Author: Dysis Nyx

Note From Author: Whew, chapter four already. I want to thank all the readers and their support. I was happy to read the good reviews. You see, I was so worried you would all hate it or something. I apologize in advance for the change in pacing in this one, but I wanted to represent the way everything happens so suddenly in this chapter. Also if you are curious Dianthe is about five or six months pregnant, so she has a little bit of a belly. If the person looking at her really looks or her chiton clings just so then you can see it.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Alexander, but..oh you get the point I want Hephaistion.

somewhere in Babylon

current

Sure enough the smile the woman had on her face as she fully pushed the hood back was the look of death. Hephaistion's body pulsated with tremors as she let that smile of death at him "How did you know?"

"No other woman smells of deceit and homeliness like you."

The smile on her face turned to rage. He had struck a cord in her heart. That was exactly what he wanted to strike with her. To him she was nothing more than the whore that she was. All she wanted from Alexander was power, sex, and status. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less. He still had not forgiven her for trying to kill Alexander that night of their wedding. When Alexander had told him of this incident he wanted to kill her himself.

At that moment all he had wanted was to feel the life drain out of her. To see her chest pause forever as her last breath was drawn and exhaled. To behold her dead, cold body as it lie there with his hands around her neck. Never in his life had he had such thoughts. The only time they occurred was when someone, anyone at all threatened Alexander physically or emotionally. He felt it wasn't his most redeeming quality to not control such thoughts.

A gentle clinking sound rang brutally through the ears of every person in the room and through the recently stone heart of Hephaistion as he watched the ring hit the floor. The ring! His ring. Alexander's ring...his Alexander's ring.

No amount of doubt could comfort Hephaistion as he looked at that beautiful blood red gem on that band of shimmering gold. Questions filled his head like children screaming in the dark of all despair.

Why had Alexander parted with the ring so easily? What could the ring's presence here mean? Had Alexander given up on Hephaistion's life and love already with the passing of nearly three days?

His calm, sedated, gentle blue exploded up to meet Roxane's. That once gentle cerulean blue was now a raging blue fire. To just look into them was to burn your own eyesight into blindness. Even the proud Roxane looked away as her body trembled.

Her breathing slowed and her body steadily stopped its quavering. Once she had collected her wits about her she spat at Hephaistion, then snarled "Alexander, sends me to tell you that you can save yourself. He couldn't care if you return to the palace or not. I am here to collect the soldiers, but leave you. He sends that as his final message."

The lies were more than prominent as her bright eyes screamed "I am lying! Don't believe me!" She was trying her hardest to convince him of her falsehoods. He had not realized just how much he had unsaddled her. The look in his eyes moments ago must have unhorsed Roxane more than she had calculated.

So, without the ability to hold it all in any longer Hephaistion unleashed everything. His bursts of laughter just infuriated Roxane again and with a flick of her head the disguised man kicked Hephaistion right in the gut hard. Hard enough to knock the air out of him and into another fit of unconsciousness.

Alexander's bedroom

current

Pacing in his room Alexander felt that the rest of the world had faded into one problem and tons of solutions, but none that chose to come to him.

He had now been summoned to wait in his room till Ptolemy came to him. The golden man wondered what it was that Ptolemy was being so secret about. He had been waiting here for nearly an hour now and still no word from the man, besides the message he urgently sent him.

That was it! Alexander was getting frustrated and even more upset as he continued to contemplate Hephaistion and all of Babylon hiding his man...or what he meant to say was this man, not his man. What was Hephaistion to him?

He could think back on all that he had done for him in the past and no single event out in his mind, like the day after his father had died and Alexander had finished talking with his mother, Olympias. That was the exact moment that Alexander had put all faith into that man. That was the day he had decided who was to be the only soul he trusted.

Pella, Macedonia

336 B.C.

He stormed into the forum where students of Aristotle awaited their teacher's lesson and to hear his words of proud wisdom that they had enjoyed since they were children of twelve or so. He called in rage for them to leave and they did. All that was left was Hephaistion sitting on a nearby long seat of granite. The look on his face was anything, but fear or inferior obedience. Instead, he sat there like an equal friend who was not amused by his friend's tantrum.

With new resolve for Hephaistion stubborn streak Alexander growled loudly "I said go, Hephaistion. I want no one in mundane existence within earshot of me to hear what I am about to say."

Without even batting an eye Hephaistion looked at him and said apathetically with that tone of hidden concern lurking about, "Why not just talk about it with me? Wouldn't it feel better to blow off the steam with some one to notice it? Who knows it could help."

So respectfully and proudly Alexander leaned against a pillar directly next to Hephaistion sitting place. With a heavy breath Alexander explained with the hatred looming within his voice, "I am king now, but that woman is still not happy she wishes me to have Eurdice and Attalus sentenced to death. They were kin. How am I to do that-"

"They were your father's kin, not your own. I remember what Attalus said to you that night. I wanted to murder him on the spot for such disrespect for you."

