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 9

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Dictating the letter which would sign the death warrant of his long time friend and lover, grieved him deeply. He now understood how his father felt at times, when he had said to his son that he hoped that he would never have to act like a King. By the gods, he did not want to do this. Keeping a straight face, he dictated a short note.

"King Alexander of Macedonia, Ruler of Unknown lands and the Realm of Egypt to Amyntor.

Your questions will not be answered by word but by sword if you continue to keep up your defiance. We do not react well to deceit or blackmail. This is your last chance to reconsider and release General Hephaestion Amyntor."

He did not want to risk open war just yet, because there were still chances that Amyntor would surrender. Alexander had showed himself one who had mercy with the ones he conquered, keeping the one who had been reigning before him on the throne, letting some of his men to keep the order.

Alexander would not grant this favour to Lord Amyntor however.

Gesturing that the messenger could leave with his burden, he crumpled in his seat. He had kept himself strong throughout the morning, knowing that he had to face his Generals. Now, with no one surrounding him, he could be weak and mourn for the loss of his lover. His Hephaestion, the one he related to when he needed him and now, when he needed him the most he was not there.

Hiding himself in his tent he did not come out for the rest of the afternoon.

When the message reached Lord Amyntor, who had kept his son with him in the fortress against his own advice, he began to laugh. Hephaestion had rested near him even, with his hand bound behind his back and his knees resting on the cold earth stamped floor. He had kept his gaze to the floor, not wanting to see the taunting look of the others.

"It seems he is not too keen on you anymore."

He did not even dignify that with a reply, but his father came closer to him and lifted his chin. The blue eyes which met his own stood defiantly, the one thing which had struck Alexander such a long time ago. In all circumstances Hephaestion had not lost his pride and even now he could manage to look like the equal of his father. Amyntor was the first to look away to the parchment on which the message was written.

"What do you think, Hephaestion, should I reconsider?"

"If you do not want this town burnt to the ground, you should."

He got slapped for his trouble and his head snapped to the side, but he immediately turned back. His father had done this to him and he was not going to let this happen if he could help it.

"I hate you."

"If that would hurt me, my dear Hephaestion, then there would be many men to help me into my grave. No mercy, my boy, that is the key to a good ruler. And your Alexander, he is just a pitiful boy who thinks he is a King."

Lord Amyntor quickly grabbed Hepheastions hair and with a knife, cut off a lock. "This will persuade him, to know that you are really in my posession. You will not know the rest though, my dear boy, my soldiers will keep you company though."

Hephaestion took a weary glance at the two rough blokes who were going to escort him to a cave in the mountains where he would be held captive. They took him by the arms with a leering look on their face. Keeping the whore of King Alexander with them would grant them certain privileges.

"Don't kill him yet."

"No, my Lord, we won't."

The grins on their faces frightened Hephaestion to a certain extent, but he hoped they would be foolish enough to give him some slack along the way. They had no idea what he was really capable of and how well his fighting skills truly were. So he slumped to the floor and let himself be hauled up by the soldiers.

His hand were bound, so there was not a chance, not yet. But he would wait for it, all of his life if he had to, to get back to Alexander. His slender body got dragged over the courtyard towards a couple of horses, where he was put in front of one of the soldiers.

"We'll not let you worry too much about the loss of your master, little whore." The man behind him laughed, but he did not look up or say something, just let his chin rest on his chest and breathed deeply.

"That stupid idiot of a man! He would rather see his town burnt to the ground!" Alexander hissed as he threw the parchement with the answer of his enemy to the back of the tent. His Generals watched him with growing concern. None of them liked it when Alexander got like this, because his rage rivaled that of his father.

"Alexander, please…"

"No… no, Parmenion, I am done with your strategies, I am done with Cassanders carefulness and Cleitus' weariness. Amyntor will know what it is like to defy King Alexander!"

"What about Hephaestion?"

"We will find him on our way."

Alexander seemed so confident about it that they did not try to talk him out of it. It would not be doable either, because once his mind was said he was too stubborn for words. There was no one around to calm him down and he was just waiting for his army to prepare. The town would be utterly destroyed and he would seek out Amyntor. Hephaestion would be back in his arms by tomorrow and he would be a land richer.

Maybe he could give it to Hephaestion.

"Leave Hephaestion behind… for the rest of my life." He murmured softly as he walked back to his own tent. He knew that he could not do it.

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Nelia: Ah, how Alexander wishes he could act like you ;).

Queendel: Something is brewing, alright. There are some surprises for Amyntor.

Elithraniel: No comment –grins- You know I'm evil.

Baliansword: My dear, I love you! Your review analysed so much :-). And yes, I have something in store for Cassander, although perhaps not quite what you would think. And thank you for your review for 'By my side'. It is greatly appreciated.