CHAPTER 54

 

Philotas thought he had died and reached the Olympus. His dream was coming true; he had desired Hephaistion since the General was a boy of 15 years old at Mieza, wrestling against Leonnatos. Only Koinos had seemed Philotas that distant day, watching Amyntor’s son with his mouth opened, Hephaistion’s perfect creamy skin beaded with sweat, his face blushed with the effort, panting and grunting as he tried to beat the invincible Leonnatos.

 

That was an image he had never managed to forget, that, and his memory of Hephaistion at Ilium, naked and covered in oil, hadn’t done more than feed his lust for him, year after year. A desire that had burned his soul and tormented his nights.

 

He had tried to hate Hephaistion, after he refused to become his eromenos, but was in vain. The one he had hated all this time was Alexander. Then, why had he been such a jerk with the General? Because he knew that would hurt the King.

 

Alexander was the one who had executed his best friend, the only person in the world who understood him as nobody else could, Amyntas son of the late King Perdikkas III. He was sure that, if Alexander hadn’t been in his way, Hephaistion would have been his since they were boys.

 

Philotas kissed and slid down his lips through Hephaistion’s cheek, the strong smell of alcohol filled their nostrils but it mattered little to him, the softness of his skin was addictive and every sound that came out of his mouth took Philotas a little closer to the Elysian Fields.

 

Philotas took his thighs and, obediently, Hephaistion spread his legs for him. This was a vision that only the King had seen, something restricted only for his eyes, and the hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry, found himself divided between 2 powerful feelings: lust and jealousy. He could feel Hephaistion’s breathe hitting his neck, and his arms surrounding his back, his warmth body against him was something he could die for.

 

Philotas caressed his thighs with his thumbs, enjoying the friction between their skins, he was ready to finish this, ready to fulfill all his dreams, when he felt the General’s arms falling on the bed. He lifted his head and saw, to his complete astonishment, that Hephaistion had passed out at last, after 18 drinks of Kleitos’ mysterious beverage. For a moment Philotas didn’t understand what was going on, he took the General by the shoulder and shook him.

 

- Hep…Phai! –he whispered—Phai!

 

But Hephaistion was too drunk to wake up. With luck, he would open his eyes again until next day’s noon.

 

- Shit! –Philotas cursed.

 

What now? –thought Parmelio’s son. He was naked, horny and between Hephaistion’s legs. And, the malicious evil high-pitched little voice of his hormones shouted their answer at the same time: “what else? We are already here, right?” He licked his lips again—What the hell?   

 

Philotas kissed one of Hephaistion’s knees and was ready to thrust inside him…

 

- PHILOTAS! –a very angry and surprised voice shouted, making the hipparch turned, still holding the General’s legs.

 

The tent’s flaps were opened and the light of the torches streamed through the opening. A man was standing there, a dark silhouette outlined against the light that didn’t allowed Philotas to see who it was. The newcomer didn’t waste time waiting for an explanation, he took one of Hephaistion’s swords, which rested on the side of the bed and went after Philotas. If Parmelio’s son hadn’t had such good reflexes, his life would have ended there, skewered like a pig.

 

Philotas took his sword from the floor and stood there, naked and ready to face his opponent, who didn’t waste time and attacked again. The newcomer was serious, aiming to kill, this was no game. The clanging of swords clash drew the attention of the guards, and the first one to run into the tent was Eurycliedes, but as soon as he came in, he didn’t know what to do when he found that peculiar scene before his eyes. One of his companions entered with a lamp and then, Philotas saw he was fighting against the King.

 

The guards didn’t think twice and they ran to restrain the hipparch, to protect the King. 

 

- YOU ARE A MOTHELESS DOG, PHILOTAS! –shouted Alexander, angry beyond all reason—I should kill you right there, like the pig you are.

 

Eurycliedes had never seen his King so angry and he shivered, but one look at the bed told him everything he needed to know. He blushed when his eyes found the long, shapely legs of the General, separated and displayed on the rumpled bed. Hephaistion was naked but covered slightly with the sheet. 

 

Philotas laughed, and Eurycliedes thought he was very brave or absolutely crazy, he would have pissed himself if the King were watching him with that fury and anger.

 

- Kill me? Under what charges my King? –he mocked Alexander. He too had drunk too much that night and was feeling very bold and challenging.

 

The King clenched his jaw and tried to attack him again…

 

- What’s going on here? –the booming voice of Kleitos filled the place, Dismas came behind him, to see if his General was fine.

