Secrets of Pella Chapter 10: Advice, an alexander fanfic

Title: "Secrets of Pella"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 10, "Advice"

Rating: T for teen

Summary: Alexander and Hephaestion ponder what their relationship is, while Alexander had to cope with what it means to be a prince of Macedonia. Soon Alexander must face what love, betrayal, hate, and envy are.

A/N: Another pause in updating. I hope that you all can forgive me. Things are rather hectic right now. I should be posting two chapters today though to make up for lost time. As always, I enjoy each and every review and comment that I get. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much, or more than, previous chapters.

Sunlight began to filter through the room. Yellow-gold streaked over the bed, placing warmth upon those upon it. The light warmed Alexander's cheek and slowly he began to wake. He opened his eyes and blinked a few times. As the world came into a perfect view he pushed himself up on the bed with an elbow. He knew it was early, yet he knew he must be up. After ruffling his hair with a hand he carefully left the bed. He then quickly dressed in a new chiton, one of a crème color. Upon changing he then looked back at the bed.

Hephaestion lay sleeping soundly. Even with the light touching him his cheek still held a pallor, one which Alexander worried about. Still, Hephaestion appeared to be a fallen god. His long hazel-nut brown hair was a veil, one which fell over his shoulder and chest. Alexander took a step forward, wishing this morning Hephaestion would wake so he could see those magnificent cerulean eyes. It would bring him a comfort beyond belief. Yet it appeared as if he was not going to wake soon.

Alexander strode just a bit closer. He wished that he was not so pale. He reached out, even though it was against his better judgment, and placed his hand on Hephaestion's. Hephaestion stirred slightly and Alexander smiled faintly. For a moment he held Hephaestion's hand. He was not so cold one should worry, but he still was not warm either. Again fear was creeping into his heart.

"Please get well," Alexander whispered as he pressed his lips to his ear. He then placed a soft kiss against Hephaestion's cheek, letting his lips linger there too long to be merely a friendship. He could only hope for the best though. He knew not how much poison Hephaestion had swallowed. He could only hope that enough had been displaced last night.

Hephaestion did not move, nor did he respond. Alexander looked him over once more before standing again. He then moved quietly to the door. He did not wish to leave. He would gladly spend all day at Hephaestion's side. He loved him. As he placed his hand on the door he froze. Yes, he loved him.

The suggestion of such took him aback for a moment. Did he even know what love was? He though about it for a moment. His parents surely did not know anything about love. So did he himself know what is was? Was he capable of love, if he had not a clear example of a true everlasting love? Suddenly his hand felt very heavy against the door. Alexander glanced over his shoulder once more to where Hephaestion slept on the bed.

Alexander pushed the door open and stepped into the hallway. It was early, yet those that belonged to the palace were already busy. He glanced at those nearest in the hall. The though crossed his mind; perhaps one of these servants, which he saw almost every morning, knew of the plan to take his life. He averted his eyes after a moment and continued down the hall. Already he knew where he was going. He needed only his feet to take him there.

It did not take long before he reached the doors. They were carved of thick dark wood and had specially carved engraving upon them. Alexander paused for a moment. Once again he felt as if his hand was heavy against the door. Slowly he pushed the door open and stepped into the room. It seemed ages since he'd been in these chambers. His father had forbid him to go into this hall. Yet so early in the morning the guards were not there to send him away. So long it had been, but he never forgot a thing he'd been taught here in his mother's chambers.

"Alexander," Olympias' accented voice drifted through the room. He had said nothing, and after the door shut it was silence once more. It was as if his mother had known he was coming. As he entered the room he could not see her. He did however see an orange corn snake on the floor. For once he wished she would put the serpents away. Alexander carefully stepped over the snake. He then continued deeper into the room to find his mother.

"You come early," she said as he passed a corner of the room. She sat before a dresser, one with a large mirror in her perfect view. The mirror was really nothing more than a large shined piece of sliver that she had brought with her from her home upon marrying Philip. As she sat there she put her second earring on, one which lightly touched her neck as it hung, menacing even for such a simple thing. Alexander stood behind her and took the end of the necklace she handed him. He clipped the extravagant necklace and then placed his hands on her shoulder, letting the jewels fall into place by themselves against her creamy flesh.

"What is wrong," she asked him, her eyes staring at him in the mirror. Alexander wished that she wound not stare at him so. It made him uncomfortable. Before he could go on his mother was continuing. "Your eyes show your troubles, they always deceive you Alexander. I have warned you before of this. Tell me, my son. What bring you here so early in the morning, when your father forbids you to see me?"

"Hephaestion," he whispered.

"Ah," she smiled. For a long time now she had known that Hephaestion was Alexander's truest friend, the one that he found his security in. "Tell me, how is Hephaestion?"

