Hello, It's always hard to write the final chapter of a fiction. There 's a lot of pressure . I was afraid to write something too much sappy, or not enough sappy. I was wondering if my readers will be happy or being frustrated with the end I chose.

I hope you 'll enjoy the last chapter . I want to thank all my readers for their support and review ^^.

Chapter 14

After a long travel, Hephaistion was back to the camp. As soon as he made his presence known a page went to the royal tent to alert the king.

Perdicass was the first to welcome back his friend.

"It's good to see you back " The general said happily.

" Thank you. Perdicass. " Hephaistion replied.

Perdicass bit his lips.

" Hephaistion, I had no choice but to tell what you were plotting to Alexander about the page, you know…"

"If you say so…" Hephaistion's tone was neutral.

"He was on the verge of insanity without you… " Perdicass declared.

Hephaistion smiled. " He must have been difficult to handle… "

Perdicass frowned . Obviously, his friend was far away to realize he was deadly serious about Alexander's mental health .

" It was not difficult to handle, it was nearly impossible. Hephaistion you have to listen to me carefully. He seriously scared me and all the generals.. He was on the verge of insanity and I mean it litteraly. If I hadn't told him… Only the gods knows but you could have regretted deeply your little trip away." Perdicass warned.

Hephaistion felt his heart freezing at the idea.

" You are exagerating… To make me feel guilty." He replied with a teasing voice.

" Don't leave him like that ever again… " Perdicass adviced him with a very serious tone.

Hephaistion didn't know what to think about it. Few seconds later, Alexander approached them. He was smiling brightly but managed to not jump in his lover's arms like his instincts were telling him to do. He behaved as the king instead.

"Hephaistion! I'm so glad you are back. We have to talk". Alexander's heart was beating very fast. He wanted to kiss him, to hug him, to make love to him, to stared endlessly at his beautiful blue eyes.

Hephaistion smiled back. He felt so calm and at peace now that Alexander was at his side The air looked easier to breathe in and out.

Few moments later they were in Alexander royal's office.

"Hephaistion, please have a sit " He said.

The king sat too and went straight to the point.

" I owned you a huge appologize. I have been an enormous idiot. You are far away from being nothing without me. I'm the one being nothing without you. As I told you in my letter. I , the king , needs you . The empire needs you. I had to work at your place theses few last weeks and I don't know how you manage to do it all ."

"Alexander…"

" I'm not finished. I took a very important decision. All generals had been informed and I only need your answer to make it officially. "

" What are you talking about Alexander ? " Hephaistion asked a bit surprised.

" I want you to become my chilliarch, you ll also be the grand vizier. I think it's the persian words ."

" The chilliarch… but it's for a royal blood…" Hephaistion protested.

" You proved enough to me. That task is yours and you 'll have all the budget and the team you 'll want. I only expect a yes from your part . Only you, are able to take the job and I know you'll do it wonderfully"

Hephaistion was stunned. He wanted an apology and be acknowledge in his work but to become the chilliarch. The second in command…

" I would have promote you as the other king but they wouldn't be able to understand.. Chilliarch is the higher I could find. You deserve it . Please accept it." Alexander looked at Hephaistion with an impressive determination.

"It's an honor, I gladly accept." He answered still under surprise.

"Good. " Alexander declared relieved. " Can I switch back to Alexander now? " He asked with an adorable smile .

Hephaistion's heart skipped a beat at the cute smile.

"Of course."

" I missed you" Alexander said quickly . I'll do whatever it will take to have your love back " He pleaded.

" You never lost my love , Alexander. I always loved you and always will"

Alexander couldn't waited anymore . He held his lover thighly.

" Don't leave me ever again, please… I'll die without you" The blond man declared with a trembling voice.

" I won't …" Hephaistion promised. They looked at each other tenderly and then they kissed softly at first then the kiss turned passionate . When they broke the kiss, Alexander 's asked Hephaistion to follow him to his tent.

Hephaistion had a naughty smile on his face.

