Disclaimer: I don't own any of Alexander! But I do own Shen and Ling Mei. So at least that's something. The line at the end is from "My Fork in the Road, Your Knife in My Back" by Atreyu.
Author's Note: I am sososo sorry this took so horribly long! It's just that I started the chapter and it was all wrong! So I made a decision, and I rewrote the whole thing. I hope you like it! Thanks to angstman, Mimilafee, Enqueri, and DarkTemari for the reviews. Enjoy!
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The next week was hectic for Alexander. Darius was still sending emissaries, trying to negotiate with the king, who steadfastly told them there was to be only one king of Asia. (And it wasn't going to be Darius, if Alexander could help it.)
Still, whenever the king had a spare moment, he would seek out Hephaestion. Sometimes he would take the boy to army practice, and they would watch Cleitus, or Craterus, or one of the other generals drill their specific squadron. Hephaestion seemed to enjoy this, commenting once that he had been training to fight before Alexander had taken him away.
Other times, the two would go riding. Bucephalus and Kepauvoc seemed to enjoy each others' company, and often Alexander and Hephaestion would race. The two steeds would be just as eager to win as their masters. After riding, Hephaestion was always looser, and often opened up a bit to Alexander. Overall, Alexander was beginning to notice that when the boy wasn't focused, he would let his guard down, and even be pleasant with the king.
Sometimes, though, Alexander would just stay with Hephaestion in his room, talking. When this happened, Ling Mei was usually there. The king liked it this way. With the girl around, Hephaestion was generally more relaxed, and the three got along quite well.
Still, Hephaestion was hostile with Alexander a good deal of the time. At first, it wouldn't have bothered Alexander so much, but every moment he spent with the boy, he fell deeper for him. Finally, he realized something had to be done.
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Ling Mei and Bagoas were just returning from the kitchens, where they had dropped off the food they'd bought at the market, when the king approached them. Bagoas immediately became submissive, head bowed and eyes downcast, but Ling Mei grinned, and rose on the balls of her feet, kissing the king on the cheek, "Alexander!"
Alexander smiled fondly, "Ling Mei."
"Is there something you desire, my king?" Bagoas inquired meekly.
"No, thank you Bagoas. Actually, I was looking for Ling Mei. Would you take a walk with me?"
"Of course," She turned to Bagoas, "See you later, then."
Bagoas smiled, "Yes." And he hurried off.
"Shall we go to the garden?" Alexander offered.
"Why not?" Ling Mei returned, and she linked her arm with his.
Once they'd reached the garden, Ling Mei seated herself on the edge of the marble fountain, while Alexander began to pace along the lining stones.
"So, then...?" Ling Mei urged.
Alexander sighed, and glanced at her, blurting out, "I love him."
"Hephaestion?" Ling Mei asked.
Alexander nodded.
"Oh... Why don't you simply tell him?" Ling Mei suggested.
"Should I?" Alexander shook his head, "I cannot tell, with this boy. Sometimes, it seems like he is becoming closer to me... And then, he hates me again. What can I do?"
She glanced at him, "He doesn't hate you."
"Has he told you that?" The king's eyes opened wide, hopefully.
"He is an open book; I can tell," She told him, encouraging, "He hates some of the decisions you've made; that much is obvious. But you... No, I don't think he hates you. He might have at first, but not anymore."
"What should I do, Ling Mei?" Alexander knelt in front of her, took her hands, and looked up into her eyes sincerely, "Please tell me, I am afraid I might die of the pain he causes me. I want him so terribly. How can I ever have him?"
Ling Mei smiled at him sympathetically, "Oh, Alexander... Look, I can't tell you this will work, but it's all I can think of. Take him someplace really nice. Someplace special. Talk to him, tell him what you feel. If you can get him to admit he has feelings for you, then you can start from there. Mind you, it won't be easy. Not even I've been able to do it."
Alexander though a moment, and then a grin spread across his face, "I know just the place."
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A few days passed, and Alexander did not visit Hephaestion. The prince had a strange feeling of longing in the pit of his stomach, but he brushed it off as sickness and turned his attention to other subjects. Like his new closest companion, who was, at the moment, studying his bookshelves.
"No..." Ling Mei murmured, putting a green book she was holding back, "Okay, this one! No... Not this one either."
