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 12

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

Hephaestion had started to run from the moment he had taken the two men inside of the cave. He had not know exactly where he was going, but he hoped that from the traces he had seen on the ground, that he was going back in the right direction. There had not been anyone or anything in sight, except for stony ground and here and there a small bush with dried branches.

He had never felt so alone before in his life.

He knew that it had been better if he had thought everything through, because he was stuck in what could very well be a desert, without food or water and any kind of shelter against the cold at night. All because he wanted to go back to Alexander, who might have exchanged him for somebody younger, better, already.

The young man sighed at his own thoughts and shook his head, the heat was beginning to get to him. Alexander had always returned to him through the years, even when he had been gone for months. There were probably other lovers, Hephaestion did not know for sure, but every time Hephaestion had needed his King, he was there. That was what mattered… he just hoped that the other would not do anything stupid. Like he himself was doing now.

"I should go back… at least there is food and water." He mumbled softly to himself. Perhaps they had not been able to break their bonds yet and he could get some of the nutrition. Biting at his dirty fingernails, he stopped for a moment and looked around. Standing on top of a slight hill, he did not see the campment which he so longed for, nor the city he dreaded.

With a little fright hinted in his eyes, he realised that it was getting darker. He did not know how long he had been unconscious or when those soldiers had brought him into the cave. Had more than a day gone by since then? How late was it?

Trying to calculate by the sun, he knew that it was already close by night, the sun had almost set. He needed to find the campment before it was completely dark and freezing cold. Taking one step, he did not see where he was setting his feet and glided in stead of walked of the hill. Curling himself up into a ball in an intuitive reaction, his body rested on the slope after a few minutes.

It took him several minutes to get back to his senses. Aching all over, he stretched his body and lifted his head. He did not want to get up anymore, what was the use? He was far from any habited place and he would freeze to death anyway. He would die comfortably at least.

Cassander was getting anxious as the soldiers all brought together their weapons, sharpening them and praying to the gods for a victory. They were used to this by now, but still the fear to die had not left them. Ones luck could always run out. The young General hopped alongside the different groups of soldiers, leaning on a crutch. He wanted to find a place of solitude and away from everything.

Alexander did not know what he was doing, he had become insane. And all that for a lover, why didn't he just take another? He had to grant to Hephaestion that he was beautiful, but he was not particularly smart and… Cassander tried to shut his thoughts off before he was betraying himself.

Hopping away from the rest of the soldiers, he hoped that nobody would notice him. Cassander was normally always the first to drink or party, but he was more intelligent than most would grant him. One of the earliest friends of Alexander, he had always looked out for the Prince and later, King. Even back when it didn't pay to be his friend, Cassander had been.

Biting his lower lip, he tried to climb one of the low hills surrounding the camp, but failed as his leg did not support enough of his weight. Cursing at the injury and the crutch in one breath, he leaned on it and sighed.

"All this for one man." He murmured softly.

He startled when he heard a soft moan coming from somewhere behind him. Clamping his sword in his hand, he stood slowly and gathered his weight on his uninjured leg.

"Who's there!"

There came no answer and for one moment he thought that he had imagined it all. Perhaps it had been a beast which had wondered too close to the camp. Taking a few steps around the hill, he startled once more. A clearly human form lay at the underside of the small hill, curled up.

Wandering closer, his breath hitched in his throat. This was the one why Alexander had started it all. Although he would be able to hate this young man, he could not. Not when he was lying there so helpless, like a child who had just lost his mother.

Kneeling next to the other, careful for his leg, he rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Hephaestion?"

"No, Alexander, let me sleep… not tonight. I'm cold."

Well, that was quite strange. Lifting his eyebrows at the reaction, he shook the young man again, but now there came no answer at all. Cassander frowned, this was far from normal. Maybe Hephaestion had hurt his head on the way down.

"Hephaestion, look at me. You have to help me to get you back into the camp. If we get there before dawn, Alexander might reconsider in attacking."

Troubled seablue eyes opened, but they did not seem to recognise Cassander. He cowered away from the other General and looked around for a way out.

"You're not Alexander."

"No, I'm not… you know me, I am one of his friends. No jokes, Hephaestion, we have to get you back into the camp. I can't carry you, so you have to walk yourself."

Hephaestion did not seem to trust him, so Cassander softened his voice and stretched out the palms of his hands. There was nothing to see, nothing which could hurt the other.

"Hephaestion, please… I will take care of you. Trust me."

"I did that once, got me nowhere."

Wow, now that hurt. Before he realised that Hephaestion did not mean him ,but something which had happened years ago. Biting his lower lip again, he stretched out his hand and caught the right one of the young man before him.

"Come with me so that we can take care of you. I will send word to Alexander that you have been found."

"Yes."

With that Hephaestion took Cassanders hand, who smiled a bit more cruelly now. The message would never be sent.

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

Kitten: Cassander has his purpose, don't worry ;).

Queendel: I'm sorry that I don't write longer chapters, although I really try to.

Nelia: Cassander is much more than just a soldier… too bad about his education though, mwoehaha –coughcough-

Baliansword: Yes, Cassander is becoming quite important in this story… getting more ideas about it now? –smiles-

Fanfic Fish: Thank you, love. I think Cassander does understand true love in some sense, but he fears for Alexanders sanity.

PS: Sorry I took so long, but my computer suffered from viruses. Next chapter will be soon, I promise!