Title: Ghosts
Author: Morgana
Author’s Email:
Web page: http://www.paranoid.nl/avalon
Pairing:
Bagoas/Cassander
Rating:
PG
Summary: Bagoas mourns Alexander's death. At the same time, Cassander tells him
that he needs to return to
Disclaimer:
Oliver Stone's movie inspired my stories. No copyright infringement is
intended. This is for fun, not for making money!
Warnings: Completely AU!
Author's notes:
1. This story is written from Bagoas' POV and is
the sequel to "All of You."
2. I have taken huge liberties with the time line.
In reality, Cassander doesn't become King of Macedonia until after Alexander's
death.
Beta read by DA, thanks a lot, sweetie!
All
remaining mistakes are mine.
Ghosts
"Bagoas? I managed to rescue something for
you."
Ever
since I woke up three days ago, Cassander has constantly been at my side. He
only leaves when his duties demand so. He was there the first time I woke up
after Alexander died and he is here now during my mourning process.
"What
did you bring me this time?" Cassander has given me several gifts and his
generosity surprises me. Everything about the man amazes me.
"Maybe
you will recognize it?"
Cassander seats himself next to me on the bench and places something wrapped up
in golden fabric in my lap. I do not unwrap it at once.
Instead I take a moment to watch him.
Cassander
is around my age, but his spirit is much younger than mine. I have seen too
much pain, too much death, and destruction. Cassander has not seen the horrors
I saw as he did not accompany Alexander on all of his campaigns. He divided his
time between
"Why
are you looking at me like that when you should be unwrapping
my gift to you?" Cassander points at the parcel on my lap.
"I
was merely wondering about you, Cassander." I have come to trust him
during these last few days. I felt weak when I woke up after Alexander's death,
but Cassander taking care of me has stopped me from giving up on myself. I
never expected to find love in his eyes, but the emotion is always there –
staring right back at me. I do not know what to make of him.
"About me? I hope you were
thinking good thoughts."
Cassander
still possesses his boyish charm when he wants to and makes me smile, even when
I feel depressed. His eyes, which can take on different colors ranging from
dark blue to the lightest green, intrigue me. He is a complex character and for
some reason I feel attracted to him. "Would you like that?" Am I
really flirting? Have I ever flirted before? Yes, because my duties called for
it, but out of my own free will? I do not think so.
"You
know I would. And now unwrap your present."
Cassander
places his hand atop of mine and pushes it toward the present. I slowly begin
to unwrap the item, which feels heavy. While I am
doing this, I peek at him. He is wearing his shoulder long, auburn hair loose
today and is dressed informally in only a white tunic.
"You
are still looking at me, Bagoas." The smile on his face turns wicked.
"I
was merely remembering the way you looked that night." I am certain he
understands which night I am referring to. "I never saw you dressed like
that before."
"You
liked seeing me like that," Cassander comments, grinning smugly.
His
grin makes me nod my head. I lower my gaze, but am still smiling. The way I
react to him baffles me. Alexander just died and I am mourning the loss, and
yet, Cassander keeps me from dying inside. His energy, zest for life, and, even
more importantly, his love for me, keep me hanging on. I finally unwrap the
present and find I am holding a book – a very familiar book. "Is
this…?"
"It
is Alexander's copy of the ‘Iliad’. I managed to save it when they cleaned out
his rooms."
"They
cleaned out his rooms? Why was I not told?" I should have been there to
see to it that everything was handled with care and respect!
"Alexander
is dead, his empire is crumbling, and everyone is leaving – either to their new
lands or back home."
Cassander's
hand still rests atop of mine and slowly his fingers curl around mine. I press
Alexander's book close to my chest and try to control my raging emotions. I do
not know what will become of me and that frightens me. My future has never been
so uncertain before.
"I
will leave for home in a few days, Bagoas. I wish I could give you more time to
make up your mind, but I cannot linger here much longer. I need to return to
I
shyly raise my head. "You do not wish to rule
"
"I
thought you were ambitious, Cassander." I did not intend to speak the
words aloud, but they slip past my lips at any rate.
"Yes,
I am ambitious, but I only desire to rule my homeland, Bagoas."
Cassander
gives me a thoughtful look and then says, "You are beginning to look
healthier, Bagoas. You are not so pale anymore and the rings beneath your eyes
are fading."
