Title: By my side (14 of ?)

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.

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 14

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Alexander took a deep breath as he entered the room at the side of his mother. It seemed like he was not the only one with that kind of reaction as the entire feast grew quiet at the first step they set in. The young man did everything not to stare at the other guests, but just keep a straight face as he guided the Queen to her own reclining chair, with her following. She had not taken a glance at the bride or groom. She would not for the rest of the evening.

With his duty fulfilled, he walked to his own table, where he found his friends back. They did not initially know how to talk to him about this, but he made it easy for them. Laughing and drinking, he made it clear that he had not problem with the marriage of his father. At a certain moment he became worried. Glancing sideways, skynight eyes caught his. Hephaestion.

With a sigh of relief he gave blinding smile, which was quickly received by the young woman sitting near Hephaestion. Alexander didn't mind, as long as the message came across, which was certainly the case. For a moment the lips of the slave curled into a smile, a slight bow was the recognition he received. Alexander was at ease.

"My King, let us drink to your new bride!"

Shouts came from all sides, the evening had worn on for quite a few hours and the people were drunk. It seemed to be ther father of the bride who wanted to drink to the happy couple. Of course everyone obliged, it was his night as much as that of the couple, he had been so clever as to wed his daughter off to the most powerful man of Macedonia.

"My King, let your marriage be fruitful and blessed by the gods. That the child be a healthy boy who can inherit your kingdom."

Alexander had not really been listening to the words of the older man, as they did not interest him in the slightest. In that last sentence lay everything he had feared however and his eyes widened as the unspoken had been brought forth.

"How dare you?"

He had spoken before thinking and regretted it a moment later, as the occasion was far form right, but now he could not turn back.

"Are you calling me a bastard then?"

"Alexander, be quiet."

He looked up towards his father, seated highly upon his throne and obviously drunk. The wine which had gathered in droplets at his chin had made various spots on the white robe he wore for his wedding. It was a pitiful reproduction of the man who used to be his father, the fearful warlord who forced people to their knees.

"I will not!"

Philip did an effort to stand, while the crowd looked on breathlessly. Soldiers had gathered to see to the order in the room, but Philip let them be for another moment.

"You will apologise." He grumbled as he took the first steps off his throne without too much difficulty, but as he wanted to confront his son, he had not expected this kind of strenght from him.

"There is no reason why I should apologise to someone who calls me a bastard and my mother a royal whore. I have my rights, my King." Alexander answered in a grim voice as he looked around for a weapons. There were none, forbidden for the duration of the marriage. Suddenly he cursed Greece and all of its values it had brought over.

"You don't have any rights if I don't grant them!" Philip said loudly as he attempted to get closer to his son, but failed and tripped over a chair. Falling face first to the ground, he barely managed to hold himself up by his hands.

"And this is what you call a King. A blabbering old drunk who can't even defend himself." Alexander said both in anger and sadness. What had become of his father after he had found this new woman?

Suddenly several hands pulled him away. His father was known for his temperament and would not hesitate to kill his son if he was able to lay his hands on him. The King was already getting up on his feet.

"You are not my son any longer!"

He had hollered it at the top of his lungs so that, even over all the screams of servants and ladies attending the feast, he would still be heard. It reached Alexanders ears without a problem, but he was far too busy with swatting away the helpful hands.

"Get away from me."

His friends had held him back from his father when the two men wanted to fly at each others throath and now were guiding him through the palace. They had left the large hall where the feast was held behind them at a quick pace.

"Let me go, I'm fine… Ptolemy! Leave it."

The hands of the others stopped their pulling and Alexander glared at the lot of them.

"Go back to the feast, pretend like nothing has happened, this is not for you. Go."

In authority, he had nothing to learn from his father. As for his friends, they did everything out of love for him. They had understood a long time ago that Alexander was truly the son of his father and he would become a name in history. They would be there when he made it.

The young prince hurried through the corridors until he arrived at the stables. He needed Buccephalas for this. The untameable black stallion he had been able to make his own as a small boy. He had left the stallion in his own right and they had become friends for life.

"My Prince."

He turned around at hearing his title. There was nobody who could be seen in the darkness of the stable and he was doubting in attacking whoever was hiding there. With one step the young man who had spoken stepped out of the darkness, Buccephalas walking by him.

"It has been taken care of. Food and water for you and Buccephalas. You need to go now, my Prince."

Even without his words, Alexander would have recognised him instantly. Although the young man had lowered a hood over his head, the prince stepped closerby.

"Hephaestion."

It was not a question, but a statement, as he wrapped his arms around the slave. In return, the other held him tightly. Of course he had seen it all.

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Nelia: It does show more about Phai, doesn't it? He asks so little for himself.

Queendel: Indeed. It will get even more endearing, I promise.

Elith: Thanks. Yes, they are!

Lexy: I'll never let anything happen to Phai! Well… I'll always make it better afterwards.