When Alexander confronted the giant grey beast, all Hephaistion could do was watch. He stared, confused and dazed at his King, his friend, his lover who ignored all requests by the others to stop his onslaught and retreat.
The arrow plunged deep into Alexander's chest, blood spilling immediately from the wound. As the brave Bucephalus, his child hood friend, fell defending his owner. The others tried frantically to get to him, as Alexander lay still, staring up at the reddening skies above him.
"All of this and more, Alexander" the thoughts came to his mind as he lay, feeling the heavy footsteps of soldiers coming towards him, "this is it… this is how I am going to die…"
"ALEXANDER!" Hephaistion cried out, forcing his way through the gathering crowd, swarming around Alexander as he tried to reach him.
"ITS TOO LATE, HEPHAISTION!" he heard Cassander's voice over the crowd, " He has gone! He is dead!"
"Dead?" Hephaistion could feel his heart stop beating in that second of the word, and with a sudden flash of silver he found himself on his knees. He glanced down, noticing the giant gash across his leg, the red liquid pulsing freely. He tried to stand but with another flash of another sword, he came down fully to the ground.
"Alex…" he said, still looking at Alexander who hadn't moved.
Alexander closed his eyes preparing for the worst. When it didn't happen however, he wasn't sure if he was relieved or upset by it.
"Phai…" he uttered, blood dribbling from his mouth as he spoke, the Indian's called a retreat he heard, and backed off as the men all came to his side.
"Phai…" he thought, "What have I done?"
Hephaistion felt himself crumble into nothing as he lay on the ground. With a sudden jerk he felt someone pull him up to safety.
"Cassander?" he asked softly, and Cassander nodded.
"Aren't you in charge of the Phalanx?" he asked, and Cassander nodded again.
"Yes… but they don't need me. Its' over"
Hephaistion felt pain in his chest indescribable, as he turned towards a giant shield.
"Is he?" Hephaistion began, and Cassander shrugged.
"Unknown at this time" Cassander spoke softly, and kicked the horse into a canter. As he left the field of battle, Hephaistion wandered if he and Alexander's pact to die together would be true upon this day. Whether they would be together in death instead of in life, he would a die happy man, he thought, embracing the sudden pain he was feeling in his legs, and all of this would be worth it.
"All of this would be worth it" Alexander thought hazily, feeling his eyes close. "If I knew he was safe… it'd be worth it"