Chapter 42

 

 

 

CHAPTER 42

 

Everybody was happy to have Hephaistion back (extremely happy in Hephaistion’s opinion) even Philotas though he would die before admitting that. But the most shocking moment was when Nikandros came, embraced his brother and started crying; that freaked out Hephaistion, he couldn’t remember the last time his brother had cried, least of all because of him.

 

- You are fine –said Nikandros when he could speak again, watching him from head to toe.

 

- Yes; they treat me very well.

 

Wait until I tell Eni that Nick cried –thought Hephaistion, moved by his brother’s concern for him.

 

- Good…Er --Phai? –said Nikandros timidly.

 

- Yes, Nick.

 

- I’m sorry –that took Hephaistion by surprise.

 

- I was in charge of your security and… —it was difficult for Nikandros to say it—It was my fault the mercs kidnapped you.

 

- It’s not your fault; I don’t blame you –Hephaistion smiled, taking his brother by the shoulder.

 

- Thanks –those words meant a lot for Nikandros, whose guiltiness didn’t let him live— Your lover didn’t think that way.

 

- What do you mean? –Hephaistion frowned hearing that.

 

- Alexander broke my nose when I told him what had happened –said Nikandros, and his brother saw him with eyes wide open.

 

What can I say? –thought Hephaistion—I know how Alexander is, I’m surprised he didn’t order my brother kill.

 

- I’ll better go –said Nikandros, ruffling his brother’s hair playfully—I imagine that your lover would be spending the night here and I don’t want to intrude, or this time he will order my execution.

 

- Thanks.

 

Alexander, his closest friends, high ranking officers and of course Hephaistion, were staying at the governor’s house, by far the most luxurious and biggest house of the city with a beautiful view of the harbor. But at that hour, being so late at night there wasn’t one of the companions in the house, all of them were scattered around the city celebrating their victory.

 

Apparently Ptolemy had found a hetairas’ house in Miletus and they were having the time of their lives there, even old Parmelio was with the hetairas for the youngsters utterly amusement. But the young King and General of that victorious army had other plans.

 

Alexander appeared in Hephaistion’s room late at night after issuing the necessary orders to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the city…or the most peaceful a city could be with an invading army celebrating on the streets. He was so eager to be with his beloved that he didn’t take off his armor and ran at his side, the golden crown still on his head and his impressive purple cloak on his back. At the same moment the King laid his eyes on his best friend he kissed him with desperation, hardly containing the urge that was burning through his body.

 

- Gods, I missed you –whispered the King between kisses.

 

- So did I –Hephaistion smiled against his lips. He couldn’t be happier; his beloved’s kisses tasted like heaven after weeks of being separated.

 

What I miss the most about Alexander…do you want to know? Are his kisses, every time he kissed me he made me feel the most important and precious person in the universe; he made me feel a comfort and security that I haven’t felt again in all these years. Long ago I went to the theater in Paris, to watch Cyrano de Bergerac in the XIX Century…there was a dialog in that play that made me cry remembering the sweet lips of my King:

 

"And what is a kiss, specifically? A pledge properly sealed, a promise seasoned to taste, a vow stamped with the immediacy of a lip, a rosy circle drawn around the verb 'to love.' A kiss is a message too intimate for the ear, infinity captured in the bee's brief visit to a flower, secular communication with an aftertaste of heaven, the pulse rising from the heart to utter its name on a lover's lip: 'Forever.'"(1)

 

For me those words were real 2 thousand years ago…

 

Alexander almost carried him to the bed, and Hephaistion laughed softly when he felt his weight over him, it had been so long that he didn’t care if the King was crushing him under the weight of his armor.

 

- Phai, don’t leave me again –the desperation in his voice was moving, King Alexander begging? The world was coming to an end—You are my sanity, my other half...

 

Hephaistion kissed his cheek.

 

- I could never leave you –he whispered against his skin—You are the person that my heart will never forget. No matter how long I live, it could be 3, 50 or a thousand years, and you will always be my light in the midst of an abyss of death, my eternal companion, my happiness, my everything…

 

When I told him that I have no way of knowing that my words would be prophetic…I have lived more than 2 thousand years and he is all that to me, the man that my heart would never forget…

 

Hephaistion kissed him again and then, he turned the King to be straddled him.

 

- I think I want to be on top this time –he brushed aside the blond locks that didn’t let him admire Alexander, softly caressing his face in the process.

 

It was only he or his King was looking more handsome than ever? He covered the King’s eyes with his hand and kissed him again, but this time slowly, enjoying his lips and the taste of his mouth. Alexander straightened, leaning his weight back on his elbows.

