Cassander's Campaign Chapter 2: Summer 330 BC, an alexander fanfic

Title: "Cassander's Campaign"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 2, "Summer –330 BC"

A/N: This chapter begins the chronological order I was talking about. It begins just after Alexander has taken his men out of Persia and are heading towards the Hindu Kush. If you aren't aware of what happened in "The Persian Campaign", here are the main details you will need to know. Cassander confessed his love for Hephaestion and the two became involved while Alexander was with Bagoas. Alexander was poisoned and acted madly, torturing Cassander, and degrading Hephaestion. Bagoas helped the two escape but they came back, and Hephaestion was taken with fever, from another poison. Cassander finds that Cleitus initiated the plan and kills him. In the end, Cassander lets Hephaestion go back to Alexander, but tells him that he will always keep his heart open for him. Alexander, despite the fact that he's already hurt Hephaestion, sets out for the Hindu Kush and brings Bagoas with him. Tada, that is where it was left off really (before skipping to Hephaestion's death), and that is all that you need to really know. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Cassander let his horse stop for he needed to rest as well for a moment. He dismounted and let out a breath. His legs and back ached from riding for so long. Sighing, he tied the horse to a tree and then cracked his knuckles. Yet he could not help but glance to the left, looking for the one thing that seemed to keep him going. Dismounting from his own horse Hephaestion made his way to Alexander. There were no words spoken to one another. Instead, Hephaestion waited for Alexander to give orders, but when there were none for him he left. He trudged through the thick grass and approached Cassander who suddenly pretended to be busy. He tied the reins of his battle horse to a thick branch of the tree before him. As Hephaestion approached, he acted startled as if he hadn't seen him coming, and glanced over at him.

Again he saw those beautiful cerulean eyes staring back at him, and no matter how much he resented this soon mission, he found warmth in those eyes. That warmth kept him going as it had years before, and it was truly the only reason that Cassander kept going, and he'd known it since the first time he met Hephaestion's gaze. Hephaestion smiled lightly, not knowing whether or not Cassander would be willing to speak with him. But Cassander nodded and then went back to cracking his fingers and popping his wrist. It seemed like so long ago that it had been broken and the only memory of the incident he had was the popping every time he turned his wrist.

"Cass," Hephaestion said, speaking lightly. He wanted Cassander to look at him the way that he had in Persia. Cassander could see the yearning in his eyes. Yet when he glanced up, looking behind Hephaestion for a moment, he saw Alexander flash him a jealous glare. Hephaestion noticed that Cassander was looking past him, and he glanced over his shoulder, and then sighed when he saw Alexander. Despite the effects of the poison it was still evident that Alexander was jealous of the current situations. But, as they watched, Bagoas entered Alexander's tent without the slightest hesitation.

"What did he say," Cassander asked, wondering if Alexander had yet decided to give Hephaestion some odd mission. He'd done it before, on the way to Babylon. There were to reasons for it really. One was that Alexander truly worried for Hephaestion, his Patroclaus, because the myth he'd woven told that Hephaestion would be the first to pass on. Because of this Alexander liked to keep him away from the greatest harms, not to mention, he trusted Hephaestion above all others. The other reason was far simpler, if he sent Hephaestion away he could deny him, yet claim him again when he got back. Cassander knew that in bed Alexander was not the dominant of the two men, yet outside of the tents they would share, Alexander made sure that he led everyone else. Hephaestion took the role of the protector then.

"That we camp here for the night," Hephaestion told him. After taking in a breath and glancing around at their surroundings he added the catch dully, but his lips trembled slightly, showing the pain that he tried ever so cleverly to match with sarcasm. "I camp with him though, and him alone."

"You're not his slave," Cassander replied, hating the words that Alexander had said to Hephaestion. He was too great a man, and because of this he thought that he was too powerful. Cassander had begun to unsaddle his mount. He took the saddle away now and sat it down next to the trunk of the grand tree. He then looked up at Hephaestion and noticed the pain in his eyes as he averted them, hoping Cassander could not see them. They were his only weakness, those eyes, for if you knew the man you could tell all of his emotions. He could be angry, but smiling, and those cerulean depths would give away what the rest of him did not. It was his weakness, but Cassander's glory. "Why do you look so saddened? We've stopped riding, surely this must please even you."

"It does. I'm just tired and my entire body seems to be feeling it. What about you Cassander?"

"I missed you," Cassander said before he could stop the words. For two weeks he had taken the right flank a different route, looking for better trails and such, and had only just at sunup today met with Alexander and the main troops. It was a true statement, for he had missed him, but he had never meant to tell him such. Yet Hephaestion smiled and nodded.

"It makes you come back."

"No," Cassander teased. "I came back because we ran out of rations. I am only here for the wine."

