He knew it the moment he glanced into the depths of the goblet. Poison. A year ago, he would have pretended to sip the wine and then he'd have given it to his physicians to find out the nature of the venom. Later, heads would have rolled... But a year ago, he had still been by his side, and the King hadn't longed for Tanatos' sweet embrace.

Now, things were different. For months he had been dead inside. Every night he saw the beloved face, pale and cold in eternal sleep. He had been too late, hadn't been with him in those final moments. Guilt was gnawing at his heart, and before long, there would be nothing left of Megas Alexandros but an empty shell.

Had he told his Hephaestion how much he had always meant to him? That there had been no day Alexander hadn't thanked the Gods for giving him the gift of his love? Had Hephaestion known that every day they had spent apart had been torture, and every night the King had lain in the arms of one of his three wives, or Bagoas, had been meaningless? That only with Hephaestion he had felt truly alive? He had needed his friend and lover like the air that filled his lungs, but had he ever said so? Had he spoken of the all-consuming love that filled his heart?

Alexander had instigated a Hephaestion Cult, had inquired at the Oracle of Siwah if Philalexandros could be considered at least a demi-god. Life without him was worse than any other torment the Gods could come up with. But eternity without him ... the mere thought was unbearable. He had to be there, at the Elysian Fields, he simply had to be.

The wine was sweet, and the slightly bitter taste of the poison was almost ... comforting. This was a sign of the Gods, one that he embraced thankfully. There had to be pain, he was sure of it, but he never felt it.

He barely noticed that he was being carried into the major bedchamber of the Babylonian palace, and then placed on the bed he had often shared with Hephaestion. Smiling to himself, his hand crept to the ring - "You have always been my sun..." Bloody tears welled from silvery eyes. 'And you have saved me from myself, beloved Hephaestion.'

Someone asked him to appoint an heir. His cryptic answer would have made Hephaestion smile, he was sure of it. "The best..." But the best was already dead, and soon, he'd join him.

Darkness fell around him, the ring the only source of light. Shaking hands raised it above his golden head, and a soft voice was murmuring, "Don't be afraid. This is only the beginning..."

Suddenly, light surrounded him, and he had to close his eyes. When opening them again, he beheld a face he had first seen almost 20 years ago. Blue eyes sparkled and shone with love. Raising his hands to touch the beloved features, Alexander whispered, "At last I am home..."