The Persian Campaign Chapter 14: Execution, an alexander fanfic

Title: "The Persian Campaign"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 14, "Execution"

A/N: Hey everyone, thanks again for the reviews. I know that I evilly cut the last chapter off. I haven't checked my reviews, because I'm writing this, but it would be interesting to see if anyone guessed who was behind the plot to poison Hephaestion. Queen Cassander actually is just killing anyone and everyone that was on that balcony. Yes he did first kill the original man behind the actual stabbing of Hephaestion, but now he's going through everyone else. Sorry I didn't write you back before writing this! Koalared Thanks for the reviews. I really am trying to finish it, and thank you for reading and reviewing so quickly!

A/N: If you've seen the movie, when Stateira approaches Alexander and Hephaestion for the first time she has an advisor/protector with her. I have absolutely no idea what his name was (so if you do I would love to know it!). So in this chapter, when people are talking about the Advisor, that is whom we're talking about. Sorry for my lack of knowledge on that one name!

Alexander rested his head on Hephaestion's chest, listening to his heartbeat as he rocked against the rise and fall of his lover's chest. Hephaestion wasn't sleeping, but was soundly resting. No words needed to be spoken in this moment. Alexander just listened to the silence that had now become Hephaestion's words. Hephaestion put a hand against Alexander's head and played with his hair for a moment before he soundly began to breathe again.

Hephaestion opened his eyes and glanced out toward the balcony. It was growing late in the afternoon and Alexander hadn't left his side for hours. He wondered if he had left him at all in the time that he'd been sleeping. He continued to thread his fingers through his blond hair, wondering what tomorrow would bring. Smiling, he recalled the words that Alexander had spoken about the sun chasing the stars, and the stars chasing the sun. It was true, he'd been following Alexander all of his life, but he hadn't been chasing him. He'd been following him, wanted by him, and Alexander had never been fleeing from him.

"Your heart skipped a beat," Alexander said quietly, drawing Hephaestion away from the memories of it. Hephaestion glanced down at him, lightly running his fingers through Alexander's hair. He knew that it soothed him, but it relaxed him as well. Alexander continued to rest his head upon him before he finally tilted his head up and stared into Hephaestion's cerulean eyes. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Fine," Hephaestion replied. It was odd. He hardly could recall ever just letting the silence fill the room with Alexander. The only time he'd been silent around him was when his lover slept in his arms and he'd wake to stare at him. But never before had they both been together, in silence, but even though they were not speaking the words flowed so freely from their eyes to one another. "I was just thinking. What about you? You seem tired, Alexander."

"I'm not leaving your side."

As soon as he said it there was a loud knock at the door. Alexander called out for the knocker to come in. He lifted his head away from Hephaestion. He then watched as Hephaestion shifted, slightly tilting his head back, and closed his eyes. Alexander could see that he was still in some pain. It may not be as bad as it was, which was largely in thanks to Bagoas' wondrous elixir, but he still ached and was still very tired. He'd been through far too much in the last many days. Alexander swallowed, knowing that it had all been his fault. But he turned his attention to Cleitus as he entered the room.

"What is it," Alexander asked. He had specifically stated that he did not want to be bothered. Especially if it had anything to do with the brawls breaking out between the Persians and the Macedonians. In his mind it wasn't his problem. It would resolve itself the moment that both sides stopped provoking the other. At this moment he had the idea of sending Cassander to take care of a few members from each side, to make a public example of them, but then took the thought back. That wouldn't help things, and he knew that Cassander would have no trouble doing it. He never thought that he'd view Cassander as his own assassin, but he now didn't mind it.

"I must insist that you talk to Cassander at this very moment," Cleitus said, and it sounded more like an order than anything else. Alexander shot him a warning glance. He may be a friend but he still had to watch what he said to him as the king. "Are you aware that he believes that he knows who poisoned Hephaestion?"

