Title: Royal Slave

Author: Adsagsona

Type: Romance/Drama

Rating: R

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: Minor 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 4

-------------------------------

No, he just couldn't leave in such a manner. What had he done? Alexander almost regretted his actions, but he knew it had been the only way to make Hephaestion agree at some rate. Quickly he leaned on one arm and stretched out the other, clamping his hand around the wrist of the other young man.

"Don't leave like this, Hephaestion."

The other did not turn around, but lowered his head and sighed softly. Shaking his head he finally did turn, but the disappointment visible in those eyes made Alexander swallow. Had he sunken so low that the one he loved could look at him in this manner? Now he was the one who blushed.

"What would you expect, Alexander? You practically force a promise out of me during one of the most intimate moments we have had in months. I hope you are happy with yourself and your conjuring mind." He answered the other with a strong voice and for the first time since long the King realised that this was a prince himself. He was not the one to order him around.

"I am sorry, Hephaestion… I would not have you fill in your promise. But you must try and understand what I mean by this."

The former slave bit his lower lip and nodded for a moment as he settled on the bed again, facing Alexander. He wanted to listen, but that would be it. Because it was Alexander, one he loved and trusted, he would listen.

"You do not need to speak to your father, my love. You just sit around the table with the rest of the Generals, you talk amongst yourselves, whatever you want. But your father will recognise you… ask about you. And he'll know that you have become a wonderful young man. All by yourself."

"Why do you want this?"

Alexander cupped the cheeks of the young man before him softly and looked into night sky eyes. He sighed softly and tried to be as sincere as possible.

"You are entitled to your revenge, Hephaestion. You are a Prince of your own land and you have been treated badly in the past years due to your father. Show him that you have managed on your own, that you have never needed him. We will conquer him."

"Alexander."

The name sounded so soft that the young King barely heard it. Hands wrapped around his arms and pulled him away from the other and he sighed. Everything had been for nothing… he had tried and failed. Then he felt gentle lips upon his own.

"I know that you feel strongly about this, but you needn't worry. I don't want to get back at my father. I barely remember him and he probably wouldn't think twice about me."

"He will know you… I have seen him already, Hephaestion. Your eyes are the same, I would recognise them anywhere. And he will too."

The young man hesitated and he wrapped his arms around the waist of the other, burying his head into his shoulder. He breathed deeply a few times, inhaling the soft scent of sweat and a mix which was purely Alexander.

"I don't know." He whispered in the end as he tried to picture his father. He didn't need to talk to someone… just be himself, a General. Stand by the side of Alexander and listen to the conversation. Alexander always liked to talk about it afterwards with him, exchanging ideas and wanting to hear Hephaestions opinion.

Alexander answered the hug softly and kissed the side of Hephaestions neck while he listened to his response. He was so glad that the other had wanted to listen to him and understood what he was trying to say.

"For me?"

"Alexander…"

The voice sounded a bit more threatingly, but there was also a smile evident. Hephaestion had calmed down and did not think of the other as the enemy anymore. Praise the gods. The young man lifted his head and looked at his King.

"I don't know how you do it, Alexander, to convince me every time. I'm not even mad at you… But if you ever do something like this again when we make love I am never coming to your bed again."

"I won't, I promise… I know that it is the only time when you can't resist me." Alexander smiled before placing a kiss on Hephaestions cheek.

"Please stay, if you are not mad at me. My bed has been so cold during all of these months and I /have/ missed you."

Hephaestion nodded and dropped the robe, which he had been holding all of this time, drop to the floor again. Pulling up his legs he crawled under the thin sheet and was immediately met by the hard body of his lover.

"I love you, Hephaestion."

That the young man had never doubted, although he sometimes was not sure why Alexander, a King, the son of a god, would love someone such as he. But now that the King knew that Hephaestion was a Prince as well, their relationship was equalling out.

"I should start to act more like royalty then?" He asked jokingly.

Arms wrapped around him and Alexander kissed his nose.

"Stay just the way you are, Hephaestion. I love you too much to let you change. You are such a wonderful person I don't want to corrupt with the likes of power."

"You are one of the most powerful persons in the world and you are not corrupt."

The smile of Alexander was one of pure sadness.

"Thank you for thinking so highly of me, my love, but I am not the good person you hold me for."

The former slave smiled and kissed Alexander gently, before settling down next to him and brushing his cheek.

"You are to me."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Queendel: For the momen the love between them prevails.

Nelia: Thank you! Yes, Hephaestion reacts a bit strongly, but his second reaction is a bit more rational. Love prevails, eh. I really should mail you :s I'm having trouble with my next chapters.