Title: "Olympias' Request"
Author: BalianswordA/N: Thanks again to all of my reviewers! Queendel, don't worry, things will completely work out for the best result. Hephaestion will soon realize that he is worth more than he thinks he is. Promise, you can hold me to it! To everyone else, keep reading and reviewing. So you all know –Bagoas warning still stands.
Olympias stepped down from the conveyance with the help of a Persian slave. Her son then came forward and embraced her. She hugged him back, pleased to see him well after all this time, but could not keep her eyes from wandering. Behind him on the left was Cassander, who smirked at her, obviously glad to see her –considering the benefits he may receive. To the right, with his eyes cast down, was the lovely Hephaestion.
Alexander began to speak to her, telling her that Babylon was now her home should she will it to be. She nodded, and as they began to walk into the palace, she glanced over her shoulder. Cassander followed, as did the rest of Alexander's Companion Calvary. It was easy to see which man had fallen out of favor. At least, she assumed it was that, but it could be likely that he just had been cast to the side.
The queen turned her head, and quickly saw why. The Persian boy held open a door. As Olympias passed him with Alexander on her other side she eyed him. He had dark eyes, and a body built for pleasure, but that was all he was. He was a whore. She laughed in her head, thinking of how foolish she had been to call Hephaestion such a thing, for now she would rather it be him that Alexander was infatuated with.
There was a banquet held in her honor. She sat, ate, laughed with the men that surrounded her. She found it odd that only a few Harem girls were here. The queen of Babylon was not even here. For a few moments she wondered why, but then she stopped, because she had all of the power now.
"To my mother," screamed Alexander as he made a toast. It was to be his last for the night. He would soon be so drunk he would pass out on the couch he sat. A son of his father, this is what she saw in him, and she was starting to hate it. He should be strong, like her, not weak like Philip.
Olympias raised her glass. So did all the others in the room. Even Hephaestion, who had been idly playing with a dinner fork, raised his glass. He took a sip from the goblet and then set it down. Everyone else downed an entire glass. Even Olympias drank more than he, but far less than anyone else in the room. Even Cassander was drinking.
After some time Olympias excused herself from the room. No one thought anything about it. She was the queen, and it was not in her status to stay amongst the men. While the party continued she went to her room. As she left the dining hall she saw Bagoas. She cast ill eyes upon him then went to her rooms.
She sat on her bed, and crossed one leg over the other. She did not have to wait long until the door opened. Cassander entered the room. He shut the door quietly behind him. He then approached her, pushing himself between her legs. He stood above her, and craned his neck, so that he may lean down and kiss her luscious lips. When the kiss broke he put his hands on her cheeks, softly rubbing her cheeks.
"I missed you," he whispered as he kissed her forehead. "I did not know that I could feel for you in such a way."
"I saw him," Olympias said as Cassander began to kiss her neck. Cassander stopped immediately and then looked at her. He knew of whom she spoke. He did not know whether or not it was his place to say more. But he wanted oh so badly to, so he did.
"Alexander is ruining him," Cassander told her. "Ever since the war began they have been slowly drifting apart. By the gods I thought that it would please me. But the pain I see in his eyes, it unnerves me. I want to beat Alexander senseless sometimes."
Olympias smiled. She moved back, putting her knees on the bed, and then stood. She looked at Cassander. Both hands ran up and down his chest. She kissed him softly. For some odd reason this was the only man she could find comfort in.
"You desire him," she asked, staring at his eyes.
"I do," he answered. "But not as I do others. I think of him differently from you. Can you understand that Olympias?"
She nodded. Why now did she find his pain becoming her pain? She liked to see men suffer. But now she was not sure if Cassander, and if Hephaestion, truly deserved it. She had wanted Alexander away from Hephaestion –now that is was, she no longer thought it was for the best. Pain, she decided, was a terrible thing.
"Go get him," she whispered in Cassander's ear.
Cassander glanced at her for a moment. What could she want with Hephaestion, especially right now? He decided not to ask. Olympias knew what she was doing. Cassander kissed her forehead and then turned. He left the room as silently as he had entered.
When he entered the dining hall it was much as he had left it before. Drunkenness filled the place. Cassander walked through the room quietly, although there was no need, because there could be an earthquake and no one here would know. He passed behind Alexander. Bagoas was on the king's lap, laughing at some joke with Alexander and the surrounding men. It probably wasn't even funny.
Cassander turned, stepping over a few men already on the floor, and approached another table. Ptolemy sat next to Hephaestion. Ptolemy was drinking, but luckily was not wasted, as so many others were. Cassander took a seat next to Hephaestion. Hephaestion glanced over at Cassander, and to his surprise, did not say anything.
Cassander sat there for a few moments. There was a silence that was not filled here. Cassander looked at Hephaestion. His poor sweet Hephaestion. If pain were light he would be glowing. Instead he stared down at his hands. Under his eyes were dark lines from a lack of sleep and the wearing of his Persian eyeliner. Once again Cassander remembered him as he was, with a soft smile on his face, which was now replaced by a frown.
"Hephaestion," Cassander quietly called out to him. Hephaestion did not move for a moment. He then turned and looked at Cassander. His cerulean eyes were almost hollow, caved in with longing, but Cassander could still see himself there. All hope was not lost.
"Come with me," said Cassander as he stood and put out a hand. Hephaestion stared at his hand for a moment. He then decided that he had no other company. He wanted so badly to have someone to talk to. Even if it were Cassander, who had once been his enemy, but now seemed to be more of a friend.