This caught Alexander's attention. He stood, and even Hephaestion found the strength to open his eyes and sit up a little. Cleitus didn't seem to be pleased about the news. Alexander crossed his arms and lifted his chin a little. It made him look fiercer. Not to mention, his eyes now held that predatory look, the look that Cassander constantly had in his eyes.

"Who," Alexander asked.

"That is what I'm concerned about," Cleitus retorted. "He's implicated that Princess Stateira and the Advisor have something to do with it."

Alexander found that interesting as well. But then again, he was starting to distrust all of the Persians around him. Except for Bagoas, who at the moment was helping more than anything, so he couldn't bring himself to stop trusting him. Not even Hephaestion had questioned the liquids the eunuch had been pouring down his throat. Hephaestion was sitting up, leaning against the four pillows Alexander had stacked for him, and was now curious about the accusation as well. He was actually more shocked at the idea of it then either of the other two. Alexander distrusted everyone at the moment, and Cleitus wanted to make sure the Persians didn't begin to revolt.

"Stateira?"

"Yes," Cleitus answered. "It is absurd Alexander. I'm beginning to think that Cassander has been poisoned too! Stateira is the Persian's princess, if he so much as touches her you're going to be fighting another war. This time, against those that you've decided to embrace."

"The Advisor," Alexander said, lost in thought. He seemed to trust Cassander's findings and didn't seem to care about listening to Cleitus. He then looked back to Cleitus. "Where is Cassander now?"

"He's in the middle of trying to convince the rest of us that Stateira and the Advisor are in fact the two behind this. He seems to have Ptolemy and Nearchus confused. As for the rest of us, we think he's lost his mind as well. You cannot allow him to continue like he does Alexander!"

"What do you know," Alexander screamed, snapping when Cleitus raised his voice to him. Rage came over him again. There was no situation in which Cleitus should believe that he held more power than Alexander.

"Alexander," Hephaestion called softly to him from the bed, warning him not to loose his temper. Alexander glanced over at him. He then looked back at Cleitus. "Perhaps you should go hear what Cassander has to say."

Alexander looked back down at him, "I don't feel like leaving you alone."

"Send Bagoas in then," Hephaestion said. It was harder for him to say it than anything he'd said in the last month. He tried hard not to look at the boy as if he were a rival. But no matter how hard he tried he knew that he'd been to bed with Alexander, held him, and touched him as only Hephaestion had done. The woman had never bothered him. Bagoas bothered him exceedingly. "You have confidence in him. I'll be fine, I may just sleep for awhile."

"Are you sure," Alexander asked, putting a hand on his forehead. He brushed a lock of hair away from his face. Hephaestion only nodded. His throat still was dry, no matter how much he drank. Bagoas swore that it would go away by the end of the day. It was an effect of the poison. Alexander nodded, knowing that if he didn't go by himself Hephaestion would try to go with him, and called for Bagoas. As soon as Bagoas entered Alexander left the room, for the first time in days. He felt better knowing that Bagoas would be with Hephaestion, but he still worried as he strode down the hall with Cleitus at his side.

Bagoas looked at the weakened Macedonian as he sat down on the chair that Hephaestion pointed at. It was the seat that Alexander had just left. Hephaestion then sighed and stared up at the ceiling. Bagoas knew that the other felt just as uncomfortable as he did. But he didn't sense that Hephaestion hated him. He felt a dislike, and a jealousy, but no hate. He wondered if Hephaestion felt the same thing. After a few moment Hephaestion glanced over at him. Then he moved his eyes back to the ceiling before his lips parted and he began to speak.

"He's going to confide things within you," Hephaestion told him as he stared up the ceiling. "He'll tell you things when he can't speak them to me. I want you to swear to me that you will never utter anything he says to you to another. Can you promise me that Bagoas? Can you vow to be loyal to him and betray him to no other, no matter what the consequences are?"

