-Author's PenName: Dysis Nyx
-Author's Note: So, Chapter Ten has been revised for obvious reasons. Please do not hesitate to re-read in cases of extreme confusion or disappointment. I have finally finished up this fanfic. Yeah, I have had the last and final chapter there and finished for so long, but never got around to posting it, ya know? Sorry, if there are any of the old readers left. Heh heh nervous laughter as she retreats. I am pretty proud of finally completely this fanfic. Enjoy!
-Disclaimer: I do not own or have any say in the characters of "Alexander". As soon as I do I will inform you, in fact, I will inform the world, because...I WOULD FREAKING OWN JARED LETO that means. Oh, the marriage I dream I could have with that man.
-REREAD TEN, IT HAS BEEN REVISED AND ADDED TO.
Dianthe's bedchambers
continued
Letting a chilling smile Dianthe laughed a humorless smile, "What gives you the right to tell me about my Altair?"
The look that both Alexander and Hephaistion gave eachother made her angry at their sympathy, but anger was replaced by fear and awe at the flaming glare in Hephaistion's eyes as he apatheticaly snarled, "That cur is not fit to walk a step behind you, Dianthe. Alexander has agreed to allow you to stay in the palace. And to save your honor we..." he paused to gulp exceptionally loud "shall marry. We cannot allow you to live a life unworthy of you."
Alexander was now kneeling beside Hephaistion to hold her trembling hand. His voice was calm and sure, "It is true, Dianthe. It shall be a marriage of friends, but you shall have all you desire. We cannot allow you to suffer as your family makes you suffer. What say you?"
When she found her voice she was not the one in control, "What do I say? I say, what have I done to deserve this? Nothing too exceptional, jut what any girl would do."
She noted that Alexander had long dismissed Bagoas out of the room. What these two men caused her sometimes. They were great fools to trust her and care over her the way they did. Oh well, perhaps she was a greater fool. What Dianthe was about to do was go against everything, especially Altair.
She quickly glanced around the room and collected herself. For her next words she would die by the Gods, if not before her family and Altair.
"Alexander. Hephaistion. We must gather a plan. Those who you trust the most will betray you for reasons they claim to be of true heart."
Alexander drew himself to a full sitting position as he became professional, "Who, Dianthe? No more riddles. We need the truth."
Her look told the two men she was ready, but scared, "I only tell you this, because I need my honor back before I die. I was so ready to betray the two of you. Alexander, I am ready to tell you the truth. We must form a plan now before, well, before its too late."
balcony outside of alexander's bedroom
after dinner ceremony celebrating the birth of Dianthe's child (three months later)
Alexander leaned across the balcony and stared across his land. Tomorrow he would explore the world of the Hindu Kush and India and beyond.
A small feminine hand pressed affectionately into his back. As he turned to see Roxane standing next to him smiling. She had the look of a queen on her face, the same exacxt smile as his mother. She really was a mirror reflection.
Her voice was smooth and confident, "It is good to know we have put everything behind us, Alexander. I am glad to know that you bear no ill will towards me or Bagoas."
His curt nod did not go unnoticed. It was clear that Alexander was tired with his day.
She continued nonchalantly, "Hephaistion looked hapy with his new bride and her baby. Too bad the Gods have not blessed her with good health. It seems that her health has gotten worse these past months."
When he still remained quiet, Roxane just asked honestly, "Will you welcome me into your bed tonight, Alexander? An heir cannot be produced with nothing."
Now he smiled. Roxane saw a smile that still wasn't quite a smile as he lead her into the large room toward shis bed. His tome was cool and bone-chilling as he retorted, "Let's begin to write history, Roxane."
After all, thats what Dianthe told Alexander what he had to do. Go on with as was planned for him and as she told him, Roxane would eventually get what was comign to her. He just had to wait and play out history. Which he despised.
The Babylon palace
323 B.C. (the year of Alexander's death)
As Ptolemy and the other generals entered the old palace after they had just placed the Great King Alexander in his tomb a pang of guilt gnawed at them all. The knowledge that they had just laid to rest one of the world's greatest because they were tired and greedy would possibly eat at them.
Alexander died with a poisonous goblet and they did that to him. Although the grief he still felt over Hephaistion's loss would have possibly taken him sooner anyway. It was said he went completely mad at the death of his childhood friend and favorite general.
