that would be the last thing of that sort he would do for his king.
Hephaestion resolved that it was his time now; it was his time to leave the shadows behind, to leave that back position he had assumed so many years ago and enter with a firm step into the light. For the first time he could assure himself that he would not be alone in this new stage of his life, even though one of his strongest supports was lying now cold dead on the floor.
A new Hephaestion was born that day; it was the beginning of the rise of the General.