Title: χορεύω
Author: Baliansword
Chapter: 5, "χορεύω"
Rating: T for Teen
Summary: Divisions are easily made, and hearts are easily changed. In Persia this seems all the more true after Alexander receives Bagoas. Hephaestion carries the burden of knowing that his love has found another, and when they reach Bactra it is no better. Yet in his enemies Hephaestion may find the greatest allies of all.
A/N: χορεύω means 'to dance' in Greek. That may clear some things up, incase you didn't know. But thanks for reading, and reviewing, and I hope you enjoy this newest chapter.
This chapter leads up to the ending, where Hephaestion will dance at the festival. Hence, it is a bit choppy.
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A soft glow lingered in the air before it fell to the solid floors. The marble was cold, the night air claiming it as it did the earth outside, and no flames brought any other heat. Darkness loomed outside, away from the pillars, and it was not much better in the sanctuary. The glow of the torches cast almost pointless light, but perhaps it was better this way. Perhaps some entertainments needed no light at all, just a feel, and just a bit of faith. He raised his arm, hooking it in the air like the neck of a swan, and then waited. He did this with such grace that the other had to glance away, muttering something under his breath. Then the first note floated through the air, and the song began, a soft melody at first to say the least. In the first moments there was this melodic tune, boring almost compared to what else Bactra had to offer, but instantaneously the tempo changed. Swans existed no longer, and instead a fire seemed to take over his body. Faster and faster he danced, his movements all the while fluid, even if such movements should have looked jerky, edgy even.
"I cannot do that," Hephaestion assured Roxanne as she set the flute down. Bagoas, breathing heavily, shook his head. Hephaestion put a hand up to stop him. Twice already Bagoas had assured him of how easy it would be, but never in a hundred years could he dance with such a grace, nor with such a passion. "I still do not see why Bagoas cannot dance with you."
"We will start off slow," Roxanne told him. Her voice was melodic, tranquil even though he knew she must be frustrated with him. As Bagoas approached she handed him the flute and then stepped out onto the floor. "Slowly at first, and you will learn. It is not so different from fighting."
"It is very different."
"Raise your hand," she ordered, and he did so. Roxanne reached out, moving his arm back slightly, and then flattened his palm. "On the first note, you move like this…then draw back. As if you are frightened, just like before a battle, you are vulnerable."
Hephaestion did as he was instructed, moving on the first note exactly as she told him. While he moved she glanced over at Bagoas, who nodded, even though he barely moved his head. As the music stopped Hephaestion sighed, feeling foolish, but listened to his next instructions. He knew that this was going to be a long night. He was not so far off either. He repeated the same three moments for almost half of an hour before Roxanne decided that she was ready to take her place, and again they went through the movements. At the end of an hour, they only had the first twenty seconds of the dance prepared. The next night was no better either. Again they rehearsed throughout the night and only have another twenty-seconds prepared. On the third night they had a minute completed, and on the fourth Roxanne told Hephaestion that they must practice the first steps all the way through. The fifth day was excruciating as he woke up.
"Hephaestion," he heard, and there was another knock at the door. Slowly Hephaestion sat up, pushing hair out of his face, and struggled to get out of bed. His feet were swollen, and hurt worse than they had on any campaign. Roxanne was clearly wrong when she said that dancing was just like a campaign. He winced, but made his way to the door without muttering too many foul words. He drew in a breath before opening the door.
"You look terrible," Cassander said as he stepped past Hephaestion. Hephaestion did not feel like arguing, even if it were with Cassander. He could not argue the point much, for he knew that he looked terrible. Cassander did not mind either and made himself comfortable on a chair. He glanced around the room once more and then turned his attention back to Hephaestion.
"What," asked Hephaestion, observing the smirk that kept creeping back onto Cassander's face. Cassander laughed for a moment, and then smiled.