 

This was a very bizarre scene, Philotas naked and held by 2 guards, an unconscious Hephaistion almost complete naked on the bed and a very furious Alexander with sword in had. The new comers didn’t have to be genius to guess what had happened there.

 

Dismas took the blanket and covered Hephaistion, it wasn’t right that the men had to see the General like this. 

 

- Is it really necessary to have me here like a criminal? –Philotas loosened himself from the guards’ grip, and, with calm and impudence looked for his chiton on the floor, to get dress.

 

- Do you really think you are going to get away with this so easily? –asked the King, in a tone of voice that gave the creeps to all the present there, including Philotas, though he made a supreme effort not to show it—You almost rape Hephaistion. 

 

- Rape? Where did you get that idea? He wanted to sleep with me –said Philotas, and Alexander laughed scornfully—He asked me to take him –which was half-truth because the General thought he was the King.

 

Kleitos snorted.

 

- Philotas, do you think we are stupid? –he said—Hephaistion drank too much, I bet he didn’t even knew who you were… that –Kleitos saw the unconscious form of the General—If he was awake when you tried to have sex with him.  

 

- Who do you think you are talking to, Kleitos? –said Philotas angry, he was like a hunted animal—Hephaistion was awake, and very much in need of my attentions, why is so hard to believe that he wanted to have some fun with me?

 

This time, Kleitos had to hold Alexander before he killed Parmelio’s son, but it wasn’t easy. The King was like a furious bull. 

 

- I will KILL you, Philotas –the King growled.

 

- Ask the guards, and they will tell you how hard were Hephaistion moaning.

 

- SHUT UP, Philotas! –shouted Kleitos, he didn’t know for how long he would be able to hold the King—And get the hell out of here. 

 

Philotas was going to open his mouth again when he saw Alexander’s eyes. He swallowed hard and decided to go. One thing was to want to make the King angry, another very different to have a dead wish.

 

- Why did you let him go? –Alexander demanded to know, breathing heavily, as soon as Philotas was gone.

 

- Because we all are a little drunk, and no good will come of killing Parmelio’s son –said Kleitos, unable to hold the King’s gaze. 

 

The King didn’t say a thing. He walked to where Hephaistion was lying.

 

- Dismas!

 

- Sire.

 

- Take the General to my room, and this time, do not let anyone inside, did you hear me? NO ONE can enter my room –said the King.

 

- Perfectly, sire –said Dismas—Eurycliedes, help me. 

 

- Yes, sir –answered the guard.

 

- Alexander…

 

- I don’t want to hear more about this Kleitos –said the King.

 

- All right.

 

XXX

 

Next day’s afternoon Hephaistion opened his eyes and wished he hadn’t wake up at all. His head hurt as if someone had knocked him with a hammer, the weak sunrays, that came through the curtains, hit his face as if they were a terrible fire burning his skin, and his stomach felt as if a battle was being fought inside. 

 

The General heard the door opening, but for him, the slightly creaking sound was like war drums, and the soft paces of Kyros like the steps of Atlas.

 

- Are you awake? –asked the Theban, bending at his side.

 

- Mm…don’t shout Kyros –Hephaistion complained, covering his head with the pillow.

 

- Sorry…are you hungry? –just the thought of food made his stomach revolt, and the Theban had to run to fetch a bucket.

 

Kyros took care of his master, cleaned him and gave him to drink a lot of water, before the General fell again on the bed.

 

- Where am I? –muttered Hephaistion.

 

- In the King’s room –said Kyros whispering— Do you want something?

 

- I want to die –said his master from under the pillow.

 

- Right…Um…I’ll go then, but I’ll be outside if you need something –whispered the Theban, covering the General with a blanket before leaving.

 

Hephaistion didn’t know how long he was alone; the pain in his head didn’t let him think. He wished to fall asleep again, but then he felt a strong hand on his back.

 

- Phai?

 

- Alex?

 

- I won’t ask if you are fine, because I can’t tell you are not –said the King softly, taking a seat at his side.

 

- How considerate…Want to do something useful? –asked his best friend, hiding his head like an ostrich.

 

- Mm?

 

Hephaistion took away the pillow and turned to see him. 

 

- Please, stroke my head –the King smiled.

 

Alexander sat closer and put his best friend’s head of on his lap, gently caressing his head, and stroking his temples. 

 

- Mm…that’s better –purred Hephaistion, closing his eyes.

 

- Phai, do you remember what happened last night? –Alexander had to ask. He had interrogated Eurycliedes about last night events, but that had only made things worst.