"Yes," Bagoas said without hesitation. He knew that he would never be able to betray Alexander. There was something great about him. It was the power that he had, not only in his leadership and military skills, but also in simple things. It was in the way that he entered a room that made him great. Not to mention, he had a way with others, even if they were slaves from a land he'd just conquered. He knew well that Alexander had his weaknesses, but he knew that those too were gifts of his in some way, and he would always get what he wanted –one way or another.

"Never lie to him," Hephaestion continued. "Never try to hide things from him. He'll eventually know, somehow. Don't let others convince you that he it others than he says he is, and what you know he is."

"I won't."

"If there comes a day that I'm not there to protect him, will you?"

"Yes."

"Even if it meant dying for him? Would you do that too Bagoas?"

Bagoas nodded. "If that was what would save his life, then yes. I would give him mine. As I know that you would. But what is it that you are trying to tell me?"

"Nothing," Hephaestion said, blinking. "I'm just telling you, should something happen to me one day. I know Alexander. He needs amusements in his life, and I know that. He'll wind up in your arms again. I just want you to know how to love him, how to protect him, sometimes even from himself."

"He'll always be yours."

"I know," Hephaestion agreed, not meaning it to sound vain either. But he knew that Alexander would always love him above all others. He would always come back to him. But in the meantime Hephaestion wanted him to be with others that he could trust. "Just keep him safe for me when you have him, and I don't."

"I shall."

Hephaestion said nothing else. Instead he closed his eyes, tilting his head farther back as he rested against the soft pillows. Bagoas sat, watching as he silently slipped into the land of dreams. He then looked around the room. He felt strange, having nothing to do but sit and watch Hephaestion. He knew that he wouldn't like someone watching him sleep. However, he knew that outside of this room, the palace would soon be turned upside down.

"I know that he did it," Cassander said as he shoved Parmenion back. Just as he did this Alexander entered the room. This was the only thing that kept Parmenion from lunging back at Cassander. As the moment was lost him mind cooled, and knew it would have been unwise to attack Cassander at the moment. He was rather rabid at the moment.

"He's lost his mind," Parmenion told Alexander, who approached. It was no use in saying it though. He knew that Alexander was just as far-gone as Cassander. They were both lost. Perhaps it wasn't poison that infected them, perhaps it was the love that Hephaestion had entranced the both of them with. "Alexander, I've already spoken to both Stateira and the Advisor. They had nothing to do with it!"

"What," Cassander spat back, "are you in league with them? She has no power now that Alexander has won Persia. The Advisor therefore tried to get her into power. It makes sense, Alexander takes her as a wife, since it would be the right thing for him to do to unite the kingdoms. But first they would have to get rid of Hephaestion! They both knew it. So the Advisor tried to do so! You're the ones that are to close minded to see it any other way. You'd all be happy if Hephaestion would have just been killed, because then you would be using your genitals on the concubines, not your brains on investigative matters!"

"How dare you," Cleitus shouted.

"How dare you," Cassander only fired back at him. Not Ptolemy and Nearchus had to hold him back as he lunged at the two elder men. He would tear their throats out. Then he could do as he wished. "You, you two old men that do nothing but argue with the rest of us. You speak of your old glorious battles but won't fight the ones in front of you! You're the failures, not I."

"Cassander," Alexander said as he came forward and grabbed his arm. He looked at him, sending him a quick glance, before pretending to reprimand him. "We will discuss this later, in a civilized fashion. For now, go to your room and don't dare think to leave it! Do you understand me?"

"Fine," Cassander snapped. He pulled himself free and rushed out of the room in a furry. As soon as he was down the hall he began to walk normally again. He wondered what Alexander had planned. But no matter what, he knew what Alexander's gaze had meant. He'd stall the others for some time. As he did, Cassander was free to go and question Stateira and the Advisor all he liked.

"You should have hit him back," Hephaestion said as he sat listening to Bagoas' story. It didn't surprise him that Bagoas had been beaten. He just didn't understand why it had been Darius to do so. He did not understand why the man had raped him, for Bagoas was already his property, and he didn't understand why he had to have so many women. All he knew, was that Darius had been a very odd character. Bagoas was silent, thinking of something to ask Hephaestion. They'd been playing this game since Hephaestion had woken.