Hephaestion, who was busy playing with Shen's whiskers (the panther was taking this activity considerably well for an animal of prey), glanced at her, "What on earth are you doing?"
Ling Mei did not look at him, "Why do none of you books have pictures?"
The prince snorted, "Because I am not a child?"
"I'm serious," Ling Mei finally met his eyes, only to glower at him, "I need something with pictures."
"Why?" Hephaestion asked, bemused.
"How else am I to understand the book?"
"I hear the words help."
"No, I can't read."
"You what?" Hephaestion exclaimed so suddenly that Shen started. The boy gave him an apologetic look, and began to scratch him behind his ears, "Ling Mei, how can you not read?"
She shrugged, "I was never taught."
"How can that be?"
"Well, as you can imagine, my captors were a bit more concerned with other matters."
"Ling Mei..." Hephaestion furrowed his brows, "When were you taken?"
She shrugged again, "I don't know."
"Could you read before that?"
"I can't remember."
"Oh..." Hephaestion regarded her as she continued her fruitless search. Finally, he asked, "Don't you want to learn?"
Ling Mei paused a moment, and seemed to think. Then, she turned to him, "I don't know. Do I? Is it worth it?"
"Oh, definitely," The prince answered readily.
"Well, then, I suppose you'll just have to teach me," She flashed him a smile. Hephaestion returned it, and turned back to Shen. His mind strayed to a certain blonde-haired, brown-eyed enemy of his. He wondered what he could be doing; having not visited the prince in days. Perhaps the king had grown tired of him...
"What are you thinking about?"
Ling Mei's voice startled Hephaestion out of his thoughts. She was now sitting on the bed next to Hephaestion, attempting to braid Shen's ears. When the panther sneezed and shook his head, she giggled and gave him a kiss on the head.
"Oh, nothing..." Hephaestion answered.
"Not a certain king I know?" Ling Mei pried with a smirk.
"What? No!" Hephaestion protested.
"Admit it! You miss him!" Ling Mei accused.
"I do not!" The prince argued hotly.
"Yes, you do! I keep catching you staring out into space longingly... You miss him!" She teased.
"Ling Mei, shut your mouth," Hephaestion growled, irritated.
She laughed, "You are so stubborn!"
"And you are so insufferable!"
"Xander and Phae sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S--"
"Ling Mei!"
It was at this precise moment that Alexander entered the room, and found Hephaestion pinning Ling Mei to the bed, a hand over the girl's mouth. Shen had retreated to a corner of the bed, looking very disgruntled, indeed.
"Am I interrupting something?" Alexander chuckled.
"No, we were just--" Hephaestion began, sitting back, but Ling Mei broke in happily, "-I-N-G!" And she leapt up dashing out the room singing, "First comes love, then comes marriage, then..." And she trailed off down the hall. Shen stood, stretched, and slunk out the door nonchalantly.
Alexander glanced at the door, eyebrows raised, "Perhaps we should ask the cooks not to give her anymore sugar with her meals."
Hephaestion clenched his fists, saying, "I swear, the next time I see that girl I am going to..." He shook his head, and turned to the king, "Why are you here?"
"Not even a hello? How heartbreaking."
The prince rolled his eyes, "Is there something you want?"
"Yes. I have something to show you. Come riding with me."
"Alright."
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"... Then comes the baby with the baby carriage!" Ling Mei ran down the hall, dashing sideways into the adjacent hallway, where she collapsed again a pillar laughing. Hephaestion would never forgive her for that one, but it was completely worth it.
"Ling Mei?"
The unfamiliar voice startled the girl, so that she automatically sunk into the shadows. She was relieved, however to see Cassander come down the hall, her panther near him. She stepped out of the shadows.
"Oh! Your panther, I think he was looking for you," Cassander told her, and she wondered if he always sounded so official. She smiled at him, "Oh, thank you. It's Cassander, isn't it?"
He nodded, "Yes. Are you alright?"
"Fine... Why do you ask?"
Cassander shrugged, "It is a shame to see such a pretty girl walking alone."
Ling Mei laughed, "I'm never alone; Shen is always close behind." She stroked the panther affectionately.
"I see..." Cassander offered her a mysterious smile, "Well, if you wish some human company, I am available."
