"Are you really so tired?" Alexander asked as he undressed.
Hephaistion kicked off the leggings, pleased to feel free of them, before pulling off his tunic and putting it on the chest. He grinned over at Alexander. "What did you have in mind?"
Alexander looked to the bed. "It has been a while. I miss your touch, Hephaistion."
Hephaistion pulled back the furs and got into the bed, resting his head on a pillow, surprised to see that Alexander had not moved. "Do you expect for me to reach you over there?" he asked.
Alexander hurried to his side, pulling the furs over his body.
Hephaistion laughed, and caressed the side of Alexander's face, unable to resist kissing the man before him. He was glad he felt stronger, as they kissed his desire grew and he could not help but thrust against Alexander.
Without breaking the kiss, Alexander reached for him, only Hephaistion pulled away, breathing hard.
Alexander let him go, propping himself up on his elbows, concern all over his face. "What's wrong?"
Grinning, Hephaistion caught his breath. "It has been too long. I want it to last, that is all."
Alexander returned the grin, reaching for him, gently kissing his lips. "We have all night, Hephaistion," he whispered seductively, before disappearing under the furs.
Hephaistion groaned as he felt Alexander's lips claim him. He arched his back, closed his eyes, and gave himself to the moment.
OOXXOO
It was a few days later that Talis decided Hephaistion was well enough to leave the hall. A hunting party would be leaving soon and he had been granted permission, by Talis, to go along.
He found Alexander practicing sword play with Brandor. The horses were tacked up and ready to go, but they were having to wait for Galadrian, who would lead the group.
Galadrian had been making it clear that he did not want Alexander to go, but the rest of the tribe had argued that Alexander brought them luck.
He stood and watched the two men fight, entranced by Alexander's movements, the balance, speed and agility with which he fought. There was strength in each blow of the sword, though he was aware that Alexander was not using full force.
This man, Alexander, loved him. It was good to watch him in action, knowing that, come the night, he would be lying in his arms again. Brandor gave the fight to Alexander and Alexander called him over, anxious for him to translate that Brandor needed to use the shield more and try to anticipate, so that he could attack rather than defend.
Brandor seemed puzzled, saying that Alexander was not giving him the chance to attack, that defence seemed the only option.
Hephaistion smiled as Alexander took the sword and shield from Brandor and handed it to him.
"If words won't do…" Alexander said, stepping back and waiting for him to attack.
Hephaistion felt the sword in his hand and cut the air with it a couple of times to get the weight of it. He took off the fur cloak he had been wearing, and put it aside. The shield was what he was used to, made of metal and about the right size. He stepped forward, aware of a crowd gathering to watch.
He launched in to an attack, feeling good to finally be well and outside. As Alexander raised his shield to defend himself, he knew he would attack immediately and so stepped to the right, bringing his own shield up to defend.
Alexander kept up the attack, so he timed it right to push back with the shield, putting him off balance enough to attack again. This time Alexander did not have time to raise his shield, their swords clanged against each other.
Hephaistion knew that Alexander had always loved the fact he would not let him win. They were each competitive, and what he lacked in the blood of an ambitious royal line, Hephaistion felt he made up with the desire to improve himself. Alexander came from a stock of proven warriors, from the moment he could walk he had been taught to fight. It had not been the same for him, he'd had to work harder just to keep up. But no, he would not let him win, not if he could help it.
Distracted by his thoughts, when he should have been focussed solely on the fight, Alexander was able to attack again knowing he would use the shield to push him back, Alexander stepped back, then stepped forward swinging the sword.
Hephaistion went back but the speed and pace of the attack made him stumble and before he knew it Alexander's sword was at his throat.
He turned to Brandor as a cheer went up. "I see what you mean about the attack," he said, but he knew Brandor had seen him still able to see him fight back and learned something from the demonstration, he would never, at least, have to face Alexander in battle.
Alexander came forward, offering his hand and pulling him to his feet. "You know some dirty moves, Hephaistion," he laughed.
Some of the men stepped forward, wanting to know more about the style of fighting, but just then Galadrian appeared and went to his horse, leaping up onto it before yelling out orders, as if he had been waiting all this time for the hunt to begin.
Putting his fur cloak back on, Hephaistion watched Alexander go to fetch Bucephalus, then discovered that he had already placed the bridle on Briseis for him. He patted the mares neck before leaping onto her back, going over to where the javelins were kept, being handed one by an old man.
Talis came out of the hall, almost tripped by the children who ran out past him intent on a game. He called after them then turned his attention on him. Hephaistion pulled the cloak around himself, and Talis smiled to see it, and wished him luck.
