A/N: This will probably be the end of this story? However, if you think that something should be added please R&R and give me your feedback. Perhaps if you would like, I'll continue? -Baliansword.

A/N(2): Thanks for the review Queendel. Your advice and support always helps! Hope that you enjoy this chapter as much as you did the others.

-Baliansword

Olympias paced back and forth in the room that her son had moved her in to. It was small, dark, and dank. There was not even a bed. How could he call himself king and not even provide her with a bed? She shot a hateful glance at Cassander, who stood at the side of the room watching her. What child would think that she deserved to be watched like a hawk?

"Cut out my tongue," she said as she paced. "He would not dare! You know that he would not, do you not Cassander?"

Cassander merely shrugged. He refused to speak with her. She knew that Alexander had given him no orders to be silent. He just refused to speak. How could he? She laughed, perhaps he was jealous of Hephaestion. Many were.

"Why do you look at me so," she asked him, refusing to give up. "Be honest with yourself Cassander, would you miss Hephaestion if he were gone? No, I do not think that you would."

Nothing was said. Olympias came closer and wrapper a hand around the bars of her cell. Her new caged home. Cassander turned his head to look at her but then looked away. Her ways of persuasion would not work with him. He did not fear her enough, at least not while she was caged.

"Hephaestion has Alexander's love, but you do not. Why is that? Hephaestion is in no way more beautiful than you are, he is no wiser, and no richer. What is it that my son will not have from you that he so gladly takes from Hephaestion? Can you tell me this Cassander?"

"Alexander's choices are his own," Cassander answered this time.

"He listens to Hephaestion. He hangs on his every wish and his every desire. Do you like the idea of marching into Persia to stand against Darius' forces? Do you think that you will come back to Pella if my son follows in his father's footsteps of war?"

"I answer the same."

"How could you Cassander! You of all of Alexander's companions should know what evil Hephaestion is. If he says that he wants another glass of wine, Alexander will get it for him. If he says that he wants the world, Alexander shall conquer it for him. If he wants the sun, then Alexander will rope it and bring it down for him. Hephaestion influences my son too much!"

Cassander stepped closer to the bars. Olympias had angered him whenever he saw her. She was a barbarian. She thought that she had more control than she did. But now she had crossed a line.

"Alexander will lead us to the distant lands of Persia," he hissed at the woman. "Already I have spoken to him of it. But he does not do it because Hephaestion wills it. For a woman that thinks she is wise, you truly are daft my queen. Hephaestion does not wish to go to Persia. He would rather stay here. Yet he loves Alexander, and he goes with him wherever he will go, if only to keep his love."

Olympias smirked, "Does this anger you?"

"Nothing angers me other than you my queen. To kill Hephaestion would not have changed Alexander's mind to travel to Persia. All that has changed is where you stand."

"You think it was wrong? Tell me Cassander, if Alexander is the only one that Hephaestion loves, then why did he bed me?"

Cassander did not have to answer the question. Before he could the doors opened and Alexander entered the room. Cassander stepped away from his position at the cell and went back to stand in the doorframe. Olympias followed him with her snake's eyes. She then turned her attentions to her son.

"Alexander," she said, her voice like poison. "How good it is of you to come to see me."

"Shut up," Alexander ordered. "You are lucky that he is not dead. You have weakened him, but not enough."

"I was protecting you," Olympias cried out with tears in her eyes. "How can you not see this my boy? Your love for him clouds you judgement."

"As does your hatred for him!"

"No," she shot back quickly. "I was doing what a mother should do. You cannot rule Macedonia when you are infatuated with Hephaestion. He is wound too tight around your thighs Alexander. It is one thing to love him, but it is another to give up everything for him!"

"That is what love is! I would give everything for Hephaestion. Why does that anger you, because father never felt for you in such a way?"

"Philip was a pig," she cursed. "Damn you Alexander, why do you hate me so!"

"Why do you hate me so," he screamed as he spun back around to face her. His face was red with rage. Her face was covered in her tears. She sobbed as he screamed at her, for he had never hated her so.

"I do not hate you," Olympias spoke through her sobs and tears. "I want to protect you. Love makes you blind to the world Alexander. As long as you love Hephaestion, you will love no other. Not your people, not your army, but most of all not me!"

"You had my love. You had it, and you poisoned it! Do not look at me now and say that you protect me, for you do not. I remember what you said to my father. I remember the day well that you called me your 'avenger'. That is what I was to you. Not your child, not your son, but your 'avenger' against my father that you hated so much. You never wanted me. You still do not want me! All you care about in this world is yourself."

Olympias knew that she would get nowhere this way. She stopped her cries and looked at her son. He would never see what she was trying to do for him. She wanted only to make his empire stronger. She wanted only for him to be great.

"I care for you," she said venomously. "Hephaestion does not love you though. Otherwise he would have never bedded me."

"You gave him no choice!"

"He enjoyed it," she said. Her words were meant to cut deep. They did, there was no doubt about this. Alexander reached to his side and withdrew a dagger he kept there. He would kill her for this. But as he went to make the fatal stab a single voice stopped him.

"Alexander," Hephaestion said weakly.

Alexander stopped and turned. Hephaestion was barely able to stand, even with Cassander's help. His face was pale, his eyes were watering, and his body was shaking. Alexander dropped the dagger and went to Hephaestion's side. He took him in his arms and held him to him.

"What are you thinking," Alexander said. "You are not well. By the gods, what is it that goes through your head?"

"Don't kill her," Hephaestion whispered as he rested his head on Alexander's shoulder. He found his comfort here. With Alexander's arms around him he already felt better. "She is your mother Alexander."

"And a horrible one at that," Cassander commented as he retrieved the dagger from the floor. He glanced at Olympias. Her eyes held only hatred for the men in this room now.

"We will not speak of this now," Alexander said to Hephaestion softly. "Come, let us go back to bed."

Hephaestion nodded. He leaned against Alexander and let him lead him back to his chambers. Alexander slowly set Hephaestion down on the bed. He then pulled the drapes over the bed to prevent the sun from disturbing them. As he crawled into the bed he took Hephaestion's hand. Hephaestion put his head on Alexander's chest and closed his eyes. Weakness caused him to be quickly asleep.

"I would give everything for you," Alexander said as he kissed the brunet hair on the top of Hephaestion's head. He then wrapped an arm around him and closed his eyes. He was soon asleep as well.