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 28
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They laid together on the small fieldbed in Hephaestions tent, both still fully dressed. The young King had rested his head in his hand, his elbow on the pillow as his other hand traced the long tresses of his companions hair. He pondered if this had anything to do with love, or a deeper connection they shared. There were moments he had believed that the both of them /were/ Achilles and Patrocles, their souls residing in the bodies of the young men who came after them. Why else would he strive for such glory?
"What is on your mind?"
The soft voice startled him from his daydreams and he glanced down upon the one who brought such thoughts to him. Alexander smiled and continued to study the strands of hair, before brushing the cheek of the young man beside him.
"I want you to stay, Hephaestion." He said then as he looked into sapphire eyes. "Don't go back to your town, forget about being Lord Amyntor. You belong here."
If he had expected the young man to jump into his arms and say that it was everything he had ever dreamt of, he was fairly mistaken. Hephaestion turned on his side so that he could look his King in the eyes, a deep sadness concealed in the midst of his own. How could Alexander simply say this and expect him to return.
"You do not need me, Alexander. There are others to comfort you now."
The young King squinted his eyes, realising that Hephaestion knew about Cassander. That young Persian seemed quite close to his lover as well, and he realised that he was jealous. He wanted to be the only one to touch Hephaestion, which was completely selfish. He had never learned another way.
"Cassander means nothing to me."
Hephaestion was now the one to smile bitterly and shook his head, standing from the bed and looking down on his King. There was no mistaking in seeing him as royalty now, his head held high and full of pride. He would never be one to crawl back to his King in regret, not even when Alexander was the one he longed for.
"He has been one of your best friends since childhood. He has always resented me for the relation we had. I should be happy for the both of you that you have finally found each other. It seems I have been standing in the way for too long."
How could he say that? Alexander listened to his companion with open mouth and only snapped it shut when Hephaestion wanted to turn from him. In a flurry of movement he got up and held onto the arm of the other, who turned and gave him a push against his chest with two hands.
"Don't." Was the one word he uttered between clenched teeth.
Alexander had to take several steps to balance himself and he got angry at the one before him. How could he? Before he knew himself what he was doing, he launched a punch to the jaw of Hephaestion, who could deflect it, but it hit him hard on the shoulder. The young man gave his King another shove, so that he fell back upon the bed.
"Why don't you ever listen to anything I say?" Hephaestion hissed between clenched teeth as he took a few steps, looming over Alexander now. "Have you shut yourself off so completely of the world that you don't realise you live in it? Things don't always go the way you want it, Alexander."
"Is it because of that young slave of yours? Does he mean more to you than I do?"
Hephaestions eyes were cold when he answered Alexander. If he could not drive the other away by merely asking him, he would hurt him until he did. He hoped that with Cassander the young King would get the companion he needed, with the same ambition, other than one who merely wanted to follow.
"Bagoas is not my slave. It did not tie him to me like you did to me, Alexander. He is his own person and gets to chose wether he wants to stay or go. You never gave me that chance."
It indeed shocked the young King and it was almost enough to let Hephaestion take back his words and embrace the other, say that he was sorry.
"If I had known, Hephaestion." He whispered softly.
Ah, this was so difficult, this was impossible. How could he stay angry at a young man who had been through so much himself during his short years? Hephaestion sighed softly and relented, going closer and sitting on the bed beside Alexander.
"I am not mad at you for being yourself, Alexander. But you have to let go of me. I told you I'll always be your General when you would have need of me and I am here when you asked me to come. Do not long for more of me than that, because I can't give it."
"And if I let Cassander be?"
Against his will, Hephaestion smiled softly at the suggestion of his King. Briefly he wondered what Cassander would have to say about that.
"You would hurt the both of you."
"Cassander left me from the moment he knew you were back in the campment." Alexander confessed then. "He knows when he has lost, Hephaestion. Please, claim your rightful place again in this army. It needs you… I need you."
"You will never give up, will you?"
A small smile played about Alexanders lips and he reached for one of Hephaestions hands, holding them in his now. He did not pull or tug at it, but just held it in his own warm ones. The young man looked towards his General with such love it made Hephaestion weak in his resolve.
"It is why I am Alexander the Great."
"And a stubborn fool."
"Yes, that too." The young King complied before standing and looking at Hephaestion. He still hadn't gotten an answer from him and now that sapphire eyes looked pleading up towards him, he knew he was not going to get it anytime soon.
"Grant me time."
"All that you may need, as long as you stay with the army. Whatever personal matters we have… this army still needs you and your men. We fight Darius in a few days."
"I will stay."
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Nelia: Thanks, love. I hoped that you would like it ;)
Queendel: That is what I wanted to show. Now the angst can start again –grins-
Baliansword: Don't worry about being late, love, I'm really glad that you take the effort to reply. I promise you future chapters with the other boys.
Kitten: -nods- Hephaestion and Bagoas are sweet together, it's true.