Chapter 10

Title: The Prince and the Pea

Cast:

Prince: Alexander
Princess (Prince): Hephaistion
Other Princesses: Barsine, Roxane, Stateira
Alexander's father: King Philip
Alexander's mother: Queen Olympias

A/N: This is an adaptation of a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The plot is modified and rewritten to better suit to Alexander's world.

A long, long time ago, there lived a prince named Alexander in the land called Pella. He was very handsome with golden hair that shone like the rays of the rising sun. He had everything that a prince wanted; a great kingdom that he would rule when he became a king, and a beautiful palace he lived in. Moreover, the King and the Queen loved him very much, although sometimes the Queen loved him a bit too much. Well, he had almost everything.

The only thing that was lacking in his life was a companion whom he could love and spend the rest of his life with. At his twenty-second birthday, the king and the queen had decided to send an announcement throughout the country, in which it said that they were looking for a companion of the first prince of Macedon.

"You have to chose from the royal blood." The King insisted.

"You are a prince, you should not marry an ordinary girl." The Queen reinforced.

"So, if the person is from the royal blood, and is not an ordinary girl, then I can choose anybody I want?" Alexander asked his parents.

"But of course, you are the one who is marrying. Just be cautious and choose somebody you would not regret."

King Philip advised him while looking at the queen bitterly.

"Do not confuse royal with barbarian."

Queen Olympias glared back at him.

The king and the queen had never agreed on anything, but at least this time when it came to Alexander's wedding, they seemed to be all right to put the same wordings in an announcement. The news were spread, and the princesses from all over the country came to meet with Alexander hoping to be chosen as the bride of the most handsome prince in the world.

The first lady whom Alexander met was Barsine, daughter of Artabazus. She did not have the glowing beauty of a young girl, but had a sophistication that only a grownup woman could achieve. He loved her gentleness and intelligence, but she did not make his heart race.

"Alexander, she is too old for you."

Queen Olympias' disagreement put the period to it. King Philip thought inwardly that he might ask her to be his mistress.

Next came a wild princess from Bactria named Roxane who fell in love with Alexander at first sight. She danced a seductive dance to win Alexander's heart. She was young, passionate, ambitious, and very beautiful. People in Bactria called her a little star for her adorableness.

She looked at Alexander with fiery coal black eyes; her gaze was so intense that Alexander felt as if she were trying to burn a hole on his face. Alexander could not help but shivering for feeling uneasy.

"No, Alexander, she is too possessive."

Queen Olympias spat out. The two women glared at each other as if they were sword fighting with invisible blades. Alexander was actually relieved that his mother did not approve of this princess. She was too frightening.

King Philip agreed with his wife this time, and made a mental note not to touch her even if he got too deep into his cups. He wanted to have fun, not trouble.

The third princess, Stateira, was from the noble bloodline of the Persian Empire. She seemed to have everything. She was royal, beautiful, and intelligent. She looked at Alexander shyly yet resolutely. She acted like a real princess. Alexander liked her very much, but again, his heart did not tighten up; something was still missing.

"She looks too weak." Queen Olympias cut in while walking around the princess. "She will not be able to defend herself."

King Philip sighed audibly. He felt that Alexander would never have a companion if his wife had to approve, because he knew that she would find a flaw no matter who the companion of Alexander would be. Nobody was good enough for Alexander but her.

There were no more princesses left in the world except the ones who were too young to marry. The king and the queen were very much concerned, but Alexander was not that worried. As a matter of fact, he was glad that his mother did not approve any of them; because he was certain that he would know instantly if he met with his companion. And he was sure that he had not encountered with this person yet; the person who would make his heart skip.

One whole year had passed, and the king and the queen started to lose hope. They wondered if they might have to lower their standard for their son to be able to marry.

It was a stormy night. A severe thunderstorm swept over the Macedonian night sky. Having thunderstorm was unusual for this late in the season, and unlike a storm in the summer time, the air was freezing with cold rain. It made the servants busy preparing the fire in the hearth for the first time that season.

Alexander gazed upon the lightning dance in the night sky. He loved to watch the storm; the flashing lightning, the roars of the thunder, the howling of strong wind, harsh pouring rain, they all made his blood boil and gave him courage as if father Zeus was giving him strength.

A commotion in the distance by the stable caught his attention. It looked like four or five Macedonian soldiers were struggling with a man. Alexander put a cloak on and stepped outside. As he came closer, he found the stranger was a young man of his own age. Silver blue flashes shone upon the other man's figure once in a while bringing visible out in the dark the perfect outline of his face. Alexander could not take his eyes off him.

"Prince Alexander, this man was sneaking into the stable to steal a horse." One of the soldiers explained.

"I am not a thief. I was just looking for shelter until the storm passes." The stranger protested irritably.

"We cannot discuss in this storm. Bring him to the palace."

"Take your hands off of me. I will not run away!"

Alexander lost himself for a moment when he saw a blue flash of anger flicker in the other man's eyes just like a lightning in the sky, as beautiful and as powerful. He nodded to his soldiers.

"It is all right. I will take him from here."

"But, prince."

"I said it is all right!" With this, Alexander turned around and headed back to the palace hoping that the other man would follow. He went straight to his room. Something inside of him urged that he needed to see this stranger alone. As he entered the room, he took off his wet cloak and hung it by the door.

Alexander gasped when he saw the stranger in the full light. His soft silky chestnut colored hair was all wet hanging over his shoulders. They perfectly blended with the fur he wore around his shoulders. His clear blue orbs were so expressive that they reflected every single emotion he was feeling inside. A corner of his perfectly shaped lips was split leaving a still fresh bloodstain at the hairline opening. Alexander could not help but imagine him licking the scar with the tip of his tongue. The two men stared at each other in silence for a long time.

