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: Slash, obviously.

Beta: None.

Pairing: Alexander/Hephaestion

Archive: Right here.

Author's Note: Bring me more, they say! At your request, my lady Lexy.

Spoilers: For the movie 'Alexander'

Summary: Do you remember Hephaestions outfit on the day of Alexanders wedding? That is the one I am talking about in this fic. It is a celebration for the Persian love god, guess what is about to happen?

Band of Gold

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They had been in Persian territory for so long that he had almost forgotten what it was like to be a Macedonian. Alexander had been trying to adapt to the weather and to the people, letting his clothes of Macedonian fashion in his tent when he walked amongst them.

His soldiers didn't like it in the slightest, and not even his Generals. They were feeling like the Persians were not of their own kind, not equal… not human. Alexander had not fully understood their reasons for thinking such things, but he had let them be. If they wanted to keep wearing their own armour, they should. If they wanted to refuse to speak the language, then let them.

"What is your name?"

As he walked through the campment surrounding one of the smaller Persian cities which they had come upon to, a city where the people had surrendered without fighting and even welcomed their conquerors, he startled.

The soft voice was from someone he knew very well and he hid behind one of the tents so that he was able to see without being watched himself. Hephaestion was kneeling right beside a small child, so that he would be at the same height. He had one of his Macedonian garments on, but it seemed like his voice sounded friendly enough. The Macedonian looked up towards the girl and his eyes shone bright, of the vast blue Alexander had begun to love so much.

And he was talking in Persian. Alexander had never known.

When he had directed the girl to where she had wanted to be, namely with her mother which she had lost, he took her up in his arms. Hephaestion had found her too little to be running around the camp alone and he gently set her on her feet in front of a rather dark skinned woman with long black hair. She looked at him in a hostile manner.

"You should watch your daughter better."

The woman should have been furious at the scolding, but because it came fastly in her own language, she forgot to be angry. Hephaestion walked away from her with confidence. He startled when Alexander came from behind a tent.

"Alexander… you could even sneak upon a horse without trying." He sighed softly a he laid a hand on his heart.

"You show much concern for these people."

Hephaestion looked back towards the young girl, his hair sweeping over his shoulders. She was still staring towards him and gave him a slight wave. The General merely smiled before turning back towards his King.

"I would show concern for every child. They don't belong in campments, Alexander. War is not good for us adults, but what will it do for children?"

The King had never really thought upon it, but he was used to his best friend giving him these kind of things to consider. He gestured for Hephaestion to join him in his walk and he put his hands to his back, before the other walked beside him.

"The Persians are giving a feast tonight, to honour one of their gods and in the mean time, their conquerors. I am wondering what our soldiers will do."

"They'll feast… if there is wine they will drink, Alexander. Do not worry, they will not hold back for the Persians, as long as they don't have to mingle."

That was just what Alexander would try, make them mingle. His soldiers were being stubborn about this, but he had thought that tonight might be a breakthrough. Not so… It frustrated him to no end that he could not unite these two people.

"Perhaps I should take the offered hand of one of those Persian princesses… there were so many already."

Hephaestion did not answer for a moment and the King looked back at his General. Sapphire blue eyes were almost fully closed and the young man looked down at the ground. They were far from camp and Alexander rested an arm around the others mans waist.

"Don't."

"I will still love you, even if I get married. You know that it will happen one day, Phai."

As always, when this nickname was being given, Alexanders voice softened and it brought a smile to Hephaestions face, albeit a sad one. Turning around so that he was standing in front of his King, he looked into the light eyes of the young man and sighed.

"I will always wish an heir for you, Alexander, one who will be as strong as you so that he can rule your empire. To share and further that dream of yours."

Tears almost formed in his eyes, but the proud man that Hephaestion was swallowed them away. He would never have wanted for Alexander to comfort him in those moments, so the other didn't touch him.

"Thank you." The King whispered softly and the other responded with a small nod.

"Go Alexander… Bagoas will want to prepare you for the feast tonight." He could not hide the hint of jealousy in his voice and now Alexander did react.

"You will never lose me, Hephaestion." He whispered softly into the ear of his General before pressing a kiss below it in his neck, hidden from prying eyes.

Letting go of his General, Alexander went back to his own tent without looking at Hephaestion. These moments were difficult for the both of them and he hated being a King at those times. He did not enjoy spending his life in the eyes of others, but he had to. It was a public secret that Hephaestion and he had been lovers from an early age, but nobody had seen them together.

People knew about Bagoas, but that was a Persian slave and some of his soldiers even thought less of Alexander for it. They would probably rather see him with Hephaestion than that slave. Macedonians did not care too much about gender as they did not have terms for it like modern man. They took what was theirs, no more or no less.

Bagoas was quite glad that Alexander had returned. Preparing his bath, he had gone through great length for this feast to go right for his ruler. He knew about the god which would be celebrated tonight and for the Persian god of love he would make no sacrifices… but perhaps tonight he would make an exception.

He bowed towards Alexander and led him to the bath, undressing him slowly. Where otherwise the King would be quite eager, he now was absentminded and just slid into the bathtub. As his shoulders were massaged, he closed his eyes.

