Title: "You are my weakness" Chapter 4: "Olympia"
Author: too_beauty
Feedback: yes, please any kind of them will help me to improve my writing or leave it forever.
Pairing: Alexander & Hephaestion; Ptolemy; Olympia.
Rating: PG
Category: Historical AU so some personages will appear to serve the purpose of this story.
Disclaimer: I don't know the people involved; A&H belonged to themselves and to History, if not Hephaestion would be still among us, living under my "protection".
No beta so all mistakes are mine.
Author's note: the words in CAPITAL LETTERS belong to the script of "Alexander" by Oliver Stone.
Ptolemy had been always afraid of Olympia, and he had a good reason, he was one of Phillip's illegitimate sons but very dear to the Macedonian King and Prince. And he knew what she was capable of.
The Macedonian Queen, born in Epiro, a woman with great healing skills, tamer of snakes and some men, felt frustrated. She had a powerful enemy living in her house and under her care; he was an eight tear-old boy with the most amazing cerulean eyes she has ever seen, it was difficult to look at him and not be caught under his spell as his precious Alexander had. The boy was educated, well-mannered, kind and he appreciated her a lot, Olympia has been looking after him for the last 8 years when his mother got ill. He was also pure at heart and soul, easy-going but … he had a very strong will and such a clear mind that his logical reasoning could match his teacher Aristotle's.
Olympia had seen how much he influenced on Alexander and how the Prince was becoming more dependant on him and less on her.
She had tried everything to weaken their relationship, and in the last seven years, she had made many attempts: poisonous snakes between his sheets; venom in his sweet milk, boys and girls sent to his quarters for intercourse purposes, among others, but they were never enough; he had always found the way to get out of the situation unharmed and victorious.
But when Alexander and Hephaestion turned 15 and became lovers, Olympia got extremely furious and nervous because she was losing her little remaining power over his son.
As Hephaestion was so unique, actions didn't speak louder than words in his case so Olympia decided to use one of her most powerful and subtle weapon: she would poison Alexander's mind against his lover and weaken his love in the same way.
So the poisoning began, with small drops of venom in every conversation she had with her son; and their conversations were daily so after some months of slow work on Alexander's mind, it began to show the results; nowadays it was easier to change Alexander's mind about the important subjects.
One of his most meaningful conversations took place at the same time when King Phillip brought Eurydice to live at the palace as his new wife.
-"I WISH WE COULD SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER; LIKE WE USED TO, WHEN YOU WERE THE SWEETEST BOY"
-"THERE'S NEVER TIME. SINCE I WAS A CHILD, I'VE BEEN GROOMED TO BE EVER THE BEST" said Alexander on his knees, in front of a seated Olympia.
- "MY POOR CHILD, YOU ARE LIKE ACHILLES, CURSED BY YOUR GREATNESS. TAKE MY STRENGTH" Olympia said while hugging his son tightly.
- "YOU MUST NEVER CONFUSE YOUR FEELINGS WITH YOUR DUTIES, ALEXANDER. A KING MUST MAKE PUBLIC GESTURES FOR THE COMMON PEOPLE." she advised.
- "I KNOW, BUT YOU WILL BE 19 THIS SUMMER AND THE GIRLS ALREADY SAY YOU DON'T LIKE THEM. YOU LIKE HEPHAESTION MORE. I UNDERSTAND; IT 'S NATURAL FOR A YOUNG MAN, BUT IF YOU GO TO ASIA WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR SUCCESSOR, YOU RISK ALL." Olympia admonished.
- "HEPHAESTION LOVES ME, AS I AM … NOT WHO." Alexander defended his lover.
- "LOVES? LOVES?" Olympia said with sarcasm. "IN THE NAME OF DIONYSUS, UNDERSTAND HOW PHILLIP THINKS FOR YOUR OWN SAKE and remember that rulers must be alone so their feelings can't cloud their reasoning."
- "I don't want to be alone, mother, I need Phai by my side, he keeps me sane." Alexander pleaded as if he were 5 instead of 18.
- "Grow up, Alexander, Hephaestion would only be your doom, he makes you look weak, especially in front of your father. Is that what you want? Be weak so he can appoint Eurydice's son as his legitimate heir."
Olympia saw horror in the eyes of his son and she realized she had found the weakest point in his son, his Achilles' heel. Even though he loved Hephaestion, his father's recognition and respect was stronger.
Since that conversation, Olympia could see how his son started to step away of Hephaestion, spending more time with her in her chamber and listening to her stories of gods and heroes, making him believe that he was the son of Zeus and because of that he was born to rule and to be Great.
Hephaestion quickly discovered who was behind the plot, he talked to Alexander and the only thing he got was his refusal and anger. To put the matter worse, the Prince warned him that he should measure his words when he spoke about the Queen because if he didn't, he could be slashed. In that moment, Hephaestion realized he had lost his lover, and that there was nothing he could do to get him back.
Hephaestion turned round without answering his lover but with so much grieve in his heart that he felt that life was going to leave his body; cold and darkness were getting inside his soul and his movements became slower. Ptolemy found his handsome friend curled up on his cot, with a white chiton with golden embroideries between his hands while tears rolled down his shaved cheeks.
Ptolemy sat on the bed and petted his head; the young lover lifted his gaze and with a trembling voice, he whispered:
"I am losing Alexander"
And for the first time, the talkative Ptolemy remained speechless.
TBC
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