Alexander stood on the balcony of his rooms at Pella and breathed in the warm air, opening his eyes to gaze out across the courtyard below, watching servants at work, soldiers seeking shade in which to stand. He looked up to see an eagle flying high above and studied it while wondering why he always felt so trapped at in the place he should welcome as his home.

'Alexander?'

He looked round and saw Craterus standing there, eyes full of concern for his King. Ptolemy stepped forward and offered a cup of wine to him, then as he took it rested his hand upon his left shoulder.

'As the time draws near for us to leave for Persia, our friend finds himself lost in thoughts of what might be,' he said, looking up to the eagle as he spoke.

Alexander forced a smile and wondered if he should say that he was thinking of what might have been, not of Persia. He took a large sip of wine and kept his own counsel.

Perdiccas stood up from a chair he had been relaxing in and straightening his chiton said, 'Your mother met me as I came here today. She asked if I had been given gifts from you, Alexander.'

Craterus laughed. 'Yes, Alexander, you could have remembered your closest friends.'

'Ahhh, but you are coming with me to Persia, Craterus,' Alexander replied, stepping into the room, looking to where Seleucus lay sleeping. 'There will be spoils enough in the palaces of Persia to make what I give away now of no importance.'

Seleucus waved away a fly, seemed to wake a little but then nestled his head deeper in the cushion.

'And will we be celebrating a wedding before you leave for Persia?' Craterus asked.

Alexander saw Ptolemy nudge Craterus as if to warn him, too late, to be quiet. He was done with talk of weddings, with the girls his mother paraded before him on a daily basis, with her advice on how he should live, on what he should do, on what was needed. He drank down the wine and looked into the empty cup and then looked up to say with certainty, 'There will be no marriage'.

Craterus nodded and then stepped out onto the balcony as a chariot arrived, some cavalry and soldiers too. He smiled to himself and then turned to Alexander. 'We may have an execution though.'

Alexander went forward to stand beside Craterus and took a deep breath before looking down into the courtyard. He had expected to see Hephaistion but it was Diomache being brought to the palace. The man tried to hold himself with dignity as the guards pulled him from the chariot, he pulled himself away from the hands that meant to guide him, lifted his head high and disappeared from sight as he entered the palace.

Hephaistion was well, Alexander knew that much. He had troubled himself to discover how the Spartan's recovery had gone and he knew that Hephaistion was in Pella and possibly in the palace right now. There would be a trial of sorts and the obvious outcome would be an execution for the two men who had plotted against him but sleepless nights, where he was haunted by Hephaistion's smile, had made him question if he could order the deaths. He did not know why Hephaistion had accepted the role of assassin, he only knew each time he saw him he wanted to know more, to have more time to spend in his company.

"Alexander?"

This time it was Ptolemy who spoke and Alexander turned to see Seleucus had woken and a soldier was at the door.

"The Spartans are waiting trial. People are waiting, Cleitus and Antipater are there," Ptolemy said, conveying the message from the soldier that Alexander had not heard.

Alexander collected his blue chalmys and fastened it around himself, pinning it with the gold star of Macedon, then aware of his companions following he lead the way out of the room. He tried to focus himself, it should not take long and then he would order the executions and return to his rooms. Diomache and Hephaistion would not see the sun set.

As he walked into the dining hall the crowd gathered there fell silent. Alexander went to the raised platform at the end of the hall, where his Father's couch was placed on the nights of music and wine, when laughter rang throughout the hall. No sooner had Antipater and Cleitus stood beside him and Craterus, Ptolemy , Perdiccas and Seleucus positioned themselves close by. guards brought in Diomache, closely followed by Hephaistion, struggling to walk in chains they had placed around him. "I never said he should be chained," Alexander stated, feeling the breath leave his body as Hephaistion looked to him as he spoke.

As guards rushed to remove the chains Alexander fought with his emotions. Hephaistion was thinner, still pale but light shone in the lapis eyes as it never had before. He held himself differently, with more interest. His beard had grown, making him look every part the Spartan with the patched cloak he wore.

Diomache coughed and began to speak. "I must protest that I have been brought to trial," he began, "any plot to murder you was the idea of Hephasition alone. On behalf of Sparta, I apologise, punish him as you will but I am innocent of all."

"Then why the hurry to leave Pella?" Cleitus asked.

Diomache smiled to the general and bowed to him, smiling. "Charilus received some news and he had to return suddenly, I thought that Laterides had sent word of our departure, we would have come to the palace..."

Not giving Diomache a chance to finish his sentence Antipater spoke up. "Surely a ship would have been faster than horseback."

Diomache thought for a moment. "Charilus gets sick at sea, we agreed to ride part of the way..but this is the truth," he pointed at Hephaistion, "I am innocent of this". With his face reddening in anger he continued, "I said, when he was a baby, that we should throw him from the cliffs to kill him, a child born of Leonidas' line would be nothing but trouble. No. The Ephors themselves said he was born to greatness and so he lived, to tremble in battle."

Hephaistion shook his head.

