Cassander's Campaign Chapter 5: An Uprising, an alexander fanfic

Title: "Cassander's Campaign"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 5, "An Uprising"

A/N: Thanks everyone for being so patient. I hope that everyone enjoys.

Hephaestion slowly let his eyes flutter open. He threw a hand over his eyes to shield them from the brightness of the tent. It was truly not very bright. Yet it caused his head to ache terribly. He winced, then turned his head, and looked at Cassander. Cassander smiled for a moment. But shortly after tears filled his eyes and were streaming down his cheeks. He leaned forward and grabbed the hand that rested on Hephaestion's chest. He let his head fall against the back of Hephaestion's hand, and he continued to cry. Hephaestion felt the cool tears hit his hand but everything seemed to be happening a few seconds too late. What happened was only reaching his mind after a delay, and the feeling scared him. He titled his head back and drew in a breath, his eyes falling shut, and again when he slowly opened them it seemed too bright. He put his hand down and let his eyes adjust, and everything seemed to be going back to normal.

"Forgive me, forgive me for the things I said." Cassander said as he crawled onto the bed next to Hephaestion. He sat up, letting Hephaestion rest against his chest. Holding him, he slightly rocked him. Hephaestion began to feel sick, not because of the motion, but from sitting up. He coughed a few times and Cassander reached over for a large bowl. He placed it on the bed and pulled Hephaestion's hair back before he coughed again, this time heaving over, and vomiting. Cassander held Hephaestion's hair back and reached for a cloth with his other hand. Hephaestion was still bent over, trembling, and Cassander handed him the cloth. Hephaestion wiped at his mouth, but then grabbed the cloth and balled it up in his hand. He held himself up, pushing his balled fists into the bed, and then began to cry as he trembled. Cassander continued to rub his back. He was not sure if Hephaestion cried from the memory of what had happened from the night before, or if he cried over the embarrassment, or perhaps even over something up.

"I'm sorry," Hephaestion said after a moment. He reached out and grabbed Cassander's wrist as the other crawled out of bed and began to pick up the bowl to clean up after him. Still breathing unevenly, and painfully, he wanted to tell Cassander that he would do it. Cassander paused only long enough to reach down with his free hand. He lightly pried Hephaestion's fingers away from his wrist and replaced Hephaestion's hand to his chest. Cassander then silently left the tent, returning with a clean bowl. Hephaestion still trembled and finally put a hand over his eyes to try to hide his tears from Cassander. Again he muttered an apology. Cassander only came closer and sat on the edge of the bed. He took Hephaestion's hand, the one over his face, and held it tight in his own.

"You've done nothing wrong," Cassander whispered as he leaned closer and pressed a kiss to Hephaestion's forehead. He wiped tears away from his cheeks with his other hand. After a few moments Hephaestion's trembling had lessened. Cassander yearned to take his pain but knew that he would not be able to. He thought of himself, and of what Cleitus had done to him. He had learned to deal with the pain, mask it, and hide it. Hephaestion was not him though. Even though Alexander had not succeeded in his plans, he knew that Hephaestion still had the same feelings that he'd had. Hephaestion was not him either, and would not be able to hide his feelings, for if he did it would kill him. The only thing he could think of doing, other than comforting Hephaestion, was to kill Alexander. Yet he knew deep down, that even now, Hephaestion would still not wish for Alexander's death. They deep loyalty between the two was disgusting to him at times like these.

"Help me up," Hephaestion finally said as he tried to push himself up. Cassander helped him sit up, but did nothing more. Hephaestion waited for the slight wave of dizziness to pass. He then tried to get out of bed, but Cassander held him back.

"You're too weak," Cassander assured him. He brushed hair out of Hephaestion's face. Then, he silently leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. Pulling away he ran a hand over his cheek. He already knew that Hephaestion was ready for a confrontation but knew that he stood no chance at the moment. However, he was not sure if Alexander did either. There was really only one person he could ask about Alexander's condition, and he did not wish to speak with that person at the moment. Instead he held Hephaestion's hand, glancing down at it, and then looked back up. "Hephaestion, can you forgive me for the things I said? I…I know what Alexander means to you…"

He paused, wondering if Hephaestion would forgive him for this. There may never again be anything between them as there had been. The loyalty would remain. The friendship might not. Choking on his own words he glanced up at Hephaestion's eyes, trying to read him. Yet never before had Hephaestion looked at him the way he did now, and he knew that he never would again. It was an unreadable emotion, for he did not know it, and would only learn what it was far later. He let out a small breath before continuing.

