To Gabo0: Hey Gab, my ever faithful reviewer, glad my story has gotten your interest again! Here's the next update, soon enough I hope. ;)

To Annie: Thanks for the review, I like to be original! It can be pretty hard though…

To Lorenna: Of course there'll be more! Did you see a 'the end'? ;) I'm glad you're enjoying this!

To lvingphai: I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer to see what Philip has to say… Hehe. I feel so mean. (and I'm glad you're not missing Bagoas – I can't say I am either! :P)

To Tionsbabe: Thanks thanks thanks, it's good to know someone actually has a favourite line! laughs I hope you'll like chapter three…

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Alexander knocked politely on his mother's door before entering. "Mother? You called for me?" When he looked inside, he saw Olympias lounging on her bed, smiling at him in that typical way of hers, her fingers playing with a curl of her dark hair. She was dressed in her usual style white dress – it was embroidered with red on the edges and left one shoulder bare. A variety of snakes curled around her bare legs.

"Yes, Alexander, I wished to speak with you. I'm glad you found time so soon." She gently patted on the space next to her, her eyes never wavering from his face and the smile still present on her lips.

Alexander knew that look. It was the way she would look at her father when she was thinking of a way to oppose him, when her mind seemed to be working at top speed. Never before had it been directed at him, never before had he known just how disturbing it could be. Why was she doing this to him? She was his mother, she loved him. What was wrong?

He cautiously approached the bed, trying not to let her show that his heart was hammering in his chest. He resolutely sat down, reached for one of the snakes and pulled it on his lap. When he looked up again, he saw that his mother's face had broken into a wide, sincere smile and she laughed softly. "Ah, my Alexander. You have not changed as much as I feared."

Alexander smiled back at her, relieved, but there was a sharp edge to his voice. "I have changed, mother. You would not have me return to you the thirteen year old I was, would you?"

"Ah no, of course not," she shushed. Her hand joined his in stroking the snake he was holding, then she changed the direction of the motion and stroked his hand. Alexander looked up at her as her hand travelled higher, over his arm, and felt at the muscles that had grown there in the past years. Alexander suppressed a shudder.

"Of course not," she repeated. "I'm sure you've grown a lot in all aspects, though your time would have been more usefully spent under my supervision." The smile had faded from her face, and her light blue eyes settled on his once more. "Am I not right, Alexander?"

Alexander's eyes switched back and forth between hers. "If you say so, mother," he answered with a slight frown.

Olympias' lips formed a pout of disapproval. "You have always known I want nothing but the best for you, Alexander, my son. You know that my love for you is greater than anyone else's."

His eyes widened in surprise. That he would hear the same words from someone else's lips within a week! It seemed too unlikely to be a coincidence. Her hard stare seemed to pierce right into his soul, her knowing smile, a moment later, made him short of breath. No! She could not possibly know Hephaistion had said those words as a joke only days ago.

When he answered her unspoken question, he couldn't help but notice how desperate his voice sounded. "Mother… you have always been in my heart. I know you wish the best for me. I've been away for many years, but my trust in you has never faltered."

"Ah, my Alexander…" Olympias reached for his hand once more, moved it to her lips and gently kissed it, her eyes changing to pools of compassion. "You have such a good heart. You will not like what I am going to tell you, but trust me that I am right, as I have always been."

Alexander tilted his head and looked down on her warily. He knew that tone of voice, he knew the terrifying loneliness that would haunt him after she had spoken. It had been the rhythm of his childhood. But, he thought helplessly, he was like that no longer. Mother, don't

"Do you remember that when you were little, other children wanted to be your friend because you were a prince?"

Alexander closed his eyes and bit his lip. "So you told me."

Olympias sighed, and reached out to tuck a blond curl behind his ear. "Please believe me when I say it is for the best to not put your trust in him like you do."

Alexander flinched away from her anxiously. "How can you judge that? You don't even know him! Hephaistion loves me for who I am…"

Olympias gazed at him, a worried but understanding frown on her face. "I know you believe that, Alexander. But you must keep your goal in mind. One day you will be king, and you won't need him."

"But I will." Alexander's voice was soft and pained. "I need him more than anything." Oh, what his mother did to him! Why did he change to a whining child when around her? Why did he feel like a whining child around her? He loved Hephaistion, and his mother would not tear them apart…

"You are in love. Everything seems different when you are. You cannot trust your own judgement in this case, Alexander… Later you will see that I am right. Leave Hephaistion alone, it is for the best."

Alexander stared at her, and swallowed away the lump in his throat. "A king needs others, people he trusts. Do you propose I rule the world on my own, mother?"

Her friendly mask faltered. "I propose you not let yourself rule by a lover. The battle over your own heart is the first battle you have to win."

The young man's thoughts spun and he turned away from her penetrating gaze. Was she right? He always trusted her but… He finally met his mother's faint blue eyes again, a pleading look on his face. "Get to know him, please, give him a chance. You will see Hephaistion is worthy of your trust. He is an amazing person, mother. You will come to understand." After a short hesitation, Alexander leaned forward and kissed her cheek, then jumped up, the forgotten snake that had rested on his lap only just caught by his quick hands. His cheeks burned. He carefully laid the pet back on the bed without looking at his mother, and left the room.

Olympias' face was dark.