Hello, this is the part 3 of my fic! i hope you will enjoy it . it's a little longer than usual ;) thank you for all the feedback :)
Title: second chance 3/11
Authors : veronique
Email address:kyomine2002yahoo.fr
Category: romance/supernatural
Pairing: Alexander/Hephaistion slash
Date:25/07/2005
Feedback: please, but if you don't like it, be constructive , I don't want to read sarcasm or snarks.
Archive: if you want I'm okay
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own them. They're characters belonging to Warner Brothers Pictures, to Oliver Stone, to my imagination, and to the ages. This is a work of a fan, done for no remuneration save the satisfaction of the work.
Special thanks to my beta Rothalion .
Summary: After Hephaistion's death Alexander had a second chance
Second chance part 3
Alexander spent a lot of time thinking about what he should do but had come to no conclusions. He was in Mieza, he would have to teach and soon he would meet Hephaistion again; he was confused and nervous. He reminded himself, that he had to be under control when he met him for the first time. He decided to go to Hephaistion's room to try and prepare himself. He opened the door; the room before of him was clean and orderly, everything in it's place. He laid down on the bed and inhaled the sweet scent of his lover. So different than the odor on the sheets he ordered not to be cleaned after Hephaistion's death. Those sheets smelled death but these sheets smelled of youth and life. Soothed by the smells he finally fell asleep. A few hours later he woke up and when he did, he was confused again to see he wasn't in his palace at Babylon but still in Mieza. It proved to him that this was definitely not a dream. He left the room and just as he was about to reach his, Aristotle bumped to him.
"The class is done! We have to talk! Have you rested well?" asked the old man.
Alexander nodded and followed Aristotle to the teacher's dinning room.
" I was worried for you, you were crying this morning, and the boys saw you in a weakened state, this is not good." He began.
Alexander knew he had to explain himself and his tears so he started.
" I lost a close friend recently." He began, «the pain is still quite fresh.»
" Oh! I understand." Aristotle replied. " Thank you for explaining, but if you feel you cannot handle your pain, I suggest you to leave, I will try to find someone else. It's not easy to teach, especially to boys who one day will be the most powerful men of Greece. At least they hope they will and I have no doubt they will! But they also know there worth and power, they can be quite difficult to handle some times."
Alexander nodded, He wasn't afraid of this task, it was one that he knew very well. The task of leading this particular group of young men.
"Everything will be alright, trust me sir." He said with a more self assured tone.
"Fine, now I m going to make you a portrait of each of one, it's good to know the enemy." The old philosopher joked.
Alexander smiled as he understood .
" So the first but not the least, the prince himself, Alexander, the one who welcomed you."
Alexander was now full of curiosity about what Aristotle's could thought about him.
" He is a smart and sweet boy, he loves to learn and he loves to argue. Be careful to not be driven too much with his passionate speeches and make sure he is saying and thing the reasonable things. The prince is living in Iliad's tale and the Iliad rules him. Don't be afraid to not agree with him, he is there to learn and he knows it. Just be careful to not get carried away with that topic or his passion. He is one of the students that I am very proud and impressed with. No doubt he will be great king one day."
Alexander felt proud to hear such kind words about himself but he also felt a little guilty. He had executed Aristotle's nephew and was no longer speaking with his old philosopher friend. Aristotle's noticed his demeanor.
"What's wrong? Your friend's death plagues you again?"
Alexander shook his head.
"Don't worry about it. Please continue."
" We can't talk about Alexander without talking about Hephaistion." Alexander's heart jumped at the name. "These two boys are inseparable. I have to tell you because it's not longer a secret, even if the two still are trying to keep it secret, they are now lovers. They have been for about a week now. Frankly you can't look at them and not know." Aristotle's sighed. Alexander smiled at the memory of his first few days after he and Hephaistion had become actual lovers. Aristotle's voice drew him back to the conversation. "So this Hephaistion, he is quite different from Alexander. He rarely speaks out in public; but from talking with him after class, I can tell you he is very smart and a fine speaker, just not in public. Alexander has found his match in this handsome boy and while Hephaistion might appear calm and less passionate, take heed, it's just on the surface. Inside he has a fire burning quite intensely. He also possesses a huge amount of pride and this pride often causes him some trouble. The most difficult thing with Hephaistion is to handle him when he is with the others boys."
Alexander was in awe of how clearly Aristotle had seen into Hephaistion soul. He could only stare across the table at the gray haired instructor. Hephaistion had made a lasting impression on Aristotle, and Alexander's heart warmed at the thought of his lover having a friend.
"And since they are lovers,» Aristotle continued, «it's gotten quite a bit worse. The jealousy is rampant and Hephaistion has to work on his social skills. He can appear to be very arrogant. From what I know of his history he is from a very proud family who fled from Athens because they didn't want to be corrupted. I suspect he sees himself as better than any of the other boys and that does not help with his being accepted into the group."
Alexander frowned he wanted to argue. To correct Aristotle, to tell him that Hephaistion did not only think he was better than the other boys; but that in fact he was better, so much better in all things, but he stayed silent.
"Then there is Ptolemy, quite and interesting young man. Very smart also, silent, always talking when it is the perfect time, good debater. He is like perfect. But perfect doesn't exist Anaxagoras and this young man, I don't know, he will go far. Be careful though, he is too good to be true."
Aristotle's description of Ptolemy surprised Alexander who always saw Ptolemy as someone who could be trusted, but Aristotle's put the man in another perspective and he began to think about it.
