new fic! listen to me Hephaistion 1/1
i posted everywhere but in my live journal. shame on me. here it is.
hope you will like it
vero
Title: "Listen To Me Hephaistion" 1/1
Authors : veronique
Email address: kyomine2002@y...
Category: romance
Date: 14/01/2005
Feedback: please, but if you don't like it, be constructive , I don't want to
read sarcasm or snarks.
Archive: if you want I'm ok
Rating: nc-13
Disclaimer: I don't own them. They're characters belonging to Warner Brothers
Pictures, to Oliver Stone, to my imagination, and to the ages. This is a work of
a fan, done for no remuneration save the satisfaction of the work.
Beta: Special thanks to my beta Dreamer46.
Summary: Olympias learns of Hephaistion's death and she is worried about her
son's grief. She addresses a request to Hephaistion' soul...
Warnings: I based my characters on my interpretation of the movie. It's a
fanfiction based on the movie and the movie only.
Particular warning for this fic: This fic is, like I said, based on the movie. I
see Hephastion as a strong character who possessed both good and bad qualities.
My portrayal of him is not black and white, but gray. This is what I took from
Oliver Stones's suggestions and his little glimpses. The story can appear
shocking to some people, I guess. Remember it's a fiction and a fiction only. I
can tell you later if you request it why I imaginated this fic from Oliver
Stone's movie.
(Thanks for reading the warnings.)
-Listen To Me Hephaistion-
Olympias looked through the window. She had just received the news; Hephaistion
was dead. She frowned as the cold wind beat her face.
She had read about her son's monumental grief and shivered at the thought her
son might be not recovering from his pain.
Since the day Alexander met him Hephaistion had conquered her
son's heart and never been defeated until now. Until death took him away from
Alexander. But would his death really free
Alexander's heart and let him move on?
Olympias feared that Hephaistion's death was the beginning of
Alexander's end. She closed the window, the wind was too cold. She reread what
Ptolemée had written.
"The king's grief is so huge, he didn't want to leave Hephaistion's body. He is
angry at everybody, he is drinking excessively. Nothing seems to bring him
solace; nor will he have an heir soon..."
She stopped reading because she couldn't bear any more. She was
distraught.
'You have to move on my son! Damn, Alexander, you can not give up now!' she
thought.
How could the gods have been so cruel to her and her son? She lit a candle and
said her prayers to Hephaistion:
'Hephaistion, listen to me, you cannot let him destroy himself
like this. I know you love him very much; I know the part you took in building
his Empire. It is yours, too. Hephaistion, protect him like you always did. Let
him get over your loss. Hephaistion, I remember the day I met you! You were the
only one who was always between me and my son's destiny. The one who was
stopping Alexander from taking a wife. I wanted to meet you and scare you away.
But our encounter turned out differently, in a very unexpected way. I remember
that day Hephaistion.'
Olympias turned her thoughts back to twelve years earlier...
She was waiting for the young man. She had given orders that she be allowed to
meet discretely with him. Olympias wanted to frighten Hephaistion away --
because with him in her way, Alexander didn't want to take a wife. One of her
snakes was in her lap and the others were on the floor. She always used her pet
snakes to impress people. They were like a shield to her.
Hephaistion entered calmy and saluted his Queen with grace. Olympias looked at
him.
It was no wonder her son was charmed by this young man. 'He's grown into a
beautiful man.' she thought, 'Graceful with eyes as blue as a topaz.
She ordered Hephaistion to sit. They looked at each other
silently, both smiling. Olympias hoped to use her long silence to make
Hephaistion feel unconfortable. But she could not see behind the eyes to tell if
the first step of her plan was
succeeding.
A white snake became adventurous and moved closer to Hephaistion. Olympias
watched the snake as it was about to climb Hephaistion's leg. Hephaistion felt
the snake and looked down at the pet. Olympias smiled with satisfaction.
Suddenly Hephaistion carefully and gently took the snake in his arms and put the
pet on his lap. Olympias was surprised, but didn't let it show.
Hephaistion took that opportunity to break the silence between them.
