Cassander's Campaign Chapter 4: Companions, an alexander fanfic

Title: "Cassander's Campaign"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 4, "Companions"

WARNING: The second part of this chapter is graphic, and has a scene that alludes to rape. I understand this may disturb some people. So if you are not comfortable reading it, please don't. I wouldn't want to upset anyone.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews. They are greatly appreciated. I hope that you all enjoy this next chapter. I know that I make Alexander a little unlikable, but I don't think he was perfect, and don't make him perfect like a lot of other authors out there do. Not that doing so is bad! Don't get me wrong on that. Once again, sorry for the pause in updating. I promise to try to get better!

Alexander glared at the pair as they entered. He hated each of them for the moment. Yet when Hephaestion glanced up and Alexander caught sight of his cerulean eyes he knew that he could not hate him. Instead he took the extra hate he now had and put it against Cassander. He owed Cassander nothing and could hate him freely. If he died, he wouldn't mind. In his mind he thought about it but then thought better of sending him on some mission, one that would certainly would kill him. For he did not want to be the cause of Hephaestion's pain. Instead of lashing out at them for being late he was silent. Had it not been for Ptolemy's absence as of yet he would have at least spoken up and said something. Yet with another absent he couldn't.

Ptolemy entered, in a hurry. "Forgive me Alexander. It appears that the flap of my tent was sewn shut this morning. I had to cut my way out without destroying the canvas."

"Who would have done that," Cassander asked, desperately hiding a snicker and a smile. Hephaestion sat next to him, his blue eyes smiling for him while he drank boiled water that was already waiting for him. Alexander did not like their closeness. He despised it so much that when Ptolemy had begun to speak he wasn't listening. After hearing Cassander's remark he listened though.

"I'm not sure," Ptolemy hissed back. "It was likely some fool that held a grudge against me for no real reason."

"Forgive me," Cassander continued, "but it would appear that the fool got the better of you. So if it were a fool that sewed you into your confined tent, then what would that make you?"

"Enough," Alexander ordered before the two could fight any more. He was already angered about a dream he'd had last night. Darius had come to him as a ghost and spoken to him again. He told him to continue on to India. Yet his mother had stepped in front of Darius and had told him that he must first pause, bring her to Babylon, and make things right again with Hephaestion. He glanced over at Hephaestion, who was glancing obediently and lovingly at Cassander. "Let us discuss what I came here to say. It is almost the end of July. Still we have not found Darius."

"My king we do what we can," Nearchus told him as he seated himself more comfortably. "I am not sure what you would have us do."

"You cannot rule while chasing him," Parmenion added.

"He is right," Cassander spoke up. As he did all of the whispers and side conversations stopped. It was a common knowledge that Hephaestion and Alexander had been involved. Yet the new knowledge was that Hephaestion spent far more time with Cassander, while the king spent his time with Bagoas. The rest of the Companions looked at Cassander and Alexander, waiting anxiously to see what was going to happen. Only Cassander was so severely neurotic that he would speak poorly to Alexander while sitting in his presence.

"What is that," Alexander asked loudly, biting his tongue and grinding his teeth as he did so. He knew that he could not let personal matters rule this meeting. Yet Cassander was provoking him and that would not end well. Especially if he pushed him too far.

"I just don't think that you are in a stable position," Cassander continued to cut at him. He kept his voice level, unafraid, and completely derogatory as if Alexander was nothing but a fly. "Babylon will change while you are not there Alexander. They know nothing about obedience to a king there. Well, apart from their eunuchs."

"Cassander only means," Craterus interjected, "that it would be wise for you to consider stopping this mad chase. Darius has no forces. He cannot hurt you now, and even if he had an army, it would not phase you. Darius is powerless. Look at us, we are so far from Babylon now. It we push further we shall reach India."

"I plan to reach India," Alexander told them all. "Darius is king until I defeat him. We shall find him, and then we go to India. I am not stopping. If you want to stop, you are cowards."

"Cowards," Cassander asked, "or rational men?"

"Cassander you overstep your bounds!"