"He drank poison last night. It was meant for me, yet he drank it."

"Is he well now? Has Philip (the physician) seen to his condition? No, better yet, bring him to me. I do not trust that man. There is no help from the gods in him. Bring Hephaestion to me. Dionysus and Zeus will give him strength if he is in my hands."

"He rests," Alexander told her. "He had seen neither Philip nor another. I tended to him last night. It left his body almost as it entered. He heaved throughout the night."

"It will still be with him then. It will always be with him." Olympias continued to stare at her son. She was strong; too strong it seemed to give much care to the matter. Yet even Alexander knew what it would entail to have Hephaestion sick. Her attention instead were upon a different matter, one of much more importance in her mind, that being the welfare of her child.

"What went on, to make you think if was a poison meant for you? Perhaps Hephaestion just took ill. You know what the physicians have said about him. Moving from Pella to Athens, and just to move back to Pella, was not good on him. He was too young and his father did not keep a proper eye on him. It hurt his lungs. You know this."

"How could you ask such a thing?" Alexander exploded with emotion as he let go of her shoulders. He then stepped away, and over an albino boa. "Are you not the one that has taught me all that I know? Are you not the one that looks for shadows even when standing before the sun?"

"My concern if for you, my child. I told you nothing you need not hear. I have taught you only what others would not yet you needed to learn. If for that your father calls me a bitch and a sorceress, then so that is my fate. I let him take other wives and whores if it betters his mind and leads him away from me! But never have I deserved to be kept from you. Never have I deserved for you to lose your faith in me."

"I heard it," he confided in her. "I heard it said, a voice I cannot place, speaking to a servant. My faith is not lost in you, dearest mother. My faith it lost in this place where cowards would have me poisoned instead of standing before me and stabbing me with their own blade!"

"Look at me," Olympias said as she stood before him. She had long since left her chair. Placing her hands on his cheeks, she again ordered him to look at her, and he did. "You are to be king. They all want you dead, all of them! Do you understand me? Your father would have you killed, your friends would have you killed, they would all have you killed for what you are. But I, Alexander, I will never hurt you. In my womb I gave you my heart, my soul, my mind, and my strength. I am yours Alexander, as the world will be yours to take from that heartless man called your father."

"I know only that it was not me that drank it," Alexander replied as he pulled her hands away from him. "You know Hephaestion as well as me. It was he who drank it. It was he who suffered last night, and it is he who suffers now. It is not safe here any longer. If we were wise we would go to Mieza."

"It has never been safe," she said as she sat, a calm laugh escaping from her lips. "I told you long ago that you would need to be weary of things in Pella. Your father gives many women his love. He gives many bastard children the amount of gold their mothers ask for when he leaves them. Yet there is no love for you Alexander, nor shall there be. You are the son of Zeus, you are the son of a god, and you are not for Philip to claim."

"Tell me," he cried. "Tell me that my father had no hand in this that you know of. Weave not tales that you would like me to believe. Just tell me, as my mother, tell me that he did not do this."

"You ask for lies if you ask me to tell you that your father knew nothing of this," she hissed. "Men always know before they kill. He calls me the snake Alexander, but I strike with dignity. I strike with honor at those that I attack. Yet your father would have you killed by the hand of another so that he and Attalus may still stand together. Do you not see it Alexander? He loves you not, as he loves me not, and he would have no trouble letting you go."

"Do not expect me to believe that my own father…"

"Zeus," she screamed as she stood once more. She crossed to him, closing all space, and shoved him forcefully back with a hand. "Zeus is your father. Philip is a coward! He would take you from me!"

Alexander stared at his mother as she broke into tears. She again put her hands to his cheeks and continued to look at him. He knew, somewhere in his mind, that she was not the only one that cared for him. Yet as she stood before him in tears, kissing his forehead, swearing to him that she was the one that protected him such thoughts faded away. He believed her, believed the words that she said. He believed her for no other had yet spoken such things to him.

"I love you," she told him as he left her side. He headed toward the door. She stared after him, wondering what was going though his mind. She'd meant only to protect him. She had never wanted more. She only wished her son to become as strong as he could be.

Alexander left her rooms, not caring whether or not the guards saw him. So let them tell his father that he had been there. It could be no worse than what his father had tried to do to him. As he continued down the hall thoughts raced through his mind. He needed to get back to Hephaestion. He needed him to be well. There was only one person in the world that had ever been honest with him, only one person that would never be afraid to better him in something, and that one person was the one he cherished the most. Yet that was also the person that was in the greatest danger with him.

