Alexander awoke to the smell of lotus flowers drifting through the room. He lifted himself slightly, feeling the sting of his wound in his chest, he turned to a table beside him, where a bloody rag lay with stitches. He cried a little as he straightened himself up and turned towards a figure beside him.

"Roxane?" he mouthed, unable to speak. She looked peaceful, and very pregnant. Her protruding belly was snug under layers of coloured wool, her hair hanging like black silk drapes, elongating her face.

With a gentle tap of her arm, she woke up, looking at Alexander who had a perplexed but pained expression, she smiled at him.

"My husband" she uttered, and took his hand. Alexander could see more as his eyes cleared. He wasn't in that tiny palace, he realized. With further perusal, he saw the same red and gold drapes of bedroom curtains, and the sparkling banner above his head.

"Babylon?" he questioned, and looked at Roxane who nodded, sympathetically.

"Yes, Alexander" she spoke in soft tones, "You are home again"

" I don't want to be here!" a side of Alexander raged within him, he couldn't believe that he was back at the beginning again.

"Hephaistion" he suddenly spoke his name, and looked at Roxane, "Where is he?"

"He is being cared for… he suffered great injuries; one of his wounds was infected, so Cassander has been tending to him"

Alexander's brow furrowed as he tried to hear her low mumbling.

"He is sick?" he asked, and Roxane shook her head.

"No, he is getting better" she smiled, "He wanted to know when you were having visitors"

"I want to see him" Alexander said, "I want to see him for myself"

Alexander tried to move from the bed, but the pain in his chest was too great. He hit the pillows with a thud, and stared at the banner, swaying in the breeze.

"You have been doing this for a long time, Alexander" Roxane said softly, "After the initial stages of healing, you told the men that we were heading home…. You said you didn't want to be in India any longer. Wasn't your place"

Alexander didn't really recall saying those things but he nodded just the same.

"That wound was terrible when I first saw it…" Roxane whispered, "I thought you would die"

Alexander tilted his head towards Roxane, who had tears in her eyes.

"And all this time, you stuck by me?" he asked her softly, and she nodded.

"Yes, you are my husband. We have a son coming soon…"

Alexander looked at her belly and put his hand to it. It was soft to touch, and pulsing with life.

"…. I'm sorry I've put you through this" Alexander admitted, "I …"

"You were doing what you thought was right" she muttered, "What you thought was right for you, was India"

"It was… but it's a matter decided by the Gods, now" Alexander sighed.

"It will come if you wish it" Roxane smiled, and let go of Alexander's hand.

"Please, tell him I want to see him" Alexander mumbled,

"I will, my King" she stood up then, Alexander noticing how big her belly truly was.

"Roxane I…"

"Enough words, my King. You must rest now, I will go and tell Hephaistion he can see you…" she walked away from the room.

"You'll be better soon, Alexander" she told him firmly, " Just wait, there'll be plenty more for you to do and see… and for our son to experience with his father" she said the last words as if they were spun from silk, soft and carefree. Expectant of happiness and peace at last. For that moment, Alexander recognised the sound of silence as a blessing and not a burden, as he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.

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