"Well, at least I overstep something that is my own," Cassander said as he leapt up from where he sat. Alexander stood as well. Cassander only pointed a finger at him, screaming now, and not even Hephaestion's tugging at his arm could pull him down. "You continue to take us to the edges of the world Alexander the Great, but never have you asked if we wanted to go. We cross from land to land and city to city and what is it that we do? You say we unite them in peace, but we only do so if they surrender to you! How is that fair Alexander? What is so wonderful about that might I ask?"

"You owe allegiance to me! I am your king and you do as I say."

"I owe nothing to you, Alexander, that you would want me to admit to here!"

"How dare you! I have gotten you this far. Without me you'd be back in Pella sitting around doing nothing, like your father."

"I would have been better in Pella! I would have had many less scars, that is for sure. Blame your infliction on the poison but you enjoyed it you bastard. You enjoyed tearing into me with my own blade. It made you feel powerful, because you've never had power over me! You've never had it and you never will!"

"Cassander," Hephaestion said as he threw himself in front of him. He pushed him back, when no other dared to receive his wrath. Instead, few others of the Companions grabbed Alexander and brought him back. They did not force him down, as Hephaestion did, but let him remain standing. Cassander glared at Alexander until Hephaestion reached over and took his hand under the table. He then turned his attention to Hephaestion. Worry shone in the other's eyes so he decided that perhaps he should calm himself. Where the sudden anger had come for he did not know. Yet, it felt good to tell Alexander what was on his mind.

"Get him out," Alexander screamed. When no one moved too quickly Alexander leapt up. He began screaming, spit flying he was so angry. He picked up a scroll and threw it at Hephaestion, who blocked it with an arm, but he was still bewildered. "Everyone get out! Everyone get out before I kill you all!"

It was easy to clear a tent with such words. Hephaestion rose, lifting Cassander with him. Cassander had no problem with staying and fighting a little more. Hephaestion pulled him out of the tent and as soon as he had he shoved him back, forcing his back into a tree. He held him for a moment. Then he let out a soft curse before letting him go. He pushed him back further though when Cassander tried to move. He turned on his heel, ran a hand through his hair, and then turned back to face Cassander.

"What are you thinking?"

"Why do you defend him," Cassander asked. Even now Hephaestion still held some allegiance to Alexander. He owed him nothing and Cassander could not understand why he thought that he did. Alexander had more than once broken him, soul and heart, as well as body. Yet still he found some subliminal reason to go back to him. Cassander threw his hands up as Hephaestion ran a hand through his hair, eyes beginning to tear. "Tell me why Hephaestion! Why do you defend him?"

"Because," Hephaestion said as tears began to flow from his eyes. His voice was a desperate scream. He met Cassander's loudness, yet the pain and desperation that lingered and choked his sobs was as far an opposite as the sky and sea. He shoved Cassander back as he answered, forcing the other's back into the tree once more. "Because in defending him I defend you!"

"Phae," he began but Hephaestion cut him quickly off. Cassander threw his arms around and held him though. Hephaestion continued to cry, yet the same desperation was in his voice. The same trail of pain was evident. There was no longer a tear that he could not hold back as he cried. He gripped the material at Cassander's shoulder and let his salty tears fall onto his dark ringlets. Yet Cassander did not mind, and if he had, Hephaestion would not have been able to stop himself. He could no longer hold back his emotions.

"I hold you back," Hephaestion said, referring to both individuals, not just Cassander or Alexander alone. "You are so the same that you'll never be able to live with each other. Neither of you can get along, not since childhood, and you never will be able to. I defend him," he said speaking of Alexander, "because if I don't he will kill you. I defend you because if I don't you'll kill him. I have to protect him, so don't treat me condescendingly for it!"

"I didn't want to," Cassander whispered. He held Hephaestion, one hand running up and down his back, the other behind his neck in the hair at the nape of his neck. "I just don't understand it Hephaestion. I know that it's not fair to look down on you for it, and I really do not mean to, but you must let him go Hephaestion. Long ago he left you, and you can keep a thread tied between you if you like, but there is no point. There is no hope. Please," he added, touching his cheek as he pulled away. "Do not defend me anymore Hephaestion. Let him take his rage out on me, for when he does he cannot harm you. But do not defend me and don't force me to sit and listen to your defenses of him. He may still have a place in your heart, and I am fine by that as I always have been, but to me he is still Alexander."