"That
is because you are taking such good care of me." Unable to maintain eye contact
any longer because of the intense emotion flashing from his eyes, I stare at
the book instead. I lost track of the times I saw Alexander read it. Alexander
even made the effort to teach me to read Greek, but I was not that quick of a
study. He got me a teacher once it became clear that I would not pick up on the
language quickly, but I always preferred for Alexander to read the story to me.
It was one of the few things that always calmed him down – that always got him
in a peaceful mood.
"Bagoas? I do not want to pressure you, but have
you given my question some thought?"
Cassander
guides my hand to his chest and presses it close to where his heart is beating.
The expression in his eyes speaks of hope, but also of acceptance. This man
will accept whatever decision I make. "You mystify me," I say instead
of answering his question. Cassander can be as ruthless as Alexander when the
situation calls for it, but, whenever he looks at me,
he looks at me with love.
All
I get as an answer is another smile and a gentle squeeze delivered to my
fingers. I let my thoughts drift. "You are a King are you not,
Cassander?" I would be serving another King if I accepted his offer.
"Only in
He
is brutally honest and I appreciate that. What you see is what you get with
Cassander. "You would be the third King I would serve." Cassander
quickly shakes his head though.
"Not
serve. I do not want you to serve me... to wait on me, like you did with
Alexander."
"What
*do*you want then, Cassander?" He raises my hand once more, guides it to
his lips, and presses a kiss on the back. No one has ever been this gentle with
me before – not Darius, not even Alexander.
"I
want all of you," Cassander replies, "If you want to live with me in
my palace, you will. If you prefer to live on the country side, in your own
little cottage, I will arrange for it. I want the real Bagoas to come
out."
His
last sentence utterly confuses me. "The real
Bagoas?" Cassander nods his head and grins. Those are all the
answers I will get, it seems. "Cassander, I do not know what I should
do." In a way, I am asking him for guidance and I wonder what he will say
next.
"If
I were you, Bagoas, I would not stay here where so many ghosts of the past
linger. When you walk those rooms that once belonged to Alexander, you will
remember him. You will never be able to move on. You will continue to mourn
him. The past will entrap you."
"And
when I go with you?" I see the truth in Cassander's words, but leaving
"When
you come with me, I will make you happy. I cannot promise you that you will
have me all the time. Sometimes, duty will call me away and I might have to
marry to fortify certain alliances, but that would be a marriage on paper
only."
He
sounds genuine and passionate and I wonder what I should do. I have reached a
crossroad in my life and, should I turn left, I will remain trapped in the
past. Turning right however means upending my life. Cassander is right: I would
become someone else. I would have to change in order to survive. The prospect
of undergoing such a change scares me though.
"You
do not have to answer now."
Cassander,
unnoticed, had moved closer and manages to wrap an arm around my waist. He
pulls me close and I find no reason to reject what he is offering. I rest my
head against his shoulder and, while I sit there like that, a peaceful feeling
which I have never known before comes over me. I close my eyes and say,
"Will you read to me?" I hand him the ‘Iliad’ and he accepts.
"If
that will make you happy…" Cassander opens the worn book and begins to
read to me. His voice is calm, sensual, and warm. I like hearing it. I like *him*.
I never thought I would.
~~~
That
night, Cassander slips between the covers and curls himself around me. I had to
invite him into his own bed that first night after I woke up. Cassander had made
way to sleep on the floor when I sat upright and asked him why he was doing
that. He told me that he did not want to impose on me, certainly not when I was
feeling so emotional. He stood there naked, his eyes glowing with emotion, and
his hair dancing on his shoulders. I could not let him sleep on the floor and
asked him to join me, which he eventually did. We have been sleeping in the
same bed ever since, naked, but chaste. He still has to touch me in an intimate
way again.
He
lies facing me. His face is only an inch away from mine and his hand rests on
my hip. Those long fingers caress my skin in an innocent way. I have not seen
him aroused during these last few days. I wonder if he touches himself and does
away with his need that way.
"Try
to sleep, Bagoas."
His
voice is a bit raw from reading to me all evening. Earlier on, I fell asleep
listening to his voice and, although I was oblivious to the world, he did not
stop reading aloud. I am beginning to believe that he genuinely cares about me.
"When will you leave for
"The day after tomorrow."
It
is all the time I have left to make my decision.
~~~
I
inspect Alexander's rooms the next day. They are empty – the servants cleaned
them all out. Nothing is left that reminds me of Alexander, or of the fact that
I had lived here. This also makes it painfully clear that I am homeless. My
belongings have also been removed.
