Chapter 18 Tragedy
Alexander watched from the background of the stable as his son grew into teenager.
Despite the nanny's word on their first meeting the boy and Alexander became the best of friends and Alexander Jr would come and see every spare moment he got sometime bring Arridaios and together they would place the king onto a horse and walk him around the courtyard.
At night Alexander would climb over the wall to go and see Hephaistion who had gotten a job at a black smith, they would swap tales of their day then they would snuggle up till Alexander had to leave.
One very early morning Alexander had just dropped down into the courtyard and he turned to go into the stable when he saw somebody watching him.
13 year old Alexander was stood with his hands on his hips
"Where you have been," the boy demanded "or shall I have you arrested for abandoning your post."
Alexander flushed "Please forgive me but I went to see a friend."
The boy followed him into the stable" I don't have many friends," Alexander Jr said sadly "Well except for uncle Arridaios…….. Oh and you."
Alexander sat down on one the hay bales and the boy sat down next to him
"Would you like to a story about friendship and Love?" he asked
The boy wrinkled his nose "It not one of those stories where boy rescue girl is it?"
Alexander shook his head "No."
And he began to tell the tale of his and Hephaistion short stay in the underworld.
When he had finished Alexander Jr was sat eyes wide and a smile one his face.
"Where did you learn a story like that?" he asked
Alexander smiled "It's a true story." he replied
The boy shook his head "No it isn't."
"Oh but it is." Alexander insisted
The boy wrapped his arms around Alexander neck
"Thank you." he said
Alexander looked at him "What for?" he asked
The boy shrugged "Oh I don't know I guess I am saying thank you for being like a father to me."
He hugged Alexander harder and Alexander heisted before he to put his arms around the boy.
A cough from the door way made them break apart, it was the nanny.
"I thought I might find you here again," she said as she pulled the boy away "I better get you cleaned up before your mother finds you."
But it was too late as soon as she mentioned his mother, Roxanne came into the courtyard.
Alexander faded into the background like a good servant should.
"What going on here." she demanded looking at all three of them but she fixed her gazes on to the nanny.
"I caught the prince in the stable my lady." The nanny said as she stared at the floor
Suddenly Roxanne's hand shot out and caught the nanny's cheek
"You were supposed to be watching him." she said in a firm voice "Were you asleep."
"No…. my lady… I was." the nanny tried to explain herself but Roxanne cut her off
"If anything had happen to my son I would have had your head." Roxanne threatened "Understand. "
The nanny nodded "Yes my lady."
Roxanne took hold of her son and hugged him "Remember what I told you," she said holding him by the shoulder "There are people who want to hurt you so don't go running off like and giving your poor mother a reason to worry.
"Yes mother." the boy replied kissing his mother on the cheek.
"Your father would have been proud." Roxanne replied "Now run alone and go and get clean up for supper."
Alexander Jr turned "Good bye." he said to Alexander
Alexander bowed "Good bye my lord."
And Alexander Jr was led back to the palace by the nanny Roxanne took one look at Alexander and looked down her nose at him then followed her son.
Little did Alexander realised it would be the last time he saw his son.
When Alexander climbed over the wall the next morning Alexander Jr was not waiting for him everything was quiet so Alexander took the opportunity to sneak back into the stable, he would get a few hour sleep in before he had to begin his daily tasks.
He woke to the sound of shouting and screaming he jumped up and walked out of the stable. People and guards filled the courtyard.
"What going on?" he asked grabbing hold of someone's arm.
The man stopped he was out of breathe "Somebody has murdered the young prince and his mother." he panted
Alexander grabbed the man by the collar "When and how!" he demanded
The man simply pulled Alexander off him "I don't see why a stable hand should be getting so worked up but if you must know it was poison must have been last night at supper."
They stopped as a group of people came out of the palace carrying two stretchers with clothes over the bodies. They carried them into the stables
"Will have to put them in here as no one wants bodies in the palace," said one of the carriers as they put the stretchers down in the farthest stall away from horses and the entrance the n he turned " Who is in charge here?" he asked eyes scanning the crowd of weeping followers
Alexander swallowed the lump in his throat and stepped forward "I am sir."
The man nodded "I want you to watch the bodies and make sure nobody enters."
"Yes sir."
The guards managed to break up the crowd and the courtyard became quiet once more. Alexander stood outside fearing to go in he closed his eyes and counted to ten it had worked when Hephaistion had died.
He slowly went into the stable and went into the stall.
He crouched down next to the smaller body and slowly slid the cover back.
Alexander Jr face was ash grey there was a trail of blood running out of the corner of his mouth.
Alexander scoped up the limp body and using his sleeve wiped it away, he pulled it close and buried his face into the raven hair and wept.
Time passed and Alexander had been the only company for the bodies, he kissed his son's cold forehead and laid him back down he took hold of the cover.
"Good bye my son." he said gently as he laid the cover over the top and turned to leave.
He looked the door after him and placed the key into the palm of the sleeping guard and climbed back over the wall one last time.
He walked in a daze to the forge where Hephaistion was working. He stood outside and watched as Hephaistion hammed a piece of metal into a sword shape. He stopped to push a strand of hair that had fallen out of a ponytail and wipe his hand across his forehead. He caught sight of Alexander and he smiled but when Alexander didn't smile back he became concerned, he put down what he was doing and came over to him.
"Alexander what is wrong why are you here?" he asked
Alexander blinked tears and he looked over his shoulder to the palace and he feel into Hephaistion's arms
"Alexander what is it ?" Hephaistion asked
Alexander finally control himself long enough to tell Hephaistion the grim news.
"They killed him," he said " They killed him." he said but at the last bit he broke down again
Hephaistion took hold of his shoulders " Killed who?" he asked " Who killed who?"
"My son…. they killed my son." Alexander whaled
He sunk down to the ground and rocked back and forth.
Hephaistion pulled Alexander up and took him home.
When they arrived home Alexander was rambling Hephaistion soon found out that it was not just Alexander son they had killed but Roxanne was dead to. Alexander had begun to curse Hades and the other gods calling them every rude name he could think of while Hephaistion in vein tried to calm him down.
Alexander held tightly on to Hephaistion "Promise you'll never leave me Hephaistion." he said over and over " I won't." Hephaistion replied every time he said it.
Finally Alexander feel into a twitchy sleep and Hephaistion sat with him until he feel asleep to.