Alexander then realized that the other man was shivering. A pool of water was forming where he stood. He was drenched to the bone.

"I am sorry, you must be freezing. I will have them add some more hot stones in the bath. Take these and change into new clothes."

Alexander handed him towels and a set of fresh clothes, before pointing him to the other room where the hot bath would be shortly ready.

"Thank you price."

"Call me Alexander. What is your name?"

"My name is Hephaistion." The stranger replied before disappearing to the other room.

"Hephaistion…. " Repeating the stranger's name, Alexander's heart skipped a beat.

After the bath, Hephaistion told Alexander the story sitting in front of the fire and sharing a cup of wine. He revealed that he was a prince of Thessaly. While he was hunting with his guards seven days ago, they were attacked by bandits. They fought fiercely, but the enemy outnumbered them, and all his guards were killed one by one. They finally captured Hephaistion as a hostage in hopes of getting some lump sum money, but he watched for a chance, and escaped when they lowered the guard for a split second.

"I was on the way back to my land, but was caught by a storm and looking for a shelter. I was not stealing your horse."

Hephaistion looked straight into Alexander's eyes. As if he were hypnotized, Alexander extended his hand and touched Hephaistion's scar at the corner of his lips without breaking the eye contact.

"I am sorry, did our soldiers do this?"

"It is not their fault. They thought they were protecting your horse."

Alexander felt as if he was drowning into Hephaistion's blue orbs. Next time when he noticed, Alexander was kissing those soft lips of Hephaistion wrapping one arm around the waist, and caressing the smooth cheek with another hand. Sweetness mingled with a salty copper taste that brought him on fire. His heart raced so fast that it was almost painful.

When they finally broke apart, Alexander looked at Hephaistion, and was relieved when he saw that Hephaistion was breathing as hard as Alexander with the same passionate gaze. They kissed again, this time more ardently and thoroughly. Alexander knew that he now had found his companion.

Next morning, Alexander visited his parents and broke the news that he had found his companion.

"Who is it? There is no princess left whom we do not know." The king was truly surprised.

"When did it happen? You never left the palace, and we did not have any visitors." The queen was suspicious.

"I will bring him now. He is waiting outside."

"Him!" Both the king and the queen yelled in unison.

Alexander opened the heavy door, and brought the stranger into the room taking his hand into his own. King Philip and Queen Olympias' eyes grew big seeing the beauty in front of them. The young man was impeccable.

"He is Hephaistion; the prince of Thessaly. He is royal, young at my age, and he is strong. He fought with bandits and also defended himself against our soldiers last night."

"But he is a man." Queen Olympias protested.

"Mother, the condition was that the person had to be royal. And he is, being a prince of Thessaly. You also told me that the person could not be an ordinary girl. He sure is not an ordinary girl, is he?"

Queen Olympias bit her lip in defeat. It was true that there was no agreement about the gender of the companion; she just assumed that it would be a girl, the same gender as her. She was certain that she could compete with a woman, but was not so sure about the man.

"Very well then, let us test if he truly is a royal man." She recomposed herself. She smiled coldly with a brilliant plan in her mind.

"Hephaistion, you will sleep on the bed I prepare for you tonight, and let us know tomorrow morning how you have slept."

"Is that all, mother?" Alexander was puzzled.

"Yes, that is all. Good luck."

That night, Queen Olympias showed Hephaistion the bed he would be sleeping in. It was so ridiculous that Hephaistion almost burst into laughter. Layer after layer of mattresses and feather beds piled up one after another, twenty each of them all together. Yet, Queen Olympias was serious.

"I even cannot climb up on the bed."

"No problem. I will have the two strongest guards to lift you up."

"But if I needed to take care of the business during the night?"

"The guards would stay up all night by your sides, so you can just ask them."

Alexander was nervous. He did not like the look he saw on his mother's face. She must have a wicked plan hidden up her sleeve, or she would not be this calm. Yet at this moment, Alexander could not do anything, but hoped that all would be well. He kissed Hephaistion good night before the guards lifted him up on the bed.

The bed was so soft that Hephaistion felt that he would sink into the mattresses. He was a prince, but he was also raised to be a warrior. He was not used to being pampered like this. He tossed and turned all night having a nightmare of being swallowed into the bottom of the bed. It was not until almost the dawn when he finally fell into a restless sleep.

Early next morning, Queen Olympias gathered King Philip and Alexander to visit Hephaistion. As soon as Alexander saw Hephaistion, his heart sunk. It was obvious to any-body's eyes that Hephaistion had not rested well. Although it added a decadent beauty on Hephaistion's face, he was very pale, and even had dark circles under his eyes.

"You do not seem to have slept very well." The queen stated.

"No, I could not sleep most of the night." Hephaistion dipped his head.

"Is that true? Nobody had disturbed him, had he?" King Philip asked the guards while looking at Alexander compassionately.

"No, my king, nobody came here. He was tossing and turning all night, and moaned as if something was hurting him.

Alexander heard his mother sigh deeply. He closed his eyes waiting for his mother to say the verdict. He was so sure that she would tell that Hephaistion was not of royal blood, since if he were a real prince, he should not have had any problems sleeping on such a luxurious bed. So, Alexander was very surprised when he heard his mother's next words.

"Well, I have to admit that he is a real prince. Only a real prince could feel the discomfort of this little pea buried at the bottom of the mattress."

With this, the queen ordered for the guards to peel off the mattresses and the feather beds one by one. When they took the last feather bed, there they found a tiny green pea sitting in the middle of the mattress at the very bottom of the bed.

It was all queen Olympias' misunderstanding, but consequently, Alexander and Hephaistion were married, and lived a happy long life together enjoying each other's company every single moment. The pea was placed in a little container, and never left their bedside.

End