Thank You For Your Lovely Reviews.
Mara: Yes, the evil noise keeps returning, though it improves in later chapters. Thanks for your review.
Emerald Amber: That's ok I don't mind, I'm just happy you keep returning. Thank you so much for your sweet review.
Veronique: Yes, they second kiss was way overdue. Thanks for reviewing.
Queendel: I didn't borrow the part about the teeth from a friend but a one-shot of mine, names 'Friends!' Thank you for reviewing.
XZanayu: It definitely was sweet of Hephaistion to keep it. Thanks for reviewing.
Special Thanks To My Beta Shioban, Who Helps Me Correct My Mistakes.
Don't save me
Don't save me
'Cause I don't care
Don't save me
Don't save me
'Cause I don't care.
- S -
Chapter 13: You save me and I'll save you!
After their run they all flocked together, Alexander smiled at his friends in greeting not even out of breath or sweating, not even with the extra five laps he had had to run. Hephaistion however looked flushed in the face, beads of sweat running down his forehead. They waited until everyone was done running, not even then could Alexander remain still and shifted around, switching legs, stretching muscles, looking around.
"Alexander could you remain still for just a moment, you are making me nauseous." Moaned Philotas who was laying on the grass with the others watching Alexander move about. Alexander stopped to look at him and smiled shaking his head.
"How come you are in such a good mood today?" asked Nearchus. He sat up, shielding his eyes from the rising sun. Alexander merely shrugged and cast a quick glance at Hephaistion, who stood upright observing the other runners and have him a small smile.
"I just slept well, that's all…" Cassander huffed at the comment and said,
"Oh come now Alexander. You have never been in such a good mood. Did something happen last night?..." suddenly Cassander sat up with a big smile, "…finally met a girl maybe…" he drawled wriggling his eyebrows. Alexander turned red in the face while the others started laughing except Ptolemy who looked at him seriously before switching his eyes to Hephaistion. Alexander followed his gaze and noticed Hephaistion had become very tense after the comment and he frowned.
Hephaistion knew he was being silly but after the comment about the girl, he became very jealous knowing Alexander might have to bed a girl sooner or later, even if it was to make a point. He sighed in relief as Alexander neither denied or reaffirmed their suspicions. He felt his friends gaze on him and turned slightly to give him a tense smile. He was still afraid, even after the kiss, that Alexander might have changed his mind already. He saw Alexander frown before making his way towards him.
Alexander noticed the tense smile and read Hephaistion's eyes. Seeing jealousy and fear he quickly approached his friend. He opened his mouth to speak but someone yelled his name, making him turn around. He recognized his mother's page as he came running.
"Prince Alexander…" the page bowed,
"Yes what is it?" asked Alexander with a gruff voice making the page cringe slightly. He felt a soft touch on his arm and he sighed asking in a more gentle tone. "Yes, can I help you?" the page looked a little strange at him for a moment at the change in his voice but continued,
"Your mother, Queen Olympias, requests your presence for breakfast this morning." At this Alexander stiffened, remembering he left her yesterday, he knew he was going to pay hell for his absence. He turned towards Hephaistion who saw his look of horror and frowned before realising what it meant. He took Alexander by the arm and dragged him a little further so no one could hear them.
"Alexander listen…" Hephaistion shook Alexander slightly until he had his attention, "…Stall as long as you can. I'll be there as soon as I can. Just be a loving son and everything will turn out okay."
"But…." Protested Alexander looking at the page who was waiting for him, Hephaistion grabbed his shoulders and looked him in the eye.
"Do you trust me?" asked Hephaistion, Alexander's response was immediate,
"Yes!" Hephaistion smiled at the quick answer and continued,
"Then do as I say. I'll see you soon." Alexander nodded and felt relieved . He turned to leave but seemed to change his mind and hugged Hephaistion close, whispering,
"I care only for you, my Hephaistion." Hephaistion tensed at the words for a second before hugging Alexander hard and pushing him towards the page with a wave. Alexander waved to his friends before reluctantly leaving.
Hephaistion watched Alexander leave, feeling slightly flustered. He didn't realise his insecurity was so easy to read but then again this was Alexander, hardly anything escapes his attention. When Alexander called him 'My Hephaistion' his heart skipped a beat and he clutched Alexander close just to see if he was real. He had to push Alexander away before he made fool of himself, he watched him leave and he waved. After being dismissed, the other boys began leaving as well, all ready to eat breakfast, but Hephaestion had something to do before he himself could eat and he rushed of.
Alexander walked as slowly as he could trying to buy as much time as he could for whatever plan Hephaistion was concocting. He followed the page towards his room, noticing Peritas was still following, tail waggling in the air. He asked the page to bring milk for Peritas before he entered his room with a big sigh, plastering the biggest smile he could muster upon his face.
"Mother." And he kissed Queen Olympias' both cheeks, who looked at him with a neutral face saying,
"Alexander." Alexander kept smiling waiting for the bomb to explode and sat down across from his mother while pages brought food and drinks, placing it down before them, putting down a bowl of milk for Peritas, before leaving the room, closing the door behind them. As soon as the door clicked shut Olympias turned to her son glaring slightly.
