Hephaestion- Survivor

Chapter 17

"Cassander doesn't like me, does he?" I asked taking out the jewels.

"Do you care?" Hephaestion asked.

"It's nice to know who are your friends and who aren't." I said.

"I think it's the envy talking. He used to be the best archer but then you appeared and stole his glory."

"It's tiring, you know?"

"What?"

"Being in the spotlight. And Olympia scared me."

"She scares everyone, honestly." He laughed trying to enlighten the mood.

"You know I'd never betray you, don't you? I'd rather die than be against you, Hephaestion." I said and cupped his cheeks.

"I love you." He whispered against my lips. "I know your soul Ella, and I am convinced you're not lying." After he stroked my hair, he planted a kiss on my forehead. I sighed and hugged him, lying my head on his shoulder.

I looked around the room and saw a lyre.

"Are you playing?"

"A little." He said.

"Can you sing for me?" I asked excited.

"I'm not really good at it. I mean it was one of my passion as a little child but I didn't have time to pursue it."

"I bet you are good at it." I encouraged him.

In the moment he touched the strings, I realized how talented Hephaestion is. I closed my eyes and let myself carried away by the sublime music. I remembered my childhood when the sound of the lyre was constantly present in our house. I slowly moved my head to the rhythm of the instrument, humming along with it.

I opened my eyes to see Hephaestion studying my with a silly smile on his lips.

"What?" I whispered.

"It's nice to see you lost in music." He said still strumming the strings.

"It's impossible not to when you have such a good artist performing just for you." I said.

"With such a muse in front of me, it's easy to create." He said.

As he continued playing, I watched the way his fingers were moving across the strings and how he was holding the lyre. I tried to hold back a laugh when my mind started to wonder.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"Nothing." I said.

He put it aside and hovered over me.

"Tell me." He said

"Something crossed my mind but it's really stupid."

"Now you intrigue me. Tell me." He whispered in my ear before biting it. I shuddered at the sensation. Then he rested on his forearm so he could look at me.

"When I saw how you were holding and touching the instrument I wanted to ask if I could be that lyre." I felt my cheeks getting red.

His lips curled into a smirk as his hand went under my dress.

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3rd POV

Hephaestion looked at Ella's sleeping figure. It was early so he resisted the urge to wake her up. Instead he gently moved a stray of hair away from her cheek, only to caress it with the back of his palm.

As vain as it sounded he enjoyed knowing that he was her first.

He traced her shoulder down her arm with his finger. At the gentle touch, she snuggled closer to him. Hephaestion smiled. It may seem selfish but he liked seeing this strong woman, being vulnerable in front of him, seeking his warmth. Just like he does with her. They found shelter in each other. She needed him just as much as he needed her.

"Why are you staring at me?" She murmured with a little grin on her face.

"Weren't you asleep?" he asked.

"Somewhere between asleep and awake." She said.

"The place where everything is possible; where dreams come true." He said meditatively.

"My dreams came true, since I've met you." She said.

"It rhymes. You should write a song." He smiled

"You are the artist here. We are so cheesy, Hephaestion...." She buried her face on the pillow. "But I love it. I love to be romantic cliche." She laughed.

She hovered over him and rested on his chest. He put his hand on her lower back. She placed small kisses on his neck and collar bone.

"I love you." She whispered as her finger tips ghosted over his lips and his cheeks.

"I wish we could stay like this forever. You, me and our love. Away from the exterior." She whispered.

"Me too, but unfortunately we can't. We have to return to reality." He said, massaging her shoulder.

"I know." She said.

An idea sparked in her mind.

"I'm gonna serve you breakfast in bed. This morning you're going to stay here and relax while I bring you food." She said.

"Shouldn't I be taking care of you?" He asked.

"You always do that. It's my turn to spoil you."

"You spoiled me last night." He grabbed her thigh while placing a kiss on her neck.

"Then let me finish with an amazing breakfast." She half moaned .

"If I were to give this thing a name it would be 'at least I tried'." She said placing the silver tray on the bed. It contained some badly cut fruits, cheese, biscuits, honey and a mug of coffee.

Hephaestion watched amused the wannabe breakfast his lover made. "I love you so much, Ella. And don't worry. I can cook for both of us."

"At least I'm a good archer, right?" She asked.

"The best." He said and we high-fived.