Thank You For Your Lovely Reviews!
Mara: Thanks. I do my best to keep at least some actual facts in there instead of making it up. Alexander deserves some credit after all. Thank you for reviewing.
Veronique: Alexander does get to be regent for awhile but only until his father returned. Thanks for reviewing.
XZanayu: I would be too but don't worry they'll meet up soon enough. Thank you for reviewing.
Shioban: Yeah, you did but that's okay. I kinda like his friends myself ;) They don't always have to be jealous. Personally I think they did support Alexander in many ways and were very close friends. Thank you for your compliment. Thanks for reviewing.
I'm tired of being what you want me to be,
Feeling So Faithless,
Lost under the surface,
I don't know what you're expecting of me,
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes.
- Numb by Linkin Park.-
Chapter 15: Conversations.
When Alexander did now show, even when it started to turn dark outside Hephaistion grew worried and decided to take Peritas and look for him. He had to ask several servants for the way to Alexander's quarters for he did know the palace all that well, haven't spent as much time as the others there. Hephaistion lost his way several times and after the 3rd time, Hephaistion refused to ask for help again and simply wandered around hoping to recognize some of the places the servants described.
After a few minutes walking, Peritas started to bark and ran off, leaving Hephaistion staring after him.
"Peritas! Wait, were are you going?"
Peritas returned for a minute waiting for Hephaistion to catch up before setting of again, Hephaistion close at his heal. Soon, Peritas stopped before a big wooden door where two guards stood outside. Hephaistion silently approached and asked,
"Is this Prince Alexander's quarters?"
The soldiers simply have him a sharp nod and Hephaistion sighed in relief, when he approached the door the soldiers crossed their lances in front of him. Peritas started to growl but Hephaistion simply patted his head and he calmed down.
"The Prince is not to be disturbed." Said the soldier on the right.
"I am a friend of him. Part of his personal guard." Stated Hephaistion squaring his shoulders,
"He says no one." Said the soldier again, Hephaistion looked them hard in the eye before nodding sharply not wanting to start a fight,
"Fine! Tell him Hephaistion stopped by." And turned back, he could hear the soldiers mutter for a second before they called out,
"Wait. I apologise. We did not know you were 'the first companion'. You alone are allowed to enter." Hephaistion smiled to himself in triumph for a second before turning around and marching in, Peritas close at his heal. The door opened and Peritas ran inside while Hephaistion slowly closed the door behind him hearing the soldiers stand at attention.
Hephaistion looked around, noticing this room was far more luxurious then the one Alexander had in Mieza. In Mieza they all lived a Spartan way, only managing with the bare essentials. Lately they all shared rooms as well, order of Alexander, so they could bond. It worked out perfectly because all eight boys had grown closer these last few months then the whole year before that.
Hephaistion did not mind much but found it more difficult to spent more time alone with Alexander, they always had to find new secret places where they could be alone to talk, get to know each other better. They haven't taken the big step yet but have experimented on occasions, touching each other, trying to learn what the other liked or disliked. Hephaistion mostly initiated those 'experiments' having learned he craved Alexander's touch like a thirsty man craved water. Alexander however, enjoyed those moments very much, but craved more to be held and reassured. They were both happiest though when they were together.
Having passed all kinds of riches, Hephaistion made it to Alexander's inner rooms, where he could hear Peritas whining slightly. Frowning he fastened his pace and looked inside Alexander's bedroom and found the boy in question face down on his bed, not moving. Panic gripping him by the throat he flew across the room and sat himself down on Alexander bed. He reached down touching Alexander shoulder lightly, seeing Alexander move he sighed in relief.
"Alexander?" whispered Hephaistion carefully, not knowing if the boy in question was awake or not. No sooner had the word left his mouth, he found himself, arms full of a trembling Alexander clutching him like a dying man clutching on to life.
"Hephaistion! Hephaistion!" Hephaistion did not care that he could barely breath and clutched Alexander close, sensing the boy needed it.
"Sssshhh, Alexander, I am here. Sssshhh" whispered Hephaistion trying to calm Alexander down, he rocked side to side, sliding his hands up and down Alexander back. When Alexander's trembling subsided they slowly parted. Hephaistion looked in Alexander two-coloured eyes, seeing the demons that plagued his mind and caressed his face before leaning in and placing soft kisses on Alexander's lips until said boy kissed him back. Their mouths opened and tongues collided, battling for dominance. When the need for air became to great, they parted with a big kiss.
Alexander sighed before smiling at Hephaistion, who saw the demons slowly disappearing.
"I missed you…" muttered Alexander, twirling a strand of Hephaistion's hair around his finger,
"And I you…" replied Hephaistion smiling sweetly at Alexander's new habit of playing with his hair. Ever since he started to let his hair grow, Alexander had been unable to keep his hands of it. "… Are you alright? What happened with your mother?" asked Hephaistion knowing full well that she was behind Alexander's sombre mood. "… Was she not glad you were made Prince Regent?"
Alexander sighed and nodded,
"Oh she was happy alright…"
/As soon as Olympias and Alexander reached the Queen's private room, Olympias started to laugh, growing louder and louder. Alexander raised an eyebrow as he watched her dance around and then paid tribute to the statue's of Dionysus and Zeus. He's seen her do more crazy things in his life time so it did not phase him in the slightest and sat down in his usual chair.
