Title: By my side (2?)

Author: Adsagsona

Type: Romance

Rating: PG – PG 13

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: Note: It is a slight AU from the Alexander movie verse. Hephaestion is not the son of Lord Amyntor, but a slave.

Spoilers: For 'Alexander'

Summary: At a young age, a slave gets captured by the soldiers of Philip. Alexander needs someone to wrestle with, because his friends always let him win. Too stubborn for his own good, the slave causes problems.

By my side – Chapter 2

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Hephaestion had not a clue what he was doing here outside, on this dreadful hot morning. The young Prince had not said another word after he had announced that he would be able to keep his name, for which the young boy secretly had been grateful. Now, only a few days later, he had been dragged out.

"There you are."

He turned to find Alexander there. He had not studied him before, but he found that he looked different than both of his parents. Not that he had met the Queen, but Olympias was said to look like pure darkness. Alexanders eyes were of a light colour, which contrasted with his blonde hair. It was pure beauty in the making, Hephaestion realised, but of course he would not say a word about it.

He nodded to acknowledge the presence of the other, making a sort of bow. He had never learned how to and had vowed to himself that he would not start now. Clad in only white cloth, he felt not all too comfortable.

"You are probably wondering what the meaning is of all this." Alexander began as he looked at the other and coming closer. Hephaestion immediately drew back and stayed in a safe distance.

"No… You are the one that will fight me later, so you might as well touch me. I wanted you because I knew that you will defy me. If you do, I will grant you one thing."

"What would that be?"

No politeness to end the sentence, just plain and crude. Alexander smiled in response, this would be fun. And he did what any boy would do in his case… he lied. Hephaestion wouldn't win this wrestle match, so he would never be granted what Alexander was now offering. Or this was how the crown prince thought.

"I will grant you your freedom if you defeat me. It will be difficult, seeing as you will have to fight by the rules."

"What rules?"

"The rules of the art of wrestling." Alexander answered as he shrugged, how should he know, right? He looked as some of the others began to enter the stadium, together with one of the veteran soldiers of Philip. He was their permanent teacher.

"I see that we have a new student amongst us. Behave yourself, boy and everything will be alright. Pair up!"

The boys scuttled around until everyone had their partner. Alexander had grabbed Hephaestion by the arm so that he would not go anywhere or to anyone else. Not that the slave would, there was a chance of freedom in this.

"Begin!"

Before Hephaestion even knew what was going on, he found himself face first on the ground. Sputtering at the dust, he got up and looked straight into the face of a worried Alexander.

"Are you alright?"

Not dignifying that with an answer, he got up and stood in the beginning stance, like he had seen it from the others. Grabbing at the arms of Alexander, he now found more resistance, but he was able to regain his footing.

He was winning! Thank the gods, he was winning! Flipping Alexander over, the boy landed on his back as Hephaestion held him in a vice like grip from which he was not able to escape. Before he slave had even time to enjoy his victory, he got dragged off the Prince by the others.

"Get off of him, how dare you!"

"That is the Prince, you fool!"

Hephaestion got dragged a few feet away before receiving a slap in the face, from which he did not recover that swiftly. All of the others stood around Alexander, who had not hurt himself and stood.

"Let him go, he has not hurt me."

"But, my Prince."

"No. Let him go."

However, the teacher came between and broke all of them apart. He glared at Hephaestion, for he started all of this, this common slave who had dared to come in between at these lessons. Calling the soldiers, he gestured for them to keep Hephaestion with them.

"Get him out of my sight."

"No, sir, please…"

"My Prince, I only do what your father has ordered. When there is trouble, the boy goes back to the slave quarters. That is what I will do."

Alexander could not answer this, he was too young to give out orders against the will of his father, although he had tried it already. Hephaestion remained silent as the soldiers grabbed him each by an arm and lifted him up so that he would stand on his feet.

Not saying a word, he obediently walked along with them, until he met the gaze of Alexander. He stared at him, unforgiving, his eyes hardening and accusing the young Prince of betrayal. Alexander had promised him freedom and instead he got imprisonment.

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Empressofwhispers: Thank you for both your lovely review of my other story and here. Especially for you I'll make this a longer story ;-). Don't how long it'll be though, but my muse has paid a visit to me tonight.

To all: Please tell me what you think!