It was all like a dream. A bad dream. Alexander could not stop himself looking at the blood on his chiton. His father's blood.

But he had no time to grieve. Cleitus and Antipater were warning him of the people who might challenge him, Amyntas and Attalus, who had claims to the title. Attalus away in Persia, but with an army loyal to him, Amyntas winning support to take back the crown that Philip took from him.

He noticed men from the Vanguard coming in to the room, and looked for Hephaistion, knowing he had organised them to come. Hephaistion. To gaze on him was to get a moments respite from the turmoil he was in.

A servant arrived to say that Eurydice was hysterical, fearing for her children's lives, for her own life. Alexander could not understand her fears. When had he become a tyrant that would kill a child? He sent Antipater to her, to tell her that she was safe. If Eurydice's son gave Attalus strength, then he would deal with Attalus before he would harm a child.

Alexander of Epirus left to comfort Cleopatra.

Alexander put down the wine he had been given. He would need to see the ambassadors. They would be huddled together now, plotting how Greece could get free from Macedon. If he could fight with words, then perhaps he would not have to fight in battle. But he would if he had to. He was his father's son.

"Hephaistion." Alexander called for his friend, before turning and leaving the hall. Though he did not look back, he was sure that there was some surprise that Hephaistion was going with him. Not many were aware of their friendship.

He led the way to his room, waiting for Hephaistion to step in, then closing the door. he leaned against it and let out a sigh. "I can't believe it, Hephaistion. How can my father be gone, on the day he was to celebrate all he had achieved?"

"He died knowing he had succeeded. He died knowing Macedon would be safe in your hands," Hephaistion replied.

Alexander went over to the table and poured water from a jug into a bowl. He undressed, and washed himself. Hephaistion handed him a towel.

"He did not deserve that," Alexander said, tears filling his eyes. "Do you think Pausanias acted alone?"

Hephaistion hesitated. "I saw him reading a letter this morning, he burnt it after he had read it. There was some delay before he joined us…your father noticed."

"And you warned me," Alexander added. "I should have warned my father…" Alexander faltered. He knew in his heart that any warning against Pausanias could have broken the truce between them. "Father always sprang to Pausanias' defence, except for the time it mattered."

"The fates have a hand in this," whispered Hephaistion.

Alexander nodded. "I think someone encouraged him to it. He had so many chances to kill my father, but to wait for this day….I think somebody else was behind it." Alexander suddenly became aware of his nakedness, he had been lost in thought, trying to solve a crime, trying to understand his father's murder.

He went to a chest and pulled out a black chiton, putting it on. Hephaistion stepped forward to help him clip it together, then fetched a gold belt for him to wear.

Alexander reached out for him, needing a moment's comfort and hoping that Hephaistion would not pull away but Hephaistion seemed to sense his need and wrapped his arms tightly around him in comfort. He remembered Hephaistion's embrace in the theatre, his words of comfort, and he clung to him harder, needing him so badly.

From the moment his father drew his last breath the politics of succession had begun. There would be difficult days ahead. He thanked the gods for Hephaistion.

"If the ambassadors think that Macedon will bend to Greece's will, they reckon without you, Alexander. I have seen you in battle; if they had seen what I have seen then they would bow before you and swear allegiance now." Hephaistion whispered.

Alexander relaxed his hold, he wanted to see Hephaistion's face, to lose himself in the sea of blue. "What if Persia paid to have my father assassinated?"

Hephaistion pressed his lips together, and ran his hand up to cradle Alexander's face. "Then we will avenge your father and conquer Persia."

Alexander smiled to hear the confidence in his friend's voice. "I have to go. I will go to Cleopatra first. Will you wait for me? I would like you to hear what the ambassadors talk of, I wonder how soon they will turn on Macedon."

Hephaistion hesitated. Alexander could see the old fear, of what people would say. He felt only relief when Hephaistion replied that he would wait in the Great Hall.

OOXXOO

The room seemed too small for the table inside of it. It was the only piece of furniture. The room would have been used for storage; a small room off a small courtyard in the palace. A small window allowed a beam of light in, to illuminate the darkness; to light the face of the man lying dead upon the table. Lysias.

