Author: Baliansword
Chapter: 16, "In the End"
Warning: Contains sex, m/m.
0
0
0
The sun slowly came over the horizon. The rays of luminous light bounced off of the dew still on the ground from the night before. Dark eyes were large, staring into the distance, looking over the lands below. Flying quietly at first, then faster and allowing a fierce cry to echo out, the hawk swooped down. Its shrieks as it picked the rat up in its talons echoed across the lands and to the ears of those already awake at such an early morning hour.
He was silent as he stared out at the lands. The cry of the hawk reached him, but he shut them out, as did he most of the sounds that surrounded him now. Many things in the world had not made sense in the last few days. As he lifted the cup to his lips he took a drink of the cool and rather crisp river water. After drinking he set the cup down and then turned to survey the room once again. In perfect view was the crib.
As he approached the infant heard him and began to try to form some sort of sound. It was a helpless cry though, one that already he loved, even though it was hard to love at the moment. He picked up the baby, holding it snuggly in his arms, and gazed at him. The child, now only four days old, already had his eyes. They were a soft cerulean blue, but were made beautiful only by the facial featuring of his mother. Hephaestion already suspected that he would have the desires of his mother, yet would have his build. All in all he would be the perfect son, no matter what he turned out to be like, or whom.
Carefully he set the child back down as he heard approaching footsteps. The child closed its small fist and seemed to punch at the air for a moment. Soon after though the babe was asleep. Its attention span was small, as was the span of many infants. Hephaestion smiled slightly as he went to his door. Before the one that approached had time to knock, Hephaestion pulled the door open, smile fading. Never before had he looked at Alexander in the way he did now. By no means did he hate him as he'd claimed four nights ago. Yet he did view him differently, knew that he would lie to him, and knew that perhaps their love did not go as deep as he thought.
"What do you need," Hephaestion asked as he shut the door. He walked past Alexander, not even brushing up against him as he always did. As he passed him he did not even give him the glance that would have satisfied him. Instead Hephaestion pulled a chair out and sat down behind the desk of his work. Scrolls were perfect, organized, something Alexander had always loved him for since his were not so. Alexander began to speak yet was cut off, as were all that had visited in the last four days. Small talk was not on Hephaestion's mind.
"If you want the armory order, I already gave it to Cassander when you sent him to receive it."
"I did not send him," Alexander said quietly as he crossed his arms over his chest. It seemed as if it was now colder in the room. He knew this was not true, however, it was probably just Hephaestion's icy tone that caused him to want to shiver. "I would never send him."
"Perhaps you should have someone look into that then," Hephaestion said as he dipped his pen in the black ink again. He continued to write upon the newest treaty he was looking at. Even in times like these he had the time to edit and change the mistakes that Alexander or his scribes sometimes made. "If I would have thought about it, maybe I would not have handed it to him so generously."
"Phae, stop acting like this."
"I suppose he could have lied to me," Hephaestion said, this driving the knife even deeper into Alexander's heart. Alexander glanced over at the crib, and from where he was he could slightly see the small child inside. He did not even know the child's name. It was not given to him, since Hephaestion had not given it out just yet. In fact, he may never. Alexander sensed him slipping away. Again he was pulled back to Hephaestion though when he spoke as uncaringly as he had before. "So, then, why are you here if not for that?"
"Phae…"
"You didn't give me anything else to do. Unless you sent word with Cassander," he continued bitterly.
"Don't turn against me," Alexander said, angry, yet keeping his tone as light as he could. "Of all those that turn against me, never would I believe you to be amongst them. Never."
"I didn't think you'd use me for your personal gains."
"What!"
"You know what that means," he shot back vehemently. "It means that you manipulate things for your gain! You wanted to look better in the eyes of these people so you forced Miskaelah upon me. It looks good for them when they see your favorite general marrying one of their own!"
"She wasn't even one of them!"
"She was to them!"
"You are a fool," Alexander screamed now, unable to control himself. He took a few steps forward, face reddening, anger still rising. "To think that this was some plan I had to get you to hate me! Do you think that I wanted to loose you to her, to anyone, to Cassander!"
