CHAPTER 6

 

The love, the pain, the hope, O beautiful one

have made you mine, until all my years are done

Without you

the poetry within me is dead

(Nightwish. Gethsemane)

 

 

 

Time passed, and every day appeared to me as if Alexander and I had been friends since birth. Leon and Perdikkas couldn’t be happier, now they didn’t have to choose and could share the same time with both of his best friends… Leon and Perdikkas, sometimes I wonder, what would have being of them if Alexander hadn’t died at such a young age? I’m only certain of one thing, they wouldn’t have died in the stupid way they did, and they would have lived to enjoy the fruits of their conquests. Asia charged us all with the blood of her invaders… But, at that young age, it was impossible to know how we would en; we had our heads full of dreams of glory, and everything seemed perfect.

 

On my 15th birthday, Alexander gave me a beautiful copy of the Iliad, and as incredible as it sounds, I still have it. Ptolemy had no option but to start accepting me as part of their circle of friends. The fool and opportunist Ptolemy, if we can say something good about him is, that despite his natural stupidity, he had sufficient brain activity to know how to take advantage of the circumstances. He was the first one to notice that Alexander wasn’t going to get tired of me “as soon as he bedded me” as Cassander once said, for that reason he was nice to me.

 

Ptolemy loved Alexander, but I never liked him, and liked him even less when he crowned himself as Egypt’s Pharaoh and started that infamous rumor that he was King Philip’s bastard son.

 

Yeah, right.

 

I never heard that story while Alexander lived… How convenient. I just can say I was very happy when Caesar Augustus invaded Egypt after the battle of Actium and Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, the last of Ptolemy’s descendant, died.

 

But I’m changing the subject. Harpalos, that one was really stupid, he was unable to distinguish among a Persian, an Indian and a Greek even if they had signs over their heads. I never understood why Alexander had Harpalos with him and, at the end, he turned out to be not only an imbecile but also a thief. But will get to that in time… Harpalos was polite with me but he never liked me. Nearchos and Koinos were kind and treated me with respect because it made Alexander happy. I was all right with that; Koinos was a nice guy, honest and sincere; at the end we even became friends.

 

Ptolemy, Harpalos and Nearchos were appointed as the Prince’s advisors by the King, they were older than us and came from the high nobility. What Philip expected from them was to guide his hotheaded son. They all started like strangers and ended friends, even if their advices weren’t the best ones Alexander always treated them with honor and counted them among the members on his inner circle… but once again, I’m changing the subject. 

 

Cassander was always unbearable, in those days I couldn’t have known that one day he would be the King of Macedonia, but when it happened I wasn’t surprise. He was ambitious and clever, a fatal combination. And with Philotas was happening something I couldn’t understand in that moment. First, I thought he was jealous because the Prince was always with me, but I never imagined the rest…

    

Philotas… he is one the darkest memories of my mortal days, but I don’t regret what happened between us. I could even say that thanks to him I am what I am now. 

 

Philip frequently visited Alexander, and, as you can imagine, I conveniently disappeared during his visits. Their father/son relationship was good and because of this I felt Alexander was betraying me. It was foolish from my part to feel that way, and I fought to keep my feeling concealed from him. After all, no mattered what Philip had done to me, he was Alexander’s father.

 

As one may think, Alexander was good in almost everything. Leonnatos excelled in wrestling, and I was excellent in debate, which made me extremely unpopular. In Macedonia people used to said: “a man ready to speak pro and con is clearly a false person who proved that he is a good liar”(1)  

 

A couple of moths before my 16th birthday, a series of events that I’ll never forget, took place… 

 

- Young men, today I want to discuss with you a subject of extreme importance. People use to talk much about this particular matter but they understand little –Aristotle made a pause until he was sure he had the complete attention of his students— We are to discuss friendship.

 

The philosopher walked slowly among the rock benches adorning the garden. They were near a small lake and, in that particular hot day, the blowing cool air was both, refreshing and lulling.

 

- There are 3 main reasons to start a friendship –Aristotle counted with his fingers—Because one person is good, because one person is useful or because this person is pleasant –Alexander rested his elbows on his thighs, and listened with all his attention—When a friendship starts between people who are not equals, that friendship is imperfect. If the friendship starts because a person is useful or because is pleasant to the senses, that so-called friendship is condemned to failure –he made a pause again. The philosopher caught Leonnatos yawning and the poor boy closed his mouth so quickly, when he felt his teacher’s gaze on him, that he swallowed a fly.

 

- A true friend is one who loves or likes another person for the sake of that other person –Aristotle continued, shaking his head— It’s necessary that friends bear goodwill to each other, for when we know how to benefit a friend for his sake, we exercise the ethical virtues, and this is precisely what our happiness consists in (2).

 

- How can one know if a person is with you for interest or pleasure? –Harpalos asked.

