I Marry For Love - Chapter 2
*Update* Alexander/Hephaistion Fanfic
Title: I Marry For Love
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Warnings: Slash, implied tortue, talk of rape and war crimes
Summary: A different take on why Alexander married Roxanne.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters - except for the plot device characters that I made up - and get no monentary profit from this. For fun, not profit.
Chapter 2
Throughout the night, he held the limp form of his beloved and contemplated the situation. By morning, Alexander had plans formed in his mind, steps to protect his Patroclus. A shout summoned Bagoas, Edigio and three other pages. He sent the boys to find his companions and order them into a council meeting. Bagoas, meanwhile, had the arduous task of dressing his while he still clung to Hephaistion.
When his companions arrived most of them looked hung over and upset to have been ordered to a meeting so early in the morning. He could hear them grumbling as they filed into his chambers. The noise stopped abruptly as they caught sight of Alexander and Hephaistion. Without giving them a chance to question him, he launched into the speech that he had prepared through the long hours of the morning.
“An attack has been perpetrated against Hephaistion, and thusly myself. An attack planned by Lord Keyumars of nearby Giulaza and implemented by the Persian lord Firouz. This I will not permit. Cleitus, Nearchus, Cassander, Parmenion, Leonnatus, and Crateros -- you will take two-thirds of the army and attack Keyumars. You are to level Guilaza. I do not want one building left standing in the cities. Do not return until you can bring me Keyumars’ head.”
“Ptolemy, Antigonus, Perdiccas and Philotus, you will stay here with the remaining portion of the army. Ptolemy and Perdiccas you will see to all, but the utmost important matters of the empire until Hephaistion is recovered. This is not a matter for discussion. You have your orders generals,” he said in clear dismissal.
His companions turned and filed out quietly. Alexander was surprised that not one of them raised any objections or asked questions. As long as they carried out his orders, he didn’t care. He settled Hephaistion more fully against him. Bagoas quietly entered the room with a tray. The eunuch set it down on the bedside table.
“My Lord,” he murmured, and lifted a bowel of broth. He knew that to try and convince the King to eat first would be foolhardy and a waste of time. The two of them patiently coaxed it down Hephaistion’s throat, followed by a small amount of water. The eunuch then assisted Alexander as he ate one handed, still holding his unconscious lover against him.
Bagoas brought the tray out to a servant. Returning to the King’s room, he knelt quietly by the bed. Glaukos came to examine him again. He recommended that they exercised the General’s limbs and massaged them twice a day. Bagoas followed the doctor’s orders, and taught Alexander how to massage his lover.
And so it continued for five more days and nights, broken only by Ptolemy and Perdiccas coming to confer with Alexander a few times. Glaukos, Pharnakes and all of Hephaistion and Alexander’s pages hovered in the King’s anteroom, anxious for some news and a chance to be useful.
It was late in the morning of the sixth day when Hephaistion finally began to stir. His muscles twitched and flexed, and his brow wrinkled. Alexander called for Glaukos to attend him. The doctor examined him carefully, and then instructed Bagoas to help him stimulate and warm-up Hephaistion’s legs.
Gradually, the General began to move and small sounds slipped passed his lips. Alexander stroked his face and murmured encouragement. Hephaistion’s head rolled and his eyes cracked open. They slid shut again and he turned his face away from the windows with a moan. Alexander shouted for pages to come close the drapes, but dropped his voice immediately when Hephaistion flinched.
With the room now darkened, he coaxed Hephaistion to open his eyes again. Alexander almost wept with joy to see those brilliant blue eyes once again. With a choked laugh, he bent to kiss his brow.
“Alexander?” Hephaistion croaked out, confused. His head was pounding, the room was still too bright even with the drapes pulled and his body ached all over. A glass was lifted to his lips and soothing, cool water ran down his dry throat in small sips.
“Hephaistion, my love,” Alexander said softly, “do you think that you can stomach some broth and vegetables?”
Hephaistion managed a small nod and mumble of agreement. Fortunately, Glaukos had ordered one of the pages to the kitchen before entering the bedroom. They managed to spoon half the bowl and a few more sips of water into Hephaistion before fatigue overwhelmed him again.
Alexander ordered broth with cooked vegetables and tender meat to be ready at all times. Hephaistion woke two more times that day, and each time they spooned more broth into the ailing man. That night, Bagoas and Alexander exercised and massaged him again. Hephaistion didn’t wake, but murmured small noises of pain and contentment alternately.
It was several days more before Hephaistion remained awake long enough to be told more than he had been ill. When he heard about the orders for the army, he sighed softly, “Oh, Alexander.”
“Forgive me love. I was so worried. You lay here as one dead, and after the interrogation I learned that they wanted you as more than just a hostage. Both of those vile men…wanted…wanted,” Alexander struggled to put it in to words. Hephaistion placed a finger over his lips. Understanding shone in his eyes. “I had to make an example of them. None can threaten one of my generals, my Hephaistion, without making it a threat against me.”
“I know,” came the hoarse reply. “You need no forgiveness. I love you. Hold me tight?”
“Whatever you want, my sweet Hephaistion.” Alexander gathered him closely against his chest and pressed kisses to his hair. He held Hephaistion as tightly as he dared and hummed softly.