"What about you," Bagoas asked. "Has Alexander ever hit you out of anger?"

"Yes, out of anger, out of love, out of passion. He's hit me in many different ways. Only once have I ever been mad at him for it though. But that doesn't matter. I don't have a horrifying tale to tell you." Hephaestion thought for a moment. He didn't know what to ask Bagoas next. The only thing that he could think of made him blush a little.

"What," Bagoas asked.

"Is," Hephaestion paused. "Is it different when you're, making love, and you don't climax?"

"How would I know?"

"Oh," Hephaestion said, clearing his throat. "I guess that's a good point. I'm sorry, I was just, wondering."

"Perhaps some day you and I will lie together, and you will see that there are other ways to prove your love."

Hephaestion glanced over at him. He didn't have to tell Bagoas that he would never lay with him. Bagoas already knew. He could see it in his eyes. This one was not like the others that gave their bodies away for sport and pleasure. He gave his heart to other's fist, then his body, with love. It was an interesting thing, the way that this blue eyed one was special. Hephaestion closed his eyes, preparing to fall into a light sleep again. This time Bagoas wouldn't try to move.

Cassander cursed as he stepped in the blood that was now making a thin pool on the floor. He immediately stepped back. Again he cursed as he looked at the great amount of blood that poured from the Advisor's throat. Cassander quickly turned and exited the room. He put the dagger at his side and made his way to his room. When he entered, Alexander was sitting on the edge of his bed. The king looked up and stood.

"Well," he asked. "What did he say? Why were you running?"

"Stateira gave him away like that," he told the king, sapping his fingers as he tossed the dagger onto the bed. He turned, running his hands through his hair, and then began to pace as he tried to catch his breath. "So I did what I should have done, I went to go and talk to him."

"Cassander why are you panicking," he asked.

"Because he was already dead," Cassander shouted. He threw his hands up when Alexander looked questioningly at him. "I don't know! I went into the room, and there he was on the floor, bleeding like an ox at a festival."

"He was already dead?"

"Are you listening at all to what I am trying to tell you?"

Cassander cursed to the gods again and then began to look for something to change into. His heart was racing, his mind was racing. The Advisor's death could only mean one thing. Someone else wanted him dead. Cassander glanced over at the king.

"Where's Bagoas?"

"With Hephaestion, why?"

"It doesn't matter. But whoever killed the Advisor is the same person that poisoned you. That's the only way that it would make sense. Stateira said that he was sneaking out, speaking to others. Whoever he was talking to was the person that got the venom."

"I thought we had decided that the venom was sent by my mother," Alexander said. He was beginning to find himself siding with Cleitus and Parmenion now. Maybe they should force Cassander to rest for awhile.

"It wasn't," Cassander insisted as he stripped himself of his chifton and changed. He didn't really worry about Alexander seeing him. Alexander glanced over though and looked at the stitches on his body, as well as the bruises. He then looked away, not sure if he wanted to see them anymore. "Someone, the real master behind all of this, gave it to the Advisor."

"And that would be who?"

"I can tell you who it's not," Cassander said with frustration. "It wasn't me, and it wasn't you, and it wasn't Hephaestion. Everyone else, I don't know. Who likes your mother?"

"What do you mean?"

"It was still her snake's venom," Cassander said as he began to pace again. He was now wearing a dark black chifton again. White was too easy to get stained and it was beginning to frustrate him, having to burn so many clothes. "I'm starting to think that whoever brought the venom, is someone closer to you than you know. Now I just need to find out who executed the Advisor."

He sighed, then punched a wall in anger. It was like he was starting all over again. It didn't matter though. At least he was closer to finding some kind of answer. He was going to prove his devotion to Hephaestion, and to Alexander, whether he needed to or not. The only thing that he could regret was not being able to see that son of a whore's pig Advisor die. It would have put him in a better mood.