He did not make it back to his room though. Instead, he saw Cassander approaching him from the other side of the hall. Cassander seemed to walk as if he were a shadow, something that Alexander had been told to be weary of. His mother had always told him to be weary of Cassander, for she said Cassander had too much anger in his being. It was hypocritical to say such, for had not Alexander been born in his parent's hate?

"Is he well," Cassander asked as he stopped before the prince. Alexander fixed his eyes on Cassander and did nothing more for a moment. Cassander had never feared him though. He was not the type of a man that was going to fear power. He was going to overthrow it, attack it, do anything in his power to get it. There was a pause as Cassander slowly began to smirk, knowing what Alexander was thinking.

"No," answered Cassander. "I was not at all involved. I know nothing about what happened to Hephaestion last night. You give me more credit than I deserve."

"You always know too much Cassander. That is your problem. You know too much Cassander and you envy others too much! You envy everything that I have that you do not, but I would give it to you if I could, and if it would please you!"

"Well," Cassander laughed. "I see you've spoken with your mother this morning. When you do, you act like her, all looks but no mind."

"You are one to speak," Alexander quipped back. "You, who have a father who cares not for you. You want mine, take him, he is the same as yours. Your father only shoves you here every day so that he one day can take whatever power you may so be granted from you."

"You may be a prince," Cassander said as he in a quick move unsheathed a dagger he kept at his side. He pressed the cold blade against Alexander's throat and anger shone in his eyes. "Yet that does not mean that you shall not die. Even the sons of Zeus can be killed! So if ever you presume to know me again, I shall kill you, as your insolent father would do if he had the manhood!"

"You know," Alexander said quietly, ignoring even the blade at his throat. "You know who did it, don't you!"

"I don't need to know, I presume, I feel it. Your father hates you, so why would he not try to push you out of his way. Just like your mother says, and I am sure many more say it as well, he is afraid of you. You're going to take all the shreds of glory he has ever had when you come to power. An alter burned when you were brought into the world. When you are given the world, think what would happen then."

Cassander said nothing more. Instead, he stepped past Alexander, bumping into Cassander's shoulder hard. He did only that though and then continued down the hall. Alexander did not even turn to watch him go. He needed to speak to someone else. He would go to Hephaestion, did he not think that he would be asleep. There was only one other man he could think of to speak to about such things. Stepping down another hall, he headed for where he knew Aristotle would be. Even though Aristotle was not to give any lessons today, Alexander knew where he would be, and knew he would gladly advice him on this.

"Aristotle," Alexander called out as he hurried to catch up to the man. No sooner had Alexander stepped into the gardens than he had seen him. He stopped at the older man's side. Aristotle lit up, glad as ever to see Alexander. Never did he have a problem with seeing such a bright young man; one that he hoped would make a difference in the world.

"Alexander," Aristotle greeted him. "I have not seen you run so fast before. The tales of your speed must be correct, even though I thought them rumor. Tell me, what can I help you with, since I assume you want me not as a wrestling companion on this fine day."

"Would you mind terribly if I were to ask you something of the utmost secrecy but the greatest importance?"

"As long as it is not something the gods would shame me for you know that I will always have time to listen Alexander. I truly hope you know that I would never turn you away in need. I depend on you, and a few of your companions, to take in what I say so that one day you may better the world with your knowledge. Tell me then, what is it that you must ask?"

"If I thought that I knew something of a grave importance, something that was murderous in nature, yet had no actual proof would it be wise to say a word at all?"

"Slow down, slow down, Alexander. That is a hard question to answer if you do not know the circumstances. Has anyone been harmed?"

"Yes, but not the intended."

"Why, is there something the matter with you? With your mother…"

"No," Alexander quickly said. "I am fine. I just was wondering what your answer would be I suppose."

"Then I suppose it would again depend on the situation. Let you keep this in mind though Alexander. It takes a brave man to stand up for what he believes in, even if others do not believe what he does. Yet it is a foolish man that would stand up just to avoid sitting down. If there is something that you know, and you need it to be heard, then speak it if you would. But I would never advise you to say something that is going to bring you trouble. Do you understand me, Alexander?"

"I believe so."

"Good, good. It is an odd question to ask. One day, I hope to understand why you ask it. But for now I can see that you have your own matters to attend. Go on, go on, and I will see you tomorrow."

"Thank you," Alexander said as he stepped away. He needed to check on Hephaestion now. He was beginning to feel this void in his chest that he'd not felt before. He missed him more than ever. He wanted to be near him more than ever. He just hoped that Hephaestion would be there for him when he got back.

TBC

A/N: Read and Review. It will make the world of FanFiction better. See, I can be a philosopher too! Anyway, I adore all of you who have read this. Let me know what you think! Next chapter will be up ASAP.