A servant had come to tell Hephaistion, as he waited for Alexander. Lysias had been found, wounded, stabbed between the ribs. He had strength left to say that it was Pausanias. He had heard him talking with Cleon, disturbed them, and death was his punishment. He had asked for Hephaistion, his words had become unclear, but he had talked of Methone.

A surgeon was sent for, but did not arrive in time.

They had brought his body to this room, then fetched what belongings he had and laid the bundle of clothing and his armour on the floor.

Hephaistion reached out to touch Lysias, as long ago he had reached out for him. Tentatively. That day, Lysias had been warmed by the sun; now he was frozen by death.

"We were happy, Lysias. We did not need anything except for each other. If only you had not changed, gone to Onatas. We could have been happy still….or as happy as we thought we could be."

His love was different then. Hephaistion suddenly realised it. His love for Alexander was stronger than anything he had ever felt for Lysias.

He stepped back, and sat on the floor, leaning against the cold stone wall, contemplating what had been and what could be. Only as the light began to fade did he get up, taking a last look, a last kiss from Lysias before he left the room.

The meeting with the ambassadors was long since over. Lamps had been lit around the palace. Hephaistion made his way to Alexander's room, where Cleitus was organising the guard.

"He's been asking for you," Cleitus said gruffly. "He just said I was to go and find you."

"I am here now," Hephaistion replied, and headed along the narrow hallway..

He opened the door. Alexander was leaning against one of the windows, drinking a cup of wine. As Hephaistion walked in, he turned, relief written all over his face.

"Where have you been?"

Hephaistion did not reply immediately, he closed the door behind him, then turned to gaze on Alexander. "Lysias is dead. Pausanias killed him when his plan was almost discovered."

Alexander went to offer comfort, but Hephaistion held up his hands to stop him. He hesitated as if gathering his thoughts, Alexander stepped back and waited.

"I have something to say, Alexander." Tears filled Hephaistion's eyes, he bit his lip and blinked them back, then shook his head. "I have been so concerned with what people would think, I have tried to convince myself that we can just be friends, and nothing more. I could have lived like that, denying myself, taking the easy path. But today….I realised how quickly our lives can be taken…." A single tear tracked it's way down Hephaistion's face. "I love you, Alexander, and I don't want to die without having known you, in every way. Who cares what people say, what does it matter in the end, so long as I can be with you….if you will have me."

Tears were in Alexander's eyes, he put down the cup of wine, he went to speak but hesitated as Hephaistion stepped towards him, and like at Mieza, stole a kiss.

Hephaistion felt Alexander respond and so he parted his lips, in invitation, and felt Alexander's arms wrap around him and hold him close. Alexander broke the kiss.

"Say you are mine, Hephaistion. Say you will stay by my side," he whispered.

"Forever," Hephaistion vowed, he would love no other the same.

The sound of the guard being changed, echoed up from the courtyard below. A servant shouted across to another. Life was going on.

Alexander rested his forehead against Hephaistion's. "My, Hephaistion," he whispered, bringing his hand up to caress Hephaistion's face. Able to touch now, without fear. He ran his hand along Hephaistion's neck and put his hand on the breastplate Hephaistion still wore.

Hephaistion was his now, as much as he was Hephaistion's. He ran his fingers up into Hephaistion's hair, then kissed his lips, delighted when Hephaistion responded without hesitation. He had longed for this, to have the right to touch, to be able to love this man without fear of rejection. He could not stop kissing him, even when their lips parted he kissed Hephaistion's face and neck. "Hephaistion," he murmured, loving the sound of his name on his lips.

"What do you need, Alexander. Just tell me," Hephaistion said, his voice husky with desire.

"Just stay with me...hold me...love me," Alexander replied, removing Hephaistion's sword, then reaching to unfasten the armour.

Hephaistion put his hand up to assist Alexander, as the breastplate came free he stepped away to place it by the wall. He kicked off his boots, then looked at the bed, then back to Alexander.

Alexander moved over to Hephaistion, drawn like a moth to the flame. Remembering what the seer, Anaxagoras, had said, rejoicing that Hephaistion had come to him, but needing him so badly now to help to ease the pain. Loving him like he had never loved anyone, or anything, before.

