What Price Fury

Title: What Price Fury
Rating: PG for now.
Fandom: Stones movie

Summery: Not For the first time in their relationship Hephaistion is a victim of Alexander’s wrathful temper. Mitigating issues play a part weakening the faithful General’s defenses causing him to retaliate and havoc ensues before the two can reunite. I can’t help but feel as though these two had there fair share of brawls. Egos aside…besides Hephaistion’s got other things on his mind.

Genre: Anger and angst and reconciliation

Warning: Implied rape and sexual brutality. It’s there because I couldn’t see the scenario honestly with out it. That would have been a manufactured environment.

Reviews: Please send advice to rothalion@hotmail.com and thanks!

Disclaimer: Mr. Stone for this one, he brought them to life so we can torment them! Not purely movie driven I tweaked it a bit.


Thanks: To everyone who awaits updates to this tale and all who provide encouragement. Once again I thought that this chapter would lean toward a conclusion but it seems instead to have opened up the thing to more stuff…we’ll just have to see where it goes. Do not despair. Leave that to me…. . Ahhhh…what else…..I could keep going over it trying to edit all my punctuation glitches and what not but…since I stink at that lets just try and post the damn thing!

What Price Fury 10


Alexander lay on his back, naked, with his hands resting on his stomach, staring at the timber ceiling. He was cold. Too cold. Cold clean through to his heart. So cold that no amount of fur or fire would be able to bring him warmth. He knew that the only brazier that could warm his soul was in his rooms alone and lost. The brazier of Hephaistion’s heart. Yes, that could chase this forsaken chill from his being. He rubbed absently at the spot on his finger where Hephaistion’s ring had been and cursed his weakness. He should not have cast it away. Indeed this wife of his was made of fire and fight but he knew after bedding her that he would never love her. Conversely he felt a tinge of hatred for the beautiful dancer. Hatred because she’d possessed the power to turn his eyes her way and take them from Hephaistion. Hephaistion.

What to do about Hephaistion. The man seemed about to crumble when he’d brought the ring. Alexander cursed him. He had been weak, but Alexander knew that his friend could not help it. Knew that a lifetime of planning and reassuring one another that even after he took a wife they would still be as one words simply were not enough. He came to a decision then. To hell with duty. He’d played that game for days now. He’d suffered their ceremonies and given them a queen. He’d consummated the wedding and tolerated their petty games. Now it was Hephaistion that he would see too.

Alexander took a sidelong glance at the woman sleeping beside him, grimaced and rose from the bed. He searched the floor along the wall where he’d thrown Hephaistion’s ring and found it lying there; the brilliant red stone alight in a thin tendril of moonlight. With great reverence he placed the ring back on his finger, kissed it and then pressed it against his heart.

“Your love for me is the purest of all loves my Hephaistion, and the gods willing I will return it with equal purity and eternal resolve.” He kissed the ring again, threw on some clothes and after a farewell kiss to Roxane’s cheek he made his way to Hephaistion’s rooms unaware that his new queen had been feigning sleep.

The corridors were empty except for the night watch. Alexander hurried along with a heavy robe thrown over his head. Why he hid he was not sure, but stealth seemed a needed precaution. It was in a sense silly. Anyone who knew him would recognize his gait. The men were trained to key on him in battle, taught to know how he sounded and moved. Here and there he stepped over passed out revelers and disheveled whores. The morning would come the place would be ripe with vomit and piss. Three turns later found him at Hephaistion’s door. A dim light shone beneath it. Alexander found himself hoping his friend was asleep; yet also wishing to see him. He pushed the door open gently and entered the room.

Hephaistion sat in his chair in front of the fire place dozing. He had his left foot elevated on the stone rise and the right foot on the floor; a half empty up of wine was balanced between his hands on his lap. Alexander approached the sleeper quietly and knelt down between his legs. He reached into his belt pouch and removed Hephaistion’s pendent. He had never returned it after the nasty fight all those long painful weeks ago. He removed the goblet from Hephaistion’s hands and placed the pendent in the man’s left palm, wrapping the thong around and around his hand and then closing the fingers over it. He then took Hephaistion’s right hand and as gently and as lovingly as he could he kissed the palm. He watched Hephaistion’s face for signs of his waking and seeing none he began to kiss the exposed skin of his belly, slowly working his way upward, kissing and nipping at first his right nipple and then the left. Hephaistion stirred and groaned just as Alexander knew that he would. The only thing Alexander was more familiar with than the Iliad was Hephaistion’s body. He’d teased Hephaistion on many occasions, saying that should Hephaistion die first he would simply nip, nibble and suckle him back to life with his nipples. Hephaistion hated the morbid thought and always scolded the king. He even tried lying; telling Alexander that it was not his touch that drove him to trembling but the morbidity of Alexander’s thought.

