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: Character death!
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 19
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"Fight me fairly!"
"You know nothing of fighting, just like your lover! That is what he is to you, isn't he? He claims to be my son, but he is just a whore for a King. The only reason why you let him in your army, trusted him with those missions."
Alexander squinted his eyes at the other, but did not advance on him. It seemed that the other soldiers understood what was going on, because they fought, but only with each other, leaving both King and Lord out of it. Hephaestion was the only one who wanted to come close enough to interfere. He came within hearing range.
"He was never my whore."
"Then I hope my men used him well, so that he can serve you more properly." The words sounded so hateful, that Alexander could barely see the attack coming. Lifting his sword, he defended himself and caught the blow with the blade. Suddenly he was pushed away from the fight by a strong arm.
"You will fight your own father?"
Hephaestion gave a small smile, but his eyes stayed focused on Lord Amyntor. Wrapping slender fingers over the hilt of the sword, he did not say a word but just advanced on the other. Alexander wanted to stop him, but he did not have the time, one of the soldiers falling on top of him, pinning him to the ground momentarily.
While wrestling with the body, he got a good view of Amyntor rising above his son, who sat on his knees. The next moment he could not see either of them and he feared for the worst. Pushing the body off of him, he rose up onto his feet and fought his way closer to where he had seen Hephaestion last. He found him standing, looming over his father, who had clutched his hand at his heart.
It seemed like they had felt it, that their leader died, and so the warriors of the clan Amyntor retreated. Alexander had given the order to chase after them, but it seemed like none of the soldiers felt like it. One of Amyntors own was among them and perhaps he would not be very satisfied if they killed all of his countrymen. With the influence Hephaestion had on Alexander, they could very well all get killed just for following an order.
"Hephaestion?"
The young man did not respond to the calling of his name. He threw his sword down on the ground and stalked off towards the campment without saying another word. Alexander ordered that the wounded should be taken care off and that all should return to camp. The King took one last look at the fortress… they should have taken it in today, but the spirit was missing. It was not the most important thing occupying his mind right now. He needed to find his lover before he would do something foolish. He knew how he had been when his own father had been murdered.
Alexander went out looking for Hephaestion, but could not find him. He went to his own tent to redress himself and vowed that he would go and take a look at the wounded, but first he needed to find the young man who started this whole ordeal, without him meaning to of course.
He found him not far from the campment at last. His hair was still caked with blood, drying in the strands, his clothes red from the same substance. Streaks and scratches covered his face, a small scar would form on his left cheek. Alexander went to sit next to Hephaestion, his arms around his own knees.
"How are you feeling?"
"My father is dead and I rule a part of the known world. How do you think I feel?"
It were almost the exact same words Alexander had used when his own father died and the two young men exchanged a knowing glance. The young King finally relented and wrapped his arms around the unyielding General, burying his face in the others shoulder. Caressing the strands of hair, he sighed softly.
"Please Hephaestion… I need to know how you feel. Talk to me like I did to you."
"What is there to talk about? We are soldiers, we fight for you. You have your victory, don't you?"
The young man had grown bitter in these last few days and Alexander wondered if that change would be for the good some time. Right now, he just wanted to get his old lover back, the sometimes shy and oh so wise Hephaestion, who could be silly when he let himself. Not this soldier who shrugged when he killed someone.
"He was your father, Hephaestion."
"No!"
It was the first real reaction he got out of the other, and the young man shook his shoulders, wanting to get out of Alexanders embrace but not succeeding.
"He was never my father…"
The tears followed and Alexander comforted his lover, letting him cling to him, whispering sweet words in his ear which would probably sound silly to anyone else, but at this moment he just wanted Hephaestion to hear his voice. He did not know how long they sat there, but when Hephaestion calmed down ,the first rays of the morning sun shone through on the battle field.
"Let me get you to bed, so that you can rest. They will understand…"
"How can they when I do not even understand it myself? Who am I, Alexander?"
"You are the one I will need by my side for the rest of eternity." Alexander wrapped his arms tightly around the other and kissed him deeply, and even if he did not get a response, he hoped that the message would come across. The one thing Hephaestion had feared, that now that the battle was done, he would have to remain here, would not come true.
Half dragging Hephaestion to his tent, Alexander tucked him under a blanket and with a kiss to his forehead, he let the General sleep. He would now wonder how he would decide the fate of this town… who he would put on the throne there. He would give Hephaestion the land, but what would happen next?
He did not notice that Hephaestion was not sleeping, but merely waiting for an opportunity. He had his eyes closed and sighed softly, as if in sleep, when Alexander laid down beside him and tried to get some sleep himself. The young King wrapped protective arms around him and the young man snuggled closer like he would have done when he would be asleep. He had always found himself curled around the young King and if tonight would be different, Alexander would notice.
It was only after two hours, when he knew for certain that the other was fast asleep, that Hephaestion snuck out of the tent.
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Nelia: No, Hephaestion is not happy… but Alexander at least comforts him.
Angstman: I fear it is too late already. Alexander is not evil, he is just human and gets a bit carried away at times. And Amyntor…. Ah…
Queendel: Once again you have been right, although it seems you would not like it. But, the good side of things is that Alexander now does behave like a lover. Cassander can be a very lovely man when he wants to be ;)
Baliansword: The future will not go exactly as you want it, love ;). Cassander will return however, in a few chapters, I hope.
Kitten: Ah… I fear not.