"Where have you been?" she snapped and Alexander cringed slightly,
"I have been running, like I do every morning.." stalled Alexander grabbing a warm bun and ripping it to pieces not feeling very hungry all of a sudden,
"Don't play dumb with me Alexander. Where were you yesterday. You were not in your room all day and did not return to sleep either. Where were you…" she asked again, narrowing her eyes. Alexander looked down thinking what he could say but before he opened his mouth his mother continued., "….You have been with Philip, haven't you? Is he still trying to alienate you from me?..." rambled Olympias while Alexander simply stared out of the window sighing, "….Is this where you were? Why aren't you saying anything? Alexander?"
Alexander did not notice his mother had stopped talking and simply continued staring out of the window, dreaming of the vast land behind the Macedonian hills, dreaming of other lands and other people. Away from anything familiar, away from his mother… Suddenly a knock on the door made him snap out of it and he looked towards his mother who looked worried at his behaviour, he smiled at her before standing up and yelling 'Enter!' in a loud voice.
The door slowly creeped open to reveal a large bunch of flowers and a voice apologising,
"Sorry I am so late, My prince…"
Alexander blinked not understanding, until the flowers were lowered and Hephaistion revealed himself. Alexander smiled before covering up. Hephaistion lips quickly quirked up in acknowledgement before he bowed again,
"My Queen…" Olympias stood up as well and moved towards Hephaistion,
"What is the meaning of this?" and she gestured towards the rather large bouquet of flowers, Hephaistion smiled and said,
"These are for you, my Queen!"
"For me…" she asked frowning, "…who sent them?"
"The Prince, my Queen. He picked them himself yesterday, took all day as well. He only wanted to have the perfect flowers…." Alexander eyes shined in understanding and gratitude, smiling at Hephaistion who explained everything and in doing so saving Alexander a world of trouble, "… He sent them to be cleaned but it took longer then expected." Queen Olympias' eyes suddenly shone with happiness as she accepted the flowers from Hephaistion.
"Oh Alexander, they are wonderful." Muttered Olympias,
"Not as wonderful as you, mother." Replied Alexander and was hugged for his comment, he hugged his mother back and stared in Hephaistion's eyes over her shoulder with a big smile. Hephaistion smiled back and blushed under Alexander gaze, chewing his bottom lip. Mother and son parted. Olympias put the flowers in a nearby vase and sat back down, looking at Alexander.
"This does not explain where you were all night!" Alexander shared a nervous look with Hephaistion. Hephaistion opened his mouth once again,
"He did not want to wake you last night so he…" Olympias stopped him with a hand movement,
"I did not ask you. Hold your tongue unless spoken too." Hephaistion turned red in embarrassment but bowed and said,
"I apologise…" Alexander looked shocked at his mother and yelled outraged,
"Mother! You cannot just…."
"Alexander please don't…" whispered Hephaistion but Olympias still caught it,
"How dare you! A mere servant call his prince by his name. I should have you flogged for this insolence…" shouted Olympias outraged, getting red in the face. Alexander saw Hephaistion flinch at he got angry,
"Mother! That's enough!" Both Olympias and Hephaistion turned their shocked eyes at Alexander who looked really angry, hand balled into fists, shaking slightly. Even Peritas was shocked and he barked slightly, letting his discontent know.
"Hephaistion is not a servant, he is a noble. He is even more then that, he's my friend, my best friend and you cannot insult him. To insult him is to insult me." Yelled Alexander moving to Hephaistion side, Peritas close at his heal, who looked afraid. He never wanted Alexander to be mad at his mother, he feared he destroyed the already fragile relationship between mother and son.
Olympias was not mad, merely shocked at Alexander's behaviour. Never in his life had Alexander raised his voice to her. Not even when she insulted his father. But now, he became full of life and passion. He looked frightening and dangerous and she shivered slightly. She knew who Hephaistion was, due to the lion hunt, and it did not surprise her that he would jump to Hephaistion's defence but the glint in his eyes told her that he cared more for Hephaistion then he let on. She watched as Alexander stopped before Hephaistion and both boys shared a look. She saw the fear in Hephaistion's eyes disappear, now filling with reassurance, before standing next to each other and looking her in the eyes.
She sighed before sitting back down saying,
"I am leaving this afternoon. I hope to see you then."
Alexander knew a dismissal when he heard one and both boys bowed, leaving the room. Alexander knew his mother never apologised but he was surprised she did not comment. They closed the door behind them and he leaned against the wood, eyes closed sighing out loud. Suddenly soft lips touched his and he opened his eyes to see Hephaistion smiling at him.
"Thank you. But you should not have done that. I didn't need saving, I deserved that.." Said Hephaistion still slightly shocked at what happened,
"She should not have spoken to you in this way…" muttered Alexander getting angry again, but a touch of Hephaistion calmed him down;
"Alexander…."
Alexander looked in Hephaistion's eyes and sighed relenting. Hephaistion bend down and placed several soft kisses on Alexander's lips before taking his hand and dragging him of to breakfast, Peritas running behind them, barking, letting his happiness show.
The Queen left that afternoon, sooner then planned, going back to her palace in Pella and Alexander said his goodbyes. No words were spoken of the incident that morning but Alexander had a feeling his mother had noticed the change in him due to Hephaistion and knew she would confront him sooner or later.
He had hoped not to see her in awhile but found himself in the Palace at Pella sooner then expected.
For some reason, I'm not feeling too good about this chapter. Just consider it an interlude.