"I am not afraid of snakes -- they are interesting animals. I love animals,
especially exotic ones. You can learn more from them than common animals," he
said in a gentle, respectful tone.
Olympias hadn't expected this to happen. Hephaistion's words
obviously had a double meaning. It was at this moment she recalled how this boy
dared to let himself beat her son in some
athletic contest a fews years before...
"We are not here to talk about animals," she said calmy. She was
smiling, but her tone showed she was queen -- and that Hephaistion should use
more care the next time he dared speak to her.
Hephaistion offered her a humble expression.
"The problem is that because of you my son is not willing to
take a wife and have an heir. This could bring Alexander many
troubles. His life depends on it -- especially as it is his destiny is to become
the King," she said.
Hephaistion sat and listened and she continued to speak.
"He refuses to listen -- so I expect you to understand how
important this is. He has told me you love him for who he is." Her laugh was
sarcastic. "My son is so naive."
Hephaistion's eyes continued to display nothing but respect to
his Queen. Olympias was upset by this response. She couldn't see past those
eyes. Hephaistion's emotions were not easy to read...
Her moment of silence gave Hephaistion an invitation to answer her.
"I'm perfectly aware of what Alexander is risking now that Euridike is pregnant.
I know his desire to be king -- to see his dreams finally come true. But he
wants to become king based on his qualities and merits -- and not by taking a
wife and having an heir. I have nothing to do with it."
Olympias sighed. "Merits, qualities," she mocked him. "Alexander is a such noble
and beautiful soul but--"
Hephaistion made a move to interrupt her, but waited for Olympias's approval.
She lifted her hand and signaled that he might speak.
"But, as noble as he is, it's a dangerous bet. He could lose it all -- including
his life. I want him to live! I want the best for him. His dreams are precious
to me; I share them too. But most of all I don't want to lose him. I love him
more than my life." His voice was passionate.
The more Olympias listened to Hephaistion the more she understood his feelings.
They seemed not so different than her own -- at least where Alexander was
concerned.
"Loving Alexander means making sacrifices of many kinds," she said.
"Loneliness is one of them," Hephaistion added.
Olympias nodded.
"I know about loneliness," Hephaistion continued. "Since Alexander became my
friend people have become jealous -- they're spiteful and they mock me. But
these things are nothing compared to the love I have for Alexander -- to the
blissful moments we two have shared. To the love he gives me."
"What will happen Hephaistion? The day my son is no longer interested in you?"
she asked.
"I remain a great memory to him. One day I know he will marry --he'll need an
heir. And I don't see Alexander marrying someone he doesn't love. I will hurt me
-- maybe even break my heart --but Alexander's happiness is mine. Alexander has
the power inside him to do great things. I will never stop loving him no matter
what may happen. I will always be there for him, to protect him -- to defend his
best interests. Like I said, I share his goals. They are as important to me as
they are to him. Jealousy and anger don't build anything."
Olympias looked at him intently.
"What charms are you using Hephaistion? But still, I don't trust
anybody -- not even you."
She took her pet snake from Hephaistion's lap.
"I don't trust you either," he dared to say "But I do trust you want the best
for Alexander -- just as I do."
Olympias wondered why she was tolerating his daring speech. Their eyes met --
and this time she could see past his intense blue eyes... and enter
Hephaistion's soul. She felt connected.
After all, they shared many common thoughts. This man could have been her son,
too.
'He is Alexander, too,' she thought as she looked through the window and saw an
eagle in the sky. 'Alexander's shadow.' She suddenly realised with Hephaistion
at her son's side Alexander could be assured of a great destiny.
They were a perfect match. They completed each other.
"Pausanias," she said, "is an example of how jealousy can driven people insane.
"And also an example of how Philip could be a danger to Alexander's life. The
way he treated the one he supposedly loved only few days ago. Philip is a
dangerous person. He can appear charming, warm, loving -- but it's all an
illusion. I know it from experience."
"Alexander will be more and more a dangerous threat to him, with the passage of
the time," Hephaistion said.
"We are going to take care of Philip..."
Hephaistion stood up. They moved together to the window.