 

- Oh, please! It’s quite simple –Hephaistion muttered, but his professor was close enough to hear. 

 

- What’s so simple, Hephaistion? –the boy of dark gray eyes lifted his head, taken by surprise.

 

- Well…er- to distinguish between a sincere person and one who is not –answered Hephaistion—It’s just… You just need to read a person, his eyes, his body language and his actions. 

 

- ‘Too simple’, you have no idea –Cassander mocked him and the group laughed, with the exceptions of Alexander and Aristotle.

 

- Silence! –asked the philosopher, without raising his voice—I’m afraid Hephaistion that’s not that simple, not anyone can “read people”, who is friend and who is foe? Who could be a good friend? Complicated questions with complicated answers, you could live in a city full of virtuous people and, even then, it will be difficult to find a good friend.  

 

Hephaistion tried his best to conceal his anger, but he was blushing savagely. For him, everything that Aristotle said was quite obvious, he had already thought some of those things since his friendship with Alexander started… and the Prince knew it! They had discussed some of these things together.

 

- A friend is “another self”, someone, in other words with whom one has a relationship very similar to the relationship one has with oneself –Aristotle surveyed the group to see if he had the complete attention of his students—Best friends share everything because they are the same soul in two bodies. 

 

Those words impressed Hephaistion, and left him thinking for a long time, missing the rest of the conversation about the fact that a true friendship could only exist between men, because only men were equal.

 

XXX

 

- That boy is too arrogant –said Kallisthenes, Aristotle’s nephew, watching the group go. 

 

- Hephaistion? No, he is not arrogant, he is… He had ideas too advance for this time –said his uncle, thinking—That is why is so difficult to understand him, he had ideas that are not Macedonian or Greek. It is almost as if, by mistake, Hephaistion had been born here and in this era, don’t you agree?

 

Kallisthenes frowned.

 

- I think you gave him too much credit, for me he is nothing more than a spoil and arrogant boy –Aristotle shrugged.

 

- Maybe, but I promised you something, you will hear a lot about this spoil and arrogant boy in the future.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion was angry for what had happened in class, he was thinking in Harpalos and Cassander’s words over and over again, and was walking too fast without noticing. Alexander, seeing his bad mood, pushed him playfully, successfully taking him out of his thoughts.  

 

- I’m so bored –Ptolemy complained, stretching himself, with his arms above his head, as tall as he was—Is in moments like this that I miss Nikandros the most.

 

- What’s that? –asked Hephaistion, genuinely curious.

 

- I’m in a desperate need for a woman –said the older boy making them laugh—And your brother is the best to get girls.

 

- I can imagine why… my brother the pimp –said Hephaistion.

 

- Hey! Hephaistion, I think of something, why don’t you give Ptolemy one of your fan-girls? –said Nearchus, and everybody laughed. Amyntor’s son just rolled his eyes, tired of being teased because the local girls had developed an insane obsession for him.

 

- Let’s go to Pella this weekend –proposed Philotas—I don’t think our presence will be required here.

 

- I don’t know, Aristotle is in a terrible mood since he heard the news about Hermeias –said Koinos, scratching his head.

 

- Well, I would also be in a terrible mood if the Persians had tortured and killed my lover –said Nearchos. 

 

- Hermeias was Aristotle’s lover? –asked Leonnatos, as if it was impossible that his professor had a sex-life.

 

- So the people said –answered Ptolemy, shrugging.

 

- Wait a second, wasn’t Hermeias a eunuch? –said Leonnatos, stopping in the middle of the garden.

 

- Yeah, so? –asked Hephaistion.

 

- But that’s gross! –Leonnatos exclaimed making them laugh—What’s so funny? Tell me Ptolemy, would you sleep with a eunuch?

 

- Leon, I don’t sleep with anyone who doesn’t have a good pair of…—he made a very rude and very obvious gesture with his hands over his chest—Here.

 

- Now you are going to tell me that you never slept with a boy? –said Harpalos, teasing him.

 

- I never said that, I’m just clarifying I don’t do that anymore.

 

- But Aristotle was married to Hermeias’ niece –Leonnatos continued, he couldn’t get over his shock.

 

Perdikkas patted him on the shoulder, like saying: “poor innocent little man”.

 

- How Hermeias died? –Hephaistion wanted to know.

 

- Oh, well; Hermeias had a great army of mercenaries and he controlled almost the entire Troad. He started to acted rather independently, so, the Great King suspected there was something fishy about him –explained Perdikkas—Besides, people said Aristotle spent some time in the eunuch’s domains and acted like an agent between Hermeias and King Philip, and, apparently, the Great King heard these rumors too taking them very seriously.   

 

- At the end, Artaxerxes Ochus tortured Hermeias to know his plans and contacts in Macedonia –Alexander continued the story—The Great King sent his general, a Greek mercenary called Mentor. Mentor tricked Hermeias making him believe he was there to escort him to a conference, and instead he put him under arrest, tortured, mutilated and impaled him, but Hermeias said nothing, and his secrets died with him. 

