Chapter 11

 

CHAPTER 11

 

Hephaistion son of Amyntor to Alexander, Crown Prince and Regent of Macedonia, hail:

 

I heard the most interesting story in the camp, they said that you took one part of the army to the northern border in Thrace, apparently the warlike tribe of the Maedi had reveled and our beloved Regent went to discipline them. I can imagine why were you so impatience to engage combat, I just regret not being able to be there and take care of you.

 

It has been almost 5 months since the last time we saw each other; your father decided to siege Perinthus first, 3 months we were there and things didn’t work out too well.

 

The city was very well defended so our King, in his infinite wisdom, decided to abandon Perinthus and we marched on Byzantium. We arrived by the end of autumn and tomorrow is my birthday, I can’t believe how fast the time passes. At the end, the Athenians fortified Byzanthium with their naval force, so we had to retreat again.

 

I don’t know if you heard but Athens declared the war to us…of course you have heard, you are the Regent, duh!

 

Kryriakos says that we are finally returning home. Do you remember Kryriakos? Is the man that helped me to find the Ile Basilike the day we left Pella. I hope to go back soon, I want to talk to you about so many things, and I never got a letter from you Mister Regent Sir, but it’s all right, I understand that you are busy. Besides, that way we can talk for hours to catch up when I go back.

 

You know? I have been thinking in a couple of things we can do when you defeat the Maedi, so don’t take too long.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion re-read his letter, folded it and sealed it before leaving his tent, the one the shared with his brother. Every week he wrote a letter to Alexander, but fearing that he hadn’t received them, Hephaistion decided to make him a summary, avoiding to mention the King’s constant invitations to dinner with him. Nikandros was of much help; every time Philip sent for Hephaistion he accompanied his brother, besides, thanks to the King’s bad mood after his failures he hadn’t time to be with Hephaistion.

 

Hephaistion took his letter ready to look for the royal courier, the one who took the mail to Pella. But before he could leave, his brother arrived with a beautiful girl, who was giggling happily.

 

- Where are you going? –asked Nikandros, without releasing his companion’s waist—Did HE send for you?

 

- No –answered Hephaistion—I’m going to deliver a letter.

 

- Oh! By the way, mom wrote, her letter is like a book, and she sent milky caramel –explained his brother, taking his conquest to the small hard bed.

 

Hephaistion smiled, his mother would never stop surprising him.

 

- Nick –he called his brother before he could kiss the girl—Have you sent letters to Pella?

 

- A lot –Nikandros was ready to take the girl’s clothes off, even with his brother there.

 

- And all arrived to their destination?

 

- Yes –the girl giggled, looking at Hephaistion.

 

- Nick, your brother is very handsome, why don’t you ask him to join us? –asked the girl sweetly. 

 

- No thanks –said Hephaistion, and before someone had another brilliant idea like that he left.               

 

In those months of campaign Philip tried everything to keep Hephaistion at his side, from the innocent invitation to dinner to send for him to take part in the military staff meetings. This time the King tried a different strategy with his beautiful obsession, and instead of sending him gifts as if he was a hetaira, he treated him like a hetairoi and gave him a privilege place among his men. And the King’s men immediately saw what was the real interest of Philip in this gorgeous young man.

 

The good news was that every time the situation of the campaign worsened, the King was so busy that didn’t have the time to send for him.

 

- Hephaistion! –Kryriakos called him, stopping him at the middle of the camp—Where are you going with such a hurry, kiddo?

 

Hephaistion smiled, he was very fond of the veteran since Kryriakos had saved his life one night. Hephaistion was leaving after a dinner with the King and his inner circle, when he had been attacked. Luckily he wasn’t drunk and Kryriakos was near enough to hear the commotion. He still didn’t know who wanted to harm him or if the whole thing had been a misunderstanding, so he let it pass.

 

- I’m going to deliver a letter, er…Kryriakos, have you sent letters back to Pella? –the veteran laughed.

 

- I don’t know how to right, kiddo; but I heard from my officer that all the letters arrived to their destiny, why do you ask?

 

- Nothing in particular –answered Hephaistion a little sad.

 

- Your friend hasn’t write? –asked Kryriakos and the other nodded.

 

- I suppose he must be really busy –said Hephaistion, recovering his good mood.

 

- Now I remember! –the veteran exclaimed, making him jump—A friend of mine came from Pella to sell wool, he is returning to the city tonight, why don’t you give him your letter?