I
leave Alexander's rooms and wander through the palace. The vast, spacious rooms
seem empty to me, even though they are busy and crowded with people. No one
seems to notice me, or greets me. I feel like a ghost, walking among the
living. But I am not dead yet.
Cassander's
words are true: there is nothing left for me here. Alexander's spirit is gone
and his 'successors' are still fighting over land rights. No one seems
interested in trying to take
"I
have been searching for you, Bagoas."
Cassander
suddenly appears to my right, dressed in his uniform with a cloak draped over
his shoulders.
"Why
are you dressed like that?"
"I
am leaving tonight. Something has happened back home and my advisors urge me to
return as quickly as I can."
Cassander
guides me into the corridor where we are safe from curious eyes and ears. "You
are leaving tonight." I repeat this information in a thoughtful voice.
"Bagoas,
do you know what you want? Do you want to stay here? Or will you come with
me?"
Large,
blue eyes look at me with hope. "I have walked these rooms all day and I
asked myself what keeps me here." Cassander is holding his breath and
looks at me expectantly. "I found nothing." The breath he has been
holding now leaves his lips and the first hint of a smile forms on his face. "But
I am not ready to become your…?" What? What does
he want me to be?
"My
lover," Cassander quickly interjects, still smiling.
"I
am not ready to become your lover yet. You have been very kind, very
understanding so far, and I know that you hope that I will return your love,
but I cannot. Not yet. I am not sure I ever can. I feel broken,
Cassander." It is one of the longest speeches I have ever given. I am not
used to talking so much. "I have only just started to mourn Alexander's
death and the end of my life here."
"I
told you before and I am telling you again now – I will be patient. You have
all the time you need. In the meantime, I hope you will allow me to be your
friend, a very close friend."
He
draws me into his embrace and I accept it, because what I need the most right
now *is* exactly that: a friend.
~~~
"You will be warmer
if you snuggle up to me."
Cassander's suggestion
makes my eyebrow rise. We have been on the road for one week now and Cassander
cares little about the looks his men gives us whenever we sit so close together
that it looks like we are snuggling. Cassander is already seated on the ground
near the fire his men built and raises his right hand to pull me down. I give
in and accept his offering, huddling next to him. Cassander wraps an arm around
me and I rest my head against his shoulder. I am cold and tired. I am not used
to being on the road any more. It was different when I accompanied Alexander on
his campaigns. Maybe I have grown old in the mean time.
"You will like living
in
"I love the way you
say my name."
His lips find my brow and
press a kiss onto there. His soldiers have seen him kiss me before and do not
react. "Do you really want nothing in return?"
"In
return for what?"
Cassander briefly pulls away and gives me a probing look. "Bagoas, you owe
me nothing. You are not a slave."
How long will it take me
to convince myself of that?
~~~
I only stay at the palace in
"Do you still want to
live alone?"
It is my third night in
"You need peace and
quiet instead." Cassander's eyes though are darkening and I have learned
that such a change means that he is worried. If he decides to keep me here,
there is not much I can do to stop him.
"I found a home for
you, Bagoas."
The fact that he uses the
word 'home' instead of 'house' makes me frown.
"It is located a
day's ride from here, far away enough to keep the scheming of the court away
from you. It has a lovely view of the mountains and I know you will love the
way their tops glow white when they are covered in snow during winter."
"When will I be
leaving?" I cannot wait to see it myself!
"Tomorrow… That is
fast enough, do you not think so?" Cassander is lost in thought and that
is the only reason why he bares his thoughts to me. "At least that way I
still get to hold you tonight."
"I will miss
you." Cassander has grown dear to me during these last few weeks. He gives
me strength and support when I need it and he asks for nothing in return.
"And I will miss you,
but I comfort myself with the thought that you will finally get the opportunity
to find peace. Who knows, maybe you will invite me over to visit one day, and
when you do, it will be the real – freed – Bagoas that will await me."
"How can you be so
ruthless towards others and so understanding with me?" Cassander told me
yesterday that he had Alexander's mother, Olympias, executed and I suspect more
members of Alexander's family will follow. I have seen it too many times before
to feel shocked by Cassander's behavior. Most rulers eradicate potential
threats to their throne and Cassander is no exception.