-------------------------
TBC
Title: I Marry For Love
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Warnings: Slash, implied tortue, talk of rape and war crimes
Summary: A different take on why Alexander married Roxanne.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters - except for the plot device characters that I made up - and get no monentary profit from this. For fun, not profit.
Chapter 2
Throughout the night, he held the limp form of his beloved and contemplated the situation. By morning, Alexander had plans formed in his mind, steps to protect his Patroclus. A shout summoned Bagoas, Edigio and three other pages. He sent the boys to find his companions and order them into a council meeting. Bagoas, meanwhile, had the arduous task of dressing his while he still clung to Hephaistion.
When his companions arrived most of them looked hung over and upset to have been ordered to a meeting so early in the morning. He could hear them grumbling as they filed into his chambers. The noise stopped abruptly as they caught sight of Alexander and Hephaistion. Without giving them a chance to question him, he launched into the speech that he had prepared through the long hours of the morning.
“An attack has been perpetrated against Hephaistion, and thusly myself. An attack planned by Lord Keyumars of nearby Giulaza and implemented by the Persian lord Firouz. This I will not permit. Cleitus, Nearchus, Cassander, Parmenion, Leonnatus, and Crateros -- you will take two-thirds of the army and attack Keyumars. You are to level Guilaza. I do not want one building left standing in the cities. Do not return until you can bring me Keyumars’ head.”
“Ptolemy, Antigonus, Perdiccas and Philotus, you will stay here with the remaining portion of the army. Ptolemy and Perdiccas you will see to all, but the utmost important matters of the empire until Hephaistion is recovered. This is not a matter for discussion. You have your orders generals,” he said in clear dismissal.
His companions turned and filed out quietly. Alexander was surprised that not one of them raised any objections or asked questions. As long as they carried out his orders, he didn’t care. He settled Hephaistion more fully against him. Bagoas quietly entered the room with a tray. The eunuch set it down on the bedside table.
“My Lord,” he murmured, and lifted a bowel of broth. He knew that to try and convince the King to eat first would be foolhardy and a waste of time. The two of them patiently coaxed it down Hephaistion’s throat, followed by a small amount of water. The eunuch then assisted Alexander as he ate one handed, still holding his unconscious lover against him.
Bagoas brought the tray out to a servant. Returning to the King’s room, he knelt quietly by the bed. Glaukos came to examine him again. He recommended that they exercised the General’s limbs and massaged them twice a day. Bagoas followed the doctor’s orders, and taught Alexander how to massage his lover.
And so it continued for five more days and nights, broken only by Ptolemy and Perdiccas coming to confer with Alexander a few times. Glaukos, Pharnakes and all of Hephaistion and Alexander’s pages hovered in the King’s anteroom, anxious for some news and a chance to be useful.
It was late in the morning of the sixth day when Hephaistion finally began to stir. His muscles twitched and flexed, and his brow wrinkled. Alexander called for Glaukos to attend him. The doctor examined him carefully, and then instructed Bagoas to help him stimulate and warm-up Hephaistion’s legs.
Gradually, the General began to move and small sounds slipped passed his lips. Alexander stroked his face and murmured encouragement. Hephaistion’s head rolled and his eyes cracked open. They slid shut again and he turned his face away from the windows with a moan. Alexander shouted for pages to come close the drapes, but dropped his voice immediately when Hephaistion flinched.
With the room now darkened, he coaxed Hephaistion to open his eyes again. Alexander almost wept with joy to see those brilliant blue eyes once again. With a choked laugh, he bent to kiss his brow.
“Alexander?” Hephaistion croaked out, confused. His head was pounding, the room was still too bright even with the drapes pulled and his body ached all over. A glass was lifted to his lips and soothing, cool water ran down his dry throat in small sips.
“Hephaistion, my love,” Alexander said softly, “do you think that you can stomach some broth and vegetables?”
Hephaistion managed a small nod and mumble of agreement. Fortunately, Glaukos had ordered one of the pages to the kitchen before entering the bedroom. They managed to spoon half the bowl and a few more sips of water into Hephaistion before fatigue overwhelmed him again.
Alexander ordered broth with cooked vegetables and tender meat to be ready at all times. Hephaistion woke two more times that day, and each time they spooned more broth into the ailing man. That night, Bagoas and Alexander exercised and massaged him again. Hephaistion didn’t wake, but murmured small noises of pain and contentment alternately.
It was several days more before Hephaistion remained awake long enough to be told more than he had been ill. When he heard about the orders for the army, he sighed softly, “Oh, Alexander.”
“Forgive me love. I was so worried. You lay here as one dead, and after the interrogation I learned that they wanted you as more than just a hostage. Both of those vile men…wanted…wanted,” Alexander struggled to put it in to words. Hephaistion placed a finger over his lips. Understanding shone in his eyes. “I had to make an example of them. None can threaten one of my generals, my Hephaistion, without making it a threat against me.”
“I know,” came the hoarse reply. “You need no forgiveness. I love you. Hold me tight?”
“Whatever you want, my sweet Hephaistion.” Alexander gathered him closely against his chest and pressed kisses to his hair. He held Hephaistion as tightly as he dared and hummed softly.
-------------------------
TBC