 

- Sire, the hipparch Philotas came a few moments later his brother Nikanor had left –had said the guard—And…well…I could hear the General…em…– Eurycliedes blushed—I could hear him laughing and moaning, sire.

 

- Are you sure? –the King insisted and the guard blushed even more. 

 

- Yes, sire –said Eurycliedes—The General…er--…well, he is, um…he is very noisy.

 

That was true; Hephaistion was very noisy when they made love, which was one of the things the King liked about him, but now he didn’t know what had happened. Not for a second he though Philotas had said the truth, after all, Hephaistion didn’t like him. 

 

Kleitos is right –thought the King—Phai was too drunk, he should not have known with who he was.

 

- Mm?…You mean about the drinking competition? –asked Hephaistion in a sleepy voice.

 

- After that –his best friend made an effort to think, oh but to think was too painful.

 

- I don’t remember anything after the sixteenth drink –his best friend muttered—Or was the fifteenth?…I don’t know… 

 

- You don’t know who won, then? –the King pushed the question.

 

- Please, just tell me it wasn’t Krateros –pleaded Hephaistion with his eyes closed.

 

- No, it was a tie –said Alexander—You gave up and Krateros passed out.

 

- And if he passed out, why was a tie? I should have win, don’t you think?

 

- You gave up –explained the King.

 

- Oh…

 

- By the way, your brother wants to kill you –Alexander informed him—Apparently he bet 2 months salary on you. 

 

- Too bad…

 

- Phai, you really don’t remember anything else? –the King insistence was suspicious. Hephaistion straightened himself to look at him.

 

- What did I do last night? –asked the General—And don’t lie to me. 

 

Alexander took a moment before answering. If Hephaistion didn’t remember a thing, he didn’t thought it would be good for him to know what had almost happened with Philotas. The night before, the King was so mad, that the first thing he did was check his best friend’s body. Philotas must be very grateful with the Gods because if Alexander had found he had made Hephaistion his, he would have killed him with his own hands without caring about the consequences.  

 

- Alexander!

 

- So, you conveniently forgot the fact that you made fun of your King –said the King confusing him—You started laughing after the party, and said, that I was so short that you didn’t know how was possible for people to see me on the battlefield.

 

Hephaistion laughed, a nervous laugh. He didn’t remember it.

 

- You are kidding –but one look at the King’s face told him otherwise. Oh, how embarrassing.

 

- Tell me something; do you really think I’m too short? –Alexander wanted to know, making things hard for his General.

 

- I…um…well, you…em… certainly aren’t a tall man –said Hephaistion clumsily.

 

- You are not helping your case, Phai.

 

- All right, yes I think you are…not very tall –his best friend said in the nicest words he could find. 

 

- Not very tall? –Alexander saw him through narrowed eyes.

 

- You just aren’t going to let it go, do you? –his best friend sighed—Fine, you are short and yes I think you are shorter than the average, happy?

 

- Not particularly –muttered the King. 

 

- But, I like you a lot –said Hephaistion, leaning again his head against the King’s lap, and tickling his thighs with his hair—You are the only one who makes my heart beat faster.

 

- Tell me other thing?

 

- Go ahead.

 

- What do you like the most about me? –asked Alexander with curiosity.

 

- Why do you ask that…Oh! I see, what else did I say last night?

 

- No, I asked first –Hephaistion puffed out.

 

- Your butt –he said at last—Your turn now, what did I say? 

 

- Pretty much the same –answered the King—Just that you spanked me too.

 

- Oh shit! –said his best friend ashamed—I will not drink again –vain words, all the Macedonians said the same after a particularly wild night—Now is my time to ask.

 

- What do you want to know? –the General took a moment before speaking again.

 

- Did we make love last night? –that question froze Alexander.

 

- Why do you ask? –he asked without voice.

 

- Because I have this –he raised his arm and the King saw a clear and red hickey, that made his blood burned in rage—And I have another one in my thigh.

 

Alexander cursed in the worst words of the Macedonian language, and that, took Hephaistion by surprised.

 

- What was that for? –asked the General confused.

 

- Nothing –the King said abruptly.

 

- Why are you so angry? 

 

- I said “nothing” Phai –said Alexander in a bad mood.

 

His best friend was going to keep asking when somebody knocked the door.

 

- What? –roared the King.

 

Kyros head appeared.