"Olympias has always
been too dangerous. Philip should have dealt with her a long time ago. He might
have been alive today if he had. He was a foolish man. His unwillingness to
deal with her resulted in his death."
I am careful not to voice
my opinion in this matter. Alexander's family does not concern me.
~~~
"Do you like it
here?"
Cassander ordered his escort to remain at a distance so we still have some
privacy. He stands behind me and has wrapped his arms around me.
"Is this what you
want?"
"It is." The
house will do. It has everything I need: a bed, some furniture and, something I
did not expect, a library. Cassander knows I love to read and had books brought
here. "It is perfect."
Cassander takes my hand
and leads me to the other side of the house, where I find a small stable,
complete with a horse, chickens, and pigeons. "Cassander…"
"The horse is here in
case of an emergency so you can leave. I do not expect evil to befall you
though. You have no enemies, but I want to make certain."
I nod my head to show I
understand.
"The pigeons will
find their way back to the palace in case you need to contact me. Write me a
note and they will carry it to me. I will hurry to you."
"Thank you for doing
this for me." I take the initiative and turn him around until we are face
to face. I place my hands on either side of his head and probe his eyes, which
are a muddy green. I have not seen that shade before.
He shuffles his feet and
takes a step away from me. I am forced to let go of him and my hands return to
my sides.
"Saying goodbye is
hard," Cassander mumbles beneath his breath.
His gaze is still fastened
on mine and I smile reassuringly. Something tells me that this is not goodbye.
"Then do not say so. We will meet again, Cassander." His expression
brightens at once and the eyes now sparkle as well. They remind me of emeralds.
"Do not give up hope yet."
"I won't,"
Cassander promises.
Then he takes me by
surprise by reaching for me and kissing me surprisingly hard.
"I love you, Bagoas,
and I will wait for you."
I wonder if I could do the
same if I were in his shoes.
~~~
The next morning, the singing
of the birds wakes me. They start their song at sunrise and it draws me from my
bed. I did not bother to undress last night and went to sleep atop the covers. As
I make my way outside, my heart misses a beat at the sight that greets me. The
sun's golden rays touch the tops of the snow-covered mountains and for one
moment I am back in
I do not know where the
tears are coming from all of a sudden, but I burst out into sobs. I weep for a
long time. In the end, the warm rays of the sun touch my face and bring me out
of my stupor. I push myself to my feet and go back inside. I sit down and
uncover Alexander's ‘Iliad’.
Alexander is merely one of
the ghosts who haunt me. There are so many of them. My family, Darius,
Hephaistion, Alexander, even Cassander. They all seem to melt into one vortex
and I struggle to drag myself from its devastating pull. I need to separate the
living from the dead.
~~~
It is a gradual process
that follows. Little by little I allow in the pain and I mourn my losses. It is
painful, it is grueling, but it is something that I need to do.
Days pass by slowly, but
they eventually change into weeks. In the third week, a messenger delivers a
letter from Cassander. My fingers tremble when I open it. I sit down and read
it. It is not the love letter I expected it to be. Its tone is distant, but
then again, the message he is conveying calls for such distance. Cassander
never tried to hide anything from me and tells me the truth now as well. He has
imprisoned Roxanne and her young son. I understand that they are a threat to
him. Although no Greek noble man will acknowledge her son as the lawful heir,
as she is not of Greek birth, the threat remains. He also speaks of his
marriage to Thessalonica, Alexander's half-sister and, once again, I understand
his reasons for doing so. But it is the last few lines that catch my attention.
I do not love her, Bagoas, but the marriage is a
necessity for it will erase all doubt about my claim to the throne of
Bagoas, I miss you.
"I am sorry, Cassander, but I need more time. I have only just
begun to confront my ghosts."
~~~
I do not reply to his
letter and fall into a routine which makes me feel content and at peace. In the
morning, I run and practice my dancing to keep in shape. At
When it is late at night
and I look up from staring into the flames for too long, I see the ghosts
standing in my room. Alexander is always there, just looking at me. Hephaistion
usually sits in the window sill opposite me, giving me a smile which I cannot
decipher. Darius has always been more transparent than the others and is slowly
fading from my mind's eye. The ghosts of my family were the first to go and
they leave me alone now.
But Alexander and
Hephaistion remain.
~~~
Three months later,
another letter from Cassander arrives. It carries a formal tone once more.
Apparently everything has calmed down now that Cassander is married to
Alexander's half-sister. He has also formed new alliances and the throne of
I miss you, Bagoas, and I wish you were here with
me.
