Title: Crown of Jewels

Author: Adsagsona

Type: Romance

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Nothing about the movieverse Alexander belongs to me, I don't own a thing, sadly enough. I believe the real Alexander the Great and his companions belong to history and themselves.

Warnings: None, really.

Beta: None.

Pairing: Alexander/Hephaestion

Archive: Right here.

Author's Note: Lexy keeps asking for a second chapter of this, but this is a one shot as well. Again, Hephaestions hair and this time also his eyes are taking the applause.

Spoilers: For the movie 'Alexander'

Summary: Alexanders army is moving east, behind the former King of Asia, Darius. Hephaestion returns from a mission of his own. Fluff, one-shot.

Crown of jewels

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How peaceful a night could be. Alexander had invited his Generals to sit by the fire of the campment, not far from his own tent. They had not seen war in two weeks and for the large army of Alexander, that was quite a nice change. The downside of this was that they had not met a city in two weeks time either, which made the soldiers restless. Providing entertainment however, was not truly necessary as the vagabonds and whores who travelled together with the army filled out the tasks.

"Cleitus?"

The General who had served under King Philip, looked up towards one of the men who had called out his name. Leonnatus, one of the youngest out of all of them, sat there with a smale smile gracing his lips. He gestured towards the Black.

"Why don't you tell us a story?"

They had all eaten more than sufficiently, although it was not a feast like in the royal halls. Alexander had tried to make right for his Generals, for which they had shown much gratitude. For one night, the wine was not lengthened with water, but pure. Many were lightheaded or plain drunk.

"A story? What would you want me to tell? There is nothing I know besides warfare."

There was not even a hint of sarcasm or malice in the voice, but pure honesty. Cleitus had never seen much else than war on the side of Philip and he knew that it would not get better once his son claimed the throne. The burning ambition in the eyes of Alexander had said it all. He wanted the world and would not be satisfied with anything less.

"Alright, I'll tell you a story, listen…"

And so Cleitus began to weave his tale to his crowd. Hephaestion, who had not been paying much attention to what had been going on, listened intently now. Alexander had seen him drink, although he could not quite figure out if it had been enough to make Hephaestion lightheaded or even remotely drunk. He had a cup in his hand even now, but he merely sipped from it where others gobbled it down.

They sat almost opposite of each other, with Cleitus somewhere in between them. Alexander was not listening, having heard these tales from childhood on. Most of them were half true and the fantasy added to it to the point where the ones who listened thought they were in some kind of story from the gods.

Hephaestion felt someone looking at him and his eyes darted towards Alexander. The young King still could not get enough of those precious jewels. The happiness of the General only added to their beauty and as his lips curled into a small smile, Alexander nodded faintly.

Now, in stead of listening, he sat back a little and thought of how he had tried to find a jewel which matched Hephaestions eyes. Oh, he had tried, but failed time and time again. His own light eyes twinkled at the memory.

Babylon

Hephaestion had entered the room with slight worry because the messenger had been so insistent. He had to come to the room of the King at once. They had not been in Babylon for more than a week and perhaps one of the servants had proven to be less than loyal.

With the small hope that it might have been Bagoas, one of the Persian eunuchs Darius had taught so well and seemed to be pleasing Alexander, he rushed towards the room. No, Hephaestion was not jealous of Bagoas for who he was… but Alexander taking an interest in the boy had been a disappointment. It meant spending less time with his beloved, stepping back into the shadows.

"Alexander?"

He had walked right into the room where he found the young King laying down with a small smile playing about his lips. He had on one of the long Persian robes in which he seemed to want to spend his spare time while in Babylon. Not that Hephaestion did not like those, he prefered mingling with the locals and so learn their customs.

"There you are. It took the servant long enough to track you down. Where have you been?"

"In my room. What is the rush, Alexander? Why do you need me so badly?"

Again Alexander smiled and Hephaestion began to feel a little uncomfortable under his gaze. He stood there in the middle of the room, he realised. He wore a long soft green robe which had been handed to him by the servant who had brought the message. He had been ordered to put it on.

"It suits you beautifully." Alexander murmured as if he had read his thoughts. Hephaestion just nodded, but the King made no gesture to come closer. Although the young man usually did not wait for permission, this night seemed to be a little different.

"There is something I have been wanting to do, but I have always lacked the time and the riches. Now that I finally have both… Come, Bagoas."

Hephaestion startled at the call of the name and he glared at Alexander. The young ruler knew that the other did not like the slave being with him, because of what he represented. It seemed that Bagoas reciprocated those feelings equally, because those dark eyes reflected an emotion similar to anger before they quickly looked down at the ground.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Just stand still, Hephaestion, let Bagoas take care of you. There is nothing here that you don't want to, Phai."

At the use of the private name they called each other once in a while, the General looked up. What was it that was so important to Alexander? Suddenly, he felt a hand dangerously near his eyes and he wanted to swat it, but someone held him.

"What…" He began before being cut off.

"No, that is not the right colour. It has to be a darker kind of blue."

The same gesture was repeated and Hephaestion figured out that Bagoas was rifling through a plate filled with jewelry. Stones in all various kinds of blue. All together they were worth more than one fortune and Hephaestion softly gasped at the sight. At last Bagoas found one which seemed to suit him.