“Alexander, you should stop.” Hephaistion whispered sleepily without opening his eyes or moving.

“Why?”

“Ah gods, please not that.”

“How about this one then?” Alexander asked switching from Hephaistion’s right nipple to his left.

“You are killing me, Alexander.”

“What better way is there to die and we are together as well.” He pulled away and looked up into Hephaistion’s crystal blue eyes. “I had to see you, Hephaistion. I need you.”

Hephaistion ran his hands through Alexander’s long blond hair, and noticed the pendent. “I…I didn’t think you would return it.” He said his voice breaking. “I thought…that with the wedding and my behavior and…” He paused and tried to halt the sob that was surging from his chest. I just thought…I’d …gods Alexander!” He surged forward into a stunned Alexander’s arms. “Don’t make love to me Alexander; not tonight.” He squeezed Alexander tight. Just.. can we just lie together, talk in quiet whispers and tell secrets that we should have told long ago and I just want to hear your heart and feel your breath on my cheek and… can we Alexander like in Meiza, like before Persia like…before all of this! Just forget the wedding and Roxane and duty and just share a bit, of well just stuff about one another again?” he was speaking rapidly and Alexander cut him off by pushing him away and staring into his eyes.

“Yes of course, if that’s what you want, my love. Of course. Come then.”

They stood together. “Wait,” Alexander halted him. “First things first.” He took the pendent from Hephaistion’s trembling hand, placed it over his head, and patted it against Hephaistion’s chest. He then leaned in and kissed him tenderly on the lips “I love you. I love the ring, it was a beautiful moment that I will never forget, Hephaistion. It meant more to me then that whole fool ceremony did. Now, come and whisper me these secrets. It’s chilly in here and I long for your warmth.”

Moments later they were twined, in age old familiarity, around one another in Hephaistion’s fur covered bed. Alexander was on his back and Hephaistion was half on top of him his ear over Alexander’s heart.

“You start.” Alexander prodded Hephaistion. “This was your idea.”

“Ask me anything. Remember, like we used to do back home. Anything.”

“That’s hardly fair love. Is there anything left to ask?” He stroked Hephaistion’s hair and kissed the top of his head.

“Yes. Always I think, Alexander. Things get passed over and we’ve come a long way.”

“Alright then. Lets get to the point. Have you ever slept with another, when apart from me?”

“Yes.” The answer came easy to him for some reason. He pressed himself against Alexander and placed a soft kiss under the man’s chin. “Once. Well twice. Remember when you sent me away some months ago to the timber camp? There was a man there, I found him strikingly beautiful and gentle…I let my discipline lapse. I…I am usually not bothered by my loneliness. It’s my burden for loving you. But I heard him playing and he…I felt guilty. Like I’d wronged ‘our’ love Alexander. I am sorry but despite those feelings I do not regret it.”

“Was he gentle?”

“Yes. The gentlest. He loves me, Alexander. We still communicate.”

“And you do you love him?”

Hephaistion squeezed his eyes shut. “Yes, in a way, I think I do.”

“That’s good, Hephaistion. I am pleased for you. You have so few friends my love.” He kissed Hephaistion’s forehead. “You said twice.”

“Yes, I am ashamed of the second time though. I was not kind, I was harsh and careless. I fucked Milos, I was drunk the night before the wedding I…” He pushed up onto his elbow and met Alexander’s gray eyes. “I just needed to be in control of something.”

“Is he alright?”

“Yes. Fine. He loves me well. I think he’s always wanted me to take him.”

Alexander chuckled. “You think? Ah my beauty you are so blind sometimes. He’s wanted in your pants for years.”

“Hmmm” He laid back down again. “You are not angry?”

“No my love. No. Now then, how many of these little questions do I get?”

“Until I fall asleep.”

“What does this handsome timber camp fellow smell like?”

“Alexander!”

“It’s a question?”

