Title: "Beyond the Battles"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 9, "Dances"

A/N: First I must thank everyone for their reviews. Queendel here are the answers to your questions. 1- At the moment I cannot disclose who the brute that hit Miskaelah is yet but it will be disclosed, etc., in another chapter. 2- Hephaestion is lighter in the last chapter compared to the previous because he's reached a point of understanding, which shall be discussed in this chapter. 3- Alexander has his reasons for being distant about sharing his experience with Bagoas. It will be discussed later but it really has to do with, in part at least, that he actually does find Bagoas not only attractive, but perhaps as someone he can trust. In the new relationship he's building with Bagoas, he is reluctant to tell Hephaestion, because this really is the first lover he's ever taken that has evoked emotions in him that he'd saved previously only for Hephaestion. Thank you for your questions though, I hope my answers suit you. Also, thank you so much for your concern. I hope that now my posts become more frequent. Note: Sexual scenes in this chapter, some graphic sexual behavior, so I did warn.

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Hephaestion's PoV-

I have been expecting it since I entered at his side. Yet now as I sit and the light of the torches begins to fall over her lightly tanned skin I am not sure if I've expected enough. There is a shimmer to her taunt chest as the fire's light touches it. Her head is down and tendrils of her hair fall over her face perfectly, as if they have been arranged there. Bagoas stands behind her, an arm around her and holding her by the waist with a hand, he rests his eyes behind her. She does not look up, doesn't even move, and if you were wise you'd think she was a painted statue. She is lovely.

I sit back in my chair and try to sip my wine as if she means nothing to me. But I cannot deny it any longer, not to myself at least, because there is something about her that makes my blood run warm. I wait, as all others do, and suddenly the music strikes up. Persian music is far different from our own and I must say that there is more passion to it. The beat is fast, rhythmic, and far more entrancing even. With the start I think she will begin but they wait until there is a beat of a drum. Suddenly she takes a step forward and rolls her shoulders back, moving her taunt stomach as she does this, and she turns to the side and the skirt flutters about her. All the way up her thigh is exposed as the thin metal chains of gold wrap around her. Already I'm entranced with her as she begins to move her body as if she has no bones in her body. She bends, moves in ways I have never seen before, and all the while I try hard to swallow.

Bagoas dances along with her and I begin to understand this dance even though there are no words and I've never heard this music before. It is a dance of lust. By the way they dance, coming so close to each other and then one moves away slyly, I have come to such decisions. He is a wonderful dancer, however, he is nothing compared to her. She spins and she goes to the floor. I worry at first that she has fallen but she is then on the grounds, bending backwards, and he leans over her. Both move their hands, meanings I do not understand, but I understand her passions. This is not something she has been taught to do, but something she enjoys to do, and something she is very good at. For the first time I wonder about her relationship with Bagoas.

The dance lasts some time but I do not realize it. I focus only on her and when she stops, beads of sweat on her stomach, her hair wild, breaths a little quicker; I swallow and look away. I fear that if she looks over at me she will know my desires. After a moment, as Alexander praises them both and raises his goblet, I steal a glance at her. Her eyes leave Bagoas and come to meet mine, and I cannot look away, but after a second she does because that is what is expected of her. Miskaelah then wanders out of sight, through many of the men, and I find myself starting a conversation with Ptolemy. However, all the while I am thinking of her.

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Night had come and was in her center now as Arias slept. She slept soundly, the grand couch far better than what she was used to. In her sleep something seemed to call out to her though. Without even realizing it the voice got what it wanted and she slowly opened her eyes. She turned her gaze towards the shadow in the room, following the darkness on the floor until her eyes found Hephaestion's. He immediately looked uneasily down at his hands and then swallowed before looking back up at her. Yet he at first had no words, just exhaled and gazed at her, and she began to make a move to get up.

"No," he said quietly, "there is no need to get up. I was just watching you. I wanted to say that you did wonderfully tonight. Forgive me for waking you."

Miskaelah sat up slightly and leaned against the back of the couch. With her eyes she called her to him and he slowly crossed the space between them. Hephaestion stopped in front of her, and she took the hand at his side, and pressed a kiss to his exposed belly. He did not let her do more though, not because he did not want her to, but because she was not cheap to him. To him she was something of value and he sunk to his knees before her. He looked up at her for a moment, certainty and uncertainty both in his eyes. Still keeping his eyes locked with hers he put a hand on her calf and lightly ran it up and down, tenderly touching her, all signs of a general or warrior washing away from him.

He leaned down, shadows coving his face, which was already being somewhat lit by the torch in the corner of the room, and kissed her knee. His lips were tender, warm, and for the most part caring. Hephaestion then put his hands behind the bend of her knee and pulled her towards him. She slid down the couch, not even her head now touching the back. Still she wore the chained skirt and Hephaestion ran a hand over her thigh, and over the thin chains as well, and he then reached to her waist. He unclipped the clip that held the chains and she lifted her back and he pulled the chains away. Next he came closer to her, his body fitting perfectly between her thighs, and he pressed a kiss again to her right knee. Continuing he kissed up her thigh, his hands running up and down her thigh as well. His hands founder her tight chest and he massaged her stomach as he moved his lips to her inner thigh.

