"HEPHAISTION!" Alexander screamed in agony, as he saw his physical form swim beneath him in sea of colours. Hephaistion watched silently, only fully aware of the transition that was life to death, feeling the pain that was pulsing through Alexander in his own heart, watching Alexander cry aloud for it to stop. When it did, Alexander's lifeless naked whole body, not a scar upon him lay.

Hephaistion came over to him, and like a mother would a new born, he wrapped his arms around Alexander protectively, as Alexander, the King of Macedon and Persia, dropped the ring he clutched too desperately, with a clattering of gold against the hard floor.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Roxane didn't leave her chamber or ask for food except for her baby, the night after the vigil and funeral for Alexander. The babe stirred in his crib, as she looked out over the sky of Babylon.

Ptolemy waited outside her door, bludgeon in hand. Cassander asked this to happen as soon as she had said her goodbyes. No time would be wasted in this matter. He got ready for it, telling himself he needed to do this to save his own family from Cassander, but he really didn't have an answer when he opened the door.

Roxane looked like a goddess when she turned to look at him. Her still rounded shape from pregnancy, her milk filled breasts, she looked like a silhouette of Dionysius herself.

"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry…" Ptolemy mumbled, hiding the bludgeoning tool behind his back. " I am going to make peace with him, He is coming to Egypt with me"

Roxane didn't have an answer, she just nodded solemnly.

"I…" Ptolemy stuttered.

"Do what is you've been sent to do" she said meekly, eyeing her babe in the crib with a sullen expression.

"Cassander asked me of, asked me to do it as soon as he was buried… I"

"Alexander is gone and I realise that I cannot stay" Roxane tried not to cry.

"Roxane" he uttered, "I came tonight because I knew I wouldn't have it in me at any other time. I didn't want this to be public; I didn't want you to be humiliated…"

"Ptolemy" she said firmly, a sudden reasoned tone sprang to her voice, "just do it quickly" she glared at him and then turned back around, facing the moonless sky.

-.-.-.-.-.--.-