 

- Really?

 

- Come, let’s catch him before he leaves.

 

XXX

 

- Come in –said Philip, his good eye on the letter he had just received.

 

Eumenes, his secretary, entered the tent with a big bunch of letters tied with a cord.

 

- Sire, this is what you asked me for –said the thin, short man, leaving the package on the table—This is all the mail between Prince Alexander and Amyntor’s son.

 

The King left his letter and took the heavy package, whistling. 

 

- These boys, didn’t have nothing better to do than write to each other? –said Philip with mockery.

 

- They write one letter per week –explained Eumenes.

 

- Did you manage to get all their letters?

 

- Yes.

 

- Good work; keep intercepting their mail –said Philip. 

 

- Yes, sire –Eumenes left and the King watched the package of letters for a very long time.

 

It didn’t matter what he do, Hephaistion was like water slipping through his fingers. At the end he threw the package and stood up, walking furiously.

 

XXX

 

Kryriakos’ friend, Orestes, didn’t care to conceal his surprise when he arrived at Pella and saw that the letter he was carrying, was for the Regent of Macedonia. He was nothing more than a modest wool merchant and there he was, in front of the door of the Crown Prince. Orestes played with his cloak nervously, his head bowed, not daring to look at the imposing guards in front of the door.

 

When I saw that the letter was to someone called Alexander I never thought it was THE Alexander, the Crown Prince –thought Orestes.

 

The door opened and the man jumped, scared.

 

- Who brought this letter? –asked Alexander, his best friend’s letter in his hand.  

 

Orestes panicked. The Prince didn’t look like a 16 years old boy, he looked like a military commander. His recent experience with the Maedi had made him grow more than anybody would have thought it possible.

 

- He brought it, Alexander –said one of the guards, pointing at the merchant.

 

When the uneven eyes of the Prince settled on the man, poor Orestes felt like fainting.

 

- How did you get this letter?

 

Orestes paled and started stammer.

 

- H-h-he gave it to me.

 

Gods! In what problem I get myself into –thought Orestes, trembling.

 

- Who is HE?

 

- He said to me that he was your friend, sire…

 

- His name –the Prince interrupted him.

 

- H-Hephaistion –Orestes remembered at last.

 

- Did you see him? –asked Alexander with interest.

 

- Yes. I’m very sorry sire, the lad said he was your friend, I never thought…

 

- Hephaistion is my dearest friend, I just want to know how is he –Alexander calmed him down but Orestes saw him with distrust.

 

- Well, he…your friend is fine… I didn’t see him for long; he is the friend of one old acquaintance of mine, a veteran pezetairoi. He served under the orders of our distinguished King, his name is Kryriakos, I know him since he was a lad, he grew up in a farm near a property of my uncle in…—the Prince cleared his throat—Oh, yes, your friend. Kryriakos introduced us; he is a tall and handsome lad. He looked fine, he gave me the letter and asked me to deliver it in person at the royal palace. 

 

- And you accepted after receiving a payment for the trouble –said Alexander guessing.

 

- No sire, I would never… --Alexander raised a hand and Orestes felt silent.

 

- That’s all. You have my gratitude, now you can go.

 

The Prince returned to the King’s study and sat on a wooden chair. He leaned his head on the back of the chair and sighed.

 

- What’s wrong? –asked Ptolemy, reading near him—I thought Hephaistion’s letter would have made you happy.

 

- Here is something I don’t understand –Alexander said softly, catching the complete attention of the other—Phai says in his letter that he hasn’t received one letter from me.

 

- It can’t be, you send him a letter every week –said Ptolemy.

 

The Prince saw his best friend letter.

 

- He didn’t get them –said Alexander at last—Someone is intercepting my letters.

 

- But, who would dare to steal the Macedonia’s Regent’s mail? –asked his friend—It has no sense.

 

- Oh no, it has all the sense in the world –said the Prince, standing up, and Ptolemy followed him through the palace corridors—Think Ptolemy, the only letter that I received from Phai is the one he sent with a wool merchant, not with the royal courier.

 

- Let’s assume you are right, who would steal the royal courier? –his friend questioned him.

 

- Who do you think?

 

Alexander entered in his mother’s chambers without announcing his presence. The women there, embroidering with the Queen, jumped scared when they saw him. Olympias only looked at him in calm and asked to be left alone with her son. Ptolemy waited outside.