"Oh, okay," She returned the smile, and the two started off down the hall.
"Did you have any place in particular you were going?" Cassander inquired. Ling Mei shook her head, "No. I was just walking."
"I know a place you might like. Will you come with me?"
"Why not?"
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They'd been riding for an hour, when Hephaestion finally asked, "Is it much farther?" Honestly, he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, and he was almost certain he'd fall off his horse if they didn't stop soon.
"No, not far now," Alexander answered with a smile.
Hephaestion slowed his horse to a walk, and Alexander followed suit. As they fell into step, Hephaestion commented, "Kepauvoc's tired... Are you sure?" His eyebrow was raised, looking out at what seemed like an endless desert, as if he could hardly believe that there was anything worth mentioning out here.
"Trust me, you'll love it," Alexander assured him.
"You're going to take me to the middle of the desert and kill me?" He sounded more hopeful Alexander thought he should. The king met his eyes seriously, "I would never harm you."
The tenderness in Alexander's eyes made Hephaestion look away, uncomfortable. It was then, that Alexander pointed to the horizon, "Look."
Hephaestion directed his attention to where Alexander indicated. At first, he saw nothing. But when he squinted, he could make out a spot of green. And as they approached it, it became larger. Soon, they came upon a beautiful sight.
Hephaestion gasped. He had read books that spoke of the phenomenon that is an oasis but he'd never actually seen one, not even in pictures. In front of him, there was lush green grass, scattered with shrubs and various desert flowers. At the far end was a clear blue lake. Even from far away, he could see colored fish swimming in it.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Alexander asked, glancing at the boy, a small smirk playing on his face.
"Yes, it's..." Hephaestion breathed, but soon composed himself, "It's interesting, I mean."
Alexander laughed, "My Hephaestion, always so stubborn. Let's let our horses graze." He dismounted, as did Hephaestion. They slipped their horses' bridles off, and lied them out in the grass. Then, Alexander turned to Hephaestion, "How about a swim? It's hot."
Hephaestion eyes opened wide, "I'm not--"
"Are all Athenians so prude?"
The prince narrowed his eyes. It was a taunt, quite obviously. Still, Hephaestion wasn't one to ignore a challenge. So, to Alexander's great surprise, he looked straight into the king's eyes, smiled in a seductive manner that Alexander had no idea the boy possessed, and in one fluid movement, pulled his tunic up, over his head. He was left standing in only his loincloth and sandals.
The king was left speechless, staring at the boy. With a smirk, Hephaestion turned, slipped off his loincloth, kicked off his sandals, and ran into the lake.
Alexander had to take a few deep breaths to keep a certain part of his anatomy down. Once this was achieved, he pulled off his clothes, and joined Hephaestion in the cool water.
The prince was relaxing at the edge, water running down his shoulders and chest. Alexander approached him, "Well, I suppose I was wrong, then."
"I suppose so," Hephaestion agreed, eyes closed, "Did you enjoy the view?"
Alexander opened his mouth, but found he had no answer, so instead he changed the subject, "Refreshing isn't it? Have you seen the fish?"
Hephaestion opened his eyes, which were sparkling in the desert sunlight, and looked down into the lake, "They're beautiful... What kind are they?"
With a shrug, Alexander replied, "Aristotle never taught us much about fish."
"I've read some of his works... Is he a good teacher?"
Alexander nodded, "He is an extremely intelligent man. His only fault is his close-mindedness."
"Towards?" Hephaestion was curious, now.
"Other cultures," Alexander elaborated.
"Oh..."
"He used to say the people of the east were nothing but barbarians," Alexander explained. Hephaestion wrinkled his nose in disapproval, an action which Alexander found extremely endearing.
The two relaxed in silence for a long moment, Hephaestion staring out into the desert pensively; Alexander trying to think of the best way to get the boy's attention. Then, a thought came to him.
Hephaestion was taken by surprise when a splash of water hit him in the face. He turned to Alexander with a glare, "What are we, children?" Alexander didn't respond, only splashed the prince again. Outraged, Hephaestion returned the favor.
The two stared each other in the eye for a moment.
Then, an all-out splashing war broke out.
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"What is this place?" Ling Mei asked, amazed.