"Cassander," Hephaestion began, wishing he could take away the pain behind his eyes. He wanted to hold him and comfort him. Yet he knew that Cassander was not in the mood for comfort. He was in the mood to let his emotions flare, and Hephaestion was not sure why Cassander had suddenly begun to change. But little did he know, the question would plague him all night long. Cassander had turned and now was walking away from him. There was one thing he said before he grabbed his horse, climbing on, and rode away.

"He is not the boy you knew," Cassander flung back at him. Hephaestion watched him ride away, dirt flying from under the hooves of his horse. Hephaestion cursed softly and ran a hand through his hair again. He then walked quickly to his tent. Shutting himself in, he made sure to tie the leather strips that would not allow for another to enter, and he lay down. He stared up at the canvas, and without looking reached over to finger the azure sash that Cassander had given him. Suddenly not afraid to lift the sash, he covered his eyes with it, and just let it stain with tears.

(Warning now in affect)

Two weeks passed and it was amazing to him that the two generals had not seen or spoken to one another. Neither of them spoke to Alexander either. Bagoas poured more wine into Alexander's cup. Already Alexander had drunk too much, and earlier had sent for Hephaestion in slurred words. It had been some time and still there was no sign of the general. Bagoas could only hope that he would appear soon. After pouring the wine Alexander dismissed him and the eunuch left. As soon as he was gone he wanted nothing more to know of the incidents that Alexander had threatened would take place. Alexander on the other hand still waited for Hephaestion. Anger spread over him that Hephaestion was taking so long. Normally he would have been waiting outside of his tent. Yet, tonight, he'd been waiting for a good hour. Just before he was going to send another guard to send for him, Hephaestion entered the tent.

"About time," Alexander said as he finished the wine in his cup. He then slammed it down on the table. Standing, he approached Hephaestion. Not once did he see the pain in his eyes. He'd heard from Bagoas that there had been a falling out between Hephaestion and Cassander. Sadly, he could not say that he was not pleased about such news. Hephaestion stood his ground, and Alexander entered his space, reaching out and placing a hand on his neck. The other hand he cupped Hephaestion with, feeling the warmth of the other's thighs, and only then did Hephaestion step back. Alexander quickly jerked him back, tearing the hand from his cheek and grabbing the back of his neck. Hephaestion struggled for a moment, before he realized that unless he hit Alexander there was no point. Alexander seemed stronger while drunk. Yet, even now, he could not find the courage to hit him. Soon Alexander was screaming at him. "What? Am I no longer aloud to touch you! Are you saving your body for him!"

"Alexander," Hephaestion said, keeping his tone light. "Let me go."

Alexander only clamped his hand harder to Hephaestion. For a moment Hephaestion struggled, but then pleaded again for Alexander to let him go. There was nothing to change Alexander's mind though. He reached out and tore at Hephaestion's chifton and for the first time Hephaestion swung at him. He came close to hitting Alexander in the jaw, but only clipped his lip. A slight tear showed and blood dripped from the wound but it only infuriated Alexander. He shoved Hephaestion back with so much force that he fell to the ground. A moan escaped his lips as his back hit the hardened ground. Alexander straddled him, holding him down, and punched Hephaestion. He hit Hephaestion on the upper cheekbone. There was a satisfying sound, the sound of a bone becoming too close to cracking and blood cells being crushed. Hephaestion began to sit up and Alexander hit him again, forcing him back down. Alexander hit him a third time as he struggled beneath him. Suddenly, the king reached a hand down and grabbed Hephaestion's groin, squeezing to the point of drawing tears to Hephaestion's eyes. Hephaestion still tried to force Alexander away from him, but it was hard to fight him from the position he was in. In reality Hephaestion was stronger than Alexander, but whilst Alexander was drunk he could marvel even Herakles.