 

- Take off your clothes –asked the King in a whispered, brushing his wet lips with each word.

 

His dearest friend did as he was told, and soon he was completely naked, his creamy white skin against the dark purple of the King’s clothes, his long legs bent at each side of Alexander, letting him see the marked and discrete muscles of his thighs. He looked so fragile and exposed in contrast with the King fully dress, his armor impeccable and the golden crown adorning his blond hair.

 

Alexander took his time to admire him; the smooth locks of his blond hair were falling freely at the sides of his head and the fabric of his clothes swirling beneath them.

 

Hephaistion watched him from above but with the purest love and desire shining in his gray eyes. He didn’t move, and continued watching the King, blushing slightly as he felt his fingers walking on his thigh, was almost as if he was touch for the first time in his life, the first time he felt the tingle and excitement through each part of his body, as if the countless times they had shared their bodies before do not exist.

 

Alexander’s uneven eyes rested of the horrible wound on his abdomen. It looked much better now, but it was covered with a scab.

 

- Does it hurt? –asked the King in a soft voice.

 

- Not anymore –Hephaistion’s voice was slightly husky, and that shook Alexander’s nervous system.

 

His best friend gently rocked his hip over him, distracting his King until he felt the hardness beneath him. He kissed Alexander, a soft kiss like a butterfly’s touch and then he licked two of his own fingers, feeling the intense gaze of the powerful King, making him shudder.

 

Only one thing was in Alexander’s mind in that moment: beautiful, he watched his best friend intently until he released his fingers with a wet POP.

 

Alexander thought his brain would melt when he saw the ravishing sight of Hephaistion preparing himself. How he had managed to have a lover as beautiful as him? 

 

Hephaistion lifted the King’s clothes slowly, taking his time to caress Alexander's soft skin, and lowered his hips while looking always at his beloved’s handsome face; a soft moan escaped his mouth when he felt the tip of the King’s masculinity in him.

 

Alexander took his thighs, once again taking great pleasure in the creamy warm skin that for moments thought he would never feel again beneath his fingers, his best friend’s muscles contracted while allowing himself being invaded, sliding down slowly, pausing every now and then.

 

Electricity ran through Hephaistion and the warmth of his body seemed to concentrate from the waist down. It was a delicious torture to feel Alexander in him, deeper and deeper. He watched the King beneath him; Alexander looked magnificent with that majestic air now highlighted with the symbol on his head that identified him as the lord of thousands of souls, and that view did nothing but act as an aphrodisiac on him.

 

Hephaistion slipped further down and a sighed left his mouth, containing all the sensations that assailed him at that moment. The walls of his warm entry burned at every touch taking him closer to heaven, away from his mundane concerns, taking away everything in a whirlwind of pleasure. Every beat, every thought belonged to Alexander now.

 

- Phai… —the King whispered with drowned voice, two cute red spots were burning on his cheeks. He tried to move but his best friend didn’t let him, and that made Alexander shudder, every fiber in him wanted to take Hephaistion in that moment and the wait was a torture—You are…killing me…ahhh…

 

- You…are too…Nnn… impatience… –Hephaistion opened more his legs and dropped. He and Alexander let escape a loud moan and a shudder ran through Hephaistion from head to toe, now he was complete, filled by his other half, without whom he could not live without, without whom nothing made sense.

 

The soft fabrics of Alexander’s clothes brushed the inside of his thighs. Hephaistion parted his slightly wet lips, looking for air, unable to stop moaning, sighing and gasping, his cheeks pink and his eyes narrowed; in those moments to Alexander he was the most wonderful creature in the world.

 

Alexander traced his collarbone with his lips, and went all the way down. He kissed his chest, and brushed his best friend’s nipple with his lips and fingers, drawing circles, licking, pushing the bulb with his tongue and nipping it; encouraged by the soft moans that escaped from Hephaistion’s mouth.

 

Is your King good in bed? –Memnon’s voice sounded clearly in his mind.

 

Why am I thinking about that NOW? –said Hephaistion to himself, feeling Alexander’s tongue playing with his soft skin—Maybe I should tell him…I should tell Alexander of what happened with Memnon, after all best friends share everything, right?

 

But soon all the coherent thoughts of Hephaistion were banish under waves of pleasure. He watched his lover spellbound. For him Alexander was sinfully handsome and always made him felt butterflies in his stomach; Hephaistion loved him, he made him daydream and every time he saw his King he awoke in him his most hidden fantasies. 