"Alexander isn't stupid, he will know.. He will hate me," Olympias said. She
looked at Hephaistion and her eyes implied that his own part would also be kept
secret.
"He'll try, but he won't." It was Hephaistion's promise to Olympias he would do
his best to make sure Alexander didn't end up hating her.
Neither Hephaistion or Olympias entirely understood how they became allies --
for Alexander's sake. It simply happened.
The eagle was still flying in the sky outside the window -- they both turned to
look at it.
When Olympias had watched her husband being killed by Pausanias, she had felt
complete. When she had watched Hephaistion and heard him declare "Now Alexander
is the new king!" she had known she didn't have to fear the future. Hephaistion
was able to handle Alexander -- and his love for her son would bring him to the
edge of the earth.
For the first time she trusted someone else. Years later, she wrote to her son
"Don't trust anyone, even the people who are the closest to you, they are like
snakes -- except Hephaistion."
Sometimes she was upset that she still hadn't been asked to Babylon. She doubted
Hephaistion -- after all, it wasn't her nature to be trustful. Maybe it was
Hephaistion who didn't want her there...
Yet sometimes she thought Hephaistion was trying to suggest to Alexander that
she be sent for. But she also knew Hephaistion was a man of wise ways -- though
he'd offer advice, he'd still always let Alexander decide for himself.
*****
Months passed and Olympias had no better news. Alexander was still grieving
over his lover's death. He was more a ghost of himself than a king.
She was angry.
'Why! Why Hephaistion? Why didn't you listen to me? I thought we had the same
goals. You wanted his happiness. You are destroying him and what he built! What
you built, too.
'Are you unable to heal your broken heart from not being with him anymore? I
thought you wanted to stay a great memory and that his happiness was yours!
Liar! Liar!'
Then the eagle came and she understood that Alexander was dead, too. She cried
and screamed.
"Why Hephaistion? Why did you take him to you, why didn't you listen to me?" she
said, furious. "Were you that weak? Unable to live in death without him?
"Liar," she repeated.
A white snake came close to her as she kneeled down.
"There is no Hephaistion without Alexander -- there is no Alexander without
Hephaistion."
She heard.
-Fin-
hope you will like it
vero
Title: "Listen To Me Hephaistion" 1/1
Authors : veronique
Email address: kyomine2002@y...
Category: romance
Date: 14/01/2005
Feedback: please, but if you don't like it, be constructive , I don't want to
read sarcasm or snarks.
Archive: if you want I'm ok
Rating: nc-13
Disclaimer: I don't own them. They're characters belonging to Warner Brothers
Pictures, to Oliver Stone, to my imagination, and to the ages. This is a work of
a fan, done for no remuneration save the satisfaction of the work.
Beta: Special thanks to my beta Dreamer46.
Summary: Olympias learns of Hephaistion's death and she is worried about her
son's grief. She addresses a request to Hephaistion' soul...
Warnings: I based my characters on my interpretation of the movie. It's a
fanfiction based on the movie and the movie only.
Particular warning for this fic: This fic is, like I said, based on the movie. I
see Hephastion as a strong character who possessed both good and bad qualities.
My portrayal of him is not black and white, but gray. This is what I took from
Oliver Stones's suggestions and his little glimpses. The story can appear
shocking to some people, I guess. Remember it's a fiction and a fiction only. I
can tell you later if you request it why I imaginated this fic from Oliver
Stone's movie.
(Thanks for reading the warnings.)
-Listen To Me Hephaistion-
Olympias looked through the window. She had just received the news; Hephaistion
was dead. She frowned as the cold wind beat her face.
She had read about her son's monumental grief and shivered at the thought her
son might be not recovering from his pain.
Since the day Alexander met him Hephaistion had conquered her
son's heart and never been defeated until now. Until death took him away from
Alexander. But would his death really free
Alexander's heart and let him move on?
Olympias feared that Hephaistion's death was the beginning of
Alexander's end. She closed the window, the wind was too cold. She reread what
Ptolemée had written.
"The king's grief is so huge, he didn't want to leave Hephaistion's body. He is
angry at everybody, he is drinking excessively. Nothing seems to bring him
solace; nor will he have an heir soon..."
