Title: By my side (25 of 25)
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: CHARACTER DEATH. Do not read if you are opposed to it.
Beta: None.
Pairing: Alexander/Hephaestion
Archive: Right here.
Author's 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 25
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Alexander could not remember himself what had happened after the death of his father. That day had gone by him in a blur and he did not care to know what had gone through the crowd at the acknowledgement of the crown. His father was dead. Dead. Someone had brought him to his room and he had laid down on the bed, pretending to grieve. He did not know if he could cry for a man who had not loved him.
Yet he had buried his head in his hands and pulled up his knees against his chest, a safe cocoon against the world that was quickly swallowing him whole. He had issued a monument for his father, a large tomb the world would not forget. He had wanted to question his mother about this, but she could not be found for the several hours after the murder. Pausanias was dead, his body put up upon a stake near the stadium.
A soft knock upon the door intervened his morbid thoughts.
"Enter."
The only one he knew to be bold enough to enter the Kings chambers in this late an hour, his closest friend and lover. Against himself, a small smile tilted at his lips. The young man sat down on the edge of his bed and glanced at him with worry.
"How are you feeling?"
"My father is dead and I rule a part of the known world, how do you think I feel."
The sarcasm was obvious in the voice of the young king and Hephaestion almost cringed visibly, but he lowered his head and nodded. He knew that he shouldn't have come here, but he had needed to hear from Alexander himself that he was fine before he took up his place in the army again.
"Hephaestion."
The sound of his name caused him to look up and he startled as Alexander seemed closeby him, barely at armslength, beckoning him. He bit his lower lip and opened his arms for the young king, which a sobbing Alexander answered quickly, burying his head in the shoulder of his older companion.
"I hated him, Hephaestion, and now he is dead."
The soft words barely were loud enough for Hephaestion to hear, but he shook his head softly and stroked the blonde hair of the other.
"It had nothing to do with you. You will find the murderer of your father and you will hunt him down…" Everyone knew that it was Persian gold which had enabled Pausanias to pull such a stunt off.
"Will you stay with me tonight?"
Hephaestion did not need to answer, Alexander just raised his head and they found themselves in a desparate kiss, which had nothing to do with the love they felt for each other. This was about sadness and grief, which Alexander needed the comfort for. He had sought out Hephaestion, knowning that he would not turn away from him. Tongues battling for dominance, the soldier soon relented and let the King have his way with him.
"Can I trust you, Hephaestion?"
The question threw him off and he gasped, wrenching his lips loose from the other, but not being able to losen his wrist, trapped in the grip of the younger man. The now dark eyes of Alexander stood serious and Hephaestion tilted his head slightly to the side.
"I would never hurt you, my King… my Alexander."
He whispered it, his voice barely audible, but it was enough for his King. Alexander sighed softly and let go of the others wrists, letting himself fall down upon the bedding and pulling the young soldier with him. Laying his head upon Hephaestions chest, he listened to the strong and heavy heartbeat of the other, soothing all in its own.
"What am I going to do, Hephaestion?"
"You will pursuit your dream, the one you have told me about for all of those nights. Go east."
"How can I when the Greek do not even recognise my presence."
"They will. You are Alexander."
It was said with such determination, that it made Alexander smile. Hephaestions fingers brushed his cheek. He had laid a soft hand upon the chest of the other himself and stroked his fingers over dark nipples. The young man above him hissed in pure delight and the fingers strengthened their grip in Alexanders hair.
"A… Alexander." He breathed deeply as he searched for his voice.
"Love me, Hephaestion." He murmured in answer before latching on the lips of the other and silencing him. He did not want the answer of the other, because he feared it. He did not want to lose Hephaestion like he had lost Philip.
But the young man pushed him away slightly, setting him at arms length and looking at him. Alexanders eyes turned furious, but he tried to remain calm as the other continued to search him.
"What do you want from me?"
The question startled Alexander and he did not know what to answer immediately. Frowning, he searched for the right words.
"I do not 'want' anything from you, Hephaestion. What I 'need' from you is… be the same as you are now. Don't change, not for me or anyone else. I need you by my side. Like Achilles needed his Patroclus I need you… I can not do this by myself."
"You will not have to."
Hephaestion pulled him back into his arms and kissed him deeply. It was all that he had wanted to hear. He would remain beside Alexander for as long as he would be needed, through everything the young King could come up with. That his big dream would be achieved, that Hephaestion did not doubt for one moment.
They laid together on the bed, Alexander asleep out of pure exhaustion from the days events, Hephaestion awake due to the same. For one moment Hephaestion feared the old legend of Troy, that great men were bound to die young, but with glory. Patroclus had died first. Biting his lip, he vowed to himself that he would not care… Alexander would be there to join him in the end, that was all that mattered.
"I'll always remain by your side." He whispered softly to the hair of the young man as his fingers brushed the others cheek, finally closing his eyes himself.
The next day Alexander would become the one and only King of Macedon.
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My dear reviewers (aka My luvs!)… this is the final chapter of my story. I really hope that you enjoyed 'By my side' as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Thank you SO VERY MUCH for all your inspiration!
I will make a sequel for this one… it will be here shortly, I hope to have the first chapter done in the weekend.
-hugs- Adsagsona