"Banned? Banned!" Alexander was screaming out loud. It was scary, Hephaistion watched him as he paced, trying to contain his tears and his frustrations.

"That stupid dog Atalas! Who does he think he is? Talking about my mother like that?" he was exclaiming, pumping his fists, his blonde hair covered his eyes as he sat down, his brooding features were cold and menacing, Hephaistion didn't know what to do so he did nothing.

"I think we should leave then… now, now when we have a chance" Alexander said softly, glancing up at Hephaistion.

"Leave…. Alexander we have nowhere to go?" Hephaistion questioned him, Alexander eyes glazed over, his lips pursed but he didn't say anything,

"No, we don't you're right" Alexander admitted shaking his head. "He is going to take them to Persia? He can barely stand"

Hephaistion nodded, that was probably the reason why his father had stopped abusing him, his father was too drunk most of the time to pay any attention to Alexander. Alexander was breathing badly, Hephaistion knew this wasn't good for him; he stood up and put a hand to Alexander's chest. Alexander looked at Hephaistions hand briefly before his eyes started to well with tears.

"Alexander… you have known this Philip your whole life. He will never change" Hephaistion told him, holding him close. Alexanders gutted cries were the last thing Hephaistion wanted to hear, as he tried to calm him.

"I don't want to be like this anymore Hephaistion. Acting like a wounded horse every time my father tells me I'm a bastard… I have tried in vain to gain his respect, and all it has resulted in is more contempt" Hephaistion buried his face in Alexander's hair for that moment, "Come, Alexander. Let's go for a ride, you need to leave this palace"

Alexander shook his head but Hephaistion pulled him out of his room and down the corridors.

His mother watched them escaping out to their horses, as she turned too look at the messenger who was sitting at her table,

" I will pay you handsomely for your deed if you do succeed in Philip's assassination…" the writer paused, his eyes were wide with worry, but Olympius stalled it by dropping gold coins in his lap, " it is time that Macedonia and Greece have a new King… a beautiful King" she watched the man write out more.

"In closing you will be a hero, not only at home but for all eternity. I know how much you resent Philip…. So isn't it time that you took the next step? Queen Olympius" she turned as the writer finished it off.

"Seal it and then take to him, I want no-one to know about this" she whispered, and he nodded as she pushed a bag of coins across the table, "Alexander must not know… he will find out in due time, maybe never I am not sure yet" Olympius smiled as the messenger bowed to her and left her chamber. She picked up one of her asps from the floor and dangled it around her neck adoringly, as it slithered and hissed in her ear.

"He'll get over it" she murmured to the snake, "He'll be a King, My Alexander. My Alexander King of Macedonia, King of the whole world" she smiled and let the snake slither off her neck before she left her chamber to go and watch Alexander expand his wings, him not even realising how big they would grow.