Title: "Fire and Signs" Epilogue

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: R

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.

This is for everybody who was really upset with the last chapter, even though you missed the little hints ….

FIRE AND WORDS.

Alexander was trying to escape from Ptolemy's arms which were keeping him away from the fire.

"Let me go, Ptolemy, Hephaestion is still trapped in there" Alexander cried.

"I won't and probably Hephaestion is already de…" the companion said.

"Don't dare say that, I've just found out that Hephaestion loves me, I won't leave him alone" and giving him a hard push, Alexander released from the tight grip. He ran to the place and was praying to Hephaestus, god of Fire, to keep his lover safe.

Meanwhile Hephaestion was lying under the poles, luckily they had fallen in such a way that they had left an empty space around the fallen youth, giving him a tiny space to breathe. But Hephaestion was lost in his nightmare, the same one that he dreamt thousand of times after the first fire.

***flashback***

He dreamed about his family being burnt alive but the end of each nightmare was the worst part, he saw himself surrounded by fire, trying to get to someone who was holding out the hand to him, Hephaestion just brushed his fingertips over the other person's hand before that person was devoured by the flames.

***end of flashback***

Alexander soaked his cloak in water, put it over his head and ran towards the poles, the fire was receding but the flames were still high; he also listened to some servants running and looking for water but he couldn't wait. He reached where Hephaestion was lying and started to pull the poles with his bare hands without caring if he got burnt or not; his only aim was to get his lover out of there alive. He caught Hephaestion's hand but it slipped, he went further into the fire and caught it hard again and started to pull him from under the poles.

Hephaestion's arms were covered in blisters and burnt skin, being the right one the worst as it had been the one covering the builder's face. Alexander took his friend between his arms gently and Hephaestion opened his eyes and whispered "Alexander" and after that he closed them again, falling into unconsciousness.

Three full days and its nights found the young prince next to his friend's bed, waiting for the brunette to wake up and come back to him. His strong chest moved slightly but steadily and his heart had a strong beating, the prince knew that because he had been sleeping with his hand over his chest.

Hephaestion was taking his time to wake up but as long as he went on breathing, Alexander didn't dare to protest. Dawn was near and Eos was painting the sky rose when the prince felt a slight squeeze to his hand, the one which had been resting over Phai's chest, and when he popped up his head, he found two big lapis lazuli pools of heaven looking back at him.

"Hephaestion, you are awake!" Alexander said while brushing a lock of auburn hair from his friend's face. Hephaestion gave him a tiny smile and tried to answer but his voice sounded rough and it was rather painful.

"Don't try to speak, your throat must hurt with all the smoke you breathed, just baby steps, if you want, try to whisper or I can read your lips as always" the prince suggested.

"Water, please" Hephaestion whispered and Alexander gave him a happy grin and ran to fetch a cup. He was back in seconds and putting a hand on Hephaestion's nape, he helped him to raise to a more comfortable sitting position.

"Thanks" whispered the brunette, after sipping some water. Alexander set the cup on the nearby table and blushing, took his friend between his arms and whispered into his ear:

"I thought I had lost you, I prayed so much to have you back. Oh! I should call Philip so he can check on you" Alexander said disentangling his arms from the builder's body.

"Wait! Thanks for not leaving me behind" Hephaestion said.

"I'd never do that, Hephaestion, not after all we have waited to be together" the prince blushed and looked at his lover to be into his eyes, "that is if you still want to have me" he added nervously.

"More than ever" Hephaestion whispered back with blushed cheeks.

Alexander leaned over and brushed their lips together, Hephaestion raised his left hand and set it on Alexander's neck and bring him down, pushing his lips harder against the other and they sighed soundly when they got apart.

"I should call Philip" Alexander said against Hephaestion's lips.

"Later" he said claiming the Prince's lips again and this time, tongues and teeth took part in the exchanges of lips and love whisperings.

Hephaestion moved aside on his bed, making room for Alexander, who laid next to him, setting his ear onto Hephaestion's chest and smiling because his heart was beating steadily and his breathing was caressing the crown of his blonde head; the Prince embraced his Phai carefully and both fell asleep in each other arms.