"Then we have Perdicass. He is genuine and smart. Well all this boy are very smart, that make our task easier and conversely more complicated at times." He laughed, "do you want a cup of wine?" He asked.
" Yes. Thank you." A page came and served them.
As Alexander drank Aristotle continued. He talked about all the and he finished the introductions with Cassander.
"This one is not easy to handle. Jealousy is his main flaw, but being Antipater's son is not an easy task either. But if you have enough authority to handle him he won't any trouble for. Just make it clear from the start that you are his master."
Alexander nodded in agreement. Aristotle's seemed really knew his generals and what they will become.
A Page came and told Aristotle that Hephaistion was back and that he'd gone straight to Alexander's room. Alexander's heart began to beat stronger, he wanted to rush to that room and see his lover again but he knew that he couldn't.
"What a surprise!" said Aristotle "Ah, being young and in love...let them enjoy themselves and tomorrow they will be in a good mood. With luck Alexander will be a little tired and won't exhaust me with his never-ending questions." He laughed again and studied Anaxagoras.
"Anaxagoras, I m going to leave you now. Get yourself settled, and rest well. I have work to do."
Aristotle left Alexander and later after he'd finished his dinner, Alexander went back to his room. He passed near Alexander's room and he heard a voice he knew so well, but hadn't heard for what seemed an eternity. He wanted to rush into that room but he passed it by. Hearing Hephaistion's voice only made him more anxious for the dawning of the next day.
Hephaistion was in Alexander's arms. He had felt lost all day, and his ride didn't ease his pain but now, in his lover's arms, he felt a little better.
"I missed you and I was worried about you! So tell me, what did your father want?"
Hephaistion didn't want Alexander to know. Alexander had enough troubles with his own family and he didn't want Alexander worry about him or to feel guilty or worse go to his father's house. Only the gods knew what could happen then. He repeated to himself all afternoon the lie he had planned for Alexander and he was not comfortable enough with it to relax.
"Well, my father worried me for nothing really! He decided to retire from your father's army, something might have happened during his last campaign and he decided to retire quite suddenly and you know how he is, he wanted his s.. son to know first." He sighed and cringed a bit a the word son. It sounded so wrong now, like a stolen title.
Alexander felt Hephaistion stiffen as he'd stuttered over the word, "Nothing else?"
"No, or I would have had to stay longer. But since it was a simple matter I chose to leave as soon as it was settled."
Hephaistion cuddled closer Alexander.
"It's wonderful to have a father who wants you to know everything about him and his decisions; that lets you be a real part of his life." said Alexander with sadness not aware of the pain he causing his lover who listened and said nothing.
Hephaistion held Alexander even tighter like as if he was trying to comfort Alexander but in fact it was because it was him the who needed to be comforted.
"We will always be here for each other.» He said making it a strong statement that in reality hid a question. He needed reassurance, he'd lost everything just hours ago and it seemed to him now that there was no certainty in the world.
"Yes." Confirmed, Alexander " I love you so much, Hephaistion. What would I do without you?" Alexander answered as he kissed Hephaistion on the lips sweetly.
Hephaistion felt secure with Alexander everything seemed so possible, he knew he had made the right choice even if he regretted having to make that choice. Alexander was the one he felt alive with and if his family couldn't trust him and his lover then there was nothing more he could have done. The years and his future actions would eventually prove to his father that the stern man had been horribly unjust in his treatment and banishment of his son.
As the kiss ended, Alexander smiled. " Oh, my Hephaistion, you missed Anaxagoras! Aristotle's new assistant he told us about few days ago! He finally arrived, he will teach us war strategies!" Alexander seemed very enthusiastic and that piqued Hephaistion's curiosity.
" What is he like?"
"Well, you must see the scars he has! That man must have been in huge battles, He has one big one his right arm, another on his leg and also on his face."
Hephaistion smiled
"What about the man himself?"
"Well, he is not really tall, small to say the least, you are almost his size already I think. He is blond with the strangest gray eyes!"
"Gray eyes! Like you!" Pointed out Hephaistion. Alexander seemed surprised.
"You're right! I didn't think of that! Not too bad looking but not as handsome as you! And he is old...around 30..."
"It's not that old." Argued Hephaistion teasing his lover!
" Also, the poor fellow looked so lost, he had such sadness in his eyes, it touched me. I don't know why but I felt very bad when I saw him. My heart sank when I met his sad eyes."
" You are not falling in love, are you." Hephaistion joked.
Alexander smacked him to the head. "Don't be silly! I just said his sadness touched me; I desire to know what happened to him. He looked dead inside, his soul you know..."
" You are a such poetic man."
" Come on, Hephaistion, I m serious. I am sure when you meet him you will understand what I mean."
Hephaistion kissed him on the cheek. "I will tell you, when I see him. What do the others think about him?"
" Hum, Cassander thought it was a shame that he looked so confused; I fear the man will have an hard time with him"
Hephaistion rolled his eyes.
" Ptolemy argued with Cassander not to judge someone with a first impression and Perdicass, Eumenes, Crateros, found him handsome."
Hephaistion laughed. "Handsome! And you?"
"I don't know, He is kind of handsome but it left me cold. I don't know, there's something about him that is strange to me."
Hephaistion held his Alexander again, he needed him to be close to feel him against him.
" I missed you." He said into the side of Alexander's neck.
Alexander kissed him back and began to undo Hephaistion's chiton. "Kiss me, Hephaistion." said Alexander with a soft voice full of love and lust.
Hephaistion kissed Alexander .
tbc