When they arrived at the royal tent, the chilliarch couldn't believed his own eyes.

" What is this? Why all my belongings are here?"

"I needed them to be around me…" Alexander felt a bit ashamed. " It felt like you were here…" He said . " I have to give you back your medaillon " The king declared as he took it off from his own neck.

" You were wearing It?"

"Yes, mine and yours were together…" Alexander felt a bit stupid. He was so sentimental.

The king wanted to put himself the medaillon back at his lover 's neck. Hephaistion let him do it.

" Thank you" He said

Alexander smiled . He wanted to speak but seemed to be hesitant. Hephaistion noticed his lover was suddenly nervous.

" Hephaistion… I…" he started " I … want to honor your new position as a chilliarch with…" He took a pause to breathe " some festivities " he said quickly.

Hephaistion blinked.

Alexander felt even more nervous and started to panic.

" festivities is too much…. A banquet then…. ? "

Hephaistion felt really sad at this moment. Why did he never noticed it before. How it had became so difficult for Alexander to express simple things like that.

" Festivities sounds good… I deserve it after all " Hephaistion replied with a smile.

Alexander didn't react immediately. He was stunned by Hephaistion's acceptance.

"You said… yes? "

"Yes. I trust you for it to be grand and entertaining " Hephaistion explained.

"It will… Oh by the gods , it will , I have many ideas already " Alexander 'eyes were glowing in joy.

Hephaistion sat on chair . All his belongings were there. He noticed Alexander had changed his own bed cover to switch them with his. Perdicass's words were still on his mind and started to worry him a bit more. He watched Alexander as his beloved was already making plans for the festivities .

At that time, Bagoas entered to ask if his king needed something. Hephaistion looked at the eunuch and answered even before his lover could replied.

" Actually , yes. Bagoas , starting from now, you are no longer at Alexander's service. I heard the queen is always complaining she needs more people to serve her so you ''ll be under her service . You can leave now " He said with a cold voice.

Bagoas looked at the king with interrogations. Alexander had his mouth wide opened from shock.

" As Hephaistion said " The king finally declared and waved him to go.

Bagoas left.

Alexander stared at his lover.

" What was that?" he asked stunned.

" Don't even dare to touch him again.. I don't want anybody else but me in your bed from now on. Is it clear?"

Alexander nodded at Hephaistion's muderous 's glare.

" Of course, since you still need an heir , I will tolerate your wife…" Hephaistion added.

Alexander wanted to ask what happened to Hephaistion. He wanted to talk about Bagoas and what he did. But he was afraid to confront his lover about it. He didn't understand why suddenly his beloved had change his mind about the eunuch but he truly enjoyed the change.

" Hephaistion what about Gieve and Dariun ? I don't want you to bed another man either…" He asked. He had to make sure. He couldn't help but be extremely jealous.

"I won't.. Let's forget about all what happened and restart in a new direction.. " Hephaistion suggested. "We hurt each other a lot and we both made huge mistakes"

Alexander was on the verge of tears.

"I hurt you a lot more… to the point you left me … I'm sorry " Alexander cried.

Hephaistion held Alexander in his arms. " I have made my mistakes too.. in a different way than you did but I hurt you too. I know now."

They kissed in order to seal a new vow and a new start.

Later during the banquet with the generals. Alexander and Hephaistion were sitting next to each other. The chilliarch was very close to his king and Alexander enjoyed the situation. During the dinner he even felt his beloved 's arm around his waist. Alexander had blushed . His heart was beating furiously. He felt so loved just with this small gesture.

Hephaistion couldn't believed his own eyes. The king was blushing furiously and was so cute. It felt good to see Alexander being happy. The king was laughing, smiling. He was in a very good mood and the generals seemed to enjoy to see the happiness of their king.

Alexander decided to make a toast in Hephaistion's honor and return. At the end of his speech, Hephaistion stood up and thanked him . Suddenly at everybody 's surprise, he kissed Alexander deeply.