 

- For someone without balls it was quite brave –said Koinos—I’ll give the eunuch that.

 

- I’m the only one who’s hungry? –said Harpalos, and the group continued their way to the house. Philotas and Cassander had gone long ago.

 

- Come –whispered Alexander, taking Hephaistion by the arm.

 

He followed the Prince to their favorite spot in the garden, hidden among the trees. Alexander climbed to an apple-tree, with the same grace of a monkey, and threw his best friend 4 apples.

 

- You look more like a peasant than a Prince –Hephaistion teased him, watching the blond jump and stumble.

 

- I would prefer to look more like a Homeric hero –said Alexander, walking to him.

 

A few moments later, the two of them were lying on the thick grass, eating the apples under the warm sunlight.  

 

- I could live eating only apples –said the Prince with his mouth full.

 

- I know…

 

- You are too quiet –said Alexander—What’s wrong?

 

- I was thinking in…Hermeias’ story –answered Hephaistion, lying on his back, his hand shielding his eyes from the sun.

 

- What about him?

 

- He died in a terrible way but…he didn’t betray his allies… —Hephaistion was impressed.  

 

- Would you that?

 

- What?

 

- Give away the names of your allies in order to save your life? –Alexander examined the rests of his apple, lying on his side, elbow on the ground and his face resting on his hand.

 

- That’s what I was thinking since I heard that story –Amyntor’s son turned, laying on his side too, just a few inches away from the Prince.

 

- Well? –the blond tossed the apple away.

 

- I don’t know… I guess, I would only suffer that much for someone I love with all my heart –answered Hephaistion with intensity—Why do you look at me like that?

 

- You wouldn’t do it for your best friend? –asked Alexander, feeling a strange emotion in his chest.

 

- Do you really consider me your best friend? –Hephaistion caressed the Prince’s cheek, with the same delicacy of a butterfly, and Alexander leaned his head against his hand, like a kitten, closing his eyes to enjoy that creamy soft skin.  

 

At his almost 16 years old, Hephaistion was flawless, his beauty increased everyday and had all the peasant girls in the vicinity climbing the trees to spy on him inside the wonderful house where they lived. He was tall. His hair like silk ended at the middle of his back, his magnificent body was slender but his muscles were accentuated in perfect harmony with the rest of him.

 

The existence of a creature such as him was the living proof that there was a God in heaven. There was something in him that made the young man sensually sinful, reason why Philotas was crashing against the walls every time he saw the boy of dark gray eyes. Hephaistion awakened the fascination of the people around him and, when he laughed, he made Alexander feel he could sell his soul in order to have him forever at his side.  

 

There wasn’t one day in which Alexander didn’t burn in desire, wishing with all his might to touch him, taste his lips and drink from his breath. And these were sensations he couldn’t comprehend entirely. According to his professors reason could submit everything, and that was why the Greeks were superior. Alexander understood and accepted that, his greatest example was the libertine and promiscuous behavior of his father that had caused the King numerous problems, like the affair with Hephaistion. The Prince had witnessed his mother orgies in honor of Dionysus, the immoral life in the royal palace and had seen how lust consumed men and women of all social classes as easily as fire did with candles. Even the gods were susceptible to the low instincts of the flesh, specially Zeus, who had a long list of affairs with mortal women and a long list of demigods sons, like: Heracles, Perseus or the infamous Helen of Troy. Alexander couldn’t agree more with Aristotle, a chastity life was the best option.

 

Until now, the Prince had managed himself rather well, even if he was 15 years old and a fabric of hormones, he had more important things in mind than sex, like his wild dreams about heroes, wars, conquests and everlasting glory… but he couldn’t get Hephaistion out of his head. His best friend was the exception to every rule and every night he dreamed about him… He fascinated the Prince because his best friend made him felt alive.           

 

- In the past 2 years, have I done something to make you doubt that you are my best friend? –Alexander whispered, putting his hand over his friend’s.

 

- No –Hephaistion smiled—But I wanted to hear it.

 

He tried to retrieve his hand but the Prince retained him.

 

- You didn’t answered my question –Alexander reminded him, holding his gaze—Would you die for your best friend?

 

- Would you?

 

- I asked first.

 

- I said, I would do it only for the person I love with all my heart –Hephaistion repeated slowly—And if you can’t see that you are becoming that person, you are an idiot. 

 

Alexander opened and closed his mouth, like a fish out of water. He took Hephaistion’s hand with force and pulled him close to his body. Their lips brushed softly, almost by accident making the Prince shuddered from head to toe. Those perfectly sculpted and gorgeous lips would be his perdition, it was just unfair, nobody’s lips should be that desirable… and soon, all of Aristotle’s words about self-restrain were forgotten in the urge to kiss him, he just needed to