Battle for the Hindu Kush Chapter 7: Alexander goes to Hephaestion, an alexander fanfic

Title: "Battle for the Hindu Kush"

Author: Baliansword

Rating: T for Teen

Chapter: 7 of 9, "Alexander goes to Hephaestion"

Pairings: Alexander / Hephaestion

Summary: Following the movie, what happens during and after the infamous battle for the Hindu Kush, with extra history hopefully thrown in. It shall present four different views, or angles, of this battle. It will end with Alexander's decision to return home.

Warnings: Mild language, sexual content, and violent battle scenes.

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone that has reviewed. I appreciate all of your comments, etc. I know I am terrible about replying to them, but please know, you are all great influences on my work.

Dedication: HavenRain, who is a fan.

H/N: This takes place during the battle for the Hindu Kush. If you are following the movie, it is the battle with the elephants. I have in my own way made sense of some of the scene, because the way it is shot does make it hard at times.

Hephaestion's tent…

It took him some time before he appeared before the entrance to Hephaestion's tent. As soon as he reached this place though, he stopped, suddenly unable to attempt crossing the threshold. Cassander held him up on one side, Ptolemy on the other, and the stopped as he wished. They would not force him in. In fact, Ptolemy would have liked it more if Alexander would go back to his own tent to rest. However, Alexander reached out after a moment and made his way in, even if it was with help. A young page glanced up from the bowl he was at, dipping a cloth in cold water once more. He bowed slightly, then left, as was custom.

"Let me go," Alexander told his friends, and they did so. With a great deal of pain, and forced concentration, Alexander took the crutch from Cassander and leaned his weight against it. They then left him, and he hobbled closer to Hephaestion, who remained half asleep. Alexander came to his side and quickly scanned his body with his eyes. He was beaten and bruised, and Alexander noted each and every wound. He saw his wrapped chest first, but, he then glanced down at his thigh. There were sheets draped over him from his navel down, and Alexander carefully pulled the sheets back. His mouth then dropped as he saw the wound at Hephaestion's thigh.

"Hephaestion," Alexander whispered as he sat carefully at his side. Hephaestion moves his head slightly at the sound of his name. However, he did not seem to wake. Alexander reached out, placing a hand on his chest, and only then did he moan.

"No," he whispered in his sleep. His voice was dry, cracking even, as if he had not had any water. Alexander reached for a cup, thinking he'd be able to get him to drink. He had thought that Hephaestion would say no more. Yet, as he pressed the cup to his lips, Hephaestion pushed it away and went on speaking. "Tell him go away. I am not well. He can't… see me like this."

"Hephaestion," Alexander spoke softly, hoping not to rouse him in a manner that would cause him any pain. He did not want Hephaestion to worry about what he looked like. His injuries made him appear even godlier in Alexander's eyes. "Hephaestion, I am right here. Can you hear me?"

"Yes," Hephaestion said as he began to let his eyes flicker open. His eyes were red, burning with pain and the aftermath of dirt in his eyes, but his cerulean soul still shone through. He blinked a few times before the blur of his vision left him, and he stared at Alexander. Slowly, he let his lips curl up into a smile, even though it pained him to move in the slightest. He let out a breath of air as Alexander burst out with uncontrollable tears. Alexander slumped over him, careful of his chest, but still threw his arms around him. He was glad, oh so glad, that Alexander was alright. He even forgot of his own wounds for a moment.

"Forgive me," Alexander cried against his shoulder. Hephaestion ran a hand over the back of Alexander's head as he held him. He noticed that his hair was soft, very soft, and he wondered if it had always been so. He continued to smile, but the smile began to fade as Alexander cried into his shoulder and asked for forgiveness.

"What am I forgiving you for," Hephaestion asked weakly. For a moment he thought that his voice would give out. It did not though, and for that he was glad. He could feel each ache in his body. He wondered if the feeling would go away, ever. For a moment, he thought about trying to move his leg, just to see how bad his thigh injury was. He did not have the strength for it though and was still more concerned for Alexander.

"I never wished to see you hurt," Alexander choked on the words through his tears, but Hephaestion still heard him. He continued to stroke him, hoping that Alexander would realize that there was nothing wrong in what had happened. Before he had the chance to speak, Alexander was continuing. "It was never my intention Hephaestion. My love, I never wished it. By the gods, please, forgive me Hephaestion."

"Alexander," Hephaestion said after a soft laugh escaped him. "It was not your fault, not at all. We both know what war is. I knew, all along, that one day it would end like this."

"No," Alexander cut him off with a silencing forceful kiss. "There is no end in sight for you Hephaestion Amyntor. You are not letting go, never. I am nothing without you."

"Alexander…"

"No, you know it is true. What would I do without you Hephaestion? You're the only one that's ever cared for me, the only one that has never been afraid to call me arrogant. You are the only one that holds faith in me."

"I only call you arrogant because you let me."

"Phae," he whispered as he pressed another kiss against his lips. "I love you more than anything in this world. Please, if you never do anything for me again, make it through this."

"They say that he may not walk again," Ptolemy said to the rest of the companions that sat around the table. Cassander glanced up, glaring at them all, then looked back down at his hands. It seemed they were not clean enough. It was as if the blood would never go away.

"He will," Cassander assured them. "You know Hephaestion. He does not stop hoping or trying."

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. The next will be longer. It won't be up until Sunday or Monday though because I will be busy this weekend. I'll be out of town at a debate trip. So, hope you enjoy this. Drop a review. Hope to see you when I put up chapter eight.