Hephaestion let Cassander lead him out of the dining hall. Alexander did not even notice him. It bothered him but the string had already been pulled through his heart with a dull needle many times before. Now, he didn't even feel the constant pain. He had found a way to ignore it. At least, he could ignore it for a little while. Then he would feel it again. Sometimes it made him feel as if dying would end his suffering, yet he knew it was not the answer. Alexander would soon come back.
Cassander held open the door. Hephaestion entered the room without even looking at where he was going. He stopped, waiting to hear the door shut behind him. Cassander gently led him forward. When Hephaestion looked up her quickly cast his eyes back down. Queen Olympias sat before her mirror, combing her long hair, wearing almost nothing.
"Hephaestion," she cooed as she turned in her chair so that she may look at him. "I have not seen you in some time. You seemed changed. Tell me –how are things with you my beautiful one?"
Hephaestion drew in a slow breath, "I am fine. I am glad to see that you are well also. Forgive me for not sooner welcoming you to Babylon."
Cassander stood behind him. It was odd, but the thought that he was there comforted him. Hephaestion glanced over his shoulder. Cassander put a hand on his shoulder and slowly removed his cloak, which covered the breastplate that he had been insistent on wearing. Now the metal made him cold through his shirt and all the layers of his skin. Or was that feeling from Olympias?
"You are the reason that I am here," Olympias said as she stood. She came closer to him, closing too much space to make him feel comfortable. "Alexander would never have invited me. Had it not been for you I would still be in Macedonia, withering away with boredom. Tell me, Hephaestion, why do you look so melancholy?"
"Persia is not what I thought it would be," he answered quietly.
"It never is," she smiled. "My son has taken a Persian eunuch into his company. This I know must have a made a great offence to you. What about you Hephaestion – what love do you have in your life?"
"None."
"What of lust?"
"I love and lust for only Alexander," Hephaestion said. "At the moment we do not speak. I am sure that Cassander has mentioned such. However, my heart cannot be swayed."
Hephaestion felt Cassander pull the hair away from his neck so that he may kiss it. The feeling of lips against his skin sent a shiver down his spine. Olympias came closer and carefully removed the metal breastplate that covered his chest. Hephaestion took a step back but found himself only closer to Cassander. Cassander kissed his neck softly, then reached in front of Hephaestion and took his chin. He turned his head so that he may kiss his lips over his shoulder.
"Stop," Hephaestion whispered as Olympias began to remove his shirt. She did as she was told. Cassander forced his lips against Hephaestion's once more. Olympias walked towards the door, glanced over her shoulder once, and then left the room. She would sleep in Cassander's room for the night. Hephaestion and Cassander could use her room for some much-needed relaxation.
Cassander turned Hephaestion toward him. He kissed him roughly, sliding his tongue between both of their lips. He put a hand on Hephaestion's back and pulled him close. He then put a hand on Hephaestion's chest. He pulled the shirt, which first brought Hephaestion only closer, but ended up tearing. Cassander threw the shirt to the floor and put his hand back on Hephaestion's bare skin.
Hephaestion found himself giving in to Cassander's will, and to his surprise, he wanted to. He pulled Cassander's shirt over his shoulders and threw it to the floor next to his own. Cassander managed to remove the rest of their clothing before Hephaestion even had the chance. He then kissed Hephaestion once more before he began to leave a trail of kisses down his chest.
Cassander pushed Hephaestion's back to the wall. He then continued to kiss his muscled chest. He lightly kissed a faint scar on his hip, then repositioned himself on his knees. Hephaestion wrapped his hands in Cassander's hair as he took all of him in his mouth. It was all that he could reach of Cassander, yet at the same time, was all he needed to feel close to him.
Hephaestion put his head against the wall and let out a moan as Cassander held him. After a few moments he felt himself loosing all of himself in the ecstasy. He moaned once more before he came. Cassander continued to lap at him for a few moments before he went back to running his hands up and down his thighs and kissing the planes of his body.
"Hephaestion," Cassander whispered in his ear as he began to kiss his neck. Hephaestion had one hand on his back. The other he placed between the both of them. He cupped Cassander with his hand, breathing on his neck, kissing the lobe of his ear.
"Yes," Hephaestion said as he bit at Cassander's shoulder.
"Turn around," Cassander quietly said. Hephaestion willingly did as he was told. He put one hand on the wall and wrapped the other behind him so that he could put a hand on Cassander's hip. As he slowly entered him Hephaestion let out a deep sigh.
Cassander kissed his back, and ran his hands over his chest, and everywhere else he could reach as he slowly moved the two of them. Before he came he lightly bit Hephaestion's back. He found himself crying out like had never done before, not with any other woman, or any other man. When he stepped back Hephaestion turned back around. He kissed Cassander deeply, wanting him so badly, and not just because he was there. He wanted him because he reminded him of what it was like to love someone.
Hours later Hephaestion opened his eyes. His head was on Cassander's chest, his hair still damp with sweat. He did not move his head but looked up the best he could at Cassander. He slept soundly, his expressions soft, his breathing slow. Hephaestion closed his eyes, liking the feeling of having Cassander's arm draped over him, of having someone so close to him once again.
He decided that he would think of Alexander no longer. Did he love him? Yes –and Hephaestion knew that Cassander knew this as well. But no longer could he sit by and deny himself the passions of life. If Alexander wanted to have Bagoas, then fine. It was his choice and Hephaestion could do nothing about it. Yet he would not sit on the side like some cheap wife. He would pleasure himself as well, and if that pleasure came from Cassander, then fine. He needed Cassander just as much as Cassander wanted him.