 

Alexander took the tip of his fingers along the canal that formed Hephaistion’s spine, running them from the back of his neck to his waist, up and down, his fingers throbbed as he felt the smooth skin beneath them. The King laid a series of kisses on his shoulder, following the curve of his neck while his right arm was surrounding his waist. His fingers walked over Hephaistion’s sculpted torso, tracing his muscles and enjoying the most perfect male body he had ever seen. Alexander touched every inch of his skin, feeling the muscles contract under his caresses and inhaling the delicious smell of Hephaistion’s skin.

 

XXX

 

Kyros heard Hephaistion was back and ran to the governor’s house. His heart racing with excitement and happiness knowing that his dear master was back. A servant told him where was his room and Kyros ran through the corridor, he opened the door without knocking and there he found the King thrusting inside a very aroused Hephaistion.

 

The most decent thing would have been to close the door again, but Kyros couldn’t move; he half close the door and stayed where he was, watching through the narrow opening. The Theban swallowed hard feeling his face burn; not even in his wildest dreams he would have thought Hephaistion could look and sound like that, it was so, so… beautiful. And not only his master, Sophonisba was right, the King was very handsome, he had this powerful aura that made him look like a god, the 2 of them together were a dream come true.   

 

Inside the room, Hephaistion felt like fire running through his veins while Alexander touched every single one of his hot spots at every thrust. He tightly held Alexander’s arms, marking his skin. It was delicious; Hephaistion’s muscles contracted feeling the King inside him, filling him completely, and a tingle ran through his legs. The contrast between his hot body and the cold breastplate was driving him crazy,

 

Alexander felt every fiber of his body burning, hearing the sensual moans that escaped from the sweet mouth of Hephaistion. He would never be tired of him; he was fascinated to hear Hephaistion scream, moan and sigh with pleasure.

 

- You are… so beautiful… Phai –whispered the King against his cheek, panting—And you are… mine.

 

Hephaistion thought many things in that moment but he found himself incapable of articulating a coherent phrase; he just embraced Alexander, hiding his face in the King’s neck.

 

Hephaistion rocked over him, enjoying the hardness inside him, like a tower of flesh that sent sparks through his body with each movement. He felt his body melted, his senses were overwhelmed, he could not stop, he wanted more, wanted it all. Alexander threw the head back, closing his eyes and took his fingers to his friend’s butt, caressing its roundness, stroking his invaded entry and making that an almost magical reaction spread through their bodies. Hephaistion trembled and contracted, locking the King at each thrust.

 

Soon, Hephaistion felt he couldn't take more and found his release between sensual and shakily moans, being exhausted and completely satisfied. But Alexander moved his hips against him, still far from being sated, his senses overwhelmed by the electrifying sensation that caused him to be within his soul mate.

 

Hephaistion was very tired after all he had being through that day, his fight against the mercenaries, the emotion of seeing his dear friend again; his body lay languidly on Alexander, feeling his touch and his thrusts almost as if he was dreaming. The King kissed his neck and licked it gently, soon reaching his release.

 

At the entrance Kyros closed the door just because he heard somebody in the corridor and didn’t want to explain what he was doing there.

 

A cold bath, yes that’s what I need, with freezing water –thought the Theban, walking away from there.

 

XXX

 

Next day Alexander was so happy, that the sun shone more brightly, his food hadn’t been better, the world was a happy place, his army was the most powerful in the world, Kleitos had never been a better hipparch, Parmelio was the best adviser and even Philotas was a nice person.

 

- He got laid –said Ptolemy and Perdikkas nodded.

 

- You bet he did –said his friend watching the extremely happy King, it almost appeared as if flowers, little hearts and stars were shining around him.

 

- Joy to you! –said their glowing King, when he walked near them.

 

- Joy to you, Alexander –said Perdikkas, trying his best to not laugh.

 

- You are in a great mood today –Ptolemy pointed out, grinning. 

 

- Why shouldn’t I? I have Miletus in my hands and Phai is back –said Alexander, one step of jumping happily like a little boy—Oh! I have to go, I’m planning to have breakfast with him.

 

And soon he was gone, was he singing? Ptolemy shook his head and laughed, after weeks seeing Alexander in a terrible mood it was a good change.

 

Hephaistion for his part was still sleeping. He wasn’t completely recovered, he hadn’t rest well in Memnon’s house being on alert day and night, and his King had him very “busy” the night before. He was deeply asleep when he felt soft kisses on his back, he opened his eyes lazily and then he found Alexander there carrying a tray with his breakfast. 

 

- Alex? –asked Hephaistion with a sleepy voice, rolling to rest on his side between the rustle of the sheets.

 

The King smiled and sat besides him.

 

- Joy to you my love.

 

My love? –thought Hephaistion raising and eyebrow. Since when was Alexander so affectionate?

