Three days later, Hephaistion saw one of his attackers at a banquet given at the palace by Antipater.

Hephaistion pushed himself of the wall he had been leaning against and made his way through the crowded room to Perdiccas' couch. Perdiccas was in a debate with Seleucus but Hephaistion could not hear what it was about over the noise of the room, so he sat down upon the couch and waited until his friend paused to sip from his cup of wine.

Leaning close, Hephaistion asked who the man with the brown hair and beard was, that wore a black chalmys with a silver pin holding it in place. Perdiccas lifted himself a little higher and craned his neck to look around the room, then nodded to himself and relaxed, looking to Hephaistion. 'He's one of Olympias' guards...his name escapes me but he's one to pick a fight.' Perdiccas paused a moment and then said, 'Why do you ask?'

Hephaistion smiled. 'I saw him at the gymnasium the other day..we wrestled, I did not know his name, that is all.'

In Perdiccas' drunken state this was all that he needed to know and with Seleucus tugging on his chiton he was quickly distracted, calling out to a couple of dancing girls who came close, patting the couch and calling for them to stop their dance and come spend some time.

Hephaistion got to his feet and looked towards the man, only to meet the stare of his attacker, the man then made his way from the room, glancing back to Hephaistion before disappearing from sight.

No doubt Olympias had ordered the men to attack him, for the simple reason she did not trust him. Hephaistion found himself smiling. Alexander's mother had the strength and determination of a Spartan woman, he could understand why she would want him dead but in Sparta a woman would listen, know the facts before making any judgement.

With sudden resolve he decided to go and see Olympias, if she would see him. Perhaps he could persuade her that he meant no harm to her son, that he had not asked to be part of the companions but would fight for Macedon with as much devotion as if he had been born there.

He made his way through the crowd and left the room, pausing a moment to ensure his way was clear before stepping into the silence of the hallway. He looked left and right, trying to get his bearings, the palace was still a maze to him but he did know the way to Olympias' rooms were marked by a painting of Hercules at one of his labours. He turned left, turned to his right at the end of the hallway, down some steps and then up a few more which brought him to a large room. He crossed this, listening for any danger as he looked to the paintings , smiling as he found the picture that he sought at the bottom of some marble stairs.

'Hephaistion.'

His hand went to his dagger as he turned but as he turned he recognised the voice to be that of Alexander so his hand released it's grip and move to his side.

'If you are thinking of going to my mother then I would advise against it,' Alexander said.

Hephaistion looked over his shoulder, at the stairs.

'She thinks I mean to harm you,' Hephaistion replied, stepping closer to the King, already resigned to give up his mission.

'She has no reason over certain things,' Alexander said, his voice almost a whisper, as if he thought the walls of the palace might hear him and carry his words to his mother.

Hephaistion looked into Alexander's liquid grey eyes, saying nothing but seeing all. Only when Alexander looked away did he speak again. 'So that is why you go to Persia.'

'My mother?' Alexander glanced back at him and laughed. 'More than that, Hephaistion. To revenge my father...to take back what is rightfully ours...' Alexander hesitated and looked to Hephaistion as a thirsty man might look upon a glass of cool, clear water.

Hephaistion stepped back, then consciously made himself step forward. He respected Alexander, he saw the greatness in him but he also saw the longing, it shone from him but he did not feel that he could give it...that he had no right to it. He bit his lip, glanced towards the stairs and then smiled. 'There are some would say that you should not be alone with me, Alexander, if they knew it then they would race to protect you.'

Alexander mirrored the smile. 'We have not been alone since the day in the theatre at Aegae.'

'I was meant to kill you there,' Hephaistion confessed, 'it was thought the perfect place...but I had seen sense by then, Alexander and would sooner turn the blade on myself than on you.' He paused for a moment, shaking his head and laughing softly. 'Or drink poison.' he said.

'To go to Iphicles?' Alexander said, staring into the lapis eyes. 'I thought you wished to go with Iphicles.'

Hephaistion stared into grey eyes. 'I was dead, Alexander...when Iphicles died I felt that I had died too. But now I am back amongst the living and will see what the fates have in store for me.' Alexander said nothing so Hephaistion spoke again. 'I thought you needed reminding that I was sent to kill you, Alexander. You treat me like a friend and I do not deserve it.'

