Title: "Battle for the Hindu Kush"
Author: Baliansword
Rating: T for Teen
Chapter: 9 of 9, "A Conversation"
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 must give a shout out to Snowlover. Thank you so much for your kind review. However, I thank everyone for their reviews!
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.
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Hephaestion's tent…
He glanced up as Alexander entered the tent. Outside the men were packing, and Hephaestion could hear them loudly still applauding. As Alexander entered the tent he looked at Hephaestion, but did nothing more. He stood there for a moment as if he were not going to move. He smiled softly then, and sat down next to Hephaestion on the fur fluffed pallet. Reaching over, he wrapped an arm around Hephaestion, then drew him to him. He kissed his forehead, but made sure to still be careful, for Hephaestion was still in pain from his wounds.
"Why did you do it," asked Hephaestion.
"What," Alexander replied. He had barely heard Hephaestion. Not only was his lover being quite, but his mind was still elsewhere. Hephaestion drew in a breath and reached up for his hair. He pushed a lock behind his ear, then again asked, this time his eyes fluttered down to the ground.
"Why did you do it?"
"It is time to go home," Alexander replied. He thought about it for a moment, glancing at Hephaestion, and knew he must elaborate. Hephaestion knew all of his secrets. He could see through his lies. He should just say it. "I saw you lying asleep earlier, and…I knew Hephaestion. I knew that I no longer wanted to bring you, or any other for the fact, to face such dangers any longer."
"I fear…"
"Say it," Alexander asked of him. He wanted to hear what it was that Hephaestion was almost afraid to say it seemed. Hephaestion glanced at him once more before drawing in a breath. Such a breath could mean only one thing; he was unsure of this outcome. "Please, my love, tell me your thoughts. You are the only one I wish to listen to."
"The men used to wonder if you were meant to be the king of Asia. I, I used to wonder what it was that you feared. Now…now I wonder if stopping is truly what you want."
"Yes," Alexander said with a nod. "It is time that it ends."
"It will kill you, I fear, to stop."
"I want only you now," he quickly answered, meaning it. He reached over, placing a palm to Hephaestion's cheek, and stared longingly into his eyes. Leaning over him, he kissed him softly, and then went on again. "There is only one thing I cannot live without in this world, and that is you. Everything else I can do without. You, however, I need more than anything. I need you now, more than I ever have. Tell me Hephaestion, tell me that you are not angry with me."
"Alexander," he said in a slight laugh. "How could I ever be angry with you? Of all people, you should know that I have never lost faith in you. I've never doubted you a moment. I just want to make sure you do this for you, not because of my weakness."
"I do it because of what you said the definition of a great man was. If in your eyes I am a great man, then, I am glad. That is all that I need. I only want to be great in your eyes."
"Alexander, nothing can change that."
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A/N: Thank you all, that is the end!!! Here are all of the people that I need to thank: HavenRain, Lysis, Faceted-mind, A Horse Called Hwin, Poetic Tragedy3790, Norrsken, Arlad, Yolass, Joshavius, Queendel, Sunny-seid-up, Snowlover, and all my other readers!