 

- I’m sorry to interrupt, sire –said the Theban, trying his best not to shake. The King always scared him, even more if he was in a bad mood—But the Persian embassy is outside the city, they want the General’s answer about the Great King’s invitation.

 

- Why can’t I have a peaceful morning? –Hephaistion lamented.

 

- It’s pass noon, Phai.

 

- Whatever.

 

- I’ll see them –said the King to Kyros, but Hephaistion stood up, closing his eyes, the pain in his head was horrible.

 

- No, I’ll go. This is my problem.

 

- Are you sure? –asked Alexander.

 

- Yes.

 

XXX

 

As the day before, the Greek Maeon was outside the city with his impressive companions. Hephaistion felt his head was going to explode at each step, but he manage to get to where the Persians were waiting. He had thought a lot about this and reached the conclusion that the best thing to do was to write a letter to the Great King.

 

Never before to write a letter had been so difficult. Hephaistion spent almost an hour staring at the blank parchment and feeling as if the parchment was staring back at him. How could he begin a letter to Darius? In Macedonia he could use the King’s name, like “Alexander King of the Macedonians, hail!” Should he do that too?

 

Why not? –thought the General after a long moment—I write like this to Aristotle. After all, what is good enough to my King should be good enough to Darius.  

 

I see you are smiling. Yes, I was very naïve; do I have to remind you that I had no way of knowing how was the protocol at the Persian court? All I knew about the Persians was what I read in Herodotus’ Histories, and many gossips that merchants brought from distant places. I had only known 4 Kings in that moment of my life: Philip, Alexandros, Langarus and Alexander. So, I started writing a very innocent letter to Darius, Great King of Persia, hail!

 

- Do you have an answer? –asked Maeon, when Hephaistion approached them. Now bathed and feeling slightly better. Again, a great crowd had gathered outside Side to witness the event. 

 

- Yes. Tell the Great King that I’m flatter with his invitation but I can’t accept it –said Hephaistion formally, giving the mercenary his letter—I can’t leave my King and my duties to go to Susa.

 

- Very well then –said Maeon, putting the letter inside this clothes—I’ll deliver your message. Health to you, Hephaistion son of Amyntor!

 

- Health to you, Maeon son of son of Theas!

 

And the Persians left. Leaving behind an avalanche of rumors.

 

- That was a very clever answer –Hephaistion didn’t hide his surprise when he saw that Philotas was talking to him, and not only that, he was being nice.

 

- Thanks.

 

I guess –said the General to himself.

 

Philotas closed the distance between then, Hephaistion looked calm, a little pale but the same as always.

 

He doesn’t remember a thing –thought Parmelio’s son, and suddenly an idea struck him.

 

- How do you feel? –he asked almost sweetly.

 

What?! Philotas concerned about me? The world is coming to an end –thought Hephaistion.

 

- I’m fine, just a little headache –the last thing he would have though was that Parmelio’s son could have a civilize conversation with him. Before that night at Mieza, when he had turned down Philotas offer to be his eromenos, he had never talked to him, after that, Philotas was always a jerk. Now was being nice? What had changed in so little time? 

 

- You almost won yesterday –said Philotas in a soft tone that had the General even more confused.

 

- Almost –oh, Hephaistion felt so awkward talking like this with the hipparch. 

 

Philotas took another step toward him, invading his personal space, making him uncomfortable. The hipparch wasn’t as tall as he was but he could almost feel his breath against his skin. The General took a step back.

 

- I was thinking…when you feel better, would you like to go for a ride? –now the General was sure that Kleitos’ alcohol had killed all his neurons, and he was starting to hallucinate.

 

- You want to go for a ride…with me? –asked Hephaistion as if Philotas had just said pigs could fly.

 

- Yes, after what happened last night I thought that maybe you…

 

- Whoa, stop there –said Hephaistion—What happened last night?

 

Philotas blinked confused, looking innocently to Hephaistion.

 

- You mean…you don’t remember? –he almost sounded hurt.

 

The General was starting to fear something really bad had happened.

 

- Philotas, I was very drunk –he said trying to remain calm—And no, I don’t remember.

 

- Oh…well, we slept together –Philotas explained with simplicity. 

 

- WE WHAT?! –exclaimed Hephaistion, dragging the attention of the people near them. He went pale and felt his legs would no longer carried him—You are kidding me.

 

- No Hephaistion, I helped my brother Nikanor to take you to your tent and you…well, you were very horny –said Philotas—You practically jumped at me.

 

Hephaistion blushed savagely.

 

Is this true? –but then he remembered Alexander’s fury when he had asked if they had made love—What have I done?

