To Valo: Yes, you're faithful as well lol. I'm glad the story lives up to your expectations, hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well!

To Grungestar: I appreciate you it that you've taken a look at my story, thank you for the comments! I'm always trying to improve my English. However, I'm a very stubborn girl so I must ask…
where did you get that - should be, where did you hear that.
What if you silently add the word 'idea'? He does not know Hephaistion has actually heard it, he might also just have caught Olympias' eyes sometime. He wonders where Hephaistion's idea of danger from his mother comes from.
Same with, Hephaistion to me, wouldn't show shame in people knowing, especially Alex's mother, about them sleeping together.
So? Does Hephaistion feel shame about Alex' mother knowing in the last chap? Not a hair on his head… ;) It's just Alexander's frightened conclusion.
Lain - i haven't heard that word before.
Not? It's a form of to lie. Like, to lie – lay – lain. :)

To Annie: Well thank you, it was a whole experience! lol. I'm glad it didn't sadden you. ;) Yes, poor Hephaistion… I think the situation develops just a little too quick for his taste, even if you'd like to see it. :P But I'm not going into Philip's insights in all this just yet, I'm afraid. Perhaps the next chapter, I'll have to think about it. Otherwise later. And about the faithful Alexander-childlike indignity-line: isn't he cute? lol.

To mamanchat: Breathe girl, deep breaths!;)

To all: There are some flashes of memory in this chap, that are fromanother story that I tried to write but wouldn't work out. I thought it would be interesting to show you some of Alexander's and Hephaistion's past together though, so I put them in here. is not really cooperating though...)

-

"Hephaistion!"

The young man was startled back to the outside world and looked up in a dark eye. He hastily sucked in another breath then let his eyes return to the map spread out in front of him on the table. Hephaistion could just hit himself for drifting off. Where he had been strangely alert and aware in the beginning of this week, with his first 'lesson', on this sixth morning of getting up after a few hours sleep he had not been able to keep his eyes open. Alexander kept him up too late, his father required his presence too early. What was he to do, sleep during the day?

But he couldn't really blame Alexander for keeping him up… He unconsciously sucked his lip when thinking about how he had done everything to prove his best friend - or just himself? – that he loved Alexander with a passion that was unique. A small smile crept on his lips. He recalled the blond boy in utter ecstasy beneath him, a passive role the other had picked up without trouble. Alexander his friend, Alexander his younger lover, yet never Alexander the prince.

In a startling motion, the map was pulled away from under his eyes. "This was enough for today."

Hephaistion looked up again, and to his surprise there was a smile on the king's lips. After six days of being barked at, of disapproving stares after all the wrong answers, Philip was actually smiling at him.

The younger man sighed with relief, not sure what to do with himself when he could not even pay attention to something as important as this.

"So tell me, how did you manage to do it?"

Hephaistion stared at the king's bearded face blankly. What had he missed now? "I'm sorry… what?"

Philip sat down on the other side of the table, obviously amused. "To win Alexander's friendship. To win his heart."

The blue-eyed man kept staring as his brain tried to work out the question. How he had won Alexander's heart…? He nearly snorted, but held himself back.

"Was it love at first sight?" Philip urged.

Why was the king laughing at him? What was so funny? "Hardly."

-

"I hate you."

Hephaistion looked up and smiled. "Thank you, I don't like you either. Now if you'll excuse me, my prince?"

-

Philip gazed at him expectantly, and Hephaistion shrugged. Why was the man bothered? "We didn't get along very well."

"He pushed you away, but you kept trying to seduce him?"

Hephaistion raised an eyebrow in surprise. Honestly, what was this man getting into his head? "That's one way of putting it."

-

"You may be the son of a king, Alexander, but that doesn't mean /you/ are fit to be king. I understand why your father sent you here, since you absolutely have no talent for writing and learning. Aristotle must have been his last hope. And your fighting skills lack greatly, and…"

-

He had realised that if he couldn't get Alexander to like him, he might as well get the other to hate him – then at least he would have some place in the blond boy's heart. Those had been painful times for both of them, yet it amused him to think back on how sweetly irritated Alexander had been-

"So how did you do it?"

The young man looked up and smiled, suddenly seeing how this would be a funny conversation. "I got him to try to kill me. When I passed out he decided that perhaps that was not what he wanted."

Philip was quiet for a moment and eyed him, then stood up abruptly, walked around the table, and towered over the younger man. His voice started out soft. "I see you courage has not left you, Hephaistion. I forgave you the other day for your bold words, but I warn you that I will not tolerate you lying at me!"

Hephaistion swallowed with sudden nerves when a hand settled under his chin and forced him to look up. The king's one eye flared dangerously.

"I am doing this for you. Don't forget!"

"No-"

His words were swallowed as lips covered his.

Hephaistion's eyes grew large. He had to call upon all his self-restraint to not flinch away, away from that mouth on his and the hand that held him in place. By the time a tongue forced itself past his lips the young man was shaking. Please no. This was horrifying, it was disgusting! Zeus, let him stop!

For once, the gods listened. Philip drew back, panting slightly, and wiped his mouth as Hephaistion recoiled quickly.

"You can go." The words were again spoken softly.

A outburst of silent thanks formed in the young man's mind. He needed to get away! Still trembling, he got himself together and left with as much dignity as he could muster.

No, he realised once he was inside his own room once more, he had made the wrong decision after all. He could not do this, he simply couldn't. Not betray Alexander, not let Philip touch him… But how to back out?