I Marry For Love - Chapter 5
*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 5
Alexander sat astride Bucephalus carefully watching his lover from the corner of his eye. Hephaistion insisted on starting everyday riding his own horse. He understood his lover’s need to assert some independence, but Alexander still worried over his endurance. At the start of their expedition Hephaistion had been able to sit his horse for barely an hour.
They had been traveling for nearly a week and his lover could almost make it to the mid-day meal without needing a few hours break. When he saw Hephaistion beginning to tire again Alexander moved closer and pulled him onto Bucephalus. Hephaistion grunted quietly in annoyance and then settled gratefully against his back.
Feeling the warm, solid presence of his lover against him, Alexander released the tension he didn’t even know he was holding. Riding this way reminded him of when they were boys and would explore Mieza after their lessons. At times like this he missed those simpler times when the most he had to worry about was not disappointing Aristotle and spending time with his dear friend.
He was pulled back to the present when one of the scouts rode up to him. “My Lord, we have found signs of Bessus and his men. Our scouts are tracking him a two days ride ahead of us to the east. We believe that he may be heading toward a nearby mountain village. It will be a difficult siege if it comes to that.”
Alexander thanked Creon and sent him to get food, water and a fresh horse. He continued riding, thinking through his options. He trusted Creon’s opinion of the situation; he was an experienced and reliable scout. Which meant that he needed to catch Bessus before reached that village or he faced an arduous siege.
Pulling up Bucephalus, he raised his hand to halt the company. Alexander came to a decision, calling Leonnatus, Crateros and Cassander to his side. “We’ll split our forces here. Cassander, oversee the set up of a temporary camp. Crateros, we need to travel swiftly. I want two ilai*, the basilik* and three taxei* ready to leave within the hour. We’ll head east with all haste. I want to catch Bessus before he reaches that village. Leonnatus oversee the outfitting of supplies for the advanced party. Then scout the surrounding terrain for supplies in case it comes to a siege.” The generals murmured acknowledgements of the orders and turned their horses to obey.
Once the others were gone, Hephaistion squeezed his middle and spoke into his ear. “Alexander, I could help…”
“You,” Alexander said, cutting him off, “are to stay in my tent, let Bagoas and Milos take care of you and follow Glaukos’ orders. Is that understood?”
“Alexander, you worry too much. I’m…”
“Still recovering. Now, tell me you’ll let them take care of you, or I’ll have Cleitus keep you tied to the bed while I’m away.”
Normally, he would have teased his lover over such a comment, but Hephaistion knew it was a real threat. He quickly assented to being watched and cosseted. At least he would still be free to move around the tent and camp.
Alexander turned toward his unoccupied generals. He decided to leave Cleitus in charge of the camp with Cassander and Nearchus. Antigonus was to join Leonnatus scouting the surrounding area. Ptolemy would accompany him and Crateros with the cavalry. Parmenion, Perdiccas and Philotus would follow with infantry support.
Orders dispended, he turned Bucephalus toward his already erected tent. His servants had been on campaigns with him for years and had gained plenty of experience setting up his tent and arranging it as he liked. Watching their quick, precise movements as they brought in his furniture, Alexander realized he had never shown his gratitude to them. He would find some way to thank them for all they endured and learned - both to do and to do without - that he may follow his dreams.
Milos stood waiting to help Hephaistion dismount, ignoring the scowl the older man directed at him. Alexander quickly followed. He knew that his lover was annoyed that Alexander constantly hovered around him, but he couldn’t help himself. And to make it worse, his actions influenced all the others he set to care for his lover.
It was a sign that Hephaistion was still recovering that he didn’t protest too ardently. He saw his lover settled on the bed and into Bagoas’ skilled hands, perversely grateful to be leaving him behind where he could properly rest. Normally, he dozed on Bucephalus leaning against Alexander’s back for several hours during the middle of the day. Now he would have a bed.
He turned to Milos. “I leave Hephaistion in your hands. See that he rests well and only eats the food that Glaukos sends. If you have difficulty with him, get Cleitus.”
“Alexander!” his lover cried in protest.
Bagoas stopped washing the dirt off of Hephaistion’s legs and moved out of the King’s way. He knelt down in front of his lover, held his hands and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Forgive me Hephaistion; I know I try your patience. Bear with me for a little while longer.”
Hephaistion gave a tolerant smile. “I love you, and I will while I have too. But once I’m better, don’t doubt that I’ll be shoving your face in the dirt.” Alexander laughed loudly. Finally, some spirit was coming back to his love. “I love you, Alexander. May the Gods walk between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk.”
“I love you, Hephaistion. May the Gods grant you healing and safety while we are parted.” Alexander and Hephaistion’s lips met in a deep, loving kiss. With a final caress, he pulled away and marched out of the tent, but not before throwing over his shoulder, “And I’ve told Cleitus that he has my permission to tie you to that bed if you don’t listen to Milos and Glaukos.”
He could hear Hephaistion protesting and cursing at him as he mounted Bucephalus again. Smiling widely, he turned the large horse and urged him in to a gallop. Crateros gave the signal and the rest of his forces fell in behind him. They would catch Bessus and end this finally.
