Title: Royal Slave

Author: Adsagsona

Type: Romance/Drama

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Nothing about the movieverse Alexander belongs to me, I don't own a thing, sadly enough. I believe the real Alexander the Great and his companions belong to history and themselves.

Warnings: Light slash.

Beta: None.

Pairing: Alexander/Hephaestion

Archive: Right here.

Author's Note: This is a sequel to the story 'By my side'. AU, Hephaestion has come to Philips court as a slave, but found a place as the loyal companion of Alexander.

Summary: Alexanders army stumbles upon the land of Lord Amyntor. Suddenly Hephaestion reacts strangely and reveals something about himself which had not been forseen.

Royal slave – Chapter 2

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Alexander was baffled, even truly stupified. He had not realised his mouth had opened just a little, until Hephaestion reached out softly. He snapped his lips together and looked angrily at the young man who lay next to him. His light eyes darkened almost visibly as he breathed deeply and tried to calm down.

"Your father is a King and you never told me?"

"I did not see the point."

It was said so calmly, that Alexander lost his temper.

"You didn't see the point? By the gods, Hephaestion, you have been treated like a slave for years! With one word you could have changed all that and had you brought back to your father!"

"Would you believe an eleven year old boy who claimed to be the son of a Lord, Alexander?"

The question threw him off and the young King couldn't answer. He lowered his eyes to his lap, where his hand still lay entertwined with the one of his lover. Maybe he was right… he would not think that a boy could claim to be a Prince. Not when he was dressed only in rags… but everything fell into place now.

"That is why you could read."

"I have been taught at a very young age."

"Why didn't you tell me, Hephaestion? I know that my father would not have believed you when you were young and that…" He could not finish his sentence and wrapped his arms around the young man.

"I treated you like a slave."

"Alexander… you were the only one who treated me kindly for all of those years. If you start to apologise you will really give me a reason to not talk to you." He mumbled softly as he caressed the hair of the young King. Nowadays it was very clear who was the older of the two when they were alone. In public, when everyone was able to see, Alexander the Great was in command and passed on the orders to his Generals.

However, in private, it was often Hephaestion who cared for the young man in stead of the other way around. He could not run Alexanders bath anymore or prepare his meal, this would not be allowed for a General of the army, but the quiet conversations amongst the both of them often helped the King to make his decision.

Alexander softly shook his head and the corners of his lips tilted up into a small smile.

"You are impossible."

"And that is why you love me."

Hephaestion kissed Alexanders lips softly and wanted to get out of the bed. He never stayed the entire night with the King, as the rumours had grown heavier over the months they had been at war. The young man usually stayed among his soldiers as the night fell and snuck out of his tent later, when there was nobody around. Although Alexander had not wanted to let him go on the first few occassions, the both of them knew it was for the best. The only thing Hephaestion had truly feared over the previous years was the fact Alexander needed to take a wife. He needed an heir for the throne of his empire, which had begun to stretch further and further. Nothing had happened.

"You are not getting away from me tonight. Not after what you have told me."

Hephaestion sighed softly. He had sat up and put his feet on the rather chilly ground, searching for his clothes. At the words of his lover he turned back and his sapphire eyes looked sadly towards the naked form in the bed.

"There is nothing else to say. It is of the past."

"No… No, it is not. We are passing through the land of your father, Hephaestion. Doesn't that affect you in any way? I… Who are you?"

Alexander gnawed at his bottom lip softly, hesitating about what he wanted to say. He felt like everything he had known about his lover was false. He couldn't grasp the fact that someone who had been royalty could act like a slave. But there had been other circumstances… Hephaestion had been caught by the guard.

"How did you even get in Pella that day?"

The young man knew that he would not get out of the tent before he told part of his own history. He leaned on his hands and pulled himself back in the bed, leaning his back against the makeshift headboard. Gesturing for Alexander to come closer, he curled an arm around the others shoulders. The young King wrapped his arms around the waist of Hephaestion and laid his head on the chest of the General.

"They kidnapped me when I was in the garden of our large home. It was not a palace like Pella, but it was quite a large house… I had a lot of slaves at my beck and call, but rarely got to see my father. Suddenly two men stood in front of me, they were dressed rather shabbily, but it seemed to be to pass as slaves. They just grabbed me under the nose of my fathers soldiers and ran off."

Hephaestions voice broke a little at the memory, but Alexander didn't say a word. He wanted the young man to say this at his own pace and as much or as little as he wanted.

"I don't know how long I had been kept in a small house somewhere out of town. They used some kind of drug to keep me asleep and before I knew it, I heard all kinds of carts rattle and the hooves of animals clatter against stone… so it was a large city. I rolled myself off the cart and ended up in a muddy side street of Pella."

"So that was why…"

"My clothes were… in a abominable state at that moment. My face was probably a dirty as can be, with my knees and hands bloodied from the fall I had made. The soldiers probably thought I was a runaway slave when they caught me."

"But you never said a word."

"I thought adults would not listen to me, my father never did." Hephaestion shrugged. He felt the kiss of Alexander barely, but he closed his eyes and laid his head on top of that of the young King.

"Sleep here tonight… please?" Alexander asked softly.

The young man silently complied.

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Nelia: Yup, I'm from Flanders. Great to see someone else from Belgium here!

Queendel: The future enemy bit is actully Hephaestions fear, although it is of course unreasonable, like you said. Alexanders views, well… you'll find out : ). And although the son of a lord… you see how Alexander looks at Hephaestion now.

Lain-sama: Thank you.

Whiteinjetti: Thanks for reading my other story and taking the effort to review here.

Koalared: I'm just trying something new, thanks.