"When he threw that cup I thought you would kill him."

Looking into Hephaistion's eyes he could see them saying that it was not because the cup had almost hit Hephaistion. But because that it was aimed to hit Alexander that made Hephaistion attack.

Alexander and Hephaistion fell silent as they looked on at one another. Hephaistion face was so serious, so virile, so understanding. It was as if he knew and felt for everything Alexander was saying. This frightened him more than he knew. To look into those eyes made him question everything his mother wanted. Love or duty?

If only she could see into those cerulean torches like he did. If only she could see everything that he saw in them. Maybe after she could see the love and loyalty they held. Maybe then could she understand his actions better when it came to Hephaistion.

When the look became too much Alexander looked away and said abruptly, "I remember earlier that evening Cleitus had come by, drunk. You pulled him onto your lap and offered him a seat."

"Yes, I remember. That was after he kissed you and declared his love for you. We were all very drunk that night, Alexander."

Alexander paused a moment to choose his words. His greatest concern was to not sound stupid. He didn't want Hephaistion to laugh at him and think him ill. "I was jealous. I looked over and saw him sitting on yer lap. My blood boiled and I was ravenous."

For a few moments Hephaistion said nothing and Alexander did the same. They stood waiting for the other to speak first. Neither of them lept at this chance. Till Hephaistion got Alexander back on track. "I wouldn't mind you mother. She means well, but doesn't go about it right. Forgive her, because she gives so much for your glory."

"Is it really my glory she wants? Or her's?"

Hephaistion adjusted his lean body so he was now leaning against the pillar while he continued to sit on the granite bench. His back to Alexander's side leaning against the very same pillar. Their bodies just moments away from eachother. So close that they could feel the other's body heat. Finally, Hephaistion continued, "To be honest, Alexander, if killing your father meant seeing all your dreams come true. If it meant seeing you happy, then I wouldn't wait a moment's breath. By Apollo, I wouldn't regret it either."

Babylon, palace

current

By the time Alexander had come back out of his dreams he found himself on that very same balcony where all his deepest thoughts seemed to happen. Where all his greatest wondering and planning...and conversations seemed to take place. The very same balcony where he told Hephaistion he held that place in his heart. It seemed such a short time ago and to think that for all he knew Hephaistion could be dead.

"Alexander! I have news!"

He turned to see Crateros standing right behind him with a half smile, half concern on his face. Their was mixed emotions on his friend's face. None of which that seemed to be what Alexander wanted, until Crateros said those words. "We saw the queen leave her chamber. She was dressed as though she didn't want to be seen. So, I ordered some of my men to follow her." he paused to collect his words "She led them to the mercenaries and our missing men. They are here, Alexander. We have brought them back. Hephaistion is with them. I would like to take you to see the men now."

Without a moment's stop Alexander was leading Crateros, instead of the other way around. After these past few days Crateros was pleased to see Alexander happy again. He cared about his king and to see him in that state was like a knife to the heart. All of the generals hated to see him that distressed.

As they walked closer to their destination in the palace front hall Crateros carefully burst out "Alexander, there was a problem at the home. Roxane and her companion escaped in the commotion."

Finally Alexander stopped dead in his tracks and asked "What? What commotion was there, Crateros?"

"Obviously, sire, our men didn't have an easy time getting our soldiers out. There was a fight. Meloncton and Theophilus were killed, along with some of the younger men. There is something else I think you should know."

Without another word Alexander stopped him and listened, not with his ears. His body was reacting to a presence. It was as though his heart knew he was nearby. It was pounding, racing as though it was on the wings of eagles. His blood with excitement in his veins. The greatest feeling of all though was the uncontrollable rapture his entire system was feeling right at this moment. Oh yes, his body and his spirit knew Hephaistion was safe and nearby. Oh and the other men as well, they too were safe.

Then he saw it as if it was from a dream Hephaistion appeared before his eyes. Then he spotted the girl. In his Hephaistion's arms was a girl of eighteen. She was possibly the most angelic creature Alexander had ever seen. To Alexander's surprise her white chiton with the gold trimming was decorated with her blood as well. Something had happened and to see such a girl unconscious and on the brink of death struck him.

Ptolemy came to the side of Alexander and whispered, "The girl is the daughter of Anker, the man who took our men. Hephaistion would not let us leave her to die."

To make Alexander's thoughts worse Crateros added in the other ear "One of my men informed me that one of Anker's men came at Hephaistion while he was bound, but the girl took the sword for him."

Thoughts raced like mad through Alexander's head, then he saw the finishing touch. The delicate flower's barely bulging belly. What had Hephaistion been hiding from him? Alexander could feel the blood pounding in his ears as this thought crossed his mind. If his thoughts were true, then who was the man Alexander dared to call his most trustworthy companion.

The mystery was not yet over and Alexander would certainly not let this one go by him. No, this would be solved before morning.

to be continued