Hephaistion had expected to be taken to his execution. He now found himself standing alone, surrounded by people who were disappointed that he would not die. He thought of Iphicles, of the moment in battle when he saw the sword thrust into his lover's body and had wanted so badly to follow him to Hades that when the sword struck into him he welcomed it.

'Iphicles,' he said, his mind picturing the man, hearing his voice. Charilus said that it had not been love but it was all that he had known and it was good enough to die for.

'Hephaistion?'

Perdiccas had come to him and he was grateful for it, Macedon held him now and he had to learn a different way. He smiled. He would fight for a King that was worth fighting for.

'Alexander said you should join the Companions...you know that any one of us will kill you if you make a move to harm, Alexander?' Perdiccas said.

'I have no intention of that,' replied Hephaistion.

He looked about, people were starting to leave the hall, only Ptolemy, Craterus and Seleucus made no move to go.

Perdiccas laughed. 'Alexander has a way of doing the unexpected, he is a great judge of character and must see something in you that the rest of us have cause to doubt.' Hephaistion nodded.

Craterus turned and strode out of the hall but Ptolemy and Seleucus came over to him, shrugging their shoulders as if accepting the decision, even if their faces still held their disapproval. 'Craterus will never be a friend,' Ptolemy said, 'I can't say you have done much to endear me to you, Hephaistion, but Alexander wants you as a member of the Companions and so I would rather keep you close than apart...so I can kill you myself if you so much as give Alexander a look I don't approve of.' He stepped back, putting his hand on his sword hilt.

Hephaistion exhaled a breath he had been holding. 'My life in Sparta is done.' he said, pausing a moment before he spoke again. 'I owe my life to Alexander and my intention is to show you that I mean him no harm.'

His words were considered and then Ptolemy shook his head, removing his hand from the sword hilt as Perdiccas placed his hand on his shoulder saying, 'You are going to have to forget your Spartan ways...talk a little more, question orders if you feel they need questioning.'

Finding himself undeserving of any kindness Hephaistion found himself smiling. 'I have never talked so much.'

'When did you last eat, you've lost weight,' Seleucus said.

Hephaistion looked up as though the ceiling of the hall might provide an answer. 'Yesterday, I think.'

Ptolemy gave a loud sigh. 'Come on then, we will go and eat, find you a bed to call your own and a horse...though you need to prove to me you can be trusted with a sword and I will have a keen interest on how you spend your time.'

Hephaistion followed, ashamed by what he had done but grateful for a second chance. 'I'll prove my worth,' he promised, in a low voice, heard by nobody but himself.

XXOOXX

As Hephaistion began to gradually adapt to his new life, preparations were made for the army to go to Persia. Alexander, was more eager than ever to leave Pella and the army answered his call.

Hephaistion had been given a place to sleep, a room next to Perdiccas in the palace, a fine horse to ride, perhaps better than the one he had in Sparta. His armour had been paid for, his weapons too, though Craterus had complained bitterly when he first saw him carrying a sword. He could not say that he had been fully accepted, even with Perdiccas he sensed that he was watched but as he had no intention of being disloyal he hoped it would only be a matter of time before he felt truly welcomed. Either way, compared to the life he had at Sparta, after Iphicles, this was like being back in the world once more and he savoured it.

He seldom saw Alexander and never on his own, not like the day at Aegae. It did not trouble him, he did not expect or hope for anything more. He did not seek out company, he had grown used to the solitude but at times Perdiccas and Seleucus would call him over or come to find him and he would spend time listening to their tales and answering what they wanted to know from him.

As he had lost weight and condition, recovering from the hemlock, he spent time at the gymnasium, working hard, as he had been trained to do. Sometimes he could almost imagine himself back at Sparta, with Iphicles, almost as if he were in a delirium where all the world around him changed and he felt loved and gave love in return. Charilus' words, that it was not love, would haunt him too. He almost wished the man was near so he could discover just what he meant. Iphicles had not needed to speak the words to make it real, they both knew. That was all Hephaistion needed.

Making his way to the baths, Hephaistion welcomed the cool interior, he was alone, the men who had been there had long since gone to eat and drink. Pulling off the cloth at his waist he climbed into the water, lowering himself back into it and closed his eyes, letting the liquid cool his body. He sank down low into the water, throwing back his head and bringing up his hand to wash his face. He opened his eyes, watching the light play on the water, when suddenly a hand reached towards him, grasping his neck and pushing him under.

As his head was submerged, Hephaistion felt water go down his nose, making him want to choke. He reached up, blindly, trying to find his assailant, tracking the arm that held him down but another hand came, grasping him by the wrist so he could not fight. There were two men...if not more, determined he should drown. Hephaistion was equally determined he should live and brough up his foot to kick out, which gained him precious time to take in air and pull himself back to see his attackers. He looked around for something that he might use as a weapon and seeing nothing he chose the larger of the two and came forward to fight. Dodging the man he brought his hand up to his attacker's throat and pushed his thumb hard against the chin of the man, forcing his head back, succeeding in making the man choke, he looked to the smaller, stockier man and kicked out between the man's legs, making him stumble in pain. Pushing the larger man back, Hephaistion leapt from the water and releasing his grip ran to where he knew there would be weapons, grasping on a sword and standing, feet apart, ready to attack.

The men hesitated, looked to each other and then turned and ran. It had been a short fight but they probably thought there would be other chances to catch him off guard. Hephaistion stood straight, breathing deeply, letting the sword fall. He could think of too many people who might want him dead to trouble himself with puzzling anything out. Looking to see if his attackers had thought to return he went inside the building and collected his things, coming back to the doorway to dress himself. 'No more bathing alone,' he told himself, then made his way out of the gymnasium