The general's eyes grew wide from the shock but it was nothing in comparison with Alexander 's reaction . Hephaistion whispered something at his ears. The king smiled brightely and kissed him back.

Some applaused happily and felt relieved to see their friends happiness and love being displayed without shame . It reminded them their youth at Pella . When Alexander and Hephaistion didn't hesitate to show how close they were.

Others applaused with hypocrisy . They were now sure , nothing could have stopped the lovers from being apart. They were even stronger than before .

Alexander and Hephaistion were back .

Later Hephaistion and Alexander came back to the royal tent. Alexander was in his lover's arm. He was in bliss.

" Alexander… I want you to know, when I was away… I … I missed you so much. I wasn't happy at all. "

The king kissed his beloved 's right hand tenderly.

" I read Narsus went to visit you… is he still alive ? " Alexander asked in concern.

" Yes " Hephaistion laughed. " He has the gift to bring me mad but he did help me so…"

Alexander looked at Hephaistion's eyes with concern. The king had to explain himself. He felt the moment had came.

" I was so mean with you… about what I told you… The truth is.. When I thought about it… " He took a pause to breathe. " I thought you probably , at a point, didn't or started to love me less. I'm a very selfish man and I wanted you to be nothing without me… . I'm an horrible guy. I felt hurt so I wanted to hurt you even more. How can you love someone like me?"

Hephaistion kissed his lover on the cheek.

" Alexander… I'm not perfect either.. I was jealous too. In a different way. I was jealous of this world you want so much. I grew cold and distant. I became obssess with what people would think about me and didn't care if the distance I put between us ,could have hurt you as well. I was selfish too. I was punishing you . You humiliated me with Bagoas , you humiliated me when you said I was nothing "

Alexander felt bad.

"I'm so sorry…"

"But how many times did I humiliate you when I rejected your affection in public with one of my deadly glare. How many times did I humiliate you when you tried to offer me prestigious gifts of love I refused just because I didn't want to be mistaken as a whore. When you in fact only wanted to treat me as your beloved. I' m sorry too."

" We really were both big idiots " Alexander added.

"That what Narsus said too " .

" Talking about Narsus " Alexander teased " Do you still touching yourself at night while moaning my name ?"

Hephaistion laughed.

" You remembered that…"

"Of course" Alexander kissed Hephaistion on his neck. The kiss brought shivers to the new chilliarch who couldn't wait anymore to have more than just kisses.

Far away from the camp. Narsus was on his way back to his home . He had been followed by Gieve.

" You are smaller than Hephaistion, but you do look like him… Are the Amyntor 's family all handome men?"

" Forget about it Gieve. I won't be a replacement for Hephaistion in your heart…" Narsus warned.

" I remembered you tried to seduce me in Egypt…" the musician said.

"That was years ago and then you fell in love with my cousin… " Narsus said bitterly.

" But you are damn cute too and I love the way you are provocking and scheming things for them to happen. I didn't know that side about you… We could have a lot of fun together "

" Give up, Gieve " Narsus declared " You are wasting your time "

But Narsus didn't know Gieve was not the type to give up.

At the same time, Dariun arrived at the temple of Mithra. Farangis was waiting for him.

" Welcome back Dariun.. What happened to your amor? "

" Long story… I don't want to talk about it." Dariun was still highly annoyed.

Farangis was a very beautiful priestess . They both loved each other but none of them wanted to quit their life style. They were only seeing each other time to time.

" My goddess is really pleased . Hephaistion and Alexander are reunited." She said.

"Good " Dariun replied.

"But … She told me it was also the beginning of the end."

"What?" Dariun asked with worry.

Farangis took Dariun's hand.

" You should go back to Hycarnia. Your satrape will need you by your side when the storm will rise. A violent storm is approaching Dariun. People , humans are not ready for what the king and his beloved wants to achieve… The gods are not all cruals but humans are … and the gods enjoys watching human's cruelty. "

Dariun nodded.

Farganis had been right… Almost two years later the world could never be the same again.

END

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