Title: "Olympias' Request"

Author: Baliansword

A/N: Thanks especially to Queendel, one of my best reviewers. To everyone else who has reviewed, thank you so much. Hope you enjoy the latest installment!

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"I can give you the world," she whispered in his ear.

Who's idea had it been to let her roam free again? Granted she could not leave the palace, and was always watched, it was still too much freedom. Or at least that was what Cassander was beginning to think. He did not like the way she spoke to him, the way she came too close to him, and the way that she told him everything he wanted to hear.

"I will not change my mind," he told her straightly.

"You will," she said as she cupped his cheek. "Think of what you could gain Cassander! With Hephaestion dead my son will be nothing. He has his father's rage and will march out with his army. The first land he sees he will try to conquer. Ha! As if the Macedonian army is still capable of such a feat."

"Then I would go as well."

"No," she cooed. "You would stay here, with me, as my king. Think of it, you and I would wed. Once Alexander is killed in some battle the throne shall be empty. First, people will panic, for he has no heir. Yet I am still queen, and you would be king, free to rule all of Macedonia."

Cassander laughed, "You would never let another rule. Even if what you say came to pass, never would I rule, you would just tell me what to do."

Olympias found a way to get closer to him. She curled a finger in his hair. Lightly she brushed her lips against the line of his jaw. If she would get through to him this would surely be how.

"My son does not see in you what I do Cassander, son of Antipiter. You deserve what my son was given. Do you not agree that you could lead as well as he is now?"

"It is not my place."

"But you do. I saw you last night. I made sure to keep my eye on you. Do you think that I did not see the way that you looked at Hephaestion? I know that you hate him. Your eyes could not lie to me. When he entered you bit your tongue so as not to call him Alexander's whore."

"I say it to him constantly, last night was just not the time to begin."

"Why is Hephaestion Amyntor better than you," she cut deeply. "What does Alexander find more beautiful about him? He looks like a whore, like a toy, but you Cassander are a man. Never can that be mistaken."

"Stop," Cassander said as he pulled away from her clutches. It was not that he did not want her to call him handsome. This he honestly enjoyed. What he did not want was to fall into her trap. It was true, he hated Hephaestion, but he would not be the idiot that would attempt to kill him.

Olympias said nothing, a first in all of their time together. Instead she touched the snake bracelet that wrapped around her forearm. If she were a sorceress this would be the giveaway. No other was quite as in love with snakes as she. Cassander tried not to think though. Instead, he began to make his way to the door.

"When you next see him," Olympias said, "look at those blue eyes. When you do, look deeply Cassander, and see that Hephaestion would gladly kill you."

Cassander exited the room and another guard took his turn. Ah, the poison that she was filling his head with. He walked down the hall, wishing to see Hephaestion, just to see him. It would change nothing. As he came to a flight of stairs he stopped. Alexander and Hephaestion walked through the lower courtyard. They paused at a fountain and Hephaestion dipped a hand in the water and playfully threw it at the king.

"Hephaestion," Cassander hushedly spoke to himself. "How great you think you are, because you have Alexander's love. I see you truly though. What Olympias says is true. You would kill me if you had the chance."

He stood there for some time, just watching the king and his whore. Then he felt a pressence beside him. He did not need to lift his gaze to know that it was Olympias.

"Do you see," she asked.

"Never did I say that we were friends."

"I love my son," Olympias assured him. "I wish to see him do something remarkable with his life. Something that would put his name in the books of history. However, this cannot happen as long as Hephaestion is entwined with him. You know this as well."

Cassander did not answer. Did Alexander not know that he was constantly being watched? It appeared not, for he leaned close to Hephaestion and kissed him. The slut kissed back. Sighing, Cassander tried not to let this irritate him. Perhaps what Olympias said was true. Yet he would have nothing to do with her evil plans.

"Tell me," Cassander said, "what would it take to kill Hephaestion?"

"Poison does not seem to work. I do not know why. The last time I killed a slave it worked fine."

Cassander tried to ignore her last comment. It did not surprise him though. It had always been whispered that Olympias killed the slaves that annoyed her. She said they simply must have run away. Cassander always knew that it was not so.

"Perhaps trying something more to the point," the queen said. "The point of a blade perchance. I have never seen a man live after his head was removed from his shoulders."

Try not to think about it, his mind whispered to him. If you even think it Alexander will have you killed. It is a lucky thing that he did not kill his own mother. Do you think that Hephaestion will stop him from killing you? Of course not. He would beg of Alexander to remove your head.

"No," Cassander said firmly. "I cannot kill him. But I will make sure to try to drive the two apart. It may be just as good."

Olympias smiled, "Now you are thinking like a leader Cassander."