Title: Gone
Author: Baliansword
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Angst. Likely sexual content, violence, language to come later.
Chapter: 7 of unknown, "Journey Part II"
Summary: Excerpt –there was no love between them, not now, not so far away from where they had first set eyes upon one another. The love was gone, and all around them knew it, but neither was willing to mention it. The vacancy instead remained between them.
A/N: Sorry everyone for the huge delay in posting. You know how it is, life coming at you in every direction, and you don't have the time to do the one thing that you would like to do. Well, here's the next chapter.
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It did not matter that the sun was high in the sky, he still felt tired, as if he had not slept for days. Blinking, he stepped forward, nearly slipping on the crooks and vines. Nonetheless, he went on, following Alexander, who was cutting through bushes ahead. Drawing a breath the world blurred for a moment, swaying, and before he knew it, he hit the ground. Darkness came easily to him. When Hephaestion began to stir he felt a soft breath against his cheek, a light wind against his back, cool water surrounding him from the waist down. Slowly his eyes opened, and when they did so, blurry bushes sprung up around him. He heard a small waterfall, the sound of a single bird, and then the desperate voice of Alexander, who held him close. The world became clearer, and as it did so he felt Alexander's arm wrapped around his waist, felt his hip next to his, his thigh brushing him, a hand running up and down his back. It made no sense for a moment, but then Alexander was staring down at him, tears in his eyes.
"I was so worried," Alexander muttered, the tears now fleeing from the corners of his eyes, staining his cheeks. He looked completely frazzled, his hair matted in some areas, sticking out in some other areas. Hephaestion could only smile.
"You're a mess," Hephaestion whispered, loosely hanging in Alexander's arms now. Alexander set him against the bank, where the water was much shallower, and once again ran his hands over his body. He had missed this, missed this like a dying man missed air, and only now did he dare to touch his Hephaestion, his gift from Eros, from Zeus and Aphrodite, from all of the gods that had blessed him. Hephaestion did not seem to mind, not now, but instead tilted his head back, lips slowly parting until he let out a soft sigh. So, he was not repulsed by his touches.
"Let me know you," Alexander whispered, coming closer so that now his chest was even with Hephaestion's, their bodies now molded against one another. Hephaestion's head was still tilted back, and for a moment Alexander worried that once again he had fallen to the darkness. Yet he then raised his head, cerulean eyes meeting Alexander's, and without protest he leaned in to him, passionately ensnaring Alexander's lips with his own. It had been too long for both of them, and their kisses were hardened, rough, but both were men, unworried about harming the other in the heat of the moment.
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Cassander tossed the vial to Ptolemy and raised an eyebrow. The other looked at it for a moment, both trying to determine what to do. Cassander had already sent Bagoas back to his rooms, where he was to remain. The boy had nothing to do with the poisoning. He broke down in tears too quickly, and worse, it was too believable. Before long he was having trouble breathing and was about to pass out. However, Hephaestion had been poisoned by someone within the palace. It had to have been someone that no one would wonder about, but who?
"Have you seen it before," Cassander asked the other.
"Yes, but I'm afraid that it either makes no sense, or is the worst treason that we have ever seen."
"Out with it."
Ptolemy signed, "I saw Alexander with this same vial. How it ended up in Hephaestion's rooms, I cannot know. They do not visit one another in the nights, and they hardly speak to one another even at festivals. How could Hephaestion have received this? But if you are right, and this is poison, it was meant for the king…otherwise…"
"No," Cassander negated, shaking his head. "Alexander would never attempt to murder Hephaestion. Dislike him at times, perhaps, but he would never. You know him as well as I, do you think he would ever harm him?"
"Not intentionally, no."
"Then who is it?"
"What, do you want me to guess, right now? Fine, but that isn't going to solve anything."
"We must end this, and we must get word to Alexander before they get too far into the woods. You heard what the medicine man said, hardly any ever come back."
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Gently Alexander lay Hephaestion back, his body trembling above his as Hephaestion ran a hand over his sculpted chest. Leaning down, he kissed him deeply, his tongue running over his lower lip. Hephaestion's mouth opened, granting him access. For a man sick with some illness that neither could name he seemed almost fine now, a bit weak perhaps, but he still wrapped an arm around Alexander's neck and pulled him down against him. Their tongues danced like fire as the wind swept up around them, the grasses shielding them from the world that passed them by. Already disrobed, Alexander ran his hands over Hephaestion's thighs, warming him tenderly, lovingly.
"Wait," Hephaestion stilled, taking Alexander's wrist and stilling him before he could touch him where he most desired. "Promise me something first."
"Anything," the other answered, running a finger gently over the line of Hephaestion's jaw. How perfect he was. Even now, in his moment of weakness, he was the strongest man that Alexander knew.
"If I die…"
"Never!"
"No, listen to me. If I die, if anything should happen to me, never blame yourself. Will you promise me this? Promise me that even after I am gone, no matter the cause, that you will not let this grieve your heart."
"I shall always do as you wish," the king replied, smiling softly as he pressed a kiss against his forehead. "I shall always do as you ask."
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The woman picked up the spoon and then swung, the liquid that she had created was now cast. It hit the tabletop and then she peered over it, intently looking as the prophets would the intestines of animals. Nose wrinkled from the smell of rotting carcasses, Cassander watched quietly, hoping that he would never again need to come here. Still he wondered why it was that the dirty jobs had to be done by him.
"Deadly," the woman answered, nodding. Cassander still considered wringing her neck. These simple things always seemed to take all day. However, she finally looked up.
"The man you seek," she explained, "is likely no man. This has a woman's touch, this vile liquid here. The poison comes from a dark red and purple flower, found often in the midst of women, who wear them in their hair. It takes many to kill though, very much liquid."
"And no man could make this?"
"Surely a man could, but it is a woman that has done this. I assure you, no man here could make such a potion, and no Greek could do it either."
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"Ahhh," Alexander growled, a hand wrapped in Hephaestion's long hair. Hephaestion lifted himself up, his back leaving the grass, and kissed Alexander once more, driving him mad all over again. Wrapped in one another's arms, they let the wind blow over them, the grass licking the sweat from their bodies.
"Phae," Alexander whispered minutes later.
"Hmm?"
"I'm sorry for my errors."
"Could I love you without them," Hephaestion asked.
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A/N: Short, I know, but with so many things going on in my life right now, I do have to make them a bit shorter. Thank you to everyone who keeps reminding me to write. You truly make this story possible.