 

- Well, what are you doing here? –asked Olympias, crossing her leg. Ignoring her son’s bad mood.

 

- Had you been stealing my mail? –he went straight to the point.

 

- Are you asking me or accusing me?

 

- You tell me, do I have reasons to accuse you? –Olympias sighed.

 

- Do you really think that I have nothing better to do than read your mail? –Alexander stared at her—This is what I get after 9 months carrying you in my womb and sacrificed my figure. Doubts! I can’t believe it… but it doesn’t matter, if I have to suffer this in order to make you a good king…

 

- Just answer me, please.   

 

Olympias tried to hold his gaze but failed. She blinked and turned to the window.

 

- I haven’t laid a finger on your mail.

 

- Look at me and tell me again –Alexander leaned to the front, and rested his hands on the armrests of the chair. His mother faced him.

 

- If you lost something you are looking in the wrong place –Olympias spoke firmly and then Alexander was struck by realization.

 

He left as quickly as he had arrived, leaving a very confused group of women behind him.

 

Olympias stayed in the same place thinking. She had a very good idea of who could be behind the mysterious disappearance of Alexander’s mail; but that was not what had her thinking. She had ordered one of his spies to attack Hephaistion in the camp, but he had failed; now she was wondering if her son knew something about this.

 

Not likely –Olympias thought—If he knew something, he would have told me, I must be more careful.

 

The Queen hated Hephaistion, and not for just one reason. Olympias wanted the best for her son, she was convinced almost in a fanatical way, that Alexander was destined to be a god among men, the greatest King of all time, and to accomplish that she was ready to do anything. Hephaistion was an obstacle in Alexander’s way to greatness because, in Olympias opinion, he influenced her son immensely: if Hephaistion was happy then Alexander was happy, if Hephaistion decided to be angry with Alexander then the Prince was in a terrible mood and felt like the world was going to end. If Hephaistion thought that something was bad then Alexander thought so too.

 

The greatest of all Kings couldn’t be influenced by anyone and Amyntor’s son was a weakness.

 

But Alexander loved him. Yes, that was also a bad thing. Alexander was the Crown Prince of Macedonia, one day he was going to be a King, and a King needs an heir to the throne. In a time when the idea of romance didn’t exist, witnessing a love as the one they had to each other was preoccupying rather than cute. 

 

Alexander must be strong, independent, and even cruel. The royal family was a snake nest, the Macedonians were warrior like people, one needed to be ruthless to survive and that was what nobody understood, not even her son. The Macedonians would never follow a man who depends so much on his best friend, a man who daydream about his beloved and that counted the days to see him again when they were apart, and, when they were together, couldn’t stop smiling. No. Macedonians wanted a Heracles.

 

Alexander can’t trust anybody. What if tomorrow, when he was the King, Hephaistion asked him for half of his Kingdom? And even if Hephaistion were the perfect friend, which she doubted, what would happened when he died? In those days of constant wars it wouldn’t surprise her if he died. Then what? Alexander would be devastated and Olympias knew that would be the end of her son. 

 

Yes, Olympias was a tough woman, but she was like that because her world was a cruel one. Hephaistion had to die quickly or at least kept away from Alexander, before they were even closer. 

 

XXX

 

How come I didn’t see it before? –Alexander thought, almost running in the corridor—I’m a fool, this is my father’s doing, I should have imagine it when the months passed and Phai didn’t write to me. Even more after I wrote him about my victory over the Maedi, my first military victory and not a word from him.

 

- Alexander, what’s wrong? –asked Ptolemy, running to catch him.

 

- You! –said the Prince to one page—Go to the stables and see that my horse is saddle up.

 

The boy ran at once.

 

- Where are you going? –Ptolemy wanted to know.

 

- To my father’s camp.

 

- Alone? At least let me called Perdikkas and Leon –Ptolemy tried to convince him.

 

- No, I’m faster if I go alone and it’s not far from here.

 

- Alexander this is foolish, you are the Regent you can’t leave like that, what if something happens to you?

 

- I can take care of myself, and if something happens go to Antipater, I’ll be back tomorrow morning.

 

Ptolemy couldn’t change his mind and 10 minutes latter, the older one saw the Prince silhouette gallop off on the road. 

 

- Now, what am I going to tell Antipater? –he asked himself scratching his head.

 

XXX

 

- You sent for me, sire? –asked Hephaistion at the entrance of the King’s tent.