 

- I brought you breakfast –said the King, he just couldn’t stop smiling, and it was contagious because soon his best friend was smiling too.

 

Hephaistion sat and moved to make room for Alexander next to him. Hephaistion put the tray on his lap.

 

- You cooked this, didn’t you? –said Hephaistion, taking a piece of chicken—This taste exactly as your infamous chicken soup.

 

- Infamous? I will never cook for you again, Phai –said the King, pretending to be offended.

 

His best friend smiled and kissed his cheek.

 

- Thank you, but why are you so loving today? –he asked, taking another bite.

 

- Isn’t that obvious? You are with me again –Alexander kissed his shoulder, tracing all his way down his arm—We need to celebrate and I want to spoil you. 

 

The King embraced him, surrounding his waist, leaning his face against his abdomen and making him laughed.

 

- You aren’t going to let me eat –Alexander kissed and sucked his skin, tasting his salty flavor.

 

- Why not? –he asked between kisses—I’m not covering your mouth or something like that.

 

- You are impossible.

 

Hephaistion ate his breakfast the best he could with the King wrapped around his waist and laughing every time he tickled him. But when Alexander took his hand between his legs…

 

- What are you doing? –asked Hephaistion, his cheeks colored with a bright pink.

 

The King blinked with innocence, his eyes as big and adorable as the ones of a little kitten.

 

- What else? 

 

- But we made love last night –Hephaistion was still naked and showing the remnants of Alexander’s displays of affection.

 

- And? –asked the King, failing to see his point.

 

- You are serious –said his best friend when he saw the two cute red spots on Alexander’s cheeks.

 

- Of course I am –the King took away the tray with the dishes and threw Hephaistion on the bed, kissing his legs and caressing his creamy skin, all the way up making his friend laugh—Spread your legs –he asked in a whisper and Hephaistion did as he was told, feeling how Alexander introduced 2 fingers in him, making him shudder—You are still wet from last night –he whispered against his best friend skin, kissing his thighs.

 

- You talk too much –said Hephaistion sighing, his cheeks rosy and his eyes half open.

 

The King smiled.

 

XXX

 

- It’s all right with you if you stay in bed all day? –asked Hephaistion, his head resting on Alexander’s chest.

 

- Why not? I deserve a rest, don’t you think? –answered the King, caressing his beloved’s back.

 

- I’m not complaining –Hephaistion smiled, he couldn’t be happier. He had Alexander all for himself—What are you planning to do now?

 

- With you? Spend all day here –said the King kissing his head.

 

- With he army, moron –his best friend smiled like a fool.

 

- Well, first, I’m going to disband my fleet –Hephaistion straightened himself, leaning his weight on his elbow, and looked at him in utterly astonishment.

 

- Why?

 

- Because I don’t trust the Greeks –explained the King, pulling his best friend to make him rest again at his side—Also if the men saw the fleet going, then they would be sure that I’m not planning in going back soon.

 

- Parmelio is not going to agree with you –said Hephaistion, thinking in all the consequences of this decision.

 

- I’m the King, Phai –Alexander was getting angry. Lately the subject of Parmelio took out the worst of him.

 

- I know, don’t get mad –Hephaistion made a mental note: he would have to ask what had happened in those days he wasn’t with the army—What else are you planning?

 

- We are going to Alida –said the King, playing his best friend’s long locks—Queen Ada wants to see me.

 

- Who is she? 

 

- She er…it’s a little complicated –Alexander’s uneven eyes were resting on the tent’s ceiling— Do you remember Pixodarus?

 

- The guy that offered his daughter in marriage to Arrhidaeus, and then you sent Thessalus the actor as your ambassador to offer yourself instead of your brother? –asked Hephaistion embarrassing his lover; there was a way in which he said things that sound worse than they were. 

 

- That one.

 

- What about him? Are you going to marry his daughter now? –Hephaistion teased him.

 

- You are not funny.

 

- Oh really! I found this hilarious since I was the one who told you, NOT to sent Thessalus –Hephaistion reminded him.

 

Alexander puffed out.

 

- I’m sorry, all right? I should have listen to you, happy now?

 

- Very much, thank you. But what happened with Pixodarus?

 

- He is dead.

 

- Oh! And why is that bad for us? –asked his best friend, tracing figures with his finger on the King’s skin.

 

- Is not bad for us, is bad for Queen Ada –explained Alexander, braiding his lover’s hair—You see, when Pixodarus couldn’t marry his daughter to us, he arranged her marriage with a Persian noble named Orontobates. When Pixodarus died Orontobates took his place as the ruler of Halicarnassus, but the legitimate ruler is Queen Ada. 

