For many days and nights the king hovered between life and death, the army was lost without him so it simply grounded to a halt. The companions stayed by there're master side hoping for a change in his condition.
The days blurred into one another but finally something happened and Hephaistion was asleep when some news came. He laid there trying to listen to what was being said but they were talking in very low voice as not to wake him. He quickly closed his eyes and pretended to sleep when the tent flap was pushed aside and in walked a guard followed by Ptolemy.
He jumped when he saw them and he knew it something had happened and his heart began to race .
" What… something's happened." he stammered
He pushed himself into a sitting position before moving ever so slowly towards the edge so that he could stand using the frame for support.
"You have to come." Ptolemy said he sounded very out of breathe like he had just ran.
He shook his head when he was offered help he wanted to use his legs more but it was still a struggle for long distances so he only made it so far before they gave out on him.
A crowd of people were inside Alexander's tent, Roxanne, the doctor and Bagoas closes to the bed. It was hard to read what was going on, people were weeping causing his heart to start racing again as one by one they let him passed. Roxanne was the last person he had to get passed, she held Alexander's hand in her own and as Hephaistion approached she gave him a venomous look before letting him come any closer.
Blue eyes meet shrunken brown ones Hephaistion let out a small gasp when those vacant eyes blinked, now he understood the tears people were crying weren't tears of sadness but tears of happiness. Alexander's mouth moved and Hephaistion moved closer so that he was bent right over Alexander, what he was saying was for him and only him. It was the last thing that was said before the King's eyes closed and everyone turned to the doctor.
" He's only resting."
He told them all to leave except for the queen and Bagoas, Hephaistion looked over his shoulder at his ill lover and sent a silent prayer of thanks to who ever was listening.
Alexander got stronger day by day but he wasn't completely out of danger yet, even in his weaken state he gave out orders.
One of these orders was to help him up and dress him so that he could go out and address his awaiting army, he sent word that every man, woman and child should assemble in front of his tent as soon as the order was given.
When Alexander was ready he walked out with his head held high. When the crowd saw him there was a loud cheer the people at the back pushed forward crushing the people in the middle against those at the front. Though his voice was horse it still rang out once the crowd had calmed down.
" Man of Macedon," he said looking at the weary faces of those that had severed him for such a long time " We're going home."
There was a loud buzz as the new spread to every corner of the army followed by an even louder cheer then when Alexander had appeared. People wept, danced and prayed at the prospect of returning home after so many miles and some many years away.
Alexander looked around for Hephaistion, he found him laid out on a mat on the floor in the shade of the tent canopy, he pushed himself up when Alexander saw him he looked exhausted.
" We going home." Alexander repeated almost privately.
