Once they arrived at Hephaestion's quarters, they entered the courtyard. Hephaestion was sitting outside with a goblet, reading a scroll. He stood up as he saw the couple enter the courtyard, and made his way to them.

"Claudita, Cleitus, how are you both? Cleitus, I didn't expect to see you here," Hephaestion said.

"I just thought I'd escort my beautiful wife," Cleitus told him, as he kissed his wife goodbye.

"I shall see you at home, Cleitus. I love you," she said, as she continued to kiss her husband. He nodded, and bid goodbye to Hephaestion and his wife.

As he strolled back through the forum, he ran into Alexander, Cassander and Philotas leaving the counsel.

"Cleitus, where is that beautiful bride of yours? I thought she was with you?" Alexander asked him.

"She was, however she had to get back to Hephaestion to help him with his taxes. She certainly likes numbers, my girl," Cleitus told them. Alexander nodded.

"Cleitus, I need to have a word with you, in private if that's all right?" Cleitus nodded his agreement and he and Alexander made their way back inside the counsel meeting area. Alexander motioned for Cleitus to sit down. He did.

"We're going to war with King Darius, and Persia. We leave at the end of the week," Alexander told him. He let the news settle in to Cleitus.

"That's fine. Of course we have to leave. I knew this was coming Alexander," Cleitus told him.

"Good. I was just letting you know. It's up to you how you break the news to Claudita, and if you ask her to come with us," Alexander said. Cleitus shook his head.

"I don't want her to come. I want her to stay here, with Lanice and Olympias, and her father. They can all take care of her. I don't want her to witness the things we do,"

"Claudita is a strong, brave woman. You need to give her more recognition for this, Cleitus. If you tell her not to come, you need to be prepared for the consequences. She won't be happy," Alexander said, gently.

"Alexander, please don't tell me how to speak to my wife. I don't tell you how to speak to your cavalry," Cleitus finished, standing and leaving the counsel room.

Later that evening, after dinner, Claudita was taking a bath when Cleitus entered the chamber. She quickly turned around in the large, silver bathtub. She was surprised to find it was her husband. He made his way over to her quickly and knelt down next to her.

"Cleitus, what's wrong my love?" Claudita asked him. He looked at her, smiling, as he stroked her arm. He took the sponge from her hand and slowly began to wash her back.

"It's nothing. I just needed to be with you," he lied, kissing her soft skin as he rubbed the sponge gently across her back. Claudita knew that was not the answer he should've given, and so asked again.

"Please, Cleitus. Tell me what's troubling you. I know something's wrong, I can sense it. Please don't lie to me," Claudita told him, as she turned around in the large tub to face him properly, letting the warm water move smoothly across her breasts, which of course Cleitus noticed. Cleitus lowered his head, and stopped sponging her back, he let the sponge drop back into the water.

"Hey, hey. What is it? Cleitus, please tell me," Claudita asked him, slowly stepping out of the bathtub and wrapping her body with a soft towel before kneeling down to her husband's level to sit with him.

"Cleitus, something's troubling you. I am your wife, please tell me," she asked him again. Cleitus looked up at her, with sad eyes, and she immediately reached out to hold him. He placed his arms around her tightly and held her.

"Claudita, I love you, I don't want anything to happen to you," Cleitus told her, as he continued to hold her. Unexpectedly, he collected her into his arms without effort and carried her through to their bedroom where he gently placed her down onto the bed. He removed the towel from her body and pulled the sheets back from the bed, helping her under the covers. He quickly removed his toga and armor and joined his wife, naked, in the bed, holding her close to him as he stroked her damp hair.

"Cleitus, please. Something is wrong. You need to talk to me," she told him. Cleitus knew that she was right, but it was hard for him to break the news to her.

"Alexander has given me the week off, I'm sure you remember," Cleitus began.

Claudita nodded, "Well… after I left you with Hephaestion, I went back to visit him and… he told me we're going to war with Persia at the end of the week," Claudita was taken by surprise.

"You're leaving?" she queried, unsure if she really wanted to hear the answer. Instead of responding, all Cleitus could do was hold her closer and kiss her forehead. In his silence, she knew it was true. Claudita slowly moved herself back from Cleitus, and looked into his eyes.

"I'm coming with you, of course Cleitus?" she asked. He shook his head, sadly.

"No, Clau, I don't want you exposed to the things we do. I don't want you to see the things that we see. It is better if you stay here, with my sister Lanice, and your father, and Queen Olympias to entertain you,"

"You feel that I need to be… entertained?" Claudita questioned, through slightly gritted teeth. Cleitus knew that he had gone too far, but hoped his wife would realize he had made a mistake. She did, but did not want him to recognize it. Claudita moved out of his embrace and turned her back towards him. Cleitus went to place his arms around her, and hold her, but instead she tensed up, and he knew better than to touch her if she was angry, even if they had only been married for a day.

"I may be a lot younger than you, Cleitus, but I am not a child, and I despise the fact that you feel I must be treated as such. I am a strong and independent woman, and if I choose to come with you, then I will come. It is my decision to make, not yours, and I shall bear the consequences if there be such," Claudita finished. Cleitus agreed. It was useless for him to try to argue with her. He knew that she was right, and she was stubborn, so no matter what he said he would not make her change her mind.

For a few minutes, neither spoke, until Cleitus could bare the silence no longer and moved in towards his wife. He placed his arm to her waist, and gently pulled her into him. Claudita was reluctant, but gave in as Cleitus began kissing her neck softly, as he whispered to her.

"By Aphrodite and all the gods, I love you Claudita. I want nothing to happen to you. I need you. Is it selfish of me to want you all to myself, and to keep you safe?" Claudita turned around to face him, and looked into his eyes. How could she be angry with him? He was her loving husband. She immediately reached out to hold him tightly, and he responded, wrapping his strong arms around her.

"Cleitus, I am sorry. I just don't want to be apart from you, we've only just wed. Please, I can protect myself. Let me come with you," Claudita asked again. Cleitus knew that it was no use arguing with his bride, so he reluctantly agreed.

"Alright, you will come. But unless I am with the men at battle you are to remain in my eyesight at all times. I won't lose you Claudita," Cleitus told her, as he looked down at her sternly. She smiled cheekily.

"I only hope to be in your eyesight at all times. It will ensure that we can be intimate with one another more frequently," Claudita replied, leaning into him to kiss him deeply before pulling him on top of her.