Never before had he been with a woman but he just seemed to know, finding his way slowly, and tenderly. She let out a small breath of air, which he heard, and she spread her legs apart slightly further as he kissed her thigh. He pulled the rest of the outfit away and placed it on the floor as to not make noise. She put her hands over his, which searched her stomach, and she let her head fall back. Hephaestion kissed her thigh, and he then moved to her center, where he kissed at the side of her for a moment. He let his tongue slide slightly into her and he continued this, moving his tongue in and out of her, before he finally stopped his teasing. With his tongue he flicked her clit and she trembled beneath him, her hands pressing into his, a cry of passion escaping her. He did this again and slid one hand away from her. As he kissed at the inside of her he slid two fingers inside of her, preparing her for what was yet to come, and he turned his head and kissed her thigh again. Moving up he kissed her stomach, moving her hand with his, pressing the back of her hand into the couch.

He brought his lips to hers and kissed her deeply as he slid his fingers further into her. He ran his tongue over her lower lip as he kissed her until she allowed him entry to her mouth. She put her free arm on the back of his neck and he continued to kiss her. Hephaestion removed his hand from her when he felt she was wet enough and placed his hands at the sides of her breasts. He unclasped the corset and then tossed it aside as well. He put a hand over one of her breasts and massaged her for a moment, her nipple quickly hardening, and continued to kiss her. There were short breaths of air between breaths and he gave her a moment to get air as he moved to kissing her neck.

She panted beneath him and he pulled away from her for a moment. He stared down at her as he removed the silk robe, letting it slide smoothly over his shoulders, and float to the ground behind him. Then he stood, stopping her with a hand as he did this for she tried to rise too, and removed his trousers. Miskaelah stared in awe at him as he stood there. He reached down, taking her from behind the knees with his powerful arms, and he turned her back so that she was lying upon the couch again. He put a leg over her, the couch big enough for the both of them, but did nothing immediately. Instead he kissed her, pushing tendrils of her hair away from her cheeks, which he in turn kissed as well. Everything about her was innocent in this moment before she could barely breath, let alone utter what she wanted to say to him, wanting to tell him to take her. He need do nothing fancy, but he did, and she loved it all the more. Miskaelah moved her legs, giving him more room, and his arousal then pressed against her lower body. He entered her not though, still kissing her, licking her nipple and gently sucking it.

"Hephaestion," she moaned breathlessly, and he moved his fingers back to her. He knew just from this that she'd never been truly filled by a man. He kissed her deeply upon the lips once more before he lifted himself from her slightly. He removed his hands and put them upon her waist. Then, as she quivered beneath him, he moved the tip of his penis to her opening. She licked her lower lip and turned her head to the side, closing her eyes, as he began to enter her. She bit her lower lip as broke into her, and he stopped, seeing the wince she gave. She let out a breath and then turned her head and looked up at him. There was a tear in her eye and he leaned down and kissed her, wiping it away with a hand.

She shifted beneath him, taking him in, her body adjusting to his thickness. He did nothing but kiss her in this time, more than willing to wait. More than willing to stop if that was what she needed. Yet she gave a soft nod just after a kiss and he was given his answer. Slowly he shifted himself inside of her, lightly sliding backward, and then forward, rocking her beneath him. She let out a gasp along with a noise he'd never heard before but knew was pleasure. He kissed her as he slowly slid in and out of her, and he moved his hand between them, his finger finding her clit and softly stroking it between each thrust. Miskaelah met his lips willingly, feeling as he seemed to grow inside of her, and then with a thrust he touched a part of her she did not even know that she had.

She had heard of men and their passions but never of her own. Hephaestion felt her climax though and smiled softly. Before he came himself he put his lips on her shoulder. He even tried to stifle a cry as he spilled himself inside of her warmth. After doing so he breathed lightly on her neck, sending a shiver over her. It took a moment for him to catch his breath and he then kissed her softly upon her swollen lips. Carefully after just holding her against him he pulled out of her, hoping it caused no more pain. He lifted himself from her but kissed her everywhere, her entire face, breasts, shoulders, hands, chest…everything and anything he could reach from the angle.

"Come," he whispered to her. "You sleep in my bed, for it is where you belong."

He meant it too, not because of what she had been, because she was no longer property. She was something that he loved, someone that he loved, and nothing could change that. He lifted her in his arms, and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, as he transferred her to the bed. He pulled the covers back, successfully holding her with one arm, and then set her down. Hephaestion lay beside her, wrapping his arms around her, and her eyes fluttered from exhaustion of the first time. He cradled her against him, her head on his breast, and she was soon sound asleep as he massaged her scalp with a hand. Staring down at her he understood now why Alexander did not tell him about Bagoas…because things had changed in Persia. They now both knew how to give their heart to another.

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A/N: All comments, questions, etc are welcome. Dropping reviews is a way to make me love you. Or at least like you lots. Either one you want! Hope to post again soon, see everyone then!