Title: "After Ecbatana"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 6, "Welcoming"

A/N: Thanks for your support, especially to Queen who does amazingly in-depth reviews. Hope you enjoy where I am going with this.

As soon as the doors opened men were standing, applauding, screaming like animals. Alexander let a small smile spread across his face. He raised his glass, as did all of the others, and without saying a word he took a drink. After doing so most of the attention surrounding his entrance went elsewhere. Alexander went to his seat, and then turned. Hephaestion was not far away, but had been stopped by Ptolemy. The two quickly embraced and then Hephaestion continued on his way until he reached the chair at Alexander's side.

"They seem pleased," Alexander stated as he drank deeply from his goblet. From the corner of his eye he saw Hephaestion look over at him. Alexander took the goblet from his lips and set is down upon seeing this. Hephaestion had not condoned his drinking for some time. Not since a night in India, where Alexander had foolishly hit him hard in the face, for no real reason.

"Your men love you," Olympias said as she sat on the other side of Alexander. Alexander glanced over at her. It was no wonder why many of the men had turned their heads. Yet at the same time they had quickly turned away to make sure that they did not offend Alexander. "It is easy to see that they are glad to be home."

"For some this is not home," Alexander stated.

"But it is closer." She could tell that saying anything more might anger Alexander. He son had always had a short temper, much like his father. So instead of instigating anything, she turned her attention to Hephaestion. "Hephaestion, where is Aryse? I thought that perhaps you would have brought her with you."

"I tried," Hephaestion said as he took his goblet of water in his hand. "She was rather insistent that she stay and unpack my things."

Olympias smiled, "She is well trained. I bought her from a noble Athenian family, before they were all executed of course, but the investment was still good. I hope that she can bring you much pleasure."

"He won't use her for that," Alexander cut in. He was going to tell her to stop trying to mess with the way of things. Especially the things that involved Hephaestion. Yet he did not get his chance, as the doors to the dining room were opened and Roxanne entered he knew that nothing good would come of her entrance.

"Alexander," she screamed, her face full of tears and hatred. Everyone instantly was silent and looking at her. Alexander sat up straighter, Olympias smiled, and Hephaestion sunk further down into his chair. Roxanne then began to address everyone in the hall. "Do you know how your king hates his wife?"

Alexander had already gotten up. Hephaestion set his goblet down and then rose as well. He followed Alexander, making sure to give him some room, yet still followed him. Olympias rose if only to get a better view. She knew the rage of a woman scorned, and she knew what Roxanne was planning to do. It was going to be a stupid move really, a move that could get her killed, but perhaps she did not know the way of things in a society other than that of a barbarian.

"He loves him," Roxanne spat out, pointing to Hephaestion as Ptolemy came forward and grabbed her arm to pull it down. Roxanne instantly disapproved of him doing such. "Do not touch me! You are filthy, all of you!"

Alexander grabbed her when he reached her and began to drag her out of the room. Roxanne fought back well, kicking and screaming, until others stepped in. Hephaestion grabbed both of her arms, pinning them behind her back, and helped Alexander escort her out of the room. Bagoas and Ptolemy ended up helping as well. As the doors closed Olympias let a smile cross her lips. There was still silence in the room, and many were turning to her.

"Continue," she said, raising her glass. "I will go and get my son. You all know how pregnant women can be."

There were laughs throughout the room. Olympias knew that this did not explain Roxanne's behavior. Yet some were naïve enough to think that it did. Olympias left the room calmly, as if nothing had happened. She then made her way down the grand halls, approaching the rooms that now belonged to Roxanne. As she approached she could hear the yelling from the open door, and the throwing of expensive gold and silver platters.

"I hate you," Roxanne screamed.

"Good," Olympias heard Alexander toss back at her. "Because I've come to hate you too!"

"You never loved me!"

"I did, for about five minutes! But look at what you do, Roxanne. How am I supposed to love you when you try to persecute me for anything that you can?"

"I am your wife, not him."

"I have told you where Hephaestion stands," Alexander said as another platter was thrown at him. This one he managed to catch and toss back at her. He was not aiming for her, or he would have hit her. "He is Hephaestion! He is Alexander, too! You will never be him, and you will never take his place in my heart!"

"I want his place in your bed," Roxanne screamed.

"You have no right to say such," Alexander said. He then turned and fled the room, shutting the door behind him. He then looked to the two guards he had placed outside of the room. "Make sure that she does not leave, and no one enters."

Olympias kept by her place in the shadows. As Alexander came down the hall he must have noticed her because he stopped. He then turned and approached her. He wrapped his arms around her, and just let her hold him for a moment. It seemed right, her being here, and her loving him.

Olympias held her son like she had not done in some time. The years really had changed him. It was not only his longer hair, or the scars he kept hidden, or the firmness of his brow. His spirit had been changed, altered. When he had left he feared nothing in the world, and nothing could make him change his mind about anything, or make him consider anyone beside himself. Yet this had changed, and it was not all Hephaestion's doing. It was the doing of life.

Life had been kind to him, and cruel to him. He had seen thousands of his men die, thousands of others that were not his men. Vulnerability had slapped him in the face when Hephaestion was poisoned, and was sick, and on the verge of death. Alexander had changed because life had willed it. He had learned to fear, not only for Hephaestion, but for himself as well.

Those around him at times hated him. Some were willing, like Roxanne, to risk everything to have him killed. For if the king were to die then his campaigns would die along with him. Olympias held him, feeling these thoughts leave his soul and enter hers. She could not protect him when he was far away, in India, and in Persia where she was not. Yet now she was here, and she would make sure that nothing harmed him again.

"Oh my Alexander," she whispered in his ear, "you are so strong."

He pulled away then with only a soft grin on his face to comfort her. He then continued down the hallway. Olympias turned and watched him go. She knew where he was going. He was going to the only place where he could still find comfort in the world. Hephaestion's doors would always be open for him. As he disappeared down the hall Olympias found herself turning, and looking at the closed doors of Roxanne's rooms. It was decided in that instant that she needed to speak with her son's wife, and perhaps she would be able to put some sense into her. Otherwise she would be forced to take worse measures.