 

- Yes. You can go, Nikandros –said Philip.

 

His brother exchanged a glance with Hephaistion, and the latter smiled.

 

- With your permission, sire –Philip waited until Nikandros had gone, and indicated Hephaistion to take a seat. The young man obeyed and the King gave him a cup of wine.

 

- It has been too long since the last time we talk alone, your brother is like your bodyguard lately –said the King taking a seat in front of him.

 

- Why do you sent for me…sire? –Hephaistion leaned on his elbow, the head on the back of his hand and the cup in the other.

 

- You know why –Philip ran his eyes over Hephaistion’s long and elegant legs that the short military tunic let see.

 

- And you know what my answer is –Hephaistion brought the cup to his lips, but didn’t drink, he wanted to be alert and sober.

 

The king smiled.

 

- Hephaistion, I saw your performance at Byzantium and during the siege of Perinthus –he said, speaking a business like tone—Do you want to know what I think?

 

- Only if is the opinion of the man that makes Greece tremble, not the lecherous old man that can’t stop imagining me naked –Hephaistion answered with all calm.

 

The King raised his eyes to face him.

 

- Fair enough –Philip leaned his weight against the chair’s back—I have good eyes for soldiers and I think I know something about war, don’t you agree?

 

Hephaistion nodded.

 

- You are a great general –that was true and Hephaistion had no reason to lie.

 

- Thank you, you are good putting aside personal issues…but is a shame that you are not useful in the battlefield –Hephaistion was very still—Do you like being a hetairoi? Being treated like a general and take part in the military staff meetings?

 

- Yes –again that was the truth.

 

The King’s smile was immense.

 

- Since you were my page you insisted in being treated like the rest, isn’t that right?

 

- You have an excellent memory.

 

- If I were to treat you like any other Macedonian boy of your age you would never be in my staff meetings or in the Ile Basilike, not now not ever –said Philip coldly—You have all the right to be in the hetairoi cavalry because of your family, but nothing more. You are not a good soldier and you are clumsy in the battlefield.

 

- I’m still young –said Hephaistion with all dignity, lifting his chin.

 

- True, but you have no talent for soldering, you are very intelligent but this life –Philip extended his arms—Is not for you. It’s a pity that Macedonia is a military kingdom where the most valuable skills are the warrior ones.

 

Hephaistion took away his gaze. That was something he wasn’t expecting to hear and least of all with that brutal honesty.

 

- If I start treating you –the King continued—Like any other Macedonian of 16 years old you would be a nobody. Your father and your brother are skillful but you don’t.

 

Hephaistion swallowed and forced himself to remain calm, even if those words had shocked him. Philip stood up and walk to him. He caressed Hephaistion’s hair, enjoying his silkiness, and ran his fingers through the milky skin of his cheek, going down to his neck.

 

- You are painfully beautiful –whispered Philip—I can’t find a flaw in your appearance and the gods blessed you with an agile mind –Hephaistion didn’t move, it was as if the King were touching a statute—But the gods didn’t give you everything –he took the young man by the shoulder and the tunic slid a little, reveling the white skin. Then the king bended over and whispered near his ear—If you want to continue in this life that you like so much there is only one way for you… but you already know that.

 

Hephaistion closed his eyes and Philip kissed his cheek, but before he could do anything else, someone called the King hysterically from outside.       

 

- What’s wrong? –asked Philip, raising his powerful command voice. He strode across the tent. 

 

Hephaistion stood up, arranging his tunic and a sentry appeared. The man was visibly disturb and very pale.

 

- Sire, we are under attack, the Triballi are…

 

- What? –the King stormed out of the tent and Hephaistion ran to look for his brother. He had to haste to get his arms.

 

The Triballi were a primitive, savage and very hairy tribe that lived at the northern mountains, and they were subject of many jokes among the Greeks. Of course that, in that moment nobody thought they were funny. Hephaistion took his hand to his belt, looking for his sword, and he swore remembering that nobody was allow to be armed in the King presence, so he ran for all he was worthy.

 

- Phai! –Nikandros found him in the commotion, carrying his sword and the one of his brother.

 

- BEHIND YOU! –shouted Hephaistion with all his energy.

 

His brother turned with expertise and sank his sword in his enemy ribcage, he turned the weapon inside and drew it just in time to duck another enemy, and with the sword in his left hand he cut his throat open.

 

- Take this and follow me –said Nikandros panting, giving him his sword cover in fresh blood.

