They dined, then the whole of the village went early to their beds. The next daythey would head to the Glaucini village, needing a victory to ensure there would be no more threats, no more hunger.

Alexander undressed and climbed onto the bed, pulling back the furs and sliding in beneath them, before pushing them back to rest low on his hips. He propped himself up on his elbow, watching Hephaistion busy himself looking through a wooden chest.

Finding what he was looking for, Hephaistion held up his chiton, frowning at the state of it, then turning it as if the damage to the hem, where he had cut a bandage from it, might not be so bad.

"I think that Perdiccas would lend you one of his," Alexander commented, his eyes not leaving Hephaistion's face.

Hephaistion discarded the chiton and pulled off his tunic top. "I wanted to look the part of a Macedonian going in to battle," he murmured. Coming free of the tunic, with only his lower arms still entangled in it, he looked over at Alexander. "Why Perdiccas?"

Alexander grinned. "He is about your size."

Hephaistion hesitated for a moment and then pulled his arms free from the tunic, folding it before placing it on the chest. He kicked off his boots, putting them by the fire to dry out. "Ptolemy is too," he replied.

"Then ask him."

Hephaistion stared at the discarded chiton, now looking more like a rag than anything. "We have no armour."

Alexander ran his hand along Hephaistion's side of the bed, wondering just when his lover would be joining him. "We don't need it…not the way they fight."

Hephaistion thought for a moment. He went to undo his leggings and then hesitated. "Why Perdiccas?"

Laughing, Alexander sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. "Are you never coming to bed?

Leaving the leggings as they were, Hephaistion came over to the bed and lay down on it. He smiled, then claimed a kiss before moving his body over Alexander's, taking his hands and pinning them to the bed. Breaking a kiss, he lifted his head. "Is that what you were waiting for?" he asked, seductively.

Alexander nodded, then tried to free his hands so that he could attack the leggings. He wanted nothing between them. Hephaistion claimed yet another kiss, this one more passionate than the last. As Alexander moved against him, Hephaistion released him and moved back.

"Where are you going?" Alexander asked, grabbing at his wrist to stop him.

"To see Perdiccas, and ask him for a spare chiton."

"Don't you think, he might believe, all of his prayers have come true?"

Hephaistion stared in to Alexander's eyes. "You know something."

"I saw him gazing on you tonight…and Ptolemy told me that he speaks your name when he sleeps."

Biting his lip, Hephaistion stared into Alexander's eyes. "When he came to tell me of Demaratus' arrival at Pella…"

Alexander released Hephaistion's wrist and then placed the fingers of his hand gently against Hephaistion's lips, to silence him, not wanting to hear more. "It's because of who you are," he said. "I know what it is like. I've been there too. Before I knew your feelings for me were the same." He moved his fingers away from Hephaistion's lips, moving them around his neck, pulling him forward to claim a kiss, one that expressed the passion he held for him.

When they broke for air, Alexander released him. "Go fetch your chiton, Hephaistion," he said, and smiled.

Hephaistion ran his hand along Alexander's upper arm, feeling the strength, wanting to be held. Still breathless, he moved off the bed and made his way to the door. Turning back, he saw the man he loved more than life, looking irresistible lying in furs, his skin glowing by the light of the fire. He abandoned his task, striding back to the bed, pulling at and removing the leggings in haste.

"It can wait until the morning," he said.

OOXXOO

They left early the next day, after the men going with them had said their farewells to their families, embracing their wives and kissing their children.

Alexander and his companions waited just outside of the village, waiting patiently, they understood that not all was certain in battle, although they all grinned at Alexander, having faith they would win because he was with them.

The little girl Hephaistion had befriended came running through the thawing snow to see him, her steps faltering as she reached the group of men, suddenly shy about going further. She held a small twig, with fresh buds on it, clutched in her tiny hands.

Hephaistion jumped down from Briseis and went to her crouching down and holding his arms out to her. "Dedra," he said, as she ran into his arms. He stood up lifting her to him and she pulled back a little, smiling and handing him the twig, which he took from her and tucked into his belt, thanking her.

She embraced him once more, then he set her back on the ground and she ran back towards the village, stopping only once to turn to wave goodbye.

Hephaistion jumped back on to Briseis, the men were coming from the village.

"And how old will you be when she comes of age, Hephaistion?" Ptolemy asked. "Because it looks as though you have her heart."

Hephaistion laughed, but did not reply, he only looked to Alexander.