"You missed the meeting this morning about what to do with new veteran soldiers," Cassander informed him. He watched as the realization struck Hephaestion across the face. "So, who is taking up all of your time?"
"What," Hephaestion asked as he pulled his hair back, tying it with a strip of leather. He was going to have to explain this to Alexander, and for the life of him he didn't know how to. Never before had anything been more important than Alexander, and the Empire. Dancing, he felt, was nothing compared to veteran soldiers. They deserved his attention, not Roxanne, but for the life of him he could not convince himself that he had done something terribly wrong.
"Alexander will never hear it from me," Cassander assured him.
"No," Hephaestion agreed as he began to wipe the black lines from under his eyes. "He would hear it from a page, who heard it from his general, who heard it from you."
"So you admit that there is another?"
"I fear that you've hoped too much Cassander, for there is no other in my life besides Alexander."
"Well," Cassander sighed, and sat back. "Then what is it that takes up so much of your time? Are you still working on your map?"
Before Hephaestion could stop him Cassander had risen and gone to the other end of the room. Already he had the map unrolled when Hephaestion glanced up. However, he did not mind that Cassander had nothing better to do than pester him. Cassander stared at the map for a few moments before he rolled it back up then tossed it back. He lost interest quickly and went to the door. As he passed he winked at Hephaestion, which Hephaestion did not understand. He shook his head as the door shut behind Cassander. Now he only had to worry about Alexander.
Luckily, Alexander tended to other business throughout the day.
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Three more days of pain followed Hephaestion. He continued to practice his dance with Roxanne, and repeatedly she had him start over. On the third night, almost done with the entire routine, he was beginning to hate every moment spent with her. The only thing that kept him there was the fear that he had nothing better to do. Or, even though he barely admitted it to himself, perhaps he liked dancing more than he would have thought. Tonight would push him to the limits though.
"Lift your arm once more," Roxanne told him. He did what he was told, and then she stepped away. "Good, now do it once more. With Bagoas, and I shall watch."
"No," Hephaestion said, his arm falling. "I am sick of this Roxanne!"
"Once more."
"No! My entire body is screaming at me to stop, and I have not slept in days. Now you ask me to dance not only with you, but with him?"
"Once more," she promised. She kept such a promise, for he danced only once more before the festival.
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Alexander slowly crept down the hall, not wanting to awake anyone. He crept past another hall before turning. Without a moment's hesitation he pushed Hephaestion's door open. However, when he entered the room he was sadly disappointed. Hephaestion was not in bed, nor was he in any other part of the room. Sighing, Alexander lay down on the bed. Where could Hephaestion be at such an hour?
He sat there, thinking, and wondering why he had let himself slip away from Hephaestion. He thought next about Bagoas; the reason that he and Hephaestion had fallen apart. There was no characteristic in Bagoas that he could not find in Hephaestion. In fact, Hephaestion had more to offer him. Their bond was sacred, and never should have been challenged. After an hour of thinking, and doing little more, he heard the door open. Slowly he sat up and waited for Hephaestion to approach. However, Hephaestion did not seem to notice him. Instead, appearing rather weary, Hephaestion slipped out of his clothing and made his way into the bathing room adjoined to his room. Alexander watched, all the while saying nothing, but let a smile cross his lips.
After Hephaestion went into the other room Alexander waited a few more minutes before rising. Silently he entered the bathing room, and found Hephaestion sleeping in the tub, surrounded by warm water.
"Hephaestion," he whispered, but Hephaestion did not reply. Alexander reached out and ran his hand over Hephaestion's cheek. He had so much to tell him, but it would have to wait.
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A/N: Sorry that this is so short. The next chapter will be longer, and better, though. Finally we'll get to see Hephaestion dance.
Special thanks to:
Queendel
VaniaHepskins
Yolass
MLygia
Sunny-seid-up
Manidefronsac
TheNoLifeQueen
Arlad
Karone Evertree
Norrsken
Tenshi-Tsubasa201
Bluehaven4220