Alexander was a little way ahead, he pushed Briseis up the hill, to ride alongside of him. It was a clear, crisp day, with a blue sky and a pale sun in the sky. Once again, he felt glad to be alive. Turning to take a look at the village he saw some men emerging from over a hill on the opposite side to them, walking carefully, their drawn weapons glinting in the sun. The children had run out in that direction, they were playing, people were going about their business in the village, unaware of the danger.
"Glaucini!" Hephaistion cried, not waiting for any response before pushing Briseis to a gallop, grasping the javelin tighter in his hand.
He was aware of Alexander to his right, that the men had turned their horses and were following, but as they got to the village the men dismounted, unsheathing their swords and then running to attack.
Alexander peeled away, giving a war cry and urging Bucephalus forward, meeting the Glaucini before they could step foot in to the village.
Hephaistion knew what he had to do, and mirrored Alexander's action, coming in from the other side and joining him in the fight. The Glaucini recognised their opponents and this stirred them to fight harder, trying to claw at them, to drag them from their horses, to take back what they had lost.
Their efforts were useless. Hephaistion used Briseis, turning her, plunging her forward to trample and push back, while he used the javelin to kill and maim. More Glaucini were coming, but the Therici were coming forward, it caused them to hesitate. There had been about thirty Glaucini, already down to twenty after Alexander and Hephaistion's efforts. They had the sense to turn and run.
About eleven were overwhelmed by the Therici.
Hephaistion, with a nod to Alexander, pushed forward at the gallop, taking down the men who ran. They were warriors of the Glaucini, and had to be killed, they could not be allowed to attack again, to return to their village and say wht they had seen. He speared one man in the back, then turned Briseis and ran another man down, before spinning around and plunging the javelin into the man's stomach.
He looked up and spotted another two men, who decided to stand and fight. Glancing at Alexander he knew he would love this but he had another man he was giving chase to before he could ride in his direction.
Giving a war cry of his own, he collected up Briseis, quickly gauging what he must do, then he launched her forward. She was fast, but he gathered her up just before she reached them using the energy so as she reared he turned her left so she would plunge down onto one of the men, while he skewered the other, then pulling back the javelin he turned the mare to see Briseis' hoof had struck the man, in the head, and he was already dead.
Alexander cantered over. "Somebody might be with the horses," he said.
They galloped up to the top of the hill, then slowed their pace, their horses breathing hard. All they found were thirty horses, tied and waiting, no man left to tend them.
They left them where they found them, knowing some of the men could come to fetch them later.
They turned and headed back to the village. "Are you alright?" Alexander asked.
Hephaistion grinned. "I am well, not even a scratch. If the Glaucini had only waited for the hunting party to have gone…"
"They're arrogant," Alexander said, looking over to a body on the ground. "He has my sword, I saw him with it."
Hephaistion reined in Briseis, holding Bucephalus as Alexander jumped down and went to retrieve what was his. It was quiet now, the men lay as if they were asleep, only the snow was turning red beneath their bodies. He heard a cry and tried to decide where it was coming from, he thought he had been hearing things, but then the cry came again.
Alexander came back to Bucephalus, checking his sword for damage. "We might find yours amongst them, perhaps my shield…"
Hephaistion signalled for him to be quiet, then jumped down from Briseis and handed the reins to Alexander. He headed off towards a body on the right, the body of a man he had killed, putting his hand up to silence Alexander again as he asked what he was doing.
He knew the man, he had been one of the men whom Alexander had to teach to fight.
Eyes open in death, he lay on his belly, his hands splayed out in front of him, unblooded sword a short distance away, but a circle of blood emerging from the wound on his back.. He was not a fat man, he was lean, but he seemed to have a big gut nonetheless. Hephaistion took the man's right shoulder and hauled his body over to reveal the small girl who had climbed upon his lap.
He must have been carrying her, holding her in front of him, and when he fell he buried her so she could not crawl free.
She was reluctant to move now, but Hephaistion knelt down in the snow and held his arms out to her, and she came to him and held onto him.
Alexander came over with the horses, as he stood and turned to show him what he had found. "Another sacrifice," he said, running his fingers through her long, golden hair.
"We have to stop this," Alexander said, his voice determined.
They walked back to the village, the girls' mother ran to fetch her, thanking them both. Hephaistion looked at Galadrian, and saw him, with his jaw set, knowing that Alexander could rule. He looked for Brandor and saw him standing with the rest of the men, his sword blooded, Galadrian's was not.
Brandor stepped forward, marvelling at the way they used their horses, how quickly they reacted and how the Glaucini had not even reached the village. He spoke earnestly to Hephaistion, putting his hands on his shoulders to ensure he had his full attention.
Hephaistion smiled and turned to Alexander. "He says they should have cavalry. He wants us to show him what to do."