"He retreated from the cavalry line in battle, went back to protect his dying lover, with no thought of all he had been trained to do."

Hephaistion looked to Diomache with anger.

"Iphicles was..." Diomache held up his hand. "Iphicles would have said the same...trembler."

Only guards stepping forward to pull Hephaistion back saved Diomache from a blow to the head.

Diomache turned to Alexander, opening his mouth as if to speak, pausing a moment and then pointed to Hephaistion before he spoke. "When Iphicles was killed, we feared for Hephaistion, so Laterides thought it would be a good thing to bring him with us to Pella. We did not know...I did not know that he would be a danger to you, Alexander, for that I apologise. Punish him as we would punish him in Sparta."

Alexander stepped forward, bringing himself within one pace of Hephaistion and signalling for the guards to release him.

"What happened in battle?" he asked.

Hephaistion bit his lip for a moment, then looked to the marble floor before gazing up into Alexander's grey eyes.

"Iphicles was my inspirer...I was placed with him to learn from him, he was a Spartan in every sense of the word, fearless in my eyes." Hephaistion hesitated and looked to the floor as though he could see events of that day unfold before him. "The cavalry advanced and an arrow struck Iphicles, the blow being so strong he fell back from his horse." He shook his head and glanced to Alexander with tear-filled eyes, before looking down once more. "I went back to him, the wound was not so bad but in no time the battle went badly for us and there was a retreat." Cleitus made a comment at this but what he said was unclear. "I stood and guarded Iphicles but was struck down and a sword killed my inspirer before my eyes, the same sword being used to wound me." Hephaistion stood silent and whatever scene he saw must have vanished as he sighed deeply and lifted his head to look to Alexander.

"He trembled," scoffed Diomache.

"Let me see the wound," said Alexander.

With a slight delay, Hephaistion swept the cloak over his shoulder and unclipped the chiton at his right shoulder. He pulled the cloth away to reveal the scar of a newly healed wound, that of a sword having cut into the flesh, slicing it as it was withdrawn.

Alexander reached out and let his fingers trace over the scar and then he looked to Diomache. "It takes courage to stand alone against an enemy's army. It was the act of a brave man and the tremblers were the Spartans who retreated from the battlefield, not to attempt to save a lover but to save their lives."

These words caused Diomache to flush but he stayed silent, rocking on his heels as though he wished to speak but thought it wise not to.

"No more words to save yourself, Hephaistion?" Alexander asked.

Without pausing, Hephaistion said, "I wanted death and I did not know you, Alexander. Now I know that Sparta's time is done and it is Macedonia's time to rise to glory...and you are meant for greatness."

Alexander stared at Hephaistion, the man had spoken with such strong conviction. Jealousy of Iphicles was the first emotion running through him, to have Hephaistion fight for you that way, willing to die for you. He took a breath as jealousy gave way to the strong belief that Hephaistion could never do him harm, that his mind had not been right when he had accepted the dagger and promised to kill. Then he felt a wave of concern. Here in this hall people were waiting for sentence to be passed, expecting Spartan blood to be spilled. He looked to Diomache. This man was guilty of plotting to kill him, his arrogance proclaimed it and this Spartan believed he could shield himself behind Hephaistion and live to tell the tale. Silence fell in the room as those present waited to hear what the verdict might be. Alexander took a deep breath, looking to Diomache.

'I am innocent of this,' Diomache protested.

'No. You are guilty.' Alexander said, quietly, his voice steady and sure. 'While we hunt for your companions, who are also guilty in this plot, you will be returned, as a prisoner to Sparta where I will demand your punishment..that of death...is given, to remind all Spartans not to think of bringing harm to myself or to Macedon.' 'But I am innocent,' Diomache blustered, trying not to be held by the guards who reached for him and with a nod from Alexander dragged him, still protesting, from the hall.

Alexander looked to Hephaistion, who stood calmly, watching as Diomache struggled and called out. He did not want him killed but knew he must choose his words wisely. He must put all thoughts of love from his mind, there could be nothing between them now, yet he wanted him saved.

Craterus stepped forward, leaned over to whisper in Alexander's ear. 'You can not let him live.'

Taking a breath, clearing his mind, Alexander spoke. 'You accepted the dagger, Hephaistion, because you wanted death and saw no harm in taking mine to get your wish. You are no trembler and yet you were unable to take my life. If Pausanias had felt the same as you, then my father would still be alive. You are no assassin.' Shouts of protest went up about the room but Alexander held up his hand to silence them.

'I am your King and have you ever questioned a decision from me before?'

Nothing was said as there was nothing to say. Pausing a moment more, Alexander walked slowly around Hephaistion, then looked to Craterus. 'Hephaistion will live. He will serve the needs of Macedon.' He smiled. 'Hephaistion will be placed where he can best be watched, be judged for his worth...with my Companions.' There were no protests but as Alexander looked to the faces of his friends he could see their disapproval, only Perdiccas showed some understanding of his King's decision. Alexander stepped back, paused a moment and then walked away.