"Finally, your father gives you the power you deserve…" muttered Olympias after she was done,
"Yes, I am very grateful Philip…" started Alexander, looking at his ring, but was soon interrupted,
"Philip? Philip?" Olympias chuckled, "… No dear boy, not him. Zeus… yes… Zeus finally gave you the power…" Alexander rolled his eyes, ever since he was born he was taught to be the 'son of Zeus' and even though he quite liked the idea he knew fully well he was mortal and Philip was his father, there were too many similarities to ignore. "…Philip wanted Antipater but clearly Zeus made him change his mind and bestow this Honor upon you."
Alexander merely nodded to keep his mother happy knowing if he argued they would end up fighting again like last time. As long as she held her tongue about certain people in his life. A long silence followed in which Alexander kept staring at his ring, thinking about the great things he could do. Olympias stared at her son for awhile before saying,
"It's is time…" Alexander looked up in wonder,
"Time for what?"
"To find you a wife…" said Olympias looking very serious, Alexander groaned out loud,
"Not this again mother…"
"Alexander you must understand, Philip could get killed at any time and you must be ready. If you too leave on campaign, like your father does, then you must have a successor."
"Mother please…" moaned Alexander hiding his face in his hands in frustration,
"No Alexander, you must listen. I heard you never even bedded a girl…" at this Alexander looked up shocked,
"How do you…"
"I have my ways…" stated Olympias smugly and continued, "… I found you two lovely girls, their names are Euridice and Kinani. I will sent them to you tonight…" suddenly Alexander became angry and shouted,
"NO! This will not happen. I do not care for girls…"
"If this is about Hephaistion…" began Olympias coolly,
"You leave him out of this. I have had enough of your scheming ways mother. By Zeus I love you but you must stop this at once, you crazed woman, or you will not see me again." Alexander did not wait for an answer and quickly left, running towards his room, falling face down on his bed in frustration. /
Alexander sighed as he finished telling his story, feeling drained because of it. When Hephaistion made no comment, like he usually did, Alexander frowned and reached out but before he could touch him Hephaistion moved of the bed to stand before a window, looking outside chewing on his bottom lip in thought.
Alexander frowned before sliding of the bed himself, passing a now sleeping Peritas, and stood before Hephaistion staring in his blue eyes.
"Hephaistion?" Hephaistion shook his head, taking a step back, "…What is it? Did I do something to upset you? Please tell me!" a long silence came after Alexander plea until Hephaistion sighed and said,
"Maybe she is right Alexander. Maybe you should bed a girl and require an heir." Hephaistion had the hardest time trying not to cry, he did not mean what he said but knew this was bound to happen someday he had hoped it would not happen for a couple of years still, so they could enjoy each other some more but now that Alexander became Prince Regent he knew he had to make sacrifices.
Alexander could not utter a sound, he could not believe Hephaistion had said such a thing but somehow he could not believe him. When a knock came both boys knew who it was and they shared a look. Alexander saw all there was too know in that look and moved towards the door leaving Hephaistion behind. Hephaistion bit his lip hard, to keep from crying. He had seen Alexander's determent look in his face but did not know what it was. He heard several voices talking, two of them clearly women and he sighed. He took a couple of deep breaths and turned to leave. He nodded to the two girls at the door and Alexander trying to walk around them and out of the room.
Someone grabbed his arm and stilled him.
"I'm sorry but I think you were misinformed. I already have company for the evening." Said Alexander in a commanding tone. Hephaistion looked shocked and hoped the girl didn't make too much of Alexander's comment but somehow he could care less and wanted them to leave desperately.
The girls left and Alexander talked to the guards for a moment while Hephaistion moved back inside. A hand grabbed his arm again, twirled him around until he came into contact with the wall. He opened is eyes and looked in Alexander's burning ones.
"Don't you ever say such a thing again…" said Alexander looking hard in Hephaistion's blue eyes who could do nothing more then nod, biting his lip again. Alexander's anger left his eyes and his body and his head fell on Hephaistion's shoulder,
"Don't you now?" asked Alexander in a muffled voice, due to Hephaistion's chiton, "… Don't you realise?" Alexander looked back, grabbed Hephaistion's face in two hands, bringing their heads together until their foreheads and noses bumped into each other.
"I care only for you Hephaistion. I trust only you in this life. I am nothing without you." Alexander spoke with such passion, such longing, it made Hephaistion's heart constrict and he could not contain a few tears of escaping his eyes. Alexander smiled sweetly before rubbing the tears away with his thumbs and kissing Hephaistion slowly and passionately until they were both weak in the knees, ending up supporting each other.
"Come, stay with me…" whispered Alexander. Not trusting his voice, Hephaistion nodded and followed Alexander to his bedroom, where they disrobed and slept in each others arms.
As the days turned into weeks, Alexander became accustomed to his role as Prince Regent and did a fair job, even at such a young age. The biggest accomplishment he was able to report to his father was that he subjugated the rebellious Maedi, a Thracian tribe. He took their capital town by storm, drove out the barbarous inhabitants, and created a colony of several nations in their region, calling the new town Alexandropolis. Many thought Alexander had gotten a big head, calling the town after him, but Philip was proud of his son and told him he could join him in his next campaign.
During all of this Alexander's companions followed and protected him, like they swore they would. They were constantly looking out for his wellbeing. Hephaistion however, being first companion, spent a lot of time in Alexander's companionship and noticed Alexander quite often sought his approval before actually issuing the order. Hephaistion felt honoured he could help him in this way but noticed he often got strange and sometimes jealous looks whenever Alexander spent large amounts of time with him. He kept this information to himself however feeling Alexander had enough on his mind for the moment. He felt relieved when Philip returned and Alexander returned his ring.