Alexander did not hesitate to say, 'I see no assassin before me'.

Somewhere along the hallway, at the top of the stairs, a door opened and closed and footsteps were heard echoing off into the distance. Hephaistion looked to Alexander as if to silently question him if someone might have been listening to their conversation. Alexander nodded, then stepped back, silently signalling for Hephaistion to follow.

XXOOXX

Alexander did not know what emotions were consuming him, just that it felt right to have Hephaistion by his side. All the warnings from his mother, Antipater, Craterus and close companions to send Hephaistion away seemed crazy to him now.

Just the echo of their footsteps on the marble floor soothed him.

He made his way to his rooms, the guards saluting as he passed by, no doubt word would spread soon that the King was alone with the Spartan. As he closed the doors he realised that he was alone with a man who had promised loyalty but nothing more. He turned to look at Hephaistion who was distracted by a painting of Achilles and Patroclus, studying it for a moment.

'It's what I envy Achilles for,' Alexander said, surprised at his sudden confession.

Hephaistion nodded. 'You can talk freely here?' he asked, looking around. 'No walls with ears to hear what you say.'

Alexander laughed. 'Pella is my home, I was born here, but it holds nothing but harsh memories. I long to go to Persia.'

'The same can be said of Sparta,' Hephaistion said, softly.

'But you had Iphicles,' Alexander replied, quickly, shaking his head amazed at how the words poured from him, not thinking of the consequences. He stepped over to a table, pouring a cup of wine for both of them.

'I had Iphicles,' Hephaistion whispered, turning away to walk over to the balcony, leaning over it as if to see what lay below in the dark.

Alexander followed him and found himself leaning over too, even though he knew it was just a courtyard and would be empty of people now. When he looked back up he found Hephaistion laughing at him.

'It is the curiosity on your face,' Hephaistion explained, his laughter turning to a smile. 'No wonder you want to go to Persia, you have the heart of not only a conqueror but of an explorer too.'

Alexander felt his face flushing and lifted his cup in an effort to hide it. Hephaistion mirrored him and drank some wine.

'What was Iphicles like?' Alexander asked, unable to stop himself.

Hephaistion took another sip of wine, as though to give himself time to think. Then he placed the cup on the balcony and turned to Alexander. 'He was like you.'

Alexander said nothing, he wanted Hephaistion to speak.

Hephaistion opened his mouth, as if he might speak and then bit his lip and looked over his shoulder towards the door. 'I keep thinking someone will come to make sure you are not harmed,' he said, turning back to smile again.

'I would send them away,' Alexander vowed.

'Iphicles was handsome,' Hephaistion said, lapis eyes suddenly glistening with emotion as he began to speak of his lost love. 'I had hoped he would be my Inspirer, I enjoyed time in his company and he had a way with him, when he spoke you believed every word. He would have been good for Sparta as you will be good for Greece, Alexander. I never thought to meet another like him.' Hephaistion reached for the cup and took another sip before he spoke again. 'I understand your need to leave Pella, looking back I can see I needed to leave Sparta.'

Alexander reached out and took the cup from Hephaistion, placing it down on the balcony once more. He then reached up and caressed Hephaistion's face but Hephaistion stopped him, grasping his wrist to gently pull his hand away. 'It would be a mistake,' he said.

'No, it would not,' Alexander said, his voice low but insistent.

Hephaistion stepped forward, taking Alexander by surprise as he released his wrist and placed his lips upon his, tentative at first and then making the world seem right as the kiss expressed a passion that no words could describe. Alexander raised his hand again, this time he was not stopped as he caressed Hephaistion, wrapping the long dark hair around his fingers and feeling that this was all he would ever need. All too soon, Hephaistion stepped back, lifting his hands to stop Alexander from claiming more.

'I needed to know,' Hephaistion said.

'Hephaistion. Don't deny me.' Alexander murmured, reaching out only to have Hephaistion step away.

Looking to the door again, Hephaistion then looked to Alexander and said, 'I would wager that Craterus is waiting outside, perhaps with Ptolemy and Seleucus. Guards will stand ready and spies will be informing your mother of everything that has happened. It would be a mistake, Alexander...but I wanted to know. I see your longing and I feel the same way too.' With that he turned and made his way out of the room, leaving the door open as he left, within moments Craterus and Ptolemy were there, guards behind them checking on their King.