 

Hephaistion obeyed at once, and followed his brother.

 

Skin to skin, blood and bone

You are all by yourself but you’re not alone

You wanted in and now you are here

Driven by hate, consumed by fear

(Drowning Pool. Let the bodies hit the floor)

 

Against all logic the Triballi not only succeeded in defeating the all mighty Philip, they also stole from him, taking all his war spoils with them.

 

For Hephaistion all was confusion, the fire consumed several tents; dead bodies of both sides were laying on the ground and the shouts and the clash of weapons filled the air. At some point, he got separated from Nikandros, he didn’t know how many men he killed or when he was injured on his side; the only thing he could think about was going where the bulk of the army was reunited. That was his only chance.

 

Two men attacked him. Hephaistion raised his sword to protect himself and immediately his arm protested. He had being fighting for almost an hour, his legs trembled and his muscles burned. He had never fought for so long on foot, and cavalry was very different. The men threw themselves against him, the first blow made Hephaistion’s bones crack, both enemies were taller, stronger, more baleful, more hairy and more dangerous than him; but Hephaistion wasn’t going to let himself get killed. 

 

The men laughed at his poor attempts to defeat them, which made Hephaistion angrier. One of the men, tired of that game, disarmed Hephaistion with one blow and the other trapped him, with one strong arm at his neck and taking his arms behind his back, immobilizing him.

 

The man in front of him took Hephaistion by his thighs and the Macedonian tried to kick him, but failed. The man ran his rough hands through his creamy skin and opened his legs. Hephaistion wanted to insult him, but the arm at his neck didn’t let him breathe. He fought with all his forces and the man laughed, licking his lips in anticipation when he saw the point of a sword through his chest. He man saw it with incredulity, as if he was asking himself what was that doing there, then he saw his companion and fell, revealing a dark figure against the brightness of the fire.

 

Hephaistion kicked his oppressor and his savior sank his sword in the man’s heart. Hephaistion turned with the adrenaline at its limits and found a pair of uneven eyes in front of him.

 

- Alexander?! –he exclaimed without voice.

 

The Prince ran to him and kissed him savagely. They were in the middle of a battlefield, almost over 2 death bodies, a tent was burning in front of them and the sounds of the fight floated in the air…and with all of that Hephaistion had never felt so aroused in his entire life. 

 

Alexander bit his lips; tasted them and made him opened his mouth to receive him. He explored Hephaistion mouth, making him moan softly and his friend moved closer to him; caressing his chest over the fabric of his chiton. Hephaistion didn’t care if he could breathe as long as he could feel those lips. The Prince took him by the shoulders, sliding his hands over his arms until he reached his waist.

 

In one fluid motion, Alexander tumbled him to the ground and stretched his body over his; his best friend laughed and opened his legs to receive him, sighing when he felt the Prince’s weight on him. They couldn’t stop kissing each other, and when they got separated, they took deep breaths as if they had been about to drown. Alexander didn’t wait for him to recover; he kissed his cheek and slid his lips down to his neck.   

 

Alexander moaned against the creamy skin of his neck, touching him with his eyelashes, he tasted his skin and shuddered when Hephaistion moaned harder. The Prince experienced a mixture of emotions in that moment. He knew how many admires had the beautiful creature beneath him, he knew how many would kill to have him as he had him in that moment, but the power to make Hephaistion moan like that was only his, and he was not going to allow that anybody else could see him like this.

 

Hephaistion had chosen him.

 

Then the Prince understood what jealousy was like.

 

He would be mine forever –thought Alexander.

 

When Hephaistion left Pella, he had left behind a very horny Alexander. So the Prince had slept several times with a beautiful hetaira named Kampespe, and once with one of his mother’s slaves. The slave girl was only because he discovered the Queen had the girl under threat that if she didn’t slept with her son, Olympias will killed her. Every night Alexander had wished to be with Hephaistion, remembering his soft lips against his…and his encounters with these two women made him realized 2 things: he liked women BUT he liked Hephaistion even more. He would love Hephaistion if he were: man, woman, dog, horse or a table, because it was who he was what he adored.

 

They made love for the first time and in that moment that appeared to extent to eternity, all was perfect. They were the same person for glorious moments and that made them immensely happy, they were complete…

 

When they finished, Hephaistion was sitting on Alexander’s lap; they both were exhausted, breathless, and stared to each other through the untidy locks of their damp hair. 