“Like, the high mountains Alexander. He is from a far away place. From the Celtic tribes. A wanderer. Smell? Like snow. He smells like snow and fir trees and mossy earth he tastes like the earth. He’s big Alexander, as tall, no taller than Cleitus. Long black hair and his eyes are jade green. He plays the flute beautifully, he…”

Alexander put his hand over Hephaistion’s mouth. “Enough!”

“He’s well, godlike. Jealous?” He asked and then giggled.

“Yes! I am! Big? Big everywhere or just tall and broad big?”

“Wouldn’t you love to know. Ample. How’s that?” He kissed Alexander’s chin again.

“Ok then. I feel better, ample I can deal with. So, who took who?”

Hephaistion paused and thought about the question. “He did. He took…me. I‘m sorry.”

“You weren’t hurt?” Alexander’s voice was full of concern. Normally Hephaistion did the taking and he’d always been skittish about reversing roles.

“No. I trusted him for some reason, Alexander. It was good. Very good. I just, well felt as if I’d failed you.”

“No. I’m glad for you. Just as long as you are not hurt in body or soul.” Alexander, stroked Hephaistion’s cheek as he thought about his next question. “Can I ask one that I have asked before?”

“Yes.” Hephaistion cringed at the thought though. If he had refused to answer in the past how would he answer now?

“Hephaistion, tell me what happened when my father kept you behind after the wedding banquet fight. You have never talked of how you spent your time while we were away.” Hephaistion shuddered and tried to pull away but Alexander’s held him against his body and kissed his cheek. “Tell me, love, its time. I’ve asked before and you shrug it off. I want to know about the rats, about all of it. It’s, well I worry over it Hephaistion.”

“Alexander,” his voice was a whisper. “I don’t want you to know.”

“ You said finish out the secrets, love! I want to know what my father and that bastard did to you my love. I have heard so many rumors. They drive me crazy. I do not wish to spoil the mood but…” He rolled out from under Hephaistion so that they lay facing one another. He cupped the frightened man’s cheek in his hand. “Please, how else can I help you to forget it and heal? I know you struggle with it. I am strong enough tell me. You’ve carried it alone for too long now.”

Hephaistion took a breath and shut his eyes. Sometimes he wondered if he even recalled it all correctly. The days had blurred together, a red wash of pain, despair and loneliness. In a hushed voice he began.

“Alexander, after you left they gave me over to that brute that was Attalus’ personal guard. Your father said he could ‘play’ with me all he wanted but not rape me. That he was saving that for himself. He beat me for days in the dungeon, just a little at a time, it was dark and cold and wet. I was stripped of my clothes. Sometimes Attalus came and hurt me as well while Philip watched. There was no light, Alexander. Not unless they were there with the torches.” He stared straight into Alexander’s as he spoke his own blue ones unblinking as the memories played out in his mind. “They never raped me. They would work up to it and threaten then stop. Philip would come and ready himself and shove me down as if he was going to do it but he never did. He said if he raped my body it would heal but if they raped my mind it would stay with me forever. They…they would, oh Alexander, why make me say it?”

“Tell me all of it.”

“They would spill themselves on me. The loved to see me grovel in my own filth and their fluids. My eyes were so swollen that even in the end with the torches I could not see. The rats. Attalus brought them in a box. Huge ones. He loosed them on me. Alexander…” He began to tremble and Alexander wrapped his arms around him. “They bite and nip. Their whiskers…they crawled over me I was too weak to fight them. It was Cleitus, Cleitus came to me one day. He said that he knocked out the guard. He brought me a bit of food and water. He killed the rats and cursed Philip for his cruelty. I couldn‘t see him but I knew his voice. Ypu know like in battle and his touch.”

“Cleitus?” Alexander repeated incredulously.

“We have never spoken of it. He said he felt for me, that I’d shown great courage and loyalty by going after Attalus. Finally Philip and Attalus came and dragged me up. I told them that I killed the rats. He said they were there to rape me and take what was rightfully theirs. They drew lots to see who would be first. They readied themselves and then Philip pulled me to my knees by my hair. He leered down at me and asked if I recalled what he’d said about raping my mind. He forced me to nod by pulling my hair. Then he told me you were dead. That you’d been killed trying to kill him. They left. After that I got food and a doctor came to tend my wounds and torches. They kept me locked away and I healed up a bit. I had no sense of the passing days really. You were dead, nothing mattered. The doctor pleaded with me to fight and get well…there was no need. Philip came after a very long time and studied me the doctor was there as well. Your father asked why I was not getting well. The Doctor told him I’d no will to live. Philip ordered me taken to a room in his wing of the palace and placed under special guard. Better food and care as well. A week later I was taken to my own quarters and two days later you were there.”