Cassander sighed, shutting the copy of the Iliad he had been reading. There were nights when Hephaestion would read to him, either from the book or from memory, until sleep claimed him. He liked being ahead though. It made it so much easier to listen to Hephaestion's voice. There was no concentration on the words, just the melodic hum of his voice as air vibrated against his vocal cords. Sleep would not come tonight though. There was something wrong and he could feel it. The wind did not blow outside the tent as it had, there were no animals lurking in the woods, and not even the crickets dared to chirp. Slowly he slid the book under his pillow and stood. He dressed in the black robes of a Macedonian, covering his scarred body, and then stepped out of the tent. He folded his arms across his chest and looked around at the silent night. It was late, too late for the king to be up, yet there was a soft glow coming from his tent. The candles were not yet out, but the canvas was so thick that Cassander could not see through. Spying used to be one of the joys of his childhood. Now, although still fun, there was no point. He didn't want to see or hear of the plots that ran rampant through the camps and palaces. It all became too depressing. Especially when he found that assassination plots involved his death. Yet those he'd put to rest, the newer plans he wanted not to hear of, and nothing to do with. If Death was ready for him then let it come.

Cassander came closer to the tent of the king and realized that there were no guards standing outside. He wondered for a moment if something had gone wrong, but quickly passed. He did not want to linger outside of that man's tent. He was beginning to grow weary of even being on his campaign. Cassander made his way through the camp, looking around for anyone to keep him company. He saw Bagoas fetching water, but when he saw him, the eunuch quickly darted away. Sadly, he would have enjoyed even Bagoas' company at the moment, but wasn't even going to receive that. Turning, he began to go back to his own tent. This time as he passed Alexander's tent he heard the sound of something crashing to the ground and a grunt. He continued to walk a few strides before he stopped and uttered a curse. He glanced over his shoulder, knowing that the drunken Alexander had likely only stumbled and fallen, taking something down with him. Yet he then heard clearly that it was not this, but the sound of heels digging into the ground and a body fighting with both a man and the confinements around him. Cassander knew the sound of a struggle when he heard it. At first he thought of leaving Alexander to face his attacker, but then knew why the world seemed out of alignment. He heard a stifled moan that he could recognize as only Hephaestion. Cassander turned back and quickly ran to the tent. Throwing open the flap and rushing in, he saw what he'd never wanted to see in his life.

Memories of his own past hit him hard and he found himself turning and staring out at the world outside. He drew in a breath before turning around after what seemed like minutes but had only been a second. Cassander instantly grabbed Alexander by the shoulders and threw him off of Hephaestion. Alexander, unsuspecting of the assault, was thrown into a wooden box. He crumpled to the ground cursing, but tried to push himself up. Cassander jerked him off of the ground only to knee him several times in the groin. He pushed his face, hitting his nose directly and breaking it, before he let go of him. Alexander fell to the ground. Cassander, still plagued by memory, kicked Alexander in the gut several times before he realized he was no longer conscious. He stopped then, running a hand through his hair, eyes wide. Then, he turned, and looked at Hephaestion. He rushed to his side and dropped down next to him. Without thinking he took his hand and leaned over him.

"Phae," he choked out trough the tears that were streaming down his cheeks. Hephaestion turned his head, eyes closed, but was following Cassander's voice. There was a cut above his right brow that bled terribly, and Cassander sized it up as being the main wound that let blood run over his face. Cassander reached out and with his hands began to wipe the blood from Hephaestion's face, staining his own hands. Hephaestion flinched, but when the touch was soft, he did not move again. Instead, as Cassander lifted him into his arms, he sunk. Cursing, Cassander carried Hephaestion back to his tent and set him down on the bed. Grabbing a rag already sitting in a bowl of water he wiped drying blood away from his lover's face. Stopping, he looked at the wound above his brow. He wiped blood away, but found that there was no need for stitches. Instead he set the rag over the gash and found a piece of gauze. He wrapped the wound and then frantically tried to think of something to do for Hephaestion.

His body trembled and fear gripped his heart, freezing it. He did not know what to do. He thought back, to when Cleitus had done the same to him, and tried to remember what Hephaestion had done for him. For some reason, it was all a blur though. He only remembered later holding Hephaestion, loving him, caring for him, telling him that he would save his heart for him. There was no bad memory that he could remember where Hephaestion was involved. Once he entered a memory it had to be wonderful. Cassander cried and dropped his head into his hands, but felt a movement. Hephaestion's fingers twitched and he then moved a hand, reaching for something on the stand next to the bed. Cassander looked to his left and lightly wrapped his hand around a thin azure sash. He pulled it lightly and Hephaestion wrapped his fingers around it. After doing so, he sunk back down, and slept.