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: None.

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 7

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Hephaestion woke up only about an hour after he had fallen asleep beside Alexander. The king had insisted on comforting his lover, although Hephaestion had said numerous times that he would be alright. Alexander knew better… he had known his General for far too long to not realise that he had hurt him severely, albeit indirect. The reaction of Amyntor had been enough, Hephaestion had never been a true son to him.

Sapphire eyes opened slowly as the young man realised that he would not get anymore sleep tonight, nor for the next nights. His mind too preoccupied with the hundreds of thoughts swirling through his head at once, he decided it was best to find a place to really be at peace. That would never happen with his lover near, because he always managed to find a way to let Hephaestion stop thinking. And that was what he needed for himself right now, to think.

Standing, he quickly slipped on the short battleskirt he wore these days wherever he went. He was a soldier, a General, there would never be robes for him anymore. Folding the cloak over himself with great care, covering most of his body except for his hands, hair and face. His hair had grown beyond shoulder length during the last campaign and he had not gotten around to cut it yet. Alexander didn't seem to mind, according to him it only added to Hephaestions natural beauty.

Walking to the flap which divided the tent from the rest of the world, completely shut it off as if it were sealed with a door of solid steel, he looked back. The presence of the King was enough to let everyone keep away from him when he rested together with his lover. Hephaestion loved those times of pure solitude, he was not an attention seeker like Alexander, who craved the lime light. He did not mind that trait of his former master, that was what made great men, their ability to stand in front of thousands and make them believe.

Right now, in the light of the moon, Alexander just looked like a young man. Not very extraordinary, but Hephaestion knew what went on behind those light eyes. The fire which burned in the soul of the King, his wish to let the world cope on its own, under his rule. No slavery, no war.. one big happy family. For one moment, when Alexander had named him in the meeting area in front of his father, he had hated his King.

It had scared him to death. Hephaestion loved Alexander beyond everything earthly.

Holding the flap up he stepped out of the tent and let Alexander be. He did not tell him anything about where he was going. He was older than his King and a General himself, he could take care of his own. Although he had never been such a good strategist, more busy with numbers and provision as that was his strength, he could fight with sword and bow, if he wished it so. Alexander always kept him close, or sent him off with one of his other Generals. Sometimes, it angered Hephaestion… otherwise, he loved Alexander for it.

"How stupid can one person be?"

He murmured it to himself, because the General was furious at himself more than at Alexander. Because he had said that he would go to that meeting as Hephaestion Amyntor and not as a General of Alexander. That would have kept him safe from anything, he would have been able to fight and not see his father ever again. Now, he was obliged to give some explanation.

"I'm not." He grumbled then as he gritted his teeth.

Hephaestion walked off with a great stride and he hid his hands in his cloak. It was colder than he had expected, but this was a desert and it had always been freezing at night. Lowering his head so that he looked at the ground, he got lost in thought.

"You, stop!"

The young man looked up to find himself almost eye to eye with one of the guards… and not one of their own camp. Had he wandered off that much, that he had even gone through the line of their own soldiers who stood on guard during the night? In that case he should have walked straight in the middle so that they thought of each other that the other probably had called. Or they just hadn't cared because they had noticed it was Hephaestion. No, his men did not think differently about him, that couldn't be. The young man stopped.

"What do you think you're doing? These are the grounds of Lord Amyntor! You are one of Alexanders soldiers… is this a warning? We will give you war!"

"No, no, that is not it."

He hated it when his voice sounded this soft, because all of his learned authority was gone. Biting his lower lip, his blue eyes hardened, layered in ice. Then, a small cruel smile played about his lips. Whomever knew Hephaestion would have thought he was not capable of such a thing. They didn't know him very well.

"I am here to see my father."

"Lord Amyntor does not have a son."

"Tell him Hephaestion wants to see him. And do it quickly or he will have your head because you left his son waiting."

The guard now hesitated and left quickly towards the second guard, who gave the message through. It took only a few minutes that Hephaestion had to wait, before he got directed up to the fort where his father waited for him. The guards on either side of the wooden building opened up to let him through.

"Step into the light." The order came harshly and swiftly and Hephaestion did as he was told, stepping into the flames of the torches lit in various places on the wall.

"Yes, you are him… you are Hephaestion."

"Who did you think I was, father?"

The elder man looked up to him with sad eyes, the same colour as the young man who stood in front of him. For this one time, he was not the hardened war lord, but just one who had lost his son. And here Hephaestion was, thinking that his father had never cared for him. This was quickly concealed however.

"A fraud, just like all the others. I will not give your King my land because of it. Tell him to take his bribe and fight his war."

"I am not here because of my King, he doesn't know of this."

The seablue eyes of father Amyntor glinted and suddenly Hephaestion was grabbed by two of the soldiers who formerly stood at the wall.

"Thank you for that information. I guess we finally have some leverage to bribe Alexander ourselves. Don't think I had not heard of you before, Hephaestion. General of Alexander the Greats army. Whore to Alexander himself."

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Queendel: Ah yes, they will understant in the end. But for them it seems quite unbelieveable that a slave suddenly becomes royalty.

Elithraniel: Thank you. Ah, I fear you will get angry H. and A. later on.

Koalared: Cassander is his loveable self, yes. –winks- And ah… interesting enough?

Nelia: I love to make them… soulmates more than lovers. If that makes sense.