Thank You For Your Lovely Reviews.
Mara: Well thank you but don't worry I won't let Alexander suffer for long, nor Hephaistion. I had to put the lyrics in somewhere ;) explaining the title and all, I'm happy you noticed. The song is really great isn't it? Thank you for reviewing.
El Terrible Fizzy: Don't worry everything will turn out to be ok, I can't let them suffer for too long now can I? Well thank you, I'm honoured you feel like that. Thanks for reviewing.
Shioban: I did, it was just that one chapter really. I finished writing a long time ago, somewhere in July I believe so… I always wanted to do a cliffhanger, I'm glad it worked. Thanks for the compliment and thank you for reviewing.
XZanayu: Hephaistion will do everything he can, he refuses to lose Alexander after all. Thanks for reviewing.
Aw, the story is almost done. Just more chapter after this one and I'm finished…
We sat and watched
The sun go down
Then picked a star
Before we lost the moon
Youth is wasted on the young
Before you know it's come
And gone too soon
- Eternity by Robbie Williams. -
Chapter 29: Total Exile! Part 2
Hephaistion rode on for several hours, seeing no sign of civilisation. He was glad however that it was not snowing, making it much easier to look for help. He pulled his skins closer and sent a silent prayer hoping Alexander would be fine. He yawned and opened his eyes, not aware he even closed them. Exhaustion and hunger where getting the better of them as he fought to stay awake. He sneezed and sniffled, trying to hang on.
All of sudden, he saw smoke in the distance and he spurred Bucephalus on. The ride there however exhausted Hephaistion even more and his vision turned blurry. He heard voices coming closer and he struggled to stay upright. Several faces swam in his vision, speaking a language he didn't understand. The next thing he knew was begging for help,
"Please I need help." Hephaistion muttered, feeling himself slip and fall. Hands grabbed him as he continued, "Alexander… cave… sick… need help…" then he knew no more.
Time passed, Hephaistion didn't know how much, as he awoke to several voices speaking loudly. Next thing he realised was that he was no longer outside and cold but in a bed and quite warm. He groaned as he tried to sit up but the pain in his head quickly stopped him. Hands touched his forehead and he opened his eyes, blinking several times to see more clearly.
What he saw was not what he expected, an elderly woman with grey curly hair and a warm smile. She opened her mouth saying,
"How are you feeling?" she spoke greek, though slow and broken, like one who hasn't spoken the language in some time. Hephaistion smiled a little and said,
"Better. Thank you." the woman smiled again, offering him a drink, which he took. "Where am I?"
"You are in my home. You came riding to us asking for help. About a week ago…" explained the old woman, slowly. Hephaistion sat up in shock.
"A week?" Hephaistion scrambled upright, " By Zeus, Alexander!" Hephaistion panicked as he though about Alexander all alone for a week. He surely must he dead by now and it was all his fault. He quickly starting looking for his stuff when someone else ran in the room holding a sword. Hephaistion tensed but the old woman quickly motioned the newcomer to lower his sword. Eyeing Hephaistion he reluctantly lowered his sword. The woman turned to him, loosening his hand who had a death grip on his dagger.
"It's alright, he's my son." Hephaistion nodded toward the young man, who seemed to by his age, who nodded back. They kept eyeing each other but Hephaistion broke the contact as he looked at the woman again.
"I thank you for your help but I need to go. I have this friend who is very ill, he needs help, he is…" babbled Hephaistion in panic.
"I know. Alexander is it not ?" smiled the woman.
Hephaistion looked dumbfounded for a moment until the found his speech again, "Alexander, yes. How did you…"
"When you arrived a week ago, you kept on babbling about an 'Alexander', who was apparently sick in a nearby cave. Seeing as you were too sick to be lying, we decided to investigate and found your friend…" Hephaistion sighed in relief, noting the woman spoke more fluently now, "You are lucky you came to us when you did. He almost died, luckily we found him in time…." Seeing the distressed look on Hephaistion face, she smiled in sympathy, "He's fine now, even woke up to ask about you before falling back asleep. But he still got a long way to go…"
Hephaistion couldn't contain himself any longer and interrupted, "Where is he? Can I see him? Please I need to see him…" Hephaistion didn't care he sounded like a babbling idiot at the time but he needed to see his beloved. See for himself that he's alive and fine.
The woman smiled knowingly and pointed to a place behind him. Turning around he noticed a second bed which he had not noticed before. Recognizing the blond mob of hair he silently moved to the bed. When he reached the bed and saw Alexander's chest move up and down, he sank through his legs unto his knees. He stared at Alexander's face for awhile, noticing the lines of exhaustion and pale skin, tears in his eyes he laid a hand on Alexander chest. Feeling his beloved's heartbeat, he released a sob and laid his head on Alexander's chest, silent tears running down his cheeks. A hand touched his shoulder in comfort and realised the old woman was standing behind him.
