Title: "The Other Persian"
Author: BalianswordA/N: Thank you all for your continued support. I hope that you are still enjoying my work. Please keep sending your comments my way. Thanks again!
Arias kept his eyes on Hephaestion as Alexander rode away with Cassander and Ptolemy at his either side. Hephaestion did a wonderful job of acting as if he did not care. Arias knew that perhaps he was the only one that could see Hephaestion's pains. He could see the way he bit at his lower lip, the way that he shifted his weight back on forth on his feet, and the way that he had to keep blinking to hold back tears. How was it that Arias knew more about him then his childhood friend?
It was some time before Hephaestion turned and reentered the palace. Arias followed him for some time before he knew that Hephaestion needed to be alone. He stopped, even though he wished badly to console the Macedonian, and turned to the gardens instead. He stopped in front of a fountain and got down on his knees. Perhaps his goddess would listen to his prayers.
Allow him safe return, he prayed in his mind –speaking of Alexander. Let him ride back so that he may embrace Hephaestion. The two are one, and you must know this. Without each other they are nothing. You kill them both when they are apart. Goddess, please, do this not for me but for Hephaestion and Alexander.
Arias opened his eyes when a shadow entered his sun. He glanced at Bagoas, sighed, and stood. They were both very similar. Each wore the same gold cuffs, the same styled silken pants, and the pair of them were almost twins in their beauty. Yet as people they were very different. There was nothing about them that was the same.
"What are you praying for," Bagoas asked. "You have your freedom, what more is there?"
Arias walked passed Bagoas but he followed him. Before he could enter the shade of the palace halls Bagoas grabbed his forearm and pulled him back. Arias let out a breath of air as Bagoas shoved his back into the stone wall. Arias could have forced Bagoas away from him but did not. Instead he stared icily at Bagoas and hoped that his words would not take long.
"Do you know why he did it," Bagoas asked. "Do you know why Alexander asked Hephaestion to stay? It is his love of Hephaestion that caused him to do this. He wants to protect him, because he can sense that something is wrong. There is a cloud of danger in their lives now Arias."
"Do you find yourself missing him," Arias asked Bagoas as he moved away from him. "Because if you do, then you are as weak as I."
Bagoas did not have time to follow him. Arias quickly walked into the palace. He passed a few women that sat tending to the armor of Macedonian men. Things were truly changing. Arias made his way to Hephaestion's chambers. He knocked quietly before entering the room, just incase.
Arias entered the room. He did not see Hephaestion so he went directly to the bathing room. He waited at the door until Hephaestion looked up at him. Arias then entered the room and quietly took a place behind Hephaestion. He reached out and took Hephaestion's wet hair in a hand. Next to the tub was an ivory comb and Arias took it. He began to take the few knots from Hephaestion's hair. He did this all in silence, waiting for Hephaestion to speak.
"It began months ago," Hephaestion said quietly after some time. "I didn't even realize it until now. We drifted apart somewhere during the journey and now it is as if we never existed."
"Look at me," Arias said as he moved so that he sat on the ledge of the tub where Hephaestion could stare into his verdant eyes. "Alexander still loves you, as you love him. Nothing and everything has changed, but nothing has left between the two of you. I see him, as well as I see you now, and I know."
"How can men know such things," Hephaestion sighed. He had heard these words before, from Alexander, who had heard them from Philip. It had been rhetorical but Arias pressed a hand to Hephaestion's cheek with every intention of answering.
"If he is the sun, and you are the stars, as I am told by all then I do not need to see to know. It does not need to be explained. It just is. The stars always chase the sun, and if you think about it, the sun continues to chase the stars."
Hephaestion put a hand over Arias' that rested on his cheek. He smiled softly. Arias already knew all the secrets in life it seemed. Hephaestion only wished that he could know them too some day.
It was dark when Bagoas entered the room. He had already gone and checked in Hephaestion's rooms for Arias. Oddly enough he had not been there. This meant that he could only be in one other room. Bagoas shut the door and stepped into the dimly lit room. There should have been more candles lit but Bagoas was not going to bother.
"Get up," he said as he lightly slapped Arias across the cheek. Arias moaned but otherwise rolled onto his other side. Bagoas reached down and grabbed a chunk of Arias' hair with a hand. He then pulled him out of the bed. He shoved him onto the balcony, still holding his hair, and pointed to the city.
"Look," Bagoas hissed as he shoved Arias' head forward, letting him go forcefully. "Do you believe me now?"
Arias looked at the darkened city. Immediately he saw it. Shadows of movement from one corner to another. There were a few houses lit that otherwise should have been dark. Arias took this all in and then looked over at Bagoas.
"Too many servants are missing, too many houses are lit. They are planning Arias. You must believe me now."
"I would think you with them," Arias retorted, although deep down he felt his heart clench with fear for Hephaestion's life, as well as his own.
"If I were smarter I would be," Bagoas said. "Yet I believe that I miss him. Alexander and I do not share a love. We share something very close to it though. As idiotic as it is, I will side with him, not our people. They do not wish to let Alexander lead."
"Then they are not our people," Arias answered. There was silence between them for a moment. "What can we do?"
"Everyone knows about Alexander and I," Bagoas said. "They do not know about you though."
Arias glanced over at Bagoas. He did not need to finish. Arias already knew what he was suggesting. In order to know what was going on Arias would have to join those that would have Hephaestion killed. He must do so in secret though, even to Hephaestion. It was dangerous, for if anyone found out, it would be his life. Yet there were risks to loving, and this was just one of them.
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