"I think it is as good as we are going to get. Take those, Bagoas."

When the slave bowed and made his way out of the room, Hephaestion wanted to go to Alexander, but the King held his hand up slowly and the other stayed where he was.

It was not long after, the both of them had sat in complete silence, that Bagoas returned. In his hand he had a very small thread made out of silver. At the front three sapphires connected to each other, the largest in the middle. They were not perfectly cut, but more of a rough shape.

The slave returned to Hephaestion and stretched out his arms to place the piece of jewelry over the head of the young General. It fitted him perfectly and the three stones rested on his forehead. Bagoas merely nodded and stepped back. Alexander gestured that he could continue.

Bagoas brushed Hephaestions hair carefully and then replaced the small silver band with the stones. They glistened softly in the light of the candles, but Hephaestion only had attention for Alexander, who seemed to be looking at him intently. The slave requested him to close his eyes and so he did. When he opened them again, Bagoas was gone.

Alexander stood and stepped towards Hephaestion with a hint of the prowler he was evident in his movements.

"So beautiful." He murmured softly as he cupped the cheek of the slightly older man in front of him. He took Hephaestion by the hand and placed him in front of a full length piece of polished silver, which served as a mirror.

"See for yourself."

At the order, Hephaestion looked up towards himself in the mirror. The change in him baffled him somewhat. The soft green of the robe complimented the blue glint on the stones which rested upon his forehead, his eyes and the colour of the jewels were almost perfeclty matched. The silver band was placed so that his hair still spilled over his shoulders. Bagoas had applied kohl underneath his eyes to make them stand out even more.

"Jewelry in your hair suits you."

In the mirror their eyes met and Alexander smiled.

"Thank you… it… you should not do this for me."

"Ah, but I am not doing it for you. This wonderful sight is for me only, I am not thinking of sharing any time soon."

This hurt Hephaestion, but merely a little, since it seemed that even if Alexander took on other lovers, he himself could not. He did not turn around however, but stretched out a hand which was swiftly caught.

"I am sorry for neglecting you, Hephaestion."

"I understand."

"You do, I know… but there still is only you in my heart, Phai. Nobody else."

Hephaestion wanted to turn around and kiss Alexander, but the other held him in front of the mirror. The young man unclasped which held the robe together and it fell to the floor with a rush of silk. Hephaestion heard the small gasp of the other and now finally turned around.

"What is wrong?" He asked softly. Alexander shook his head and crushed their lips together hungrily. His hands rested on the small of the Generals back while he brought their bodies flush together, although his was still clothed.

"I have to revive my memory of your body. I ache for you, Phai."

Hephaestion just smiled and took Alexanders hand, now he guiding the other to the bed. Gently he undid the few buttons on Alexanders robe before it fell to the ground as well. Letting his King step out of it, he pushed him down upon the bed. Very carefully he took the piece of jewelry from his head and rested it on the table near the bed.

"I do not want to break such a precious thing." He explained with a small smile before leaning over the other and kissing him. Both gave soft moans at each other touches, hands seeking again and finding what had been lost for some time. Their bodies still remembered and Alexander was glad he had taken this step.

Hephaestion took his time to explore and remember, mapping out Alexanders body. Laving his nipples and licking over the bronzed skin of his chest, he moved up to thoroughly kissed lips.

"I am quite certain Eros looks like you."

The young man laughed softly, deep in his throat.

"Why do you think so?"

"You have the same naughty mind, and your beauty surely surpasses his."

Hephaestion just smiled at the compliment and loved his Alexander like only he could, no matter how many tricks that Bagoas had in store.

"Alexander?"

The young King looked up from his daydream and found that everyone had gone already. Only Hephaestion sat there with him and shook his arm so that he would wake up.

"Cleitus has been done for over an hour. You didn't react so they decided to move the feast elsewhere. They hoped you would not be angry but I told them it wouldn't be a problem."

Alexander brought a hand up to caress the face of his lover and the young man smiled in response. He was not nearly drunk, his eyes still glittered with that same intelligent light.

"You didn't go with them?"

"No… I thought my King would need me more."

"He does."

Hephaestion helped Alexander onto his feet and the King leaned on the other, but not too heavily. They walked to the royal chambers together, but once inside Alexander did not let go. He pulled Hephaestion with him to his bed.

"Stay tonight, Phai."

"Bagoas?"

"He isn't here… I have told him not to worry about me, that I would be able to find my bed on my own. Wear it again… please?"

Hephaestion was quite confused, although happy Alexander had clearly chosen for him.

"Wear what again?"

"Your sapphires… your own crown."

"You always dress me up like a Prince." Hephaestion sighed before taking a few steps and putting on the small crow, placing it on his head. He had kept in it Alexanders room to keep it safe.

"You might not be one, but in my heart you are as much a King as I."

Hephaestion flushed and smiled softly, whispering a thank you towards Alexander. Swiftly he came into Alexanders arms and kissed him deeply.

Yet another night the heart of Alexander had was with his owner again.

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Thanks to you lovely reviewers! You make me want to write more and I love you for that.