Title: "The Other Persian"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 6, Attack

Arias opened his eyes. The moonlight streamed into the room. He felt Hephaestion's arms around him and wondered how he was going to move. He looked over his shoulder as he turned. Luckily this did not awaken him. Arias kissed Hephaestion's forehead lightly before he slid out of his arms, and out of the room.

He shut the door, glad that it did not creak, for the door to his room often did. Arias leaned against the door for a moment. He then kissed the wood, whispering 'goodbye' as he did so. He then made his way down the halls in complete darkness.

Arias crawled into the grand bed, pulling the sheet over him, and stared out at the moon. It seemed like hours passed, and nothing happened. He continued to look at the moon, thinking of the last few days, and slowly began to drift off to sleep. Before he knew it he was sleeping in a peaceful dream.

Hephaestion was awoken to the sound of a scream. He looked around him for Arias. Not seeing him he quickly got up. He grabbed his sword and pulled the door open. As soon as he stepped out into the hall he had to defend himself from a Persian blade.

Other Macedonians around him fought for their lives as well. Hephaestion ducked as a blade was swung toward his neck. He leapt back up and slid his sword deep in the belly of Theroas. Theroas fell to the ground, as did eventually all of the men that had joined with him. By the time all the attackers were dead the sun was rising.

"Hephaestion," Alexander called out as he ran into the hall. He knelt down next to Hephaestion and took his head in his hands. Hephaestion's eyes opened and he grinned.

"Welcome back," Hephaestion said.

"Are you alright?"

Hephaestion nodded, "Just cut, and tired."

Alexander looked at the small cut across Hephaestion's cheek. It was not very deep and had begun to stop bleeding. However, it was enough to make Alexander worry all the more about Hephaestion.

"I thought you would be safer here," Alexander said as he wrapped his arms around Hephaestion. "Forgive me Hephaestion. I will never leave you again. I swear it."

"Oh Alexander, I could never be angry with you."

Moments later Bagoas entered the hallway. He still held a bloodied dagger in his hand. He looked at Theroas' body on the ground. Before stepping over it he kicked him. It was unnecessary but made him feel better all the same. When Hephaestion spotted him entering the room he froze.

"Arias," he whispered as he stood quickly.

Alexander stepped out of the room. Immediately Hephaestion tried to push past him. Alexander kept held of Hephaestion though. He could not let him enter the room. It would only hurt him more.

"No," Alexander whispered in his ear.

"Let me see him," Hephaestion screamed. He then stopped fighting and sunk into Alexander's embrace. Tears were now spilling over the brims of his eyes. "Alexander, is he alright?"

Alexander held him close but said nothing. Hephaestion knew what this meant. He let Alexander hold him as he sunk to the floor. He no longer tried to hold himself back from crying. Instead, he cried until he could cry no more.

Hephaestion stepped forward. He looked down at Arias. His face was pale, and cuts made stripes of red across his body. The fatal wound had been either the stab in the neck, or the deep stab to the heart. Even in death he looked magnificent. His hair was untouched and gold still covered his body. All Hephaestion could have asked for was to see his verdant eyes once more.

Hephaestion reached out and put a hand on Arias' cheek. He then leaned down and placed a light kiss on Arias' lips. He then released him and took a step back. Alexander was handed a torch. Instead of lighting the pyre himself he handed the torch to Hephaestion.

The pyre was lit. The smoke lifted through the air, to the gods. Hephaestion let a single tear fall. For the first time in so long he no longer felt as if he were a prisoner in Alexander's world. He was Hephaestion. Arias had let him realize this, and for that, he would never forgive him.

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