Brandor and Talis came over to them, then led the way.

For a moment Alexander could only think of the journey to this village, he looked back on it now as they rode away from it. The freedom they had won marred by Hephaistion's sickness. If they had not met up with the Therici, if they had tried to return to Epirus, then Hephaistion would have died, he was sure of it.

He looked up to the sun, feeling it's warmth for the first time in a long while, and gave thanks to the Gods for watching over them.

The snow was beginning to thaw, spirits were high. They headed along through valleys and found their way back to the lake, still frozen, but Talis insisted they ride around it, rather than over it.

Hephaistion studied the land around them, remarking on the fact that they had been blinded by snow when they first came here. That on a day like this Stegran's directions would have been easy to follow.

He had borrowed a chiton from Perdiccas, and wore it now, discarding the fur cloak and hat, preferring to be warmed by the rays of the sun. The cloak lay across Briseis' haunches. The hat was tucked in his belt, on the other side the twig given to him by Dedra. His hair had grown longer, it shone now in the sun.

Alexander studied him for a moment, though every fibre of his being knew Hephaistion.

Aware of Alexander's gaze, Hephaistion turned and smiled. "We were only supposed to come to Illyria, lay low and see out the winter." He shook his head. "Only you could find a battle to fight, Alexander."

"And what will you do then, Alexander?" Seleucus asked. "Will you take your Therici and rule the world?"

"Ah, but they're not his Therici," Ptolemy countered, "Brandor is practically chief, victory tomorrow will seal it".

"You could go home…to Macedon," Perdiccas suggested.

"You are forgetting," replied Alexander, with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes, "I was exiled. I did not just decide to come to Illyria, I had no choice."

"He'd have forgotten it by now," said Ptolemy. "It was the drink that was talking…"

"He said things he shouldn't have, even under the influence of the wine," Hephaistion countered, glancing at Alexander. "Yes, he loves Alexander, but he fears him too. He shows pride in him and then fears he will excel him. Attalus knew what he was doing, he had intended the insult. Philip should have turned on him, not the son who had been offended."

Hephaistion's words brought the conversation to a halt, they had been taken back to the night of the wedding party. Reminded of what had happened they understood Alexander's reluctance to make the first move.

Brandor halted his horse and waited for them to catch up, he pointed at the forest, then to the sun, now moving low in the afternoon sky.

"We stop where meet," he said, indicating they would use the same campsite.

"Perhaps he thinks it is a good luck omen," Hephaistion said, pushing his horse forward.

Alexander reached over and took his hand, stopping his progress. He leaned over and spoke softly. "Thank you, Hephaistion…for your words."

Hephaistion grinned. "They are just forgetful sometimes." He pushed his horse forward into a collected canter, laughing at Brandor, encouraging him forward into a race to the campsite. The others gathered momentum and raced after them, their spirits lifted as they gave a cavalry charge into the forest.

OOXXOO

They built a fire and cooked the supply of meat they had brought, they had brought some drink, but not enough to intoxicate, they needed their heads clear in the morning.

As it grew dark they spoke of Fladon, the chief the Glaucini had killed. Brandor talked fondly of him, then shyly of his love for Shanna, before stirring the men to battle to take vengeance for Fladon's murder.

Hephaistion translated his words then placed his hand on Alexander's arm, stopping him from adding more to the speech. Alexander nodded, it was not his time…or place.

He knew they would be welcome to stay with the Therici, that they had indeed intended to find a place, to wait and see if his father tried to make amends. The hostile messages received at Dodona did not give any sign. His father was angry.

Perhaps Demaratus would be able to pour oil on troubled waters. It was a hope he held in his heart, he missed his father, despite everything.

He smiled as Hephaistion came and threw his arms around him, lightening his mood. Alexander knew he did it deliberately. He turned to kiss his lovers lips briefly.

"Grecons," said Talis, pushing himself up from the log he had been sitting on, throwing the rest of his drink away and striding over to them. He ruffled Alexander's hair, and planted a kiss on Hephaistion's cheek, before heading to where he had made his bed.

Alexander pulled the furs around himself and Hephaistion, then lay down, spooning himself around Hephaistion's body. They did not speak, but watched as the others lay down and settled.

Alexander ran his hand along Hephaistion's side, nuzzled his face in to his neck, then embraced him, wordlessly declaring his love, before closing his eyes and feeling sleep claim him.