"I wouldn't doubt it," Hephaestion replied. As Cassander continued to take his things from the horse's pack Hephaestion watched him, not worried if Alexander saw. Just as Cassander leaned over, the light shone through the thick trees, illuminating his profile. There was a thin scar, which was faint, running horizontally across his cheek that had been placed there by a dagger. Cleitus, yet used a dagger that had belonged to Cassander, in the assault. Even though the scar was faint and almost unnoticeable if you were not looking for it, it still reminded Hephaestion of the incident in Babylon, and still blamed himself for it. Dark ringlets of hair fell over Cassander's face, covering the scar and his dark eyes, before Cassander turned his head to glance at Hephaestion.

Cassander raised and went back to his full height. Hephaestion still looked at him and Cassander took a step closer. He pulled the hair away from his face and then took Hephaestion's hand and raised his fingers to the scar. Hephaestion ran tender fingers over the scar for a moment as if he had never seen it before. At times Cassander wised that he couldn't see it, even that he'd been killed by Cleitus, rather than have to stand in the presence of someone so beautiful when he was so disfigured. Yet Hephaestion had never truly stopped loving him. Even though most of his heart belonged to Alexander, there was a piece that he'd given to Cassander. Silently Hephaestion touched him before he let his hand fall away and his eyes fall to the ground.

"Tell me what bothers you," Cassander asked. But they were interrupted as Alexander approached. He'd been keeping an eye on them. Cassander snarled for a moment before the king was in a hearing range. Hephaestion blushed a little, hearing the deep growl from Cassander's throat, and tried to stifle a laugh. As Alexander approached Cassander glanced at the back of Hephaestion's head. For a split second he wanted to tell Hephaestion the truth about why he had left for the past weeks. Suddenly, the memory of leaving him entered his mind, and time slowed as he watched the image play out in his head.

"It won't be for long," Cassander said as he stroked Hephaestion's hair, twining it around a finger every now and then. Hephaestion rested his head on Cassander's lower abdomen. As he breathed in and out Hephaestion's head rose and fell with him. His lips were parted, his eyes staring at Cassander. Cassander continued to play with his hair but with the other hand reached for the hand that Hephaestion rested on his bare chest. "I will be back soon, before you realize that I've gone."

"I doubt that I would be able to be unaware of your absence Cassander," Hephaestion said as he held tighter to Cassander's hand. He sat up, looking at him, that helpless worry in his eyes. It made sense to him what was going on but he could not be quiet, he had to say something. "Alexander is sending you because of me, isn't he?"

"No," he answered shortly.

"He is! There is no other reason why he would not send me. You know as well as I that I am the one he sends to scout. Cassander, let me talk to him. I cannot let him force you on some mission so far away from me. I worry for you Cass. Don't go just yet, let me speak with Alexander."

"Hephaestion," he said, running a thumb over the stubble beginning to grow on his chin. He loved it when Hephaestion gazed up at him, for unlike others, Hephaestion actually saw him. He never looked through him as if he was nothing. "There is no need to speak to Alexander. It is my duty to go. There is nothing that needs to be done."

"Cassander…"

"Phae, everything will be fine. It will be a few days, nothing more. I'll have the entire flank with me. There is nothing to worry about. I swear to you that I will return soon, and when I do, you can tell me more about your dreams."

Hephaestion continued to stare up at him but remained silent. He didn't know what to do without Cassander. He was the one remaining stability in his life. Cassander did not give him much time to think of anything else. He leaned down and brushed his lips against Hephaestion's. Serene bliss overtook Hephaestion, and he believed Cassander's vow, and let himself fall into the kiss. All other thoughts were erased from his mind.

When he snapped back to the reality before him Alexander had just reached them. He left his hands at his sides but Cassander could see that he wanted to cross his arms. It was easy to know Alexander, for the most part. For he had the same stance most of the time. Act strong even though you were beginning to weaken. Cassander wondered for how much longer would Alexander have complete control over his army, his campaign, and his vast kingdom. It would have been far wiser to stay in Babylon and rule until things settled, yet it seemed for the most part that Alexander was not always the wisest man in the world, despite how great he was praised to be.

"Cassander," Alexander greeted not too kindly. It was hard to keep the disdain out of his voice. Things were fine between them, but at the same time, Alexander was greatly jealous of him. He did not want him anywhere near Hephaestion. Especially when he knew the bond they were suddenly sharing.

"Alexander," Cassander greeted him flatly. He held the same opinion of him as he had when they had left Babylon. Alexander was a fool to let Hephaestion slip away from him. Yet no matter what Alexander did, he managed to push Hephaestion away, neglecting him in ways that Cassander could not have thought possible from the king. Surely he was not the love struck boy he had known in Pella years ago. Alexander may love Hephaestion even now, but not as he had. Something had rifted between the two of them long before Cassander had come into the fold.