"So beautiful," Alexander whispered, his hand going to Hephaistion's belt. As he unfastened it, Hephaistion's hands caressed him, came up to unclip his chiton. Alexander gasped as Hephaistion's hands explored his chest, as their lips met once more.

Alexander let the belt fall to the floor, Hephaistion was now unfastening his belt, Alexander put his own hand there, anxious to get undressed, to feel Hephaistion's body, naked against his own.

As if he felt the same way, Hephaistion stepped back and quickly removed the rest of his clothing, while Alexander did the same.

Alexander got on to the bed, lying down and moving over so that Hephaistion could join him. He held his hand out to him, and there was no hesitation as Hephaistion took it, and lay down beside him.

They looked at each other, both laughing shyly, then Hephaistion leaned forward to claim another kiss, and as he did so he pressed his body against Alexander's. Alexander gave a cry of delight and pressed his own body against Hephaistion. While they kissed, their hands caressed and explored, their arms embraced, their legs entwined.

Alexander ran his hand down Hephaistion's body, he wanted to spend an eternity like this, but his need was too great. He could not control it. He had waited so long and now his body was demanding release. His hand stopped at Hephaistion's hip and he pushed back a little, breaking the kiss to look down, marvelling at Hephaistion's erection, lying against his own.

He moved his hand and held the two together. Hephaistion gave a delicious groan of desire, arching his back, his hand going to Alexander's shoulder, gripping him tightly. Alexander smiled. Hephaistion was close to coming.

Their eyes met, in silent agreement that they should wait no longer. Alexander's hand began to move as they kissed once more, their lips and tongues proclaiming their passion without words. Hephaistion thrust his hips forward, they both moved against each other, as they spiralled up to meet the gods.

Hephaistion came first, Alexander moments later. They held each other tightly. Breathless. Silent for a long time after.

"I had a bath prepared," whispered Alexander, kissing Hephaistion's neck gently, then nipping at it, hoping to leave his mark, to declare his love. "Would you like to bathe? The water should still be warm enough."

Hephaistion stretched against his body. "Where do we have to go?"

Alexander pointed towards the end of the room. "It is just through there."

Hephaistion propped himself up on one elbow, remembering the archway from his first visit to the room but not having thought where it might lead to. He turned to Alexander. "Are you coming with me?"

Alexander smiled. "That was my intention. Do you think now that I have you I will ever let you go?"

Hephaistion laughed gently, and leaned down to kiss Alexander's lips before getting up from the bed and walking to the bath.

It was a raised bath, a square wall of stone. Hephaistion leaned forward to test how cool the water was, then stepped in to it, sitting down so that the water came up to his chest. Alexander walked round so that he could see Hephaistion, appearing to drink in the sight of him. He stepped in to the water and sat beside him, reaching for his hand under the water and holding it tightly.

"I do not know how I would have come through this day without you, Hephaistion," he whispered. "I can't believe that my father has gone."

Hephaistion turned, freeing his hand so that he could embrace Alexander. "A father's love can be tough, Alexander. They can make demands, judge us too sternly, praise has to be hard won…my own father was like that with me. Only, after he died, then I discovered the strengths he had given me, I saw that he was proud of me. You will discover that too, Alexander. Your father loved you, he was giving you the strength to be a king."

Alexander pulled away, a wave of guilt engulfed him. "There have been times, Hephaistion, when I could not wait to be king." Tears filled his eyes. "I did not wish my father dead, but at times I wanted to be free of him, of everything, to show that I could lead in battle, rule a kingdom…." The tears began to fall.

Hephaistion renewed the embrace, saying nothing, just offering comfort as Alexander let out his grief. It had to come. Better it be like this.

When Alexander had cried all of his tears, Hephaistion washed his hair, washed his face, kissed him, led him from the bath and dried him, before leading him back to the bed. He pulled the furs over them, the night air was cool. Then they wrapped themselves around each other.

Used to his duties; used to guarding the King. Hephaistion stayed awake while Alexander slept, safe in his arms.