TITLE: Messing with Love – Chapter 10: "Finding you" (10/10)
AUTHOR: Too_beauty.
PAIRING: Alexander and Hephaestion.
RATING: NC-17 for the whole series.
CATEGORY: Historical Alternative Universe.
DISCLAMER: I don't know the people involved; they belong to History and to themselves.
WARNING: Mentions of m/m relationship, physical and mental torture, insulting vocabulary, male rape, angst.
NO BETA so all mistakes are mine.
Alexander woke up with the first rays of the morning sun. Helios was showing him the beginning of the end of his agony. Today was the day when his Phai was coming back home.
He washed and dressed up; he couldn't stop smiling and wishing the moment they could go on his search and have his beloved once more between his arms. He also knew he couldn't rush; the rescue mission had been carefully planned the night before. Alexander, Ptolemy, Perdicas and Cleitus had covered up to the most minimum details. They couldn't let Cassander know about this because he might alert the kidnappers.
They had planned some fake search parties and they would send Cassander with some men in the opposite direction, pretending he was looking for some merchants.
Alexander entered the dinning room and saw Ptolemy and Perdicas already there; both lovers knew well how Alexander might be feeling and wanted to be there just in case Cassander showed up early.
The king hugged his friends and took a seat while he was served his morning meal. A moment later, Cassander entered and greeted the present companions and he was greeted back.
Alexander had to put a lot of effort in masking his disgust. He couldn't believe that one of his childhood friends could have been so mean and planned his beloved's downfall. Alexander knew about Cassander's crush on him, but as it had been clearly stated who the only owner of his heart was – back in their teen years- the king never thought that Cassander would still have feelings for him.
Ptolemy and Perdicas gave Alexander worried looks; they thought he'd jump and stab Cassander right in his chest.
When breakfast was over, Alexander announced the day activities; Cassander showed relief in his face when he realized that any of the search parties were directed to the exact place where Hephaestion was hidden.
Alexander saw the departure of his traitorous companion with relief and he immediately sprung into action. Hephaestion's men had been secretly informed of his General's rescue and none of them was absent when the king asked for their help.
Small groups of soldiers were sent within minutes between the parties to surround all the possible escape routes. When they were all in their exact position, Alexander appeared suddenly at the hidden entrance of the fake mine.
Ox had been more alert than ever; a feeling of in tranquility had been running along his guts and made him feel nervous since the early morning. Aetos noticed his companion's nervousness but he remained silent. He could feel the end was near. Alexander was intelligent enough to decipher a way of getting his lover back and now he feared for his life; Alexander would not forgive them for their sin.
The sound of heavy footsteps was heard very clearly and suddenly the blocked door was slammed against the wall. Ox ran to the back room to get his sword and asked Aetos to go with Hephaestion; he also ordered him to kill the brunette as soon as Alexander entered the place and escaped. Aetos nodded and did as he was told.
A second later, Ox was face to face with his crush of twenty years; his love – pure and sincere at the beginning – had turned into the most selfish and dark feeling after the rejection.
Both warriors were standing facing and measuring each other: one dark warrior representing all those ill feelings and vengeance; one fair warrior with enough light and love in his body, able to make things better.
Alexander looked at Ox with cold eyes and asked calmly:
"Take me to Hephaestion and I promise you a fair death"
"I can't do that; my partner should have killed him by now, that was his order"
"That's a lie! I won't fall under your deceits" Alexander was losing the little calmness he had been able to get along the ride there.
"It's true, what are you going to do now, lover boy?" said Ox, laughing at him; seeing how a pang of deep pain appeared in the King's eyes.
Alexander didn't say anything, he just entered into motion and baring his sword, he threw himself towards his enemy. Ox was surprised; the weak and short boy had turned into a strong and good sword man. They danced in circles around each other, throwing blows in every direction. Ox, being older and not as fit as he used to be, started to show his tiredness and his movements were slow and clumsy. Alexander didn't give him a break, he pushed him backwards, and with a swift movement, he delivered a hard blow on his shoulder, cutting the flesh deep up to the bone. Ox shouted in pain and the situation enraged him deeply. He went forwards and caught Alexander in his forearm, cutting him slightly, a mere scratch.
The fight between them went on for more minutes; in the meantime, Ptolemy, Perdicas and Hephaestion's men got the place secure and started their search for Hephaestion.
Suddenly, a loud cry of pain filled the small place and everybody froze. That clearly was Alexander's voice and that was not a good sign.