I love you still.
I raise the letter to my
lips and press a kiss onto the parchment. Then, I put the scroll in a safe
place, so I can read his words again whenever I want to.
~~~
"What do you want
from me, Hephaistion? You are dead. Why are you still haunting me?" I
decide to confront him first. Confronting Alexander will be the hardest and I
am not yet ready to do that.
I am here because you called me, Bagoas. You are
the one with the answers.
Hephaistion's voice sounds
very real to me.
What do you need from me, Bagoas?
Do I need something from
him?
His ghost fades
unexpectedly and leaves me to my thoughts.
~~~
The next evening, Hephaistion
is back. He seems more real to me than ever before and I raise a hand, trying
to touch him. But he is not there – he is nothing but a ghost.
Do you know what you need from me, Bagoas? There
must be a reason why you keep summoning my spirit here.
"Maybe there
is." I feel awkward about speaking aloud, but there is no one who can hear
me. "Maybe I need your forgiveness."
My forgiveness?
"I wronged you in
life, Hephaistion. The time has come for me to make peace with my past. Please
forgive me for the way I acted toward you. Give me peace." His forgiveness
is what I need the most. His ghost smiles at me and for one moment those bright
blue eyes become alive.
I forgive you, Bagoas. Be at peace and live your
life. Always remember that you are not dead. You still belong to the living.
Treasure that gift.
And with those words, his
spirit vanishes. I know for certain that his ghost will never torment me again.
~~~
But there is still one ghost
that I need to face – Alexander, but I lack the strength and courage to do so
yet.
~~~
I head outside for a long
walk. I find a stream nearby and sit down to stare at the gentle flow of the
water. Everything is calm and serene around me, and I watch the rabbits hopping
in the grass. In that moment, everything becomes lucidly clear to me. I am
still at the crossroad which I had faced in
~~~
Exactly six months later,
I confront my last ghost – Alexander. I wait for the darkness to fall, because
during the night, it is easier to call his spirit to me. I do not have to wait
long. He appears opposite me, standing in the prime of his life, and stares at
me with a curious expression.
I was wondering how much longer it would take you
to finally talk to me.
I swallow nervously. Am I
losing my mind? I can see him so clearly – so vividly!
Do not fear me, Bagoas. You had no reason to fear
me in life and you are in no danger now that I am dead.
"Alexander, I… I need
to move on, but I do not know how." I have to cling to the hope that I
have not lost my mind and that I am somehow communicating with Alexander's
spirit.
You know how, Bagoas. Do not play coy with me. Do
you not think you have kept Cassander waiting long enough? I must admit your
choice surprised me. I did not think you would be drawn to him.
"Alexander… I did not
expect for that to happen either. But there is something about him that draws
me in."
He reminds me a bit of myself when I was younger –
and alive. He is ambitious, intelligent, and merciless when the situation calls
for it. But he is not me, Bagoas. Cassander and I are very different.
I nod my head and devour
his words.
Cassander is not driven like I was. He is content
to stay at home and care for his people. His methods resemble mine, but that is
where the comparison stops. He really loves you, Bagoas. He loves you enough to
set you free.
I lower my gaze, but still
sense his presence. "Do you think his love is true?" Suddenly, I
start. Alexander is standing in front of me, only inches away, and I swear I
can feel the cold he radiates.
Yes, Cassander loves you. He loved you for years.
When I was still alive I saw him look at you and I felt delighted that he could
not have you... that you belonged to me.
Alexander's admission
surprises me. "But why?"
I did not want you to be unhappy, Bagoas. Had it
been anyone else I might have let you go, but Cassander… I disliked him
greatly.
"You disliked him
*because* he reminded you of you when you were young."
Alexander nods his head
and his translucent eyes fasten their gaze on me.
You asked Hephaistion for forgiveness and he
granted it. With us, it is the other way around. I need to ask you for your
forgiveness, for I wronged you. I should have set you free when I realized
Cassander loved you.
"But I belonged to
you."
A ghostly sigh floats
through the room. Can you forgive me,
Bagoas? Will you set my spirit free? By doing so, you will free your own as
well.
The moment I hear his
words, I know they are true. "You are forgiven, Alexander. Be at peace. Do
not let your past actions haunt you." His form briefly flickers in front
of me and then a second form materializes, one I know very well. It is
Hephaistion and he is smiling at me. I will always remember them like that –
standing there, smiling at me, and Hephaistion pulling Alexander along with him
until their forms have faded and nothing of their spirits remains behind.