 

- Philotas, I am…

 

- PHILOTAS! –shouted the King, striding to reach them. 

 

Oh, no –thought Hephaistion in dismay, covering his face with his hand.  

 

- What the hell do you think you are doing? –demanded Alexander.

 

- Just talking to Hephaistion.

 

- STOP MESSING WITH ME! –shouted the King, a group of birds flew scared—I should have kill you after what happened last night.

 

- Kill me? Under what charge? –asked Philotas, crossing his arms with an air of superiority that annoyed Alexander even more. 

 

- You raised a sword against me –the King’s words scared Hephaistion. What had happened?

 

- After you almost kill me, I was defending myself –said Philotas—If you want to execute me, I must have first a trial, and no Macedonian is going to convict me for sleeping with your lover.

 

Oh this is so embarrassing –thought Hephaistion. Definitely he wasn’t going to drink again.

 

- Don’t test my patience…

 

- Alex –Hephaistion took him by the arm—Stop, please, just…forget it.

 

- Forget it?! –the King saw his best friend as if he had gone mad—He almost rape you! 

 

- Lets go back, my head is killing me…please –Alexander took a deep breath and went with him, not before giving Philotas a very nasty look.

 

XXX

 

- Why are you protecting Philotas? –Alexander demanded to know as soon as they were alone in his room.

 

- I’m not, I’m protecting you –said Hephaistion patiently—Alex please, what can you do? He is right, you can’t kill him without a trial, and even if you put him in one, Parmelio has half of the army; do you really think he is not going to march against you if you do something against his oldest son?

 

- And what do you want? That I do nothing? –the King started pacing around—You are too calm.

 

- I was drunk, I don’t even remember what happen, and maybe it wasn’t entirely Philotas fault…

 

That was true; Hephaistion didn’t know what to think. He didn’t remember a thing, and if Philotas was saying the truth, then, it had been his fault too, he couldn’t just cross his arms and blame Parmelio’s son.

 

- Are you out of your mind? –Alexander raised his voice—He took advantage of you!

 

- Please, forget it, at least for now –the General wanted time to think— I don’t want to cause you troubles.

 

The King wasn’t very convinced. What Alexander wanted to do was, to take his spear and impaled the hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry. He wasn’t going to miss him, after all, Philotas complained about everything, nobody liked him, he was conceited and arrogant, and treated the pezetairoi as if they were his servants. Philotas had the idea that, to treat nice his men, was the same as to encourage laziness and indiscipline. 

 

BUT. Oh, the great BUT, was Parmelio, again the old General. Hephaistion was right, he couldn’t touch Philotas without a trial, after all they were civilized men, not barbarians, right? And as a Macedonian, Philotas had the right of a trial. If Parmelio heard that his eldest son was put on one, he was perfectly capable of marching against the King, arguing that an injustice had been committed against his always loyal family.

 

The veterans of King Philip loved Parmelio, which means the best soldiers the King had. And not only that, Alexander couldn’t afford showing a weakness to the Persians. Something like this would reach the Great King’s ears and also, a scandal of this magnitude would damage the troop’s moral.

 

In conclusion, Philotas couldn’t die…now.

 

- All right, I’ll leave this for now –said the King at last— But I’m not going to forget what Philotas did, never.

 

XXX

 

Nikanor ran as fast as he could to the house where his older brother was staying. Almost all the officers of the army stayed in their tents near their men outside the city, but not Philotas, he hated tents.

 

- What have you done? –asked Nikanor, arriving to his brother’s room—I heard from one of my men that you slept with Hephaistion?

 

- Yes, why do you ask? –said Philotas, that was his story and he was sticking to it. He didn’t look at his brother, he was checking the last letter from his father.

 

Nikanor took the letter to force him to look at him.

 

- Hephaistion was very drunk last night –he said, bent in front of him—You took advantage of him.

 

- I didn’t take advantage of him! –Philotas raised his voice—He was horny, Nikanor, and he jumped at me. 

 

- Oh, really? And what were you doing in his tent in the first place? –Nikanor wasn’t a fool, of course he knew the General was horny, he had heard it from his lips, but his older brother had nothing to be doing inside the tent—And even if he “jumped at you” you couldn’t do the honorable thing and left him alone?

 

- I don’t have to give you explanations? –said Philotas angry.

 

- I will write to Father, Philotas, and I will tell him everything.

 

- Do as you please, I don’t care.

 

And with that, Nikanor left his brother alone.