They were found like this some hours later by a smiling doctor and a not so happy Queen Olympias. The doctor approached the bed and woke up Alexander. The prince stirred in his sleep and opened one of his eyes and when he saw them, he blushed instantly and jumped off the bed.

"Hephaestion woke up some hours ago but he was still feeling weak, although he was feeling better and his voice had come back" informed the Prince.

"We can clearly see he is doing fine" the doctor said smiling.

Alexander looked at Philip with confusion in his eyes and the doctor looked at Hephaestion's bruised kissed lips; the Prince smiled and covered his with the hand; he excused himself saying he had to get ready for his training.

A week later, in the early afternoon while Alexander was practicing with the Vanguard, a brunette young man was sitting in the shadow looking at the soldiers and horses practicing their battle movements.

Alexander looked back for a moment and discovered his friend and stopped the practice; he dismissed his companions and led Bucephalus towards Hephaestion at a slow pace. He offered his hand and pulled the builder behind him and went off with a quick canter, which he did on purpose as it was the only way to have the brunette's arms around his waist. After some stadia, he stopped by the waterfall and helped Hephaestion to dismount. They spent the whole afternoon there and the brunette got asleep in Alexander's arms while the golden youth raked his fingers through the auburn hair gently and looked at his scars which were almost healed.

A chill ran along his body, Alexander knew he had been so close to lose Hephaestion and decided that life was too short to go on wasting those precious moments together. He leaned on Hephaestion and stole a kiss from his warm lips; Hephaestion stirred and a tiny smile appeared o his face while the prince's name escaped from his parted lips.

Encouraged by this, Alexander kissed him again, a bit harder and ran his tongue along the bottom lip. Hephaestion opened his eyes and was shocked at seeing the young Apollo kissing him but he kissed back, nibbling on Alexander's upper lip. Kisses got deeper and their bodies got closer and warmer, seeking their release. With a nod of his head, Hephaestion gave Alexander his permission to take him on that green patch of heavens so Alexander set himself between the milky thighs and after some sweet and tender foreplay, he entered the young man beneath him as gently as he could. Their bodies moved together in such a synchrony that every movement produced some kind of pleasure.

When their lovemaking was over, their skins glowed and even though their breathing and heart beating were still quick, they found their way to relax and enjoyed being in each other arms. They went to the waterfall and bathed to each other, paying attention to the little details of their recently discovered lover's body and they liked all they saw.

Prince and builder went back to the palace and found out that Hephaestion's parents, Athina and Kronos, had arrived and were waiting to take their son home. Alexander greeted them but his heart broke into two in the middle of his chest when he knew what they wanted to do. Athina saw how his son and the prince got closer and stood together, with a pitiful look in their eyes, they were brushing their arms and they twined their fingers behind their backs; in that moment Athina realized that she wouldn't be able to part them without breaking their hearts. When the time to leave arrived, Athina hugged her son and assured him he could stay next to his beloved but she made both youths promise that they would go back to the farm to visit them whenever they had the time. Alexander hugged her back and thanked her for bringing up such an amazing son.

From that day on, Hephaestion was in charge of the royal workshop and his inventions were always welcomed by king Philip and his army, but the king decided that Hephaestion needed a proper military training and even though he was years behind in his training, he was a quick learner and could catch up Alexander's companions quite soon. Of course the prince was his mentor and teacher and the really mastered the art of war and … love.

Hephaestion recovered his voice in its full force but he didn't lose the skill of listening which was truly appreciated but his lover and Prince; many times his whispers in the right moment stopped Alexander's outbursts and in many other occasions, they lit the Prince's passion if they were dropped into his ear.

Only once, Hephaestion's voice was listened by hundreds of people who were gathered in the theatre and his words were the most important he would pronounce ever: "Health to Alexander, the new King of Macedon" while raising his left arm high in the air, and by doing this, his voice lit a new fire, one which would be fed with victory and glory; with days of joy and nights of passion; with words of never ending love between a man who defeated fire twice to win the love of a King.

Finis.