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: 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 27

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"My Lord, you really must dress better. The dust of the voyage still clings to you." Bagoas was fussing and making it quite funny for Hephaestion as he ran around from one side of the tent to the other. Quietly he tried to think of ways how he was going to get clean, but that was immediately followed by intimate moments with Bagoas he did not want to picture in his mind right now.

"Leave it… I am a soldier, always have been. I am used to this." He took one of the hands of the Persian slave and drew him closer, so that he was actually looking up towards the other, as he was sitting down. An almost unnoticeable smile passed the young mans lips and he nodded, he would have to relent in this one. Lord Amyntor was surely to know better under these circumstances.

"Yes, my Lord."

Their lips touched, but briefly, as the two of them were always watchful under these scrutinous eyes. The campment was full of them and Bagoas had already heard some of the soldiers talk amongst them. He wanted to ask his master if the rumours were true, that he had once been a slave himself, that he had slept with the King, the one they now all worshipped and feared.

His question was partially answered when that same King walked through the open tent door. The young slave startled and immediately backed away from Hephaestion, as if someone had hit him with a whip. If the rumours were true, than his Lord was the property of the King, and he would be punished for interfering.

"Hephaestion." The young man rose and greeted his King formally, with a light bow. Bagoas remained silent and had his head bowed, looking towards the ground. The King looked towards him for a moment and Bagoas could feel his gaze.

"Why have you come, my King?"

"To talk."

Hephaestion looked towards Alexander and the young man gave a gesture with his head towards Bagoas, he did not like someone listening in on their conversation. Hephaestion turned towards the young slave and gave him a small smile.

"Thank you, Bagoas."

The slave hurried towards the desert, which seemed rather welcoming right now, away from the intense feelings which were twirling in the tent. As both King and Lord looked at each other, it was Alexander who broke first.

"Is this what we are reduced to now? A King and his General?"

Sapphire eyes were directed at him and the General gestured for his King to sit down. He did so himself and waited for the other to ask other questions, more urgent ones. This was ridiculous.

"That is what we used to be, is it not? Before it was slave and master, thereafter General and King. Now it is still in that manner. What is it that bothers you so much?"

Alexander squinted his eyes and laid his hands in his lap, clasped tightly together. One who knew him well could see that he was agitated and that he would not need much to go into one of his famous rages.

"Is there not love in your life, Hephaestion?" The young man asked softly, which threw the General off completely. Sapphire eyes blinked a couple of times and he had to brace himself. What was Alexander getting at now?

"Who knows these things?" He asked in a bit of a choked voice, as he turned away from his King. Whatever would happen in the future, Alexander was still able to make his heartrate go up and find him irresistible.

As Alexander got up, Hephaestion looked at him with wide eyes, not knowing what to do or say. They had not seen nor spoken to each other in two months, so much had changed, but still they both could feel the old pull which had been there from in their early youth. Neither could resist it, neither wanted to.

"There is a lot about this world that I do not know, Hephaestion." Alexander began as he stood about one step away from the other. The General stood himself, not wanting to look up as his King. He had always been equal to Alexander in their tale and for one reason or the other, he knew that that was how the King wanted to talk to him. Not as one of his faithful followers, but as his equal.

"I do know that I trust only you in this world." The words hit him squarely in the jaw and Hephaestion had to bite the inside of his cheek not to burst into tears right then and there. "I've missed you, I need you." The words sounded so soft coming from Alexander and he seemed to mean it. How lonely must he have been during all of those nights? As a calloused hand rested upon his cheek, Hephaestion turned just a little, eyes boring into the light ones of his King.

"It is you I love, Hephaestion, no other."

There was silence for moments on end, and Alexander feared that he had said too much or too little. He had let his hand fall by his side, looking at his General for some kind of answer, but yet it still would not come. In the end he looked away and that was the moment Hephaestion chose for his answer.

"You still hold your head cocked… like this." Hephaestion titled his neck slightly to the side and against his own will, Alexander had to smile. "I've stopped doing that."

"No." The young General answered as he dared a smile of his own. "Like a deer listening in the wind. You strike me still, Alexander."

Ah, these were the words he had longed to hear when they were apart. Why did they have to separate? There would have been no need. Alexander sighed softly before he realised Hephaestion was looking at him intently.

"You have eyes like no other."

Alexander cupped the cheeks of the young man before him and smiled.

"You are the one with shimmering sapphires, my own hold no match to you." Tucking strands of hair behind Hephaestions ear, he did not miss the longing sigh of the other.

"I am jealous." He admitted then softly, barely audible. "I don't want to lose you to the world, not again and not like this. You belong here, Hephaestion."

He did not get an answer to that, but soft lips pressed upon his, with a promise that would be held throughout the night.

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Nelia: I hope it is what you wanted… I wanted some tenderness in the story before I let the angst rule them again.

Queendel: Cassander begins to see what it is like to be Alexander's lover. In the mean time Hephaestion already knows and at the moment accepts. But, don't let this chapter fool you ;) He's still strong Phai.

Baliansword: I hope that the words are tender enough. ;) And there will be more for Cassander and Bagoas.

Koalared: Ah, but that is just it. Hephaestion is not replacable.

Kitten: Hehe ;) Hope it's what you like.