Title: "After Ecbatana"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 12, "Changing Lives"

A/N: Hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday. Also, I hope that everyone enjoys this new chapter. I thought that we needed some more flavor, because there are so many great characters to work with, so I hope that everyone can bear with me.

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Bagoas heard the babe wail as he stepped out of the room. It was usually not permitted for many to be in the birthing room, but Alexander had pulled him into the room with him. Things had gone so fast that Bagoas could not really put all of the details back in order. He wouldn't be able to write them down clearly, but he would do his best. He chuckled to himself as he walked down the hall.

Out of all of the names in the world, Alexander had not even considered a single name that Roxanne had thought of. Instead, he named the boy as it left the womb. He was saying the name over and over again. What was Roxanne going to do? Everyone in the room already knew that the name was going to be permanent. Alexander, as father, was given the right of naming the child anyway. In other lands it was different, but Bagoas would remind Roxanne that this was not another land, this was the land of Alexander the Great.

"Hephander," the king had said as the child was cut away from Roxanne's room. Bagoas knew what the name meant. It was Hephaestion, and Alexander, made into one name. It was rather sweet he thought. Roxanne would not think so though. It would just be another stab to her heart.

Bagoas went to his rooms until late at night. He wrote down what had gone on in the day. The birth of the heir of Alexander's empire took up most of the pages he wrote on. But when he grew tired and there was nothing left to tell he got up, putting out the candle on the desk, and left the room. There was a grand feast going on tonight, and he was going to make himself present. He knew that Alexander would be thrilled to see him. He was thrilled at anything at the moment. It was from having a son. It would wear off though, like all of his moods eventually did, until they found their ways back again.

As Bagoas walked down the hall, taking turns here and there, he suddenly felt that he was being followed. He did nothing about it though. He knew that no one would dare harm him today. If anyone ruined this day for Alexander they would die a slow painful death. That Bagoas was sure of. As he suspected, he made it to the dining hall without any trouble.

He entered, and immediately Cassander approached him. Bagoas had never had any feeling towards Cassander one way or the other. At times the man seemed well enough, but at others, he had a terrible streak of rage in his blood. After meeting Olympias, Bagoas wondered if perhaps she had born him too, for they had the same air about them. However, he feared Olympias, and did not fear Cassander as much –yet he did fear him a little.

"Bagoas," Cassander exclaimed, obviously drunk, as he put an arm around his shoulders. He turned Bagoas with him, almost spilling the contents of his goblet as he did, and waved his free arm about the room. "We are having a celebration. Perhaps you could dance for the king."

Bagoas knew that he would do such if Alexander asked. Yet he was not about to do anything instructed by Cassander. Especially in this state. Instead, he nodded mutely, and waited for Cassander's attention to be taken elsewhere. It took only a few moments. The man was then turning, talking to Ptolemy, and a group of women that he had about him. Bagoas slipped away, making his way to where Alexander would be.

But as he approached, he could see that Alexander was not in the same mood he had been earlier. Hephaestion was at his side, kneeling at the side of Alexander as he sat on his grand chair, speaking softly too him. He seemed to be pleading as well. Bagoas only got a little closer, so that he could hear what was being said better, before he stopped and made his presence less known by the way he stood. Just by shifting his weight differently he stood not as tall, and was not noticed by anyone. It was amazing what years as a slave could teach one.

"Alexander," Hephaestion said quietly as he pleaded with him, trying not to draw attention. It was clear that he was asking for something that Alexander would not give him. His eyes showed his hurt, as did the way his lip seemed to tremble, as if he were going to cry. Bagoas knew that he would not though. It was beneath Hephaestion to cry in public. Later, perhaps, he would let the river of tears he held behind his eyes fall.

"Alexander please," Hephaestion pleaded, his heart braking, the sound of it obvious in his voice. "Alexander, listen to me before you get angry with me. It changes nothing between us. Alexander…Alexander are you listening to me?"

"No," Alexander said suddenly. He had a hand pressed to the side of his face, as if it would control the redness that came to his face. It was clear that he was upset, but hurt more than anything. Bagoas felt terrible, seeing Alexander like this, and vowed that he would help him through whatever pained him. Hephaestion had clearly caused it.

"Alexander," Hephaestion said again, his voice trembling. It was not fear of Alexander's rage that made him do so. It was the fact that he had offended Alexander that was panicking him, not because he feared his wrath, but he did not want him to be angry with him. He did not want him to stop loving him as he did. "Alexander, just hear me out will you?"

"No," Alexander screamed finally. Bagoas listened as the noises around the room all ceased. Alexander did not care about being heard though. He was so angry, he did not seem to notice, he just continued. He stood in a furry, looked down at Alexander, and continued to yell. "I do not want to listen Hephaestion, because I don't care!"

"Alexander," Hephaestion began, but was cut off.

"Go then," Alexander spat, flinging his arm as he did. "Go live your life if you want to do so badly! Get out, and never come back! Never speak to me again Hephaestion Amyntor, never, do you understand? I never want to see you again! Now leave!"

Hephaestion rose, and left the room in a walk that was the closest thing that one could get to running. Alexander surveyed the room then, after Hephaestion was gone. Bagoas knew what would happen next. He would turn his rage to those that were still around.

"What," he screamed to everyone listening. "Go on, enjoy your party! Do not concern yourself with me!"

Bagoas watched as the king fled the room just as Hephaestion had. A lover's spat no doubt. They had had them before, little fights, but never had Alexander said such words to Hephaestion. When they had fought before they would just leave and not speak to one another for a day or two. Never had Alexander, well, banished Hephaestion. He'd never even told he guards to deny Hephaestion entrance to his rooms.

Interested in what Alexander would do next, he left the room. No one seemed to notice. Everyone had gone on with their drinking. It only showed how much they all cared for Alexander. They cared about as much as Bagoas cared about the weather in Syria. That would be, not at all.

Alexander was in his room, Bagoas found out as he inspected the rooms he thought Alexander would go to. He cried, and continued to as Bagoas entered the room from the secret passage hidden in the wall. The other door had been locked. Perhaps he should not have done so, but Alexander did not seem to mind. Instead he looked up from the furs his face was pushed in to, and he held out a hand. Bagoas took it and let Alexander draw him down onto the bed.

The king cried for the rest of his night, cried into Bagoas' shoulder. Bagoas never spoke. He did not need to. He needed only to hold Alexander until he fell asleep. After he did, Bagoas kept guard over him. When the sun was just rising and a new day was put before him, Bagoas gently put Alexander's head onto a pillow, and sneaked out of the room.