"My King? Which garments would you like to wear?"

"Persian, Bagoas, please."

The young man nodded and made his way to the closet of the young King, where a few of the Persian clothing could be found. He brought back something of a beautiful golden colour with red hints, which Alexander simply loved. He complimented the good choice of the slave and got a blush in return.

Stepping out of the water he let himself be dressed ,but he was thinking about Hephaestion the entire time. He had hurt him with beginning about marriage and… Bagoas seemed to disturb him too some level. Alexander sometimes cursed the fact that he could not be alone at night, but Hephaestion had accepted that from his King, his lover, his long time friend.

"Bagoas?" He asked again.

The young slave stood right by him after finishing the clothing and took a step back. Noddign softly he got all of his attention.

"Feast tonight, celebrate your god. I won't be needing you."

He knew that now he was hurting the young man, but he could not think about that. Bagoas was still a slave and he treated him well, no matter what another might say. The slave nodded again and made his way out of the room.

Alexander strode outside, where the large feast was going on in the campment. Fires rose high at a safe distance between the tents, people were gathered around. Wine could be found everywhere, and not lined with water like usual. The Persians from the city had gathered their belongings for the day and feasted together with Persians and Macedonians from the campment.

Many lay about already drunk and passed out. Others were kissing and fulfilling what this night seemed to be all about. Love, although that meaning could be stretched. Everything would be forgiven tonight, as long as it was with consent of the other. Few limits were set and Alexander looked around him… finding Macedonians in the arms of Persian women and some even with their boys. It would have concerned him, but tonight he could not say a word.

"My King."

At the soft words he turned around and his eyes laid upon the loveliest creature he had ever seen. Hephaestion had worn a typical Persian attire, of the softest yellow. It clung to his chest before widening in a tunic and the leggings he wore were barely visible in the dark. The small leather band with the baby tooth of Alexander inside a leather pouch laid upon his bare chest. Nobody knew but the King and Hephaestion and a secretive smile played about Alexanders lips.

Hephaestions eyes were lined with kohl, but what struck the King the most was the band of gold that held his hair together. He had let it loose and it had been brushed thoroughly so that it glinted in the light of the flames. For a moment Alexander touched it and eyes fell upon swollen and well-kissed lips.

"It seems like you have had your action for the night."

He could not help but sound jealous.

"A few of the men decided to attack me." Hephaestion smiled and it seemed all good-natured, he shook his head at Alexander as his eyes squinted.

"No Alexander, it was not against my will. Nobody held me down… they shyly asked me if they could could get a kiss." He laughed softly at the face of his King and embraced him.

"More than a kiss would be waiting for you though…" He murmured softly before pressing soft lips against Alexanders cheek. Pulling back they looked into each others eyes. The King leaned forward and for the first time in full public, they kissed.

Not a peck on the lips or an embrace to say goodbye, but a kiss from two lovers who had not met each other in a while. Alexander kept his hand at the back of Hephaestions head while the other posessively held his hands at his Kings hips.

"There they go." Cleitus murmured under his breath as he watched how the two of them stood near each other. A few of the soldiers who sat next to him, grinned and nodded. They had always known their General had it in for Alexander.

Without words, the King and his companion decided that a few minutes was enough for a public show. Hand in hand they walked back inside, but stopped in the corridor. Hephaestion pressed his King against the wall and leaned in, kissing him softly, tenderly.

"Who am I?" He whispered softly.

"Hephaestion, always Hephaestion." The other answered before embracing him and walking the both of them to the royal chambers. Once inside they hungrily kissed, hands searching and clothes flying about the room. For a moment Alexander looked up and took the small golden band from Hephaestions hair, letting it fall over his shoulders. Cupping the others cheeks, he gave a soft smile and kissed the other deeply.

"Where is Bagoas?"

Hephaestion didn't like to be spyed upon in the act of love and certainly not by someone who knew Alexander as intimate as he.

"You really dislike him, don't you?"

"No, I honestly do not. I do not like being watched, Alexander… not by him or by anyone else."

"Pity, you give such beautiful shows." The King answered as that made Hephaestion blush deeply.

"I have sent him to celebrate his feast… I did not want him to come tonight. You would be here."

At this Hephaestion embraced the other and kissed him, moving the both of them to the bed. He kissed and licked his way over Alexanders bare shoulders and chest, laving his nipples and sweeping his hair over the naked skin. The shudders and low moans coming from him where enough.

Taking Alexander into his mouth fully, he felt the hands in his hair caress and tense at the same time. Moving up the body of the King, Hephaestion kissed him deeply and took Alexander inside of him.

It hurt, but only a little and they joined swiftly, taking up a rhythm as ancient as time itself. Finding each other again, words of love were whispered between the soft moans and kisses.

Afterwards Hephaestion snuggled against his King, his head resting upon the others chest, one of his hands posessively at Alexanders hip. His hair covered most of his face, but the young blonde haired man knew that his companion was sleeping soundly and easily.

Caressing Hephaestions hair, he pressed a kiss upon it an settled for sleep himself. He did not see the small smile curling about his Generals lips.