There was a pause where Hephaestion said nothing. He was caught off guard. He knew that Alexander had known, however, for him to use such against him was unfair. It was unjustified since Alexander had had such affairs with far more men, and women, than he had. Alexander threw his arms up finally, but stopped yelling, as the door opened and a maid entered. She kept her eyes down but when to the infant, picking it up, so that she may take it to be fed. After, she would attend to the child, since Hephaestion did not have time at all hours of the day. As soon as she carried the child out of the room and shut the door, the yelling began again.
"I did not kill her," Alexander fumed. "She could not have been saved! In order to save your child I had to make a decision that you yourself were not in a state to make!"
"Don't tell me that! You don't know what…"
"Right," Alexander said as he came closer. He put his hand against Hephaestion's cheek. It rested there only for a moment, until he finished speaking, before Hephaestion batted his hand away. "I do not know what it is like to be where you were."
"Don't!"
"Don't what," Alexander asked.
He knew very well what it meant though. Hephaestion could not look at him. Of course he would not wish for him to touch him. However, Alexander put a hand against his shoulder, only to have it forced away. Within a moment he was desperately trying to pull Hephaestion to him and Hephaestion was adamantly shoving him back, fighting him in any way that he could. Alexander grabbed both of Hephaestion's arms and shoved him back, sick of fighting with him, but grateful at least for the attention. Upon shoving him, Hephaestion was knocked off balance and fell to the ground. Pushing himself up he rolled across the floor, kicking Alexander in the leg, causing him to fall as well.
Hephaestion was on his back when Alexander grabbed him again. He shoved him down when he tried to rise. Flailing, he thrust his elbow into Alexander's gut, causing him to moan in pain. It was then that Alexander grabbed Hephaestion by the collar and pulled his shoulders up from the ground. He forced his lips against his, kissing him firmly. In response, Hephaestion elbowed him again, but then sank back. His back hit the floor, but he stopped fighting, and instead started kissing.
Alexander quickly let Hephaestion go in order to push his garments away from himself, then from Hephaestion. What at first would seem to be a quick and simple satisfaction turned into something much more. Alexander's kisses slowed, becoming deeper, as if searching for the piece of Hephaestion that had been separated from him. He slid his tongue over Hephaestion's lower lip, licking him just to taste him, not to demand entry to his mouth. He kissed his lower lip, sucking gently on it, then moved to the top. While he did this, Hephaestion's hands slowly traced down his back, barely touching him in an erotic thrill. Alexander's breath caught at Hephaestion touched him so lightly, making him tremble with desire.
Hephaestion then moved his legs apart so that Alexander could shift himself into a more comfortable position. Still touching him lightly, he traced the curve of his butt, until he placed his hands at the back of Alexander's thighs. He then arched his own hips, grinding lightly against Alexander, while Alexander continued to kiss him. Alexander moved his hands, taking Hephaestion's arms, and placing them around his neck. He then sank down on top of him, kissing next his neck, while he slowly rubbed their bodies together.
As he lay beneath him Hephaestion placed his lips against Alexander, kissing him, licking him, forcing his breaths against him. Both of them could barely breath, savoring each moment, touching each other as if they never had. It was Alexander that slid down Hephaestion's chest, running his tongue and lower lip over him, kissing him between pauses. He bent Hephaestion's knees, spreading them, slowly kissing each thigh and rubbing them at the same time. Gasping as Alexander took him in his mouth, Hephaestion uttered his lover's name, with more need than he ever had.
Hephaestion's fingers laced in Alexander's golden hair as he had his way with him, changing his movements with his tongue, flicking the tip of Hephaestion's erection. This caused Hephaestion to almost convulse in sheer pleasure. Instead he tilted his head back, gasping. Alexander continued to slowly tease him, pausing, then doing something else Hephaestion had never had him do. When he came, Alexander continued licking at him, then moved back to his thighs, kissing him as if he were a god come down from Olympus just for this night. In the end, it was Alexander that took Hephaestion, making love to him slowly, touching him at every moment. Connections are made, bonds are broken, yet in the end –love is always true and does not fail, nor change.
ENFIN….
0
0
0
A/N: Thank you everyone for sticking with me while I finished this. Also, Queendel, thank you so much for your support and concern! You're the best! Seriously, you help keep me going sometimes.