"We stay here for the night," Alexander announced. It was already known that this was the plan. However, Cassander wanted to know for how long they would stay. He wanted at least two days to recuperate from the long weeks of riding. It seemed that was all that he'd done. Rode, and rode, and rode, but never found anything worth stopping for. Alexander must have seen the eagerness in Hephaestion's eyes, who wanted to stop as well. "I think the men will need a few days. Four, then we move. Tell your legions. I will have Ptolemy, Nearchus, and Perdicass tell the others."

Alexander said nothing else. He simply stood and walked away, sulking back to his tent, which was already set up. It must be wonderful having slaves to do your every whim. Cassander on the other hand knew that he'd have to set up his own tent, and he was not particularly happy about having to do so. He ached so badly that he would rather just lie down on the grass and sleep. Yet he knew about the Indian snakes and did not think that this was the wisest idea he'd had this week.

"Cassander," Hephaestion called to him, bringing him back to those cerulean eyes. Hephaestion was already taking out the canvas for his tent. Cassander knew that Hephaestion would set up the tent now, but he knew that he himself would wait until he had to. He glanced up at the sun and stared at the sky. The sun was already beginning to sink to the horizon, and there were darker clouds in the sky. They seemed grayer here, the clouds, grayer than any clouds he'd ever seen in Macedonia. They seemed even darker than the rain clouds that had fallen in Persia, when he and Hephaestion tried to escape from Alexander wrath. Hephaestion spoke though, as he was working. "You seem distracted lately."

"Perhaps I am just tired," Cassander said as he approached. When he grew weary it was a common fact that he would loose interest in things quickly. He'd done it in battle once, at Issus, in the middle of a battle even. He had almost lost his life but had never zoned out so again. Cassander then reached up and held a tie that Hephaestion was holding. "Let me help you."

"I didn't think you would come back," Hephaestion said as he tied the canvas to the highest and thickest branch he could reach. Cassander glanced down at him as he reached for another leather tie. He wasn't sure what Hephaestion had meant by the comment. Yet Hephaestion was not one to elaborate when it was not needed. "Did you find anything of interest?"

"No," Cassander told him. It was a white lie though. He had found something but did not yet want to tell Hephaestion what it was. There had been a small village that he'd passed through, but wouldn't mention to Alexander for he'd want to burn the village to the ground, and there was nothing to fear about the people. While passing through he'd seen many things of wonder. Yet there was one trinket that he'd found there that he could not leave without. "There were just trees, grass, odd animals, and no trails. The same thing that we've been looking at for a month now."

"We will find something soon, whatever it may be."

"I am not opposed to finding something Hephaestion. I am sick of riding though. If I never saw another horse in my life I wouldn't regret wishing for such. I ache in places I didn't even know that I had."

"You just need a warm bath and a massage."

"Well, point me in the direction of Babylon, and I'll get right on it. That was the last place we were with a tub. Do you realize that Hephaestion?" Cassander listened to Hephaestion laugh quietly. He picked up a small stone and threw it at him. Hephaestion only laughed a little more. "It really isn't funny. I'm sick of bathing in the rain and freezing rivers and streams."

"I have just never heard you whine more than me," Hephaestion said. They'd been working for only a little time. Yet the tent was now up. "There is a river, with a fall, just a little behind us. The sun hits the water around noon and the water won't be cold. You can bathe tomorrow."

"Right, when everyone else bathes." Cassander smiled. "I would actually rather much like to bathe tonight."

Alexander cursed as he flopped down onto his makeshift bed of furs. He stared up at the canvas for a moment. Sighing, he put a hand over his eyes. The headache he'd had since yesterday had still not gone away. But it was not only his head that hurt. It was his heart as well. Yet he could blame no other for Hephaestion wanting to be with Cassander. Usually he would have been with him at the moment. While all others were busy unpacking and settling, he and Hephaestion would steal away, taking the time to kiss and cling to one another.

He was not sure what had happened on the way. While leaving Persia he'd thought that Hephaestion was no longer angry with him. Even Cassander had supposedly forgiven him for his actions. He could not trust Cassander though, especially now. Before he had always been weary of him. Yet if Hephaestion was not between them he worried that Cassander would slit his throat one night as he slept. There was something about Cassander that he could not understand and would never be able to understand.

"Alexander," Bagoas said in a thick accent as he entered the tent. "What would you ask of me?"

"Just…"

When words failed him he reached out with a hand. Bagoas came forward and took it. The Persian fell onto the bed next to Alexander and began to cover his throat with kisses, feeling the pulse of his main artery. Alexander kept a hand over his eyes, thinking heavily, but let Bagoas relax him with his mouth. Soon all thoughts faded away and he was thinking of only a time long ago when he and Hephaestion had been together in Pella. It was the last true time that they had been one.

A/N: This chapter may be a little short but I'm trying to update as quickly as I can so no one looses interest. The next chapter will hopefully be a little longer. Yet I hope you still enjoyed this one. Please review if you have the time, I greatly appreciate outside views. Baliansword