"He was really sick for awhile. Had a high fever and hallucinations. He always called out a name: 'Hephaistion' Am I right in guessing this is you?" Hephaistion merely nodded grabbing a handful of Alexander's tunic. "I am Maya, if you need anything just call…" He nodded again, knowing he was probably being rude but she didn't seem to care and silently left the two of them alone.
Finally alone Hephaistion started to sob, releasing the tears that had build up in the last few weeks when Alexander took ill. He sucked in a large breath of hair when he felt a hand caress his hair. He was afraid to open his eyes in case this was all a dream. His hand clenched and unclenched in Alexander's tunic and when the hand clutched him closer he raised himself up. He opened his eyes only to come into contact with Alexander's tired two-coloured ones, eyes he hadn't seen in more then a week. Alexander smiled and mouthed 'Hi', Hephaistion eyes filled with tears again and surged forwards kissing every inch of Alexander's face he could reach. He finally settled on Alexander's lips who slowly kissed him back. When they parted Alexander started to cough again, making Hephaistion frown.
"I'm fine…" croaked Alexander and motioned to a glass of water. Hephaistion, eager to help, reached for the water, making sure Alexander drank it all. After replacing the glass, they simply stared at one another, realising how close they came to losing each another. Alexander lifted the covers in invitation and Hephaistion didn't need to be told twice, burrowing in the covers. They didn't talk because no words were necessary, they simply held each other until fell asleep. This is how Maya found them as she brought them something to eat. She merely smiled and kissed their foreheads, much like a mother would do.
Weeks passed as Hephaistion and Alexander stayed with Maya. Alexander healed much quicker then anyone expected, shocking Maya and her family. Alexander merely commented 'What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' seeing no flaw in his logic, they merely nodded in agreement. In the time Hephaistion and Alexander spent with Maya and her family, the more they got to know them. Maya was a widow, having lost her husband to the same decease Alexander had suffered from. She had two sons, the eldest being Solon, who was their age and Uraeus who was ten. Solon, at first, was bit cautious but as he got to know the two men they became fast friends. Hephaistion learned Solon was going to get married in the summer to the daughter of the village chief.
Uraeus in the meantime had taken quite the liking to Alexander and followed him everywhere. Alexander didn't seem to care and often played with the young boy. Solon told Hephaistion, that Alexander looked like a younger version of their father. This was one of the reasons they decided to help them. They also learned the family was originally of greek heritage and that's the reason they spoke greek, although broken and somewhat forgotten.
When Alexander fully healed, both he and Hephaistion decided to help the family in exchange for all their help. They went for water, chopped wood, went hunting, helped fix the broken down house and so on and so forth. Winter turned to spring and both Hephaistion and Alexander felt like they were part of the family. Hephaistion also noticed Alexander seemed more at ease, more himself and he was glad.
One, fine early spring afternoon both Hephaistion and Solon, sitting under a nearby tree, were watching Alexander play with Uraeus. The two of them were playing with a ball kicking it back and forth, Ureaus wrestled Alexander every time he made a point and Alexander tickled the young boy as he scored. Giggles and laughter filled the air. Hephaistion saw Maya watch with a wistful smile and wished he could do more to help her. A voice interrupted his thoughts,
"You love him, don't you?" Hephaistion cast a glance in Solon's direction but said nothing, "And he loves you. It's quite obvious you know…" chuckled Solon. Hephaistion merely shrugged,
"And if we do?" Solon held his hands up in a defensive manner,
"There's nothing wrong with it. I was just wondering…" muttered Solon, "… is this the reason you're running?"
"Whose says we're running" asked Hephaistion,
"Well, you packed almost everything. Besides two young Macedonians, all the way out here…. Seems like you're running…" Solon watched Hephaistion closely, "Why?"
Hephaistion sighed relenting, "We ran into some trouble at home. Words were said and we were forced to leave…"
Solon nodded, knowing this wasn't the full tale but relented decided to let it drop. After awhile, they stopped playing and headed back to work, plowing the nearby field. The sun was very warm for this time of year and Alexander was sweating, he took the hem of this chiton pulled it over his head, wiping his brow. Feeling eyes on him, he turned to meet Hephaistion hungry gaze. He smiled seductively and set back to work with a big smile. Hephaistion bit his lip, not believing Alexander's teasing. He smiled as he watched his beloved's broad and tanned back, shaking his head in disbelieve. Alexander was going to pay for that later tonight.
All of sudden the sound of running feet alerted them. Recognizing two boys from a nearby house they relaxed until they started shouting.
"Solon! Solon! There are men coming this way…" yelled the first one. The three young man put down their tools and approached.
"They are all on horses and armed to the teeth. Rumours says they are looking for someone…" said the second one, eyeing Alexander and Hephaistion. Both men cast a glance at each other.