 

- Why is she the legitimate ruler? –Hephaistion wanted to know.

 

- Because she is Pixodarus’ elder sister, and he seized the power by usurpation.

 

- Let me get this straight –Hephaistion cleared his throat—You are going to ally yourself to Queen Ada and restore her as the legitimate ruler of Halicarnassus.

 

- That’s right. 

 

- It’s a good plan –Alexander smiled, to have Hephaistion’s approval was always important for him.

 

The King kissed his head.

 

- Gods how I missed you –they fell silent a moment, just hearing their slow breathing and the distant sounds outside.

 

- Alex? I want to ask you something –said Hephaistion, finally finding an opportunity to talk about this.

 

I should tell him about Memnon –thought Hephaistion.

 

- Anything you want, my love –said the King in that silly voice that people in love use.

 

- Really? –Hephaistion lifted his head to see him—I want Krateros out from the army, you can send him back to Macedonia, and preferably walking, that would be great.

 

Alexander narrowed his eyes and his hands left his best friend’s hair.

 

- Hephaistion! –he scolded him.

 

- What? You were the one who said “anything you want, my love” and your love wants Krateros far far away from here –he said smiling and the King puffed out.

 

- I’m not sending Krateros back to Macedonia.

 

- You have no word –Hephaistion teased him, resting his head again on his King’s chest—But that was not what I wanted to say.

 

- What do you want then?

 

Now! I should tell him now –said Hephaistion to himself.

 

- I want you to spare the lives of the Greek mercenaries here –said his best friend taking Alexander by surprise. He didn’t dare to tell him about what had happened with the Greek mercenary.

 

- Why would you want that? They kept you as their prisoner –said the King, he didn’t understand Hephaistion’s request.

 

- Yes, but they are not bad people –Hephaistion kissed his chest—And you can use they, they are good soldiers. 

 

Alexander sighed.

 

- All right, I will employ them –his best friend smiled and kissed his chest again—Phai?

 

- Mm?

 

- I have a story for you –said Alexander smiling.

 

- About what?

 

- Do you remember Apelles?

 

- Yes.

 

How can I forget Apelles? He made a painting of me when I was 16 years old, just before going to Byzantium with King Philip…and that painting put me in a lot of trouble 2 hundred years later. I was at Rome, just after Caesar returned from Egypt to celebrate his delay triumph after conquering Gaul. Of course I was invited to the celebration at his house in the Palatine hill, but there he had a collection of art pieces from all Greece and in a special hall were the painting that Apelles did of Alexander.

 

I spent there a long time, watching the face of my soul mate more than 2 centuries after his dead, until I saw my painting too… I don’t have to say that I have to play dumb, and try not to catch the attention of Rome’s most brilliant military commander. 

 

- Well, he was at Ephesus a few days ago –said the King—He wanted to make a painting of me, you know after my impressive victory at the Granicus.

 

- You mean after you were defeated –Hephaistion teased him, again.

 

- Hephaistion, I think I’m starting to love you less –his lover laughed.

 

- Please, where is your sense of humor? –asked his best friend playfully—What happened with Apelles?

 

- I try to give him some advices about the painting, but he didn’t take them too well –said Alexander and his lover could see why the greatest painter in all Greece wasn’t please to hear the “advices” of an amateur— Apelles suggest that I should pose with Boukephalos and so I did. When he finished, Boukephalos neighed seeing the painting and Apelles said “You see, O King, the horse is really a far better judge of art than you are”(2)

 

Hephaistion laughed so hard that his wound started to hurt, but he didn’t care. It had been so many days since the last time he laugh like that…and Alexander was so happy that he ended laughing too.

 

Peritas appeared then, he jumped on the bed and started crying at Hephaistion and pushing him with his head.

 

- Peritas, what’s wrong? –asked Hephaistion turning to see the dog, and Peritas cried again and licked his hand.

 

- I think that’s his way of saying that he missed you –said Alexander while his best friend caressed the dog’s ears.

 

- Peritas is thinner than the last time I saw him –Hephaistion patted the dog’s side—You are not feeding him well –he scolded the King. 

 

- Phai, we don’t have enough supplies, I’m not eating well –said Alexander in his defense.

 

- Eumenes does a terrible job in charge of supplies here –his best friend complained and the King sighed.

 

- Maybe, but for now he is all I have –the King saw how Peritas was happily lying next to his friend. The dog exhaled a long sigh—And what are you doing there? –he said pushing his dog out of the bed—He is mine –but Peritas growled making Hephaistion laughed again.

 

XXX

 

(1) Edmond Rostand. Cyrano de Bergerac. Act III

(2) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 186