Chapter 2: The Fight That Started it all.

Six Months Earlier: March

Hephaistion looked at two of his classmates wrestling in the sand, Cassander and Ptolemy, the match had been going for awhile and the two opponents looked evenly matched. They both looked tired, sweat made their bodies glisten and sand stuck everywhere. Lifting his head from the scene he looked at his other classmates, who were all yelling and shouting trying to encourage both boys who were fighting. All but one, one stood a little bit to the side, intently watching the scene before him, as if watching for any flaws and memorizing them for the future use, they learned much in the three years, they studied with Leonidas, but still though they could learn more.

Hephaistion was not aware he kept staring, his eyes travelling up and down the small but compact body, to his blond hair and fair face, to those wonderful eyes he loved so much, eyes that were suddenly turned towards his as if the owner felt he was being watched. Hephaistion blushed and turned back to the wrestling match, cursing himself for being careless.

Hephaistion and Alexander were best friends and shared everything, and have done so ever since they met a little over 3 years ago.

But as they got older and their bodies changed, Hephaistion began to feel differently about Alexander and their friendship. If it were possible he felt more then he ever did and he feared it. He feared he might have fallen in love with Alexander and fallen hard. How could he not, Alexander was smart, strong and energetic and above all he had the biggest heart he ever saw in a human and it made his swell in return.

It also helped Alexander was very easy on the eyes, he was thought divine by some people and Hephaistion could easily see it because of Alexander's golden hair and fair complexion. And eyes, eyes he was sure could see into infinity.

But that did not matter to Hephaistion, he would have loved Alexander even if he were the ugliest person alive, he loved Alexander himself, not what he looked like or what he was: A Prince and future King, a fact that scared Hephaistion still.

He called himself a fool for ever falling in love but when he looked in Alexander's eyes none of that mattered and the world consisted of just the two of them. Hephaistion sighed knowing he was hopeless, he just hoped nobody else noticed, though sometimes he thinks Ptolemy might suspect because of his knowing smiles when he was caught staring. As long as Alexander did not know, Hephaistion was happy, he feared his best friends reaction more then anyone, he was scared if Alexander found out, he might not want to be his friend anymore and Hephaistion was sure he would not survive that.

He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see those eyes, he was watching not so long ago, suddenly up close.

"Alexander", whispered Hephaistion. Alexander just smiled at him and turned back towards the fight, standing very close, so close their shoulders were touching and the heat of it made Hephaistion squirm inside. They stood side my side for several minutes before Alexander suddenly spoke up.

"Great fight is it not?" Hephaistion nodded and said,

"Cassander certainly seems strong today"

"Yes, but strength is not always what you need in battle. Cassander may be stronger then Ptolemy right now but he is careless and does not think before he acts. He acts purely on instinct…. Instinct is good but sometimes thinking before you act can help you win the fight. I think Ptolemy will win his fight today."

Before Hephaistion could comment; Nearchus, who had heard what Alexander said, interrupted:

"Surely not Alexander, you must be mistaken, look at that…" Hephaistion turned towards the fight and saw Cassander clearly had the upper hand on Ptolemy.

"I know Ptolemy is your friend Alexander but…" continued Nearchus "… Cassander clearly is the victor today." Alexander just shook his head and smiled a knowing smile.

"I think not." he said and almost at that exact moment Ptolemy made a move that took Cassander of guard and won the fight.

Everyone was shocked at the outcome of the fight, all but Alexander who already made his way towards Ptolemy congratulating him on an outstanding victory.

Hephaistion looked towards Cassander and he was shocked at what he saw, he knew Cassander would take it hard but instead of glaring at his opponent, he was glaring at Alexander who was silently talking to Ptolemy. Suddenly afraid for Alexander's safety , he made his way through his classmates and stood between Alexander and Cassander, shooting a weary glance at Cassander, he suddenly came on the receiving end of that glare.

He suddenly felt a warm arm circle his shoulders and turned towards the owner. Staring into the happy face of Alexander, he smiled back and circled his own arm 'round Alexander waist listing to Ptolemy talk about his little victory. Feeling warm and happy in his best friends arms, he forgot about Cassander for a little while. But only for a little while.

The following days Cassander was really grumpy and nasty, which everyone expected because they all knew how much he hated to lose. What they didn't expect was that Alexander would be on the receiving end of Cassander's temper. Everyone knew the both of them didn't get along but most of the time they left each other alone but not this time. Cassander was constantly provoking Alexander, trying to start a fight and he would have succeeded if either Hephaistion or Ptolemy weren't around to calm Alexander's temper, which rivalled Cassander's to say the least.

But at the end of the week, Cassander seems to have let it go in favour of their new sword training. Leonidas has been teaching them sword fighting (with wooden swords of course) for the last couple of months and today they were finally ready to try some one on one fights. They all started in pairs and each victor went to the following round fighting against the other victor until only two remained.

Hephaistion wiped his brow and tried to catch his breath, he just lost his fight to Ptolemy, who was in turn taken out by Leonatus and now they both watched, with the others, as Cassander and Alexander circled each other in the final match of today. Hephaistion felt uneasy somehow and when he heard the wooden swords clash, he swallowed hard, eyes never wavering.

