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: 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 18

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Nobody asked him anything when he walked out of the tent of his King. Something he would never have dreamed of. There should have been hones, laughter… perhaps even a beating when nobody was watching, but today there was awe for him. Hephaestion looked around in wondering faces, wanting to know more about him, the man behind the beautiful eyes, but he would not endulge them.

The body armour he wore was tight around his chest, but he embraced the feeling, it meant that he was still alive. He would have longed for death if he knew for sure that this would release him from the duty which was bestowed on him this day. Walking alongside the King and asking his own father to surrender.

Alexander was waiting for him, standing beside Buccephalas. For years they had been loyal companions in war and it seemed that the young King would grant his horse a few more victories before he would earn a place in the stables for the rest of his life, where he could be comfortable. Perhaps when they would arrive back in Babylon, which the men hoped would happen soon, Buccephalas could retire as well.

The look he got from his lover was one of worry and he could very well understand. He had been forced to go through this, albeit out of love, but still it was not totally out of his own accord. Now the men knew that he was a Prince of this land, they treated him with respect, but also with even more distrust as before. Would he not be the one to betray them, so that he could live in peace with his father?

Without Hephaestions knowledge, Cassander had come to the rescue, with his tale about how he had found the young man after being beaten and assaulted by his fathers own guard. He had every right to claim his place in the army and seek his revenge. Although there were those who stil did not trust the young man, others began to reluctantly think that Cassander could be speaking the truth.

"Ready?"

Both young men were side by side, on horseback. Hephaestion was looking straight forward towards the towers of the small fortress his father had built up during the years of absence he had suffered. At the question of Alexander, he just nodded but refused to look at the other. Doing that would make him take back all he said and he would not be able to go through with it.

"Listen to me, brave men of Macedonia!"

Alexander had turned around and directed his speech towards his army, his thousands of loyal soldiers who had taken up their places beside him. They were not with the forty thousand that they normally would use, because they thought that the small army of Lord Amyntor which still remained, would not be able to thin them out to such extent. Ten thousand men stood by Alexander, while the others would rest in camp, armed and ready for when the need would be.

"We will ask for surrender first! When we get their negative answer, be ready to strike at all times! We don't take prisoners!"

At his last words, he glanced towards Hephaestion again, but those blue eyes focused solely on the fortress. He had to convince his father to surrender so that at least his people would get a safe passage towards the hills, so that they could return later on. Saying a silent prayer to the gods, his eyes shut for a mere second, he waited for the command of Alexander.

"Hephaestion."

He could see the flash of black out of the corner of his eye, and he moved with his King towards the centre of the field, where they stood motionless, waiting for someone of the other side to acknowledge them. It would be quite a surprise for his father to see Hephaestion there, and not have him prisoner in one of the caves.

"Lord Amyntor, we ask you one more time to surrender! There is nothing with which you can negotiate, your era is done! Surrender!"

Hephaestion called out these words in an impersonal tone, like he was just a witness of all that was happening. Nothing could be less true, as an arrow flew near his ear, barely missing him, he could feel the air that moved, the quiet 'zing' sound it made.

"This is my answer! Damn you, Alexander the Great!"

It came from somewhere within the walls, but it was the signal for the army to move. Hephaestion let himself be enveloped within the ranks of the phalanx. It was then that the gates of the town opened and a small army streamed out of them. They were well armed and seemed trained, but some of them were mere farmers and a quick prey to the soldiers.

It hurt Hephaestion to see what had become of his people, but he knew that he would have been willing to sacrifice his own life as well, would it be for something he cared about beyond this world. Or someone. These people were defending their home, how could he blame them.

The phalanx quickly wrapped themselves in the middle of the fight. Hephaestion got pulled off his horse and he could do nothing but fight for his life. As his sword found flesh, penetrated the skin and caused severe injuries, he was almost crying. He was killing one of his own.

Looking up, he could not find Alexander anywhere. The King always found himself in the middle of battle and he could not seem to stay safe on the side. That was not Alexander. Suddenly he noticed his father coming up towards him… no, there was his King… Amyntor was seeking out the King!

"No!"

Hephaestion yelled, but of course it was of no use between the clanging of weaponry, the shouts and the screams of the wounded. Amyntor neared on Alexander, who had turned his back towards him. Hephaestion tried to hurry towards the both of them.

"You! You took my son away from me!"

Alexander turned around when he heard a voice so closeby, so full of anger that he believed for one moment that his own father stood right in front of him. It was however Lord Amyntor, who looked at him with a face twisted in anger.

"You turned him into what he is now! A slave, not more than a servant! Not even a man at all!"

"He is more man than you will ever be!"

Their swords collided, the heavy clang whisked through the air before both fighters retreated once more.

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Nelia: I'll send Hephaestion over to comfort you ;) Ah, and I fear it will not go better.

Queendel: The real confrontation is for the next chapter, but this gives you already an idea.

Baliansword: Alexander is beginning to realise the toll of his conquest, especially when it concerns Hephaestion… but perhaps he realises too late? And yes, the man does get killed… but by whom?