“Hephaistion?” Some part of him knew that his beloved was lying but his heart urged him to let it go.

“I’m sorry. I never wanted you to know of your father’s cruelty.”

“Why? I am aware of your father’s. Your back. He flogged you.”

“He loved me enough to make me strong. I miss him. It was love Alexander. He cried, you know, as he flogged me. He loved me well. Sometimes love is clouded by pain and pain is needed to show love. Do you think that he is watching us? I do. Now that I have accepted his death I am at ease. I feel that he is closer to me now. As if he can see me and watch me help you forge this new world. Watch and see me achievements, watch and be proud of me. So few are…proud of me. It does hurt sometimes to be ignored and hated. It gets hard Alexander always living on the outside, always being the outcast, the fool of the kings court. You know there have been times that I have cried. Actually cried, alone in my despair. How childish is that? How foolish is that? When you took in the eunuch…by the gods the taunting was enough to drive me to suicide. I feel him now my father, Alexander; as if he is so close to my heart. At my side. Proud. I’m rambling sorry.”

“Yes, Hephaistion. Rambling’s ok. You wanted to talk. That is truly wonderful about Amyntor. I am glad you feel more at ease with his passing.” He answered but his mind was far ahead toiling over the tale that Hephaistion had just told him.

Alexander had no words. Hephaistion had spent half a year incarcerated in Philip’s dungeon being tortured, thinking that he was dead. He knew from having experienced it, the agony of fearing that Hephaistion was dead, and it had only been a matter of a long day and a half. After Gaugamela Hephaistion had gone missing. Lost, unconscious, buried under the dead. But to think for a half a year that the other half of your soul was dead. He recalled Hephaistion’s stunned silence that day so long ago. His physical injuries had healed so Alexander had no clue that he’d been beaten, but Hephaistion had fallen to his knees sobbing uncontrollably when he saw Alexander. He’d fought off Alexander’s embrace for long moments before allowing the confused prince to hold him. Once he’d calmed a bit he took Alexander with a fury and with a violence that Alexander had not experienced before. It had bordered on rape except the Alexander had let the act occur. He allowed Hephaistion to seek surcease for his desperation. It was the first time Hephaistion was cruel to him and it would not be the last.

“Do I get another question?” Alexander asked and Hephaistion nodded against his chest.

“If my father had allowed you to be raped you would you tell me?”

Hephaistion thought about the question. He’d lied when he’d told Alexander the story of his incarceration. He told a sort of partial truth, a less painful truth, held back some of the words that even after so many years he could not bring himself to speak. Should he lie again?

“No.”

“I see. Well then.” Alexander knew Attalus and Philip both and was well aware of their predilections and Hephaistion’s tale didn’t quite ring true. Fine, let his beloved tell his half truths, if that was the best that he could do then he’d have to accept it. “One more and this is a hard one.”

“No more about…”

Alexander cut him off. “So, handsome and brave and loyal and gentle Hephaistion son of Amyntor, do you love your King?” He pushed Hephaistion’s hair back off of his forehead and smiled at his lover and friend. He let himself swim in the blue depths of Hephaistion’s eyes and basked in the man’s innocent glad smile.

“No. Absolutely not. I love ‘you’ Alexander. My Alexander.” He leaned forward and kissed Alexander deeply and with a sweet hunger. Then he pulled away. “Now, I have a question for you.” He buried his fingers in Alexander’s hair. “The night before Gaugamela, why did you ‘really’ turn me away from your bed?”

“Hephaistion,” Alexander shrouded his fingers in Hephaistion’s copper colored hair, kneading at his scalp as if trying to force his answer into the man’s mind. Had I taken you that night I would have…I would have had to put you under arrest come the morning.” He pressed his forehead against Hephaistion’s. “I would not have been able to watch you ride into battle against those odds.” Hephaistion smelled roasted lamb and wine on Alexander’s breath. “I would not have been able to let you go. So ‘strong’ is my love for you Hephaistion! I did not mean to hurt you. I have always…” Hephaistion silenced him with a kiss.

“I changed my mind I think, Alexander.” He said after they broke apart. “Would you do as you have sworn to do, and suckle and nibble me until I live again? Alexander, I feel as though I’ve died over and over during these past many weeks. Bring me back to life my beloved. Love me gently back to life.”