What was done was done and Alexander was lost to them forever. On the way back they discussed going after Roxane and killing her and the child. She had fled shortly after Alexander's death. She was hysterical on his deathbed. Come to think of it, what ws Alexander even doing on his deathbed.
He had reached up to the sky with a ring. What was so important about that ring and what was going through Alexander's head. His last thoughts, his last sight, smell, touch, even feeling...
Questions were all any of them ever had and now they would never be answered. Poor Alexander, he was a very smart man and so powerful, but he didn't know when to quit. His men hated him for his ambitions they were bigger than any of them could have achieved. Now he was dead because of them to never return.
Like him was Hephaistion. That poor fool was dragged around and down with Alexander to the depths of Hell. Luckily, Roxnae had gotten to him first. Truth be known, but not uttered between any of the men, no man had the courage to dare kill Hephaistion. His death actually gave them the strength to kill Alexander. It made it look so simple, so right, so filled with oppurtunity. That was an oppurtunity they took.
What had happened to Dianthe and Taryn? What had become of poor Hephaistion's widow? Or his daugher, the ever precious ten year old Taryn. The girl was born before they set out for the India exploration. It ws well-known that she was not born from Hephaistion's blood, but none doubted his care for the girl. It was also known that he had not loved Dianthe. That their marriage was one to save her honor. The talk between Alexander and Hephaistion had not stopped.
What would life be like without the great King now? This was a question that none of the men dared to utter as they exchanged glances to eachother around the room. They knew they had done the right thing. Or at least hoped they did. Cleitus would have been proud of them. They had saved themselves and the civilized world and their culture.
tomb of Alexander
middle of the night
A small candle wavered into the large, elaborate burial tombe of the great Alexander. Two sets of feminine footsteps padded down the hallway towards the place where Alexanader's body lay in rest.
One set of footsteps faltered. Poor Taryn shook her delicate head furiously at the sight before her. The sight of Hephaistion's body laying to the opposite side of Alexander was too much. The girl promised meakly to wait by the horses.
How could the girl be so scared? Dianthe was in disbelief as she watched her run back to the outside. Now she paid her focus back to the body of Alexander. Her steps with a new determination to them.
Once she reached the late king's side she sighed, "I knew all of Asia would lose a great king. My predictions are never wrong."
As she turned to move a firm hand caught her wrist, "You have too much confidence, Dianthe. Now where are you going?"
She rolled her eyes at Alexander's suspicion, then answered flatly trying to hide her pleasure, "I am merely setting the candle down, my king."
Now it was Alexander's turn to smile, "I am no longer a king. I am dead, remeber? Is Hephaistion awake yet?"
"No, I am surprised his potion has not worn off yet. You followed a few days later and he still is not up yet."
Alexander hopped off the table to walk over to the place where Hephaistion lay still as death. His gaze wandered over the body as his words escaped effortlessly, "His performance was so real that I forgot he wasn't really dead. I grieved just as hard as if I had really lost him."
"I know, Alexander. I switched the Roxane's posion with my own mixture, but I still thought with your reaction something had gone wrong. I am glad your 'death' had Roxane so well fooled. She was the one I panicked about. Oh yes, never make me do a switch that quick or stealthy. I almost thought I would have been caught by your men. Or worse! Not be able to switch and you actually drank to poison intended for you."
She watched mesmerized as Alexander reached out to touch Hephaistion's cheek. His words were so warm and loving, "He was so worried before the appointed day of his 'death' that he hadn't slept in days. I hd faith in you, but Hephaistion worried that something would go wrong with one of our 'deaths' and we would be parted for longer than intended."
A huge yawn escaped Hephaistion's lips as he sat up under Alexander's touch. His eyes glowed at the sight of Alexander, but his words were jovial and playful, "I am permitted to sleep or does the king wish to talk some more."
"You are too honest, Hephaistion. I do not know how I will go on for the rest of our natural lives without killing you."
For a moment Hephaistion grew serious as he stared at Alexander "I guess I did not lose you to this world you wanted so badly."
Now it was Alexander's turn to grow serious, "I told you, Hephaistion, I would be with you till the end."
Before their serious moment could get any more serious, Dianthe interupted, "I hate to interfere, my lords, but you are dead to the rest of the world now. The other decoy bodies will be placed as soon as you ride out on the horses. Taryn is waiting with them, keeping watch. No one will ever know Alexander the Great and his best friend and lover, Hephaistion lived past what history says.
The End