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*ilai - ‘wings’ (squadrons) of the cavalry, consisting of about 200 hundred men each
*basilik - the royal squadron, consisting of 300-400 men
*taxei - regiments of the infantry, consisting of approx. 300-350 men each
----------------------------------------
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 5
Alexander sat astride Bucephalus carefully watching his lover from the corner of his eye. Hephaistion insisted on starting everyday riding his own horse. He understood his lover’s need to assert some independence, but Alexander still worried over his endurance. At the start of their expedition Hephaistion had been able to sit his horse for barely an hour.
They had been traveling for nearly a week and his lover could almost make it to the mid-day meal without needing a few hours break. When he saw Hephaistion beginning to tire again Alexander moved closer and pulled him onto Bucephalus. Hephaistion grunted quietly in annoyance and then settled gratefully against his back.
Feeling the warm, solid presence of his lover against him, Alexander released the tension he didn’t even know he was holding. Riding this way reminded him of when they were boys and would explore Mieza after their lessons. At times like this he missed those simpler times when the most he had to worry about was not disappointing Aristotle and spending time with his dear friend.
He was pulled back to the present when one of the scouts rode up to him. “My Lord, we have found signs of Bessus and his men. Our scouts are tracking him a two days ride ahead of us to the east. We believe that he may be heading toward a nearby mountain village. It will be a difficult siege if it comes to that.”
Alexander thanked Creon and sent him to get food, water and a fresh horse. He continued riding, thinking through his options. He trusted Creon’s opinion of the situation; he was an experienced and reliable scout. Which meant that he needed to catch Bessus before reached that village or he faced an arduous siege.
Pulling up Bucephalus, he raised his hand to halt the company. Alexander came to a decision, calling Leonnatus, Crateros and Cassander to his side. “We’ll split our forces here. Cassander, oversee the set up of a temporary camp. Crateros, we need to travel swiftly. I want two ilai*, the basilik* and three taxei* ready to leave within the hour. We’ll head east with all haste. I want to catch Bessus before he reaches that village. Leonnatus oversee the outfitting of supplies for the advanced party. Then scout the surrounding terrain for supplies in case it comes to a siege.” The generals murmured acknowledgements of the orders and turned their horses to obey.
Once the others were gone, Hephaistion squeezed his middle and spoke into his ear. “Alexander, I could help…”
“You,” Alexander said, cutting him off, “are to stay in my tent, let Bagoas and Milos take care of you and follow Glaukos’ orders. Is that understood?”
“Alexander, you worry too much. I’m…”
“Still recovering. Now, tell me you’ll let them take care of you, or I’ll have Cleitus keep you tied to the bed while I’m away.”
Normally, he would have teased his lover over such a comment, but Hephaistion knew it was a real threat. He quickly assented to being watched and cosseted. At least he would still be free to move around the tent and camp.
Alexander turned toward his unoccupied generals. He decided to leave Cleitus in charge of the camp with Cassander and Nearchus. Antigonus was to join Leonnatus scouting the surrounding area. Ptolemy would accompany him and Crateros with the cavalry. Parmenion, Perdiccas and Philotus would follow with infantry support.
Orders dispended, he turned Bucephalus toward his already erected tent. His servants had been on campaigns with him for years and had gained plenty of experience setting up his tent and arranging it as he liked. Watching their quick, precise movements as they brought in his furniture, Alexander realized he had never shown his gratitude to them. He would find some way to thank them for all they endured and learned - both to do and to do without - that he may follow his dreams.
Milos stood waiting to help Hephaistion dismount, ignoring the scowl the older man directed at him. Alexander quickly followed. He knew that his lover was annoyed that Alexander constantly hovered around him, but he couldn’t help himself. And to make it worse, his actions influenced all the others he set to care for his lover.
It was a sign that Hephaistion was still recovering that he didn’t protest too ardently. He saw his lover settled on the bed and into Bagoas’ skilled hands, perversely grateful to be leaving him behind where he could properly rest. Normally, he dozed on Bucephalus leaning against Alexander’s back for several hours during the middle of the day. Now he would have a bed.
He turned to Milos. “I leave Hephaistion in your hands. See that he rests well and only eats the food that Glaukos sends. If you have difficulty with him, get Cleitus.”
“Alexander!” his lover cried in protest.
Bagoas stopped washing the dirt off of Hephaistion’s legs and moved out of the King’s way. He knelt down in front of his lover, held his hands and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Forgive me Hephaistion; I know I try your patience. Bear with me for a little while longer.”
Hephaistion gave a tolerant smile. “I love you, and I will while I have too. But once I’m better, don’t doubt that I’ll be shoving your face in the dirt.” Alexander laughed loudly. Finally, some spirit was coming back to his love. “I love you, Alexander. May the Gods walk between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk.”
“I love you, Hephaistion. May the Gods grant you healing and safety while we are parted.” Alexander and Hephaistion’s lips met in a deep, loving kiss. With a final caress, he pulled away and marched out of the tent, but not before throwing over his shoulder, “And I’ve told Cleitus that he has my permission to tie you to that bed if you don’t listen to Milos and Glaukos.”
He could hear Hephaistion protesting and cursing at him as he mounted Bucephalus again. Smiling widely, he turned the large horse and urged him in to a gallop. Crateros gave the signal and the rest of his forces fell in behind him. They would catch Bessus and end this finally.
----------------------------------------
*ilai - ‘wings’ (squadrons) of the cavalry, consisting of about 200 hundred men each
*basilik - the royal squadron, consisting of 300-400 men
*taxei - regiments of the infantry, consisting of approx. 300-350 men each
----------------------------------------
TBC