The companions ran towards the place where the cry had been heard and found Alexander covered in thick red blood. He was motionless, with Ox leaning over him. Alexander had his eyes closed, clear signs of distress and pain could be seen in his face. Suddenly, a gasp was heard and the royal face paled dramatically.
Nobody dared to move and suddenly Ox fell backwards with Alexander's sword stabbed in his stomach. Life and movement came back to the King. He kicked the corpse, bent over, cleaned his sword on the dead man's clothes and began walking, without looking back once.
Running footsteps could be heard and suddenly, Stephanos, Hephaestion's loyal page, started to call for the others. The page was standing in front of a closed door. He heard someone unlock the door and a short but stocky man appeared on its frame. He had a sword in one hand and a serious expression on his face.
Stephanos took Aetos's sword from his hand and pushed him inside with the point of the sword resting on the kidnapper's chest. And in that moment, the page saw his master there, all curled up in the corner, dirty, dressed in his chiton, which practically couldn't cover the former muscled and unmarred body, and Stephanos wept. Hephaestion was a shadow of the former General. He walked towards him, speaking in his gentle and low voice; telling him that Alexander was in the next room, coming to take him home.
Hephaestion flinched at the sound of his lover's name and he lifted his head, setting his blurry and feverish eyes on Stephanos. The page couldn't believe the image in front of him.
Suddenly, the door slammed once again and its frame was blocked by a shiny shape. Alexander had taken the bloodied chiton off and covered himself with his cloak. He looked at Hephaestion and had to muffle his rage and pain. He entered the cell slowly and walked towards his beloved. The brunette winced and retreated more against the wall.
"It is me, Phai, Alexander" Alexander said, trying to sound calm but he was really breaking apart in his heart.
"Aetos, Aetos, where are you?" asked Hephaestion turning his head. His clouded eyes opened a bit more when he saw Aetos against a wall with a dagger against his throat. "Leave him alone, young man" pleaded Hephaestion to Theo, Alexander's page, who he didn't recognize.
"But Sire, he is one of your captors" said Theo while Stephanos and Alexander tried to approach to the curled body.
"He cares about me, please, let him come to me" pleaded Hephaestion.
"I am here, Phai" said Alexander; masking the pain Hephaestion's rejection had inflected him. "Let me take you home"
"I have nowhere to go, Sire. My friends abandoned me and my King thinks I am a traitor. I don't have anything to live for" whispered Hephaestion.
"I don't think that, love. I have never said such a lie"
"Who are you?" asked Hephaestion focusing his nearly blind eyes onto Alexander.
"Phai, it is me" said Alexander while tears ran along his still bloodied cheeks.
"Sire, he hasn't been able to see very well since last week, when Ox hit his head hard against the wall. He sometimes loses the notion of time, place and people."
"But he recognizes you, why doesn't he remember me? We have known each other for twenty years and been lovers for nearly fifteen"
"Ox poisoned his mind against you, Sire, and I think he blocks your memory because it is very painful for him" explained Aetos.
"Alright, you can come back with us but listen to me well: don't think you will escape punishment. As soon as my Phai is better, you will get what you deserve" Alexander sentenced.
"Your wish is my command, Sire, I feel so ashamed of what I did that I'd do anything to see your General recover."
"I can see that you are already doing it; my Phai doesn't trust on people very easily. Let get him up, I have brought some of his clothes with me" asked Alexander.
Alexander got closer and brushed one brunette tress out of his lover's face but his hand was slapped.
"Don't touch me! Where are you, Aetos? I cannot see you today" said Hephaestion.
"I am here, by your side, Hephaestion. Let me cover you with your cloak"
"I don't have a cloak, Aetos, just this ragged chiton"
"Yes, Sire, your lover has brought a fur one; you will feel better and warmer with it" explained Aetos.
"I don't have a lover anymore. I am the scum of the earth. Who would want me after been raped and tortured? I am half a man, Aetos, I am nothing" murmured Hephaestion sadly.
"You are my everything, Phai and you will always be" said Alexander, kneeling next to his cracked lover.
"Alex, is that you?" asked Hephaestion with love in his voice.
"Yes, love it is me"
"You came for me" murmured Hephaestion, letting a shacking hand cup Alexander's face.
"Always" whispered Alexander back while setting his hand on his beloved's one.
Finis
Thank you very much for your support in this project, for letting me write this story and dive into a difficult topic. Truly yours, Too_beauty.