She stopped reading because she couldn't bear any more. She was
distraught.
'You have to move on my son! Damn, Alexander, you can not give up now!' she
thought.
How could the gods have been so cruel to her and her son? She lit a candle and
said her prayers to Hephaistion:
'Hephaistion, listen to me, you cannot let him destroy himself
like this. I know you love him very much; I know the part you took in building
his Empire. It is yours, too. Hephaistion, protect him like you always did. Let
him get over your loss. Hephaistion, I remember the day I met you! You were the
only one who was always between me and my son's destiny. The one who was
stopping Alexander from taking a wife. I wanted to meet you and scare you away.
But our encounter turned out differently, in a very unexpected way. I remember
that day Hephaistion.'
Olympias turned her thoughts back to twelve years earlier...
She was waiting for the young man. She had given orders that she be allowed to
meet discretely with him. Olympias wanted to frighten Hephaistion away --
because with him in her way, Alexander didn't want to take a wife. One of her
snakes was in her lap and the others were on the floor. She always used her pet
snakes to impress people. They were like a shield to her.
Hephaistion entered calmy and saluted his Queen with grace. Olympias looked at
him.
It was no wonder her son was charmed by this young man. 'He's grown into a
beautiful man.' she thought, 'Graceful with eyes as blue as a topaz.
She ordered Hephaistion to sit. They looked at each other
silently, both smiling. Olympias hoped to use her long silence to make
Hephaistion feel unconfortable. But she could not see behind the eyes to tell if
the first step of her plan was
succeeding.
A white snake became adventurous and moved closer to Hephaistion. Olympias
watched the snake as it was about to climb Hephaistion's leg. Hephaistion felt
the snake and looked down at the pet. Olympias smiled with satisfaction.
Suddenly Hephaistion carefully and gently took the snake in his arms and put the
pet on his lap. Olympias was surprised, but didn't let it show.
Hephaistion took that opportunity to break the silence between them.
"I am not afraid of snakes -- they are interesting animals. I love animals,
especially exotic ones. You can learn more from them than common animals," he
said in a gentle, respectful tone.
Olympias hadn't expected this to happen. Hephaistion's words
obviously had a double meaning. It was at this moment she recalled how this boy
dared to let himself beat her son in some
athletic contest a fews years before...
"We are not here to talk about animals," she said calmy. She was
smiling, but her tone showed she was queen -- and that Hephaistion should use
more care the next time he dared speak to her.
Hephaistion offered her a humble expression.
"The problem is that because of you my son is not willing to
take a wife and have an heir. This could bring Alexander many
troubles. His life depends on it -- especially as it is his destiny is to become
the King," she said.
Hephaistion sat and listened and she continued to speak.
"He refuses to listen -- so I expect you to understand how
important this is. He has told me you love him for who he is." Her laugh was
sarcastic. "My son is so naive."
Hephaistion's eyes continued to display nothing but respect to
his Queen. Olympias was upset by this response. She couldn't see past those
eyes. Hephaistion's emotions were not easy to read...
Her moment of silence gave Hephaistion an invitation to answer her.
"I'm perfectly aware of what Alexander is risking now that Euridike is pregnant.
I know his desire to be king -- to see his dreams finally come true. But he
wants to become king based on his qualities and merits -- and not by taking a
wife and having an heir. I have nothing to do with it."
Olympias sighed. "Merits, qualities," she mocked him. "Alexander is a such noble
and beautiful soul but--"
Hephaistion made a move to interrupt her, but waited for Olympias's approval.
She lifted her hand and signaled that he might speak.
"But, as noble as he is, it's a dangerous bet. He could lose it all -- including
his life. I want him to live! I want the best for him. His dreams are precious
to me; I share them too. But most of all I don't want to lose him. I love him
more than my life." His voice was passionate.
The more Olympias listened to Hephaistion the more she understood his feelings.
They seemed not so different than her own -- at least where Alexander was
concerned.
"Loving Alexander means making sacrifices of many kinds," she said.
"Loneliness is one of them," Hephaistion added.
Olympias nodded.
