Title: "Fire and Signs".
Author: too_beauty
Feedback: yes, please any kind of them will help me to improve my writing or leave it forever.
Pairing: Alexander & Hephaestion. Kronos and Athina were born from my imagination and I really loved creating them.
Rating: PG for first chapters.
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.
Chapter 2:
Hephaestion was not longer a servant; he became the builder's son and his best apprentice. He was quick and everyday he grew stronger. He had learnt how to build any kind of things, he was always watching at his father very carefully; his blue eyes followed Kronos's movements and he did things just in the same way.
After some years, Kronos was so confident with Hephaestion's building skills that he started leaving him in charge. The people working with him were very gentle, not only because he was the master's son but also because Hephaestion irradiated an aura of confidence.
Hephaestion's body now, being 14, was really well-built, strong long arms with bulky biceps ended in big hands with also had strong fingers. But at the same time, it was very frequent to find the young boy caressing the petals of flowers with great delicacy as well as his mother's cheeks; something that Athina enjoyed too much and rewarded him with a warm smile and a tight hug.
One day after finishing working in a new construction, Kronos came home and found Hephaestion drawing, an activity the boy liked too much, but he was so concentrated that he didn't realize his father standing behind him and peeping over his right shoulder.
"What are you drawing, son?" the builder asked curiously.
Phai turned round to face his father and made a sign with his hands, shaping a triangle.
"A ladder?" Kronos asked.
Hephaestion put his hand in a flat position and rolled it up and down.
"Similar to a ladder" the builder said.
Hephaestion nodded and continued drawing.
"What is it for?"
The boy stood up and made a combat movement, like attacking with a sword.
"For fighting" Kronos said smiling. "Who will you fight, Phai?"
Hephaestion touched his chin and made several spiral downside movements with one finger, drawing an imaginary beard.
"Oh, I see, you will build this kind of ladder to fight against the Persians."
Kronos and Athina always summarized Hephaestion's signs when the idea was complete; they did that because they hope Hephaestion could find the will to speak again.
Phai drew a crown on the top of the drawing and showed it back to his father.
"So you are designing this for King Philip. But son, I cannot fully understand how it works"
Hephaestion started to draw again and when the sketch was finished, Kronos was amazed; Hephaestion had designed a new version of an old war weapon, a siege tower. Kronos asked Hephaestion to draw a neater plan because he had a good idea. He knew an important Macedonian General, close to the King, Parmenion, and he might be interested in Hephaestion's idea.
Some days later, Kronos was called to the Palace, Parmenion and Philip were waiting for him there; Hephaestion was with his father but he waited some steps behind him.
"Joy to you, Kronos, what an interesting idea you have" general Parmenion greeted.
"Joy to you, too my King, general Parmenion, but in fact it is my son's idea" and saying that he turned round to look at Hephaestion with pride in his eyes.
The king spotted the handsome youth and approaching him, he asked:
"That is even better, tell us about how it works"
Hephaestion looked at Kronos with fear in his cerulean eyes. The king looked at the boy with his good eye and encouraged him to speak but Hephaestion remained in silence. Kronos approached his son and put his arm around the boy's shoulder, squeezing it gently. Then he looked at the King and told him:
"I am sorry, my King, but Hephaestion cannot speak, but he can hear and make signs with his hands" the builder explained.
"What has happened to him" he asked curiously.
"He lost his family six years ago when his farm caught fire and since then he is mute" Kronos explained and hugged his son tightly.
The King looked at Hephaestion and caressed his cheek with his calloused hand.
"You are the same age as my Alexander but you've suffered much more than him, my son. I think you'd like him. So Kronos, can you tell me what this smart young man has to tell me?"
The builder nodded and the explanation began. When it was over, Philip was totally marveled with the project and promised to send the idea to his engineers.
The king, looking at Hephaestion's eyes, took out one of his gold rings with a big aquamarine stone and gifted to Hephaestion; the boy refused but the king insisted.
"It is a way of paying for your commitment to my kingdom. Wear it also as a symbol of my protection" and saying that he retired to go on with his multiple duties.
Hephaestion looked the king walk away and a warm feeling travelled around his body, perhaps, just perhaps, life was smiling at him once again.
TBC