 

- Sweet Aphrodite! You look so beautiful after making love, that I don’t know how I let you convinced me to wait until I get my first military victory –said Alexander breathless.

 

His friend smiled with his cheeks burning.

 

- At least, did you obtained your victory or you broke your promise? –he wanted to know and the Prince smiled proudly.

 

- I defeated the Maedi and founded a city.

 

- Really?! –exclaimed Hephaistion happy.

 

- I called the city: Hephaistionopolis –his best friend suddenly fell silent.

 

- You did what? –Alexander laughed.

 

- Would it really bother you that much if I do that? If I founded a city with your name?

 

- Yes –that took the Prince by surprise.  

 

- Why?

 

- Alex, the day a city has my name it will be because I conquered it, so I forbid you that someday you called a city by my name –Hephaistion held his gaze—I’m not your wife, I don’t want people doing things for me.

 

The Prince laughed.

 

- And that’s why I love you, you are so stubborn.

 

- Like you.

 

Alexander moved slowly to accommodate Hephaistion more comfortable on his lap, and caressed his legs absently. The other rested his arms on his shoulders, playing with his blond hair.

 

- I missed you.

 

- So do I –Hephaistion touched his lips with his own—Why did you came?

 

- I wanted to see you… and the gods guided me to you just in time to help you –the Prince whispered.

 

- Why you didn’t write to me? –Hephaistion didn’t want to ask, but he couldn’t avoid it.

 

The Prince fell silent, thinking what to say.

 

- I wrote to you a letter per week –he said at last, too seriously for Hephaistion’s liking—When I was in the Maedi territory I wrote almost daily, I wanted to tell you everything…

 

- But I…

 

- I know, you never get one single letter –Alexander interrupted him, and his friend saw him surprise—The first letter of yours that I received was the one you send with the wool merchant.

 

- But…why?

 

- I almost sure that my father has something to do with this.

 

Hephaistion opened and closed his mouth several times.

 

- Damn! –he exclaimed furious—Now I understand why he was so calm these months.

 

And the Philip subject took them to the awkward question.

 

- Did he touch you? –Hephaistion blinked confused—My father, did he touch you?

 

His best friend sighed.

 

- Not exactly…--he hesitated in telling him about his last encounter with the King, but then he remembered: best friends share everything.

 

- What happened? –Alexander insisted—You know you can tell me anything.

 

- I know, but the hard thing is how to tell you…

 

Hephaistion told him about his last meeting with the King with all detail, quoting his words and that embarrassed him. To admit the was a lousy hetairoi before the person who had lead an army to victory in the Maedi territory with only 16 years old was difficult. So, he spoke without facing him.

 

Alexander’s first reaction was to get mad. How dare his father to talk like that to his other half? In other words he was treating Hephaistion like a prostitute, he felt as if he had been insult. His blood burned hearing that Philip had touched his special someone in that demeaning way… and he was so angry at this, that he didn’t care for the part of Hephaistion’s poorly performance as a hetairoi.

 

- I can’t believe…how could he?! –Alexander was furious, clenching his jaw—He is offering you to be his whore in exchange to have you in the Ile Basilike.

 

- This is my fault –Hephaistion put his hands on his lap.

 

- WHAT? Are you out of your mind?

 

- If I were like you, if I had talent for soldering…he would respect me and he wouldn’t treat me like a whore –Alexander caressed his cheek.

 

- Never said that again –the Prince said in the same tone that he used with the army—You are my other half, you are perfect just the way you are.

 

Hephaistion smiled.

 

The sound of the battle disappeared and that make them remember where they were and what was happening.

 

- I have to go –said Hephaistion. When he stood up, his legs trembled and Alexander had to catch him, putting his arm around his waist—I’ll see you at Pella, it would be better if nobody sees that you are here.

 

- Come back with me –Alexander whispered against his hair.

 

- I can’t, Nick will think that I’m dead. It’s better this way. 

 

- Fine, as you wish… Can you walk? –Hephaistion nodded and the Prince kissed his head and let him go.

 

Alexander didn’t wanted to leave but his friend was right, there would be time latter, so he walked back to where Boukephalos was waiting.

 

- Alex –the Prince stopped and turned—I love you –Hephaistion said smiling.

 

And those 3 words made Alexander felt like he had conquered the world.

 

XXX

 

Again, many thanks for reading. You all are sweet as pie ^_^

 

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