"I know about loneliness," Hephaistion continued. "Since Alexander became my
friend people have become jealous -- they're spiteful and they mock me. But
these things are nothing compared to the love I have for Alexander -- to the
blissful moments we two have shared. To the love he gives me."
"What will happen Hephaistion? The day my son is no longer interested in you?"
she asked.
"I remain a great memory to him. One day I know he will marry --he'll need an
heir. And I don't see Alexander marrying someone he doesn't love. I will hurt me
-- maybe even break my heart --but Alexander's happiness is mine. Alexander has
the power inside him to do great things. I will never stop loving him no matter
what may happen. I will always be there for him, to protect him -- to defend his
best interests. Like I said, I share his goals. They are as important to me as
they are to him. Jealousy and anger don't build anything."
Olympias looked at him intently.
"What charms are you using Hephaistion? But still, I don't trust
anybody -- not even you."
She took her pet snake from Hephaistion's lap.
"I don't trust you either," he dared to say "But I do trust you want the best
for Alexander -- just as I do."
Olympias wondered why she was tolerating his daring speech. Their eyes met --
and this time she could see past his intense blue eyes... and enter
Hephaistion's soul. She felt connected.
After all, they shared many common thoughts. This man could have been her son,
too.
'He is Alexander, too,' she thought as she looked through the window and saw an
eagle in the sky. 'Alexander's shadow.' She suddenly realised with Hephaistion
at her son's side Alexander could be assured of a great destiny.
They were a perfect match. They completed each other.
"Pausanias," she said, "is an example of how jealousy can driven people insane.
"And also an example of how Philip could be a danger to Alexander's life. The
way he treated the one he supposedly loved only few days ago. Philip is a
dangerous person. He can appear charming, warm, loving -- but it's all an
illusion. I know it from experience."
"Alexander will be more and more a dangerous threat to him, with the passage of
the time," Hephaistion said.
"We are going to take care of Philip..."
Hephaistion stood up. They moved together to the window.
"Alexander isn't stupid, he will know.. He will hate me," Olympias said. She
looked at Hephaistion and her eyes implied that his own part would also be kept
secret.
"He'll try, but he won't." It was Hephaistion's promise to Olympias he would do
his best to make sure Alexander didn't end up hating her.
Neither Hephaistion or Olympias entirely understood how they became allies --
for Alexander's sake. It simply happened.
The eagle was still flying in the sky outside the window -- they both turned to
look at it.
When Olympias had watched her husband being killed by Pausanias, she had felt
complete. When she had watched Hephaistion and heard him declare "Now Alexander
is the new king!" she had known she didn't have to fear the future. Hephaistion
was able to handle Alexander -- and his love for her son would bring him to the
edge of the earth.
For the first time she trusted someone else. Years later, she wrote to her son
"Don't trust anyone, even the people who are the closest to you, they are like
snakes -- except Hephaistion."
Sometimes she was upset that she still hadn't been asked to Babylon. She doubted
Hephaistion -- after all, it wasn't her nature to be trustful. Maybe it was
Hephaistion who didn't want her there...
Yet sometimes she thought Hephaistion was trying to suggest to Alexander that
she be sent for. But she also knew Hephaistion was a man of wise ways -- though
he'd offer advice, he'd still always let Alexander decide for himself.
*****
Months passed and Olympias had no better news. Alexander was still grieving
over his lover's death. He was more a ghost of himself than a king.
She was angry.
'Why! Why Hephaistion? Why didn't you listen to me? I thought we had the same
goals. You wanted his happiness. You are destroying him and what he built! What
you built, too.
'Are you unable to heal your broken heart from not being with him anymore? I
thought you wanted to stay a great memory and that his happiness was yours!
Liar! Liar!'
Then the eagle came and she understood that Alexander was dead, too. She cried
and screamed.
"Why Hephaistion? Why did you take him to you, why didn't you listen to me?" she
said, furious. "Were you that weak? Unable to live in death without him?
"Liar," she repeated.
A white snake came close to her as she kneeled down.
"There is no Hephaistion without Alexander -- there is no Alexander without
Hephaistion."
She heard.
-Fin-