Authors note: It's almost bed time here where I am, I have work tomorrow and other things but I cannot resist updating this story for I have left it for quite some time.

Regardless, thank you to all those that have read this story and posted comments. It's appreciated, truly.

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Hephaistion turned his head towards Cassander. It wouldn't be long, Hephaistion thought, where he wouldn't be able to stop himself from moving on, without Alexander. Alexander had led him so far, to the corners of the world, to the highest mountain peaks. Yet, Hephaistion heaved a tremendous sigh as he past the sleeping quarters of the other men, he didn't feel Alexander wanted to be close to him anymore, that he had pushed as far as he could go, and that was it.

Cassander passed the sleeping bodies of his companions, gentle not to wake them as he followed Hephaistion down towards the roaring fires, small embers flicking up like little kicks of baby light towards the moon. He could hear sobbing, and as he drew closer, those sobs became cries, deep, anguished cries.

"Hephaistion, is that you?" Cassander asked all though having a feeling it would be no other.

"Yes" Hephaistion said weakly, "Yes and I do not want you to come any closer" Hephaistion said softly, stifling his tears as he straightened up, still facing the flames.

"By Gods Hephaistion, look at what that pathetic fool has done to you, and yet you continue to suffer?"

"By my hand and by my heart I suffer dearly" Hephaistion corrected Cassanders' emphatic pleas, "Alexander suffers more so"

"Alexander, much like the rest of that bloodline, is like water. It flows and it spills over every land but when the rains cease to fall, it becomes just salty piles in the ground and the cause of dry throats and empty screams"

Hephaistion bit his tongue to that remark for a moment, his eyes glazing over Cassander. He was standing just a few centimetres away now, his arms unfolded, outstretched even towards Hephaistion. Hephaistion however, recoiled, crossing his arms over, glaring Cassander down.

"Do you not drink the rains when they are here?" Hephaistion scorned, "Do you not take what it gives and give nothing back?"

"Nothing but my service, Hephaistion" Cassander took a step closer; Hephaistion stepped backwards towards the fading fire. "Which you yourself, have given and received nothing back"

Hephaistion felt that dagger in his back long before the words came freely from Cassander's tongue. He stood his ground however and refused to answer any more of Cassander's offhand remarks.

"Does it not bother you that he hasn't made love to you in a good half a year?" Cassander asked Hephaistion, "That he has bed his barbarian wife, more than he has bed his sworn lover and best friend?"

Hephaistion coughed unwillingly at that comment, and turned to face towards the now smoking ash of the fire.

"Don't you realise that you are indeed, loved by others, Hephaistion?" Cassander asked him, a tinge of sadness in his voice,

"Like I have said many times, Cassander, I have no interest in other men, nor do I have interest in betraying Alexander"

"You're still a giddy fool for this man of crazed dreams, you yourself Hephaistion, were once so smart and courageous now just as foolish as the man you follow"

"He is still my King, and while he is still our King you will respect him, and dare not speak ill of his family or his name" Hephaistion warned angrily, his blue eyes tore like bullets through the wall Cassander had built around him.

"Face the fact that I will never want you, Cassander" Hephaistion stepped around Cassander, refusing to look at him, "and go bed one of your own men"

Cassander felt the sting of tears come out of his eyes, forcibly. He tried to stop them, but too many had escaped his narrow eyes, and he looked out across the skies for answers. If Hephaistion was to remain the fool he was, so be it. He would, just like any other foe, defeat him and his beloved King.

"May the Gods have some forgiveness" he whispered, his features returning to a pale shade of pink as he clambered under the covers, tightly against Cleitus who was peacefully dozing.