Title: "The Psychology of Chaeronea"

Author: Baliansword

Type: Story

Chapter: 3, "Spoken Betrayals"

Rating: T for Teen

Warnings: Some violent content, some sexual content.

Summary: Alexander and Hephaestion fight in their first major battle, however, sometimes the battle with what you have done is worse than the battle itself. Hephaestion angers Alexander in a rather interesting way, and then has to make it up to him.

A/N: Again, thank you guys for the reviews. They are very enjoyable.

Dedication: For Mary, and Sushoo.

H/N: The Battle of Chaeronea was the first battle that Alexander and Hephaestion, as well as the rest of their young friends, fought in. I've done other stories about it, but this seems pretty cool too. Alexander would have been 16 and Hephaestion would have been 17, in case anyone needs to know.

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Alexander had watched Hephaestion storm off. There was a silence like no other, but soon the feast was on once again. However, Alexander did not feel the same. He put on a smile, and laughed with the others, and drank more than he should have. Yet for the rest of the night Hephaestion's words lingered in the back of his mind. He couldn't believe Hephaestion had said those things to him, let alone in front of everyone. He was a fool to do so. If he had said such things before his father, Philip, he would be dead or exiled. However, as Alexander thought things through, he realized that Hephaestion had made a point. It was his opinion, which was not necessarily correct, but it was still his.

"He did not mean it," a voice said later, and Alexander's head snapped up. Cleitus had entered his tent, a cup of wine still in his hand. At times he feared Cleitus, for he knew the hopes that he had for him. He, just like his father, did everything in his power to make him a man. Half of the time he viewed him merely as a friend though, which was far better. Cleitus gave him a look of understanding and then sat down on a chair.

"I think he did," disagreed Alexander.

"Hephaestion is a fragile soul," Cleitus told him. He sat back and glanced at his cup, as if he could not meet Alexander's eyes. "He views things more as a woman would, not that it is all bad to do so. He concerns himself with the pains of others."

"He disgraced my name, Cleitus! In front of all of the others no less!"

"He called you a brat, which is what you are at times. You know this. I've heard your mother scolding you for that often enough. Hephaestion was not meant to kill, Alexander. I believe he does so for other reasons."

"If he doesn't want to do it, if he does not want to defend Macedonia, then why does he even bother?"

"Wait," Cleitus said, putting up a hand for Alexander to stop. He then laughed slightly. The youth knew nothing about emotions deeper than those that could be easily seen. Love seemed to be one that Alexander and Hephaestion were having a problem with. "This has nothing to do with him protecting Macedonia. If it came to it, he would fight to protect his home. What he truly protects here, at this moment, is you Alexander."

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Hephaestion ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it, and then sat down once more. There was no apology for what he had done. As he collapsed once more in his room he tried to think of a way to make it up to Alexander. Perhaps if he had said what he had behind closed doors, all would be fine. Yet, to say if before his peers, there was the problem. He should have said it before they left the field. There never seemed to be a right time though. Instead, he'd said nothing to Alexander, and Alexander had said nothing to him.

There was a knock at his door though and he glanced up. Of all the people to enter his room, this was the person he wished to be there least. Cassander smirked slightly as he flung the door shut. He then picked up an apple and took a bite out of it. Hephaestion tried to keep the idea that he had saved that out of his mind. He couldn't get it back now. Well, he could, but who would want it? Cassander merely laughed as he picked up a piece of parchment. He glanced at it then tossed it, letting the wind carry it to the ground.

"Were you invited to the feast tonight?"

"No," Hephaestion said simply. He glared at Cassander for a moment, wishing that he could blink and he would just fade away. He didn't think he was going to be that lucky though. Cassander was already sitting down as if he planned to stay for some time. Hephaestion picked up a book, a copy of the Iliad that Alexander had still not come to get back, which was perhaps a good sign. Silently he placed it on a nearby desk, hoping Cassander would not see it. Cassander did not, which was a rather good thing.

"I wonder why that is," Cassander mused aloud. He sat back confidently as he continued to chew on his apple. "Maybe, it has something to do with the fact that Alexander does not want you coming. I bet he's found new friends, and has a new best friend. I told you when you returned from Athens, you don't belong here."

"You don't belong here," Hephaestion said, referring to his room, as he stood. He went to the door, held it open, yet Cassander refused to budge. Hephaestion shut the door and then walked across the room. He stood before Cassander, glaring, hating him for stating the obvious. Cassander knew that he was not invited. Everyone knew! Why did he feel as if he must come and rub it in his face?

"I wonder what they will do with you now that you serve no use to Alexander, or to Pella. Maybe you could go back to Athens. Then, when we come to invade them, you can die at the end of my sword."

"You presume too much," Hephaestion replied quickly, striking like a snake. "You know well enough that you've never beaten me."

"But I shall," Cassander said with a shrug. He then tossed the core of his eaten apple at Hephaestion, who instinctively caught it. "I have to be going though. I think I'll sit next to Alexander tonight."

"Just because I am not invited," Hephaestion said as Cassander placed his hand on the door. "Does not mean that I will not be going."

"We'll see if you have it in you," the other laughed. He then shut the door, and Hephaestion fell back against his chair once more. It would be foolish to suddenly walk into a feast he was not invited to. He wondered who would notice though. Perhaps…no one. Then again, it was a feast that was partially Olympias' idea. There perhaps would be a chance for him to get to see Alexander after all, without his own identity being revealed.

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A/N: Sorry that this is short! Still sick, going to school, and working. Wow. Terrible. I hope this is a sufficient post though. Review, let me know what you think.