Suddenly he heard Ptolemy whisper his name in an urgent matter, lifting his eyes from the fight for the first time he followed Ptolemy's gaze and gasped when he saw the king watching with his generals. The uneasy feeling he felt in the beginning only grew, he looked at Ptolemy asking with his eyes if he knew what the King was doing here but only got a shrug in response. Looking back at the fight he knew Alexander had no idea his father was here, or that he was coming, he would have mentioned it.

Hearing a load yelp his head snapped back towards the fight and saw Cassander has smacked his wooden sword on Alexander's shoulder, which was already turning red. Hephaistion held his breath as Cassander threw insults at Alexander trying to get him angry and force him to make a mistake but Hephaistion knew Alexander knew better then that. He heard several word like 'weak' and 'coward' but none of them mattered. Cassander lunched forward, after Alexander did not react to some nasty insult, but Alexander stepped out of the way grabbing his arm and hitting his sword between Cassander shoulder blades. Cassander gasped but turned back towards Alexander and lunched again, his sword bruising Alexander's arm but Alexander turned half a circle and pointed his sword in Cassander's face who quickly turned the other way. They began circling each other again and Hephaistion swallowed hard knowing this was it, scanning both of their faces he saw Alexander was focused and Cassander anxious, surely Alexander would win. Then suddenly he saw a change in Cassander's face, it turned from anxious to one of victory and Hephaistion took a step forward worried.

He saw rather then heard Cassander say something to Alexander, who quickly looked up to him and back down shaking his head at Cassander. Then it happened, Cassander said something none of them heard but it sent Alexander in a rage none of them saw before. They both yelled loudly as their swords clashed, they moved so quickly, dust rose and they had trouble seeing what was happening.

Suddenly they heard a loud scream of pain and then silence. Hephaistion held his breath as the dust settled but instead of seeing a smiling Alexander he saw Cassander standing victorious holding his wooden sword at Alexander neck, who was laying down in the sand breathing hard. Leonidas came closer and claimed Cassander the victor. Cassander smiled evilly and threw his hands in the air expected an applause though got almost none.

After taking a few steps backwards Alexander jumped on his feet trying to attack Cassander yelling 'cheater'. But before anyone could react a loud voice yelled "Enough", turning around Hephaistion saw the king, who he had momentarily forgotten about, had come down and was seething.

Everyone bowed as the King walked passed, holding a skin, no doubt holding wine and stopping in front of Alexander. He looked up again to see Philip gesturing Leonidas and Cassander away while he remained with Alexander. Though he could not hear what was being said he knew it was not pleasant.

The king was gesturing wildly with his arms and pointed towards the generals that came along, turning his head to look, he clearly saw they were pleased Alexander lost and they chuckled now and then, while Cassander's father proudly clapped his son on the back. Turning back towards Alexander and his father he saw his best friend equally angry and again he heard the word cheating making him doubt Cassander's sudden victory.

Father and son were in each other's face now but soon came to and end when Philip slapped Alexander hard in the face making him stumble and Alexander barely stayed upright. Hephaistion could clearly see the pain in Alexander's eyes, not from the slap but the words Philip must be saying. Alexander suddenly hung his head and nodded. Hephaistion suddenly felt the need to comfort Alexander and took some steps closer but was held back but a hand on his arm, turning back he saw Ptolemy shaking his head mouthing 'not yet'. Hephaistion sighed and nodded.

Hephaistion kept his eyes glued on Alexander face, hoping it would be over soon, Alexander kept his head down while his father ranted and raved but suddenly his head snapped up and his eyes took on twice the normal size. Alexander shook his head and terrified look on his eyes, he took his father arm as he turned to leave and said something but Philip would have none of it. A sudden 'Father Please' shook Hephaistion to the core, he has never heard Alexander use such a tone and it terrified him. Philip kept moving, gesturing for Alexander to follow but he would not and kept shaking his head in a negative way, suddenly he looked towards Hephaistion a desperate look in his eyes.

Losing his patience Philip grabbed Alexander's arm with force and dragged him along.

Panicking Hephaistion ripped his arm free from Ptolemy's hold and ran down the small hill yelling his best friends name.

Hearing his name Alexander suddenly broke free of his father's hold and ran towards Hephaistion, they crashed into each other and Alexander grabbed Hephaistion like his life depended on it. Hephaistion feeling Alexander's desperation grabbed him just as hard, then Alexander took a step back looked into Hephaistion's eyes with his head tilted and whispered full of love and devotion:

"I should have said this a long time ago but I love you Hephaistion, I do not know what will happen to me but remember I will love you, always" he then cupped Hephaistion's face into his hands, and kissed him, slowly and full of desperation. Hephaistion could feel Alexander trembling as he kissed him back. When they parted both of their eyes held unshed tears and as they looked into each others eyes no words were needed to convey what they were feeling.

But the moment ended when Alexander was suddenly ripped from Hephaistion's embrace and taken away by Cleitus, one of Philip's Generals.

Sitting on his horse, Alexander looked back with a sad look in his eyes and mouthed 'remember' before he left with his father and generals. Hephaistion could only nod and as he looked on in shock. After a few minutes, though it seemed hours to him, he felt a presence behind him and he knew it was Ptolemy.

"I didn't even get the change to say I love him back"

"He knows…."