I am finally free and so
are they.
~~~
The next morning, I sit
down at the desk, uncover parchment, quill, and ink and begin to write.
Hopefully, Cassander has not given up on me yet.
~~~
The pigeon takes off in
the direction of
~~~
The next day I feel
excited and depressed at the same time. Will Cassander reply to my letter? Will
he come here, like I asked him to? Or has he given up on me and did he find
happiness in his wife's arms after all?
The sun rises higher and
her rays warm me. I undress, save for my loincloth, and begin to stretch and
loosen my muscles. I neglected my body and my dancing, and it is about time I
make up for it.
After going through a
series of exercises, I set my spirit free and let the dance take control of me.
I am dancing because I want to dance and not because someone ordered me to do
so. I am not trying to please anyone. I dance because I want to dance and that
realization sets me free.
"You look even more
beautiful than I remember."
Cassander's voice,
unexpected and loud, makes me halt in my movement. He is here. I am panting
hard due to my dancing and do not dare to turn around to face him. He is walking
up to me from behind – I hear his footsteps.
"I received your message.
You asked me to come here and now that I am here, I wonder why you summoned me.
You did not say so in your message. It only said, 'Come to me'."
I slowly turn around and
look at him. He has not changed much. His hair has grown longer and he sports a
few wrinkles, but the eyes are still the same – alive with emotion. He still
wears the leather band around his head that keeps his hair from falling into
his face. No golden crown for this King… No showing off when he is around me.
Looking into those eyes, I know that his love is true, just like Alexander
assured me. "Cassander… I hoped you would come." I am not touching
him yet; I want to, but cannot yet… We need to talk first.
"Why would I not
come? I told you I would hurry here… You only had to say the word."
His eyes, a lucid blue
now, sparkle, and his expression speaks of love and adoration when his gaze
comes to rest on me. He still wants me. He still loves me. "I was not
ready to talk to you until now."
"Only six months have
passed since you moved in here. I told you before that I understand that you
need time."
But his hands betray him.
They are clenching and unclenching at his side. He is doing his best not to
touch me and then I realize how I must look to him. I am as good as naked, my
body is covered in a thin film of sweat, and my hair is a tangled mess. My eyes
probably glister with the passion dancing awoke in me. I must be a real
temptation to him.
"Bagoas? Did I say something that displeased you?"
My silence has made him
uncomfortable. "No, you did not, Cassander. I am only trying to find the
right words to tell you that…"
"What?"
Anxiously, he takes another step closer to me. He is drawn to me like a moth to
the flame.
"I have made my peace
with my past, Cassander. I finally faced my ghosts and they have released me
from their hold. When I sit alone at night, they no longer haunt me. I am ready
to move on."
Cassander involuntarily holds
his breath throughout my speech and I move closer to him. I rest the palm of
one hand against his chest, and let the fingers of my other hand slide into his
hair. "You wanted to meet the real Bagoas – at least you said so. I am
here now."
"And do you…?" Cassander
turns shy all of a sudden.
"Do I love you? Yes,
I do. It has taken me a while to understand and accept that." Suddenly, he
grabs hold of me and pulls me against his chest. I allow it, smile against the
fabric of his tunic, and enjoy being held so close – so tight.
"I always wanted to
hear you say those words." Cassander places a kiss on the crown of my
head, and then adds, "I know I am not perfect, Bagoas. I have my flaws and
my weaknesses, just like anyone else. But I will try my hardest to make you
happy and to never hurt you."
He tenses against me and I
complete the embrace by wrapping my arms around him.
"We won't be together
all the time… I wish I could, but I cannot. There will be times when I have to
leave. I am also needed to rule my people, Bagoas, but I will always hurry back
to you. Is that good enough for you?"
I raise my head and look
him in the eye. "All I want you is you, Cassander, your love. I do not
need your throne, your power, or your alliances. I want *you* -- all of you –
the man, not the King."
"You already have it,
Bagoas… You always did – All of me."
Raising my head, I stare
at the snow-covered tops of the mountains. This is my home. This is where I
will be happy with Cassander. This is where I will grow old and eventually die.
This is where Cassander will bury me.
But none of that matters
yet, for we still have many years of love and life ahead of us.
The End!