"I just…I was worried for you. I was worried that you would no longer…love me I suppose…if I told you that I still hated him. Hephaestion, I know that you understand him as I cannot. I can stand him, for you, but I can never forgive him. So when you were defending him, I just, I worried that you were going to let me go."

"Cass," Hephaestion whispered, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I don't need you to understand him. I know how you feel about him, and… I cannot blame you because for the first time…I understand your hatred of him."

It did not take long for Hephaestion to fall asleep again. Cassander understood very well the pain he must be going through. Not only did his head spin, causing him to vomit twice more before he slipped into sleep, but the emotional pain burned far more. Cassander had not known how to comfort him for the most part. He was not used to having to care for another. He had tried, rubbing his aching muscles, kissing some of them lightly. He'd washed his face, forced him to drink a few sips of wine, and had sung to him when he couldn't think of a story to tell him. Hephaestion had fallen asleep, smiling as he did so. Cassander now left the tent and started for Alexander's tent. As he approached, two guards stood at their post.

"We were told not to let you enter," one of the guards said. Cassander only glared at them. After a few seconds the guards stepped out of the way. Cassander wondered what the point was if they did not do their job. Entering the room, he noticed that Alexander still slept, and that Bagoas was nowhere to be seen. Secretly he wanted two things when he didn't find Bagoas in the tent. He wanted to be told that he'd run away and would never return. Yet he also wanted to be told that just because Bagoas was gone, Hephaestion would not wind up again at Alexander's side.

Cassander crossed the room and towered above Alexander. He could see bruises on the king, and he knew that he'd put them there. That fact alone was good enough for him. He wished he could add more. He said Alexander's name, but he did not move in the slightest. Finally Cassander backhanded him, jerking his face to the side, and Alexander awoke with a start. He turned, looked at Cassander, and instantly was getting up.

"What are you…"

"I came to mark your death," Cassander said as he grabbed Alexander and pulled him to him. He let Alexander struggle for a moment before he elbowed him in the gut. This stopped him, and Cassander held Alexander up so that he did not fall. "Listen," Alexander ordered. "I'm going to kill you. Not now, not at the moment because I respect Hephaestion, but I shall be the one that kills you! You won't die at the hand of an enemy or from some sickness. I am going to kill you!"

"I could kill you for treason at this moment."

"But you won't," Cassander told him, smiling as he did, and then shoved him away. "You won't order it. Do you think that Ptolemy will not ask under what kind of treason? If not him do you think no others will? Alexander, for being so wise you are at times a fool."

"I would."

"No, because you'd have to tell them all what you did to Hephaestion! What you tried to do to him you son of a bitch! Do you think that your men will look at you kindly then? Go, tell, please. I would love to see the uprising!"

"I don't need a reason," Alexander told him. He knew that he could kill Cassander himself. Sure, there may be some questions asked. However he knew that without Cassander he did not have a commander of the right good enough to be on this campaign. He said nothing else, for he heard a horse approaching quickly. Bagoas entered the tent and announced a soldier, who then entered.

"Alexander…Darius has been found. Come quickly for he does not fair well." The man left, as did Bagoas. Alexander was instantly getting ready to ride. Cassander crossed his arms and laughed for a moment. Alexander looked up as him, glared, wondering what he was thinking.

"You'd rather see a dying king," Cassander informed him. "Then see yourself for the failure you are becoming."

"Get out."

"I will," Cassander nodded. He turned, walked to the flap, and held it open. He glanced at Alexander and decided to make his cuts even deeper. "I told Hephaestion that you were not the boy we knew. After last night…I think he may agree with me."

Alexander knelt down next to Darius. He stared at him, wondering if this was how he'd be some day. Alone, stabbed by his own men, and then left to die. He stared at the Persian and saw himself for a moment. He thought of Cassander, and now that the wine had left his system, he believed him. Cassander would have no trouble killing him, he knew, and for the first time he worried. He truly worried. Yet, Hephaestion would control him. Cassander already admitted as much. But if Hephaestion no longer cared for him, as Cassander had implied, then there may not be much time.

A/N: A short chapter, I know. But the next chapter is going to be about 8 months to a year later. I continue to appreciate your reviews! Looking forward to hearing from everyone. Will try to update the next chapter soon.