"The wine market. All the finest Persian wines are sold here," Cassander explained, "Would you like to taste some?"
"General Cassander, are you trying to get me drunk?" Ling Mei gave him a disapproving look, playing with Shen's ears, so that Cassander knew she wasn't serious.
Cassander smirked slightly, "Only if that's what you want."
Ling Mei laughed, "Well... I'll try a little. Are the better than Greek wines?"
"All the ones I've tried," Cassander admitted.
"Well, then, this should be fun."
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Hephaestion finally managed to stop laughing, and he slumped against the side of the lake. Alexander joined him, smiling, "I think you won."
"I think I did."
"Throwing the fish at me was a nice touch."
"It was, wasn't it?"
Alexander watched the boy, smiling and happy like he'd never seen him before. And he knew right then, he had to tell him.
"Hephaestion..." Alexander turned to the boy. The prince, in turn, fixed him with his piercing blue gaze.
"Do you still hate me, Hephaestion?"
The boy hesitated.
"I knew it!" Alexander took Hephaestion's hands in his own, and continued, "Hephaestion, you do not hate me like you used to. You like me."
"Alexander, let... Let me go," Hephaestion whispered, averting his eyes.
"No, please, look at me. You like me, you do; I know it."
"No. I hate you." But the prince's voice wavered unconvincingly.
"Please, Hephaestion, don't lie to me," Alexander pleaded, "I've spent so much time with you, and I have gotten to know you. Listen, I must tell you, I love you."
Hephaestion shook his head deftly, "No. Let me go."
"It's alright if you don't love me. I don't expect it. But I know you don't hate me," Alexander continued. He released the prince, and instead took Hephaestion's face in his hands, "You feel something for me. For once, stop lying to yourself, and just let yourself go."
Tears were slipping down Hephaestion's cheeks now. But he looked up into Alexander's sincere brown eyes, and let his emotions flow through him. Hate, anger, sadness, comfort, and... desire.
Slowly, Alexander brought Hephaestion's lips to his, letting his hands slip down to the prince's hips, bringing him closer. Hephaestion twined his trembling hands in the king's hair, deepening the kiss. When Alexander ran his tongue along Hephaestion's bottom lip, he was granted entrance, and their tongues battled for dominance.
Finally, lack of air forced them apart. They stared into each other's eyes awhile, a new understanding and uncertain affection found.
Alexander smiled, reaching up to stroke the prince's cheek, "It is getting dark... Shall we go home?"
Hephaestion blushed, and looked away, although he leaned into the touch, "Yes."
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Ling Mei stumbled drunkenly into her shared room with Bagoas, and collapsed into bed, next to the eunuch.
"You smell like wine," Bagoas commented sleepily in Persian.
"'S 'cause I was drinkin'," She answered in the same language.
"Did you have fun?"
"Here Shennie...! Oh, ummm... I believe so."
"Alright. Goodnight."
"Mmmm. 'Night."
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After rubbing down the horses, and putting them in their stalls, Hephaestion and Alexander walked to their rooms together, in silence. Before Hephaestion went into his room, Alexander attempted to kiss him. Hephaestion turned his head, so that the king kissed his cheek. A hurt expression crossed the king's face, "Hephaestion...?"
"Look, I... I need to think... About this," Hephaestion did not meet his eyes.
Alexander opened his mouth, but then closed it. He nodded, "Goodnight."
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Hours later, Hephaestion awoke in a cold sweat. He wasn't sure what the dream had been about, but he felt sick and empty. Shaking his head, he got out of bed, and ran out of his room.
Alexander's door was open. He slipped in quietly, and then cleared his throat. Surprised, the king bolted upright, but upon seeing Hephaestion, he relaxed.
"It's a bit late for visits," The king observed.
Hephaestion nodded, biting his lip nervously. He did not look at the king when he said, "I... Well, it's just... I had a bad dream, and..."
Alexander smiled, and opened his arms.
And Hephaestion ran to him.
I hate you; you love me... This story's getting old.
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Author's Note: So? What do you think? Was it too corny? Was it cute? Haha, I was totally nervous about this chapter! Maybe because I finally had to get them together. Oh, and what on earth happened between Cassander and Ling Mei? Next chapter. : Reviews, please!
xoxo