"How many are there?" asked Alexander pulling his chiton over his head,
"Four…" replied the first one, eyeing Alexander,
"Fine, run to Maya and tell her to take Uraeus and stay inside…" Alexander turned towards Solon, while Hephaistion fetched their swords, "You should go as well…"
Solon crossed his arms in defiance, "No, this is my home. I have a right to protect it." Alexander clearly wanted to argue but a sharp look of Hephaistion made him drop it.
They all took their swords and waited for the men to come. They didn't have to wait long, as they saw four horses appear over a nearby hillside. They took their stances as they came closer. Alexander and Hephaistion lowered their swords when they recognized who they were. The horses stopped right in front of them and the first one dismounted. He walked towards Alexander and took a swing at him, which Alexander easily dodged,
"Glad to see you're keeping on your toes Alexander…"
Solon frowned as both men started to laugh and then embrace one another as long lost brothers,
"Ptolemy! I am glad to see you again."
"And I you. You seem well. The troops and I have been looking for you.." Alexander turned to see who else accompanied Ptolemy and recognized his companions.
"Nearchus! Leonatus! Perdiccas!" Alexander embraced them all as Ptolemy shook hands with Hephaistion. Solon watched confused until Alexander introduced them to each other, then, only then did he lower his sword.
"How are Cassander and Philotas?" asked Alexander with a smile,
"In good health, last time we heard." Replied Leonatus,
"Good Good! Come let us drink something" said Alexander dragging them along, until Hephaistion, the ever rational one, interrupted his thoughts,
"Why are you here? I thought you were visiting your families…" Alexander sighed, not wanting to deal with it just know and moaned,
"Hephaistion…" Hephaistion was about to argue but Ptolemy silenced him with a hand gesture,
"He's right Alexander. We're here for a reason…" Alexander sighed, knowing he was not going to like this but turned around anyway, staring each of his companions in the eye. Knowing he had Alexander's attention Ptolemy continued,
"We all received a letter, saying our exile is over and can return to Pella…." Hephaistion watched as Alexander's eyes changed from a happy carefree man to one with duties, and he wishes he never opened his mouth. He cast a glance at Solon, who was listening closely.
"The King also pardons your behaviour and wishes you to return to Pella as well. He wishes to talk to you and wants you to attend his coronation and wedding of your sister Cleopatra…." Ptolemy paused as he watched Alexander closely. Knowing what Alexander was thinking Hephaistion spoke up,
"Who is she marrying…" there was long pause before someone muttered,
"King Alexander of Epirus…"
"She's marrying her own uncle?" muttered Hephaistion shocked,
"Yes, it was the only way The King would allow Alexander to return. Also this way it prevented King Philip of attacking and destroying Epirus."
"And they both consented?"
"They did. They found it best for everyone to form this alliance. The best for Macedon and Epirus.." as Ptolemy and Hephaistion talked Alexander experienced a whole variety of emotions. Relief, anger, confusion and most of all disgust. Disgust at what people had to do due to his own idiocy and big mouth. He needed to think, he needed to be alone for awhile. Turning the simply walked off hearing his friends shout his name but simply ignored them. He heard Hephaistion's soft voice and knew his beloved understood his need for solitude.
The day passed into night and when morning came Alexander came to a decision. He didn't want his sister's and uncle's sacrifice to be in vain and decided to accompany his companions back to Pella. While he was gone, Hephaistion and his friends, had filled in Maya and her family to who he really was. He was glad they took it all in stride and treated him like they always did. The next day they were ready to leave and both Alexander and Hephaistion said their goodbye's.
"Goodbye Alexander, my boy, take care of yourself you hear…" muttered Maya as she hugged Alexander close. Alexander chuckled, tears in his eyes and muttered,
"Goodbye…. Mother…" the both of them clutched at each other before parting. Maya kissed Alexander on the forehead wiping away a few stray tears and patted his cheeks. Alexander smiled and mounted Bucephalus. He cast one last glance at the people and house, he had called home for almost a year before spurring Bucephalus on and catching up with his friends.
Alexander and Hephaistion shared a look before leaving their new found freedom behind and heading back to Macedon. Back to their titles and duties. Alexander however never forgot about the kindness Maya and her family showed him and sent Solon a big wedding gift in the summer and Maya lots of supplies and gifts to keep her going.
AN: There is very little known about Alexander during his time of exile, so everything I wrote is made up. It is said, he was gone for almost two years. He spent several months in Epirus and then almost a year wandering around with Hephaistion. They were brought back by Alexander's companion's, who went looking for him.
The wedding of Cleopatra and Alexander of Epirus was not one of love but one of convenience and is said to be the idea of Philip for several reasons.
Philip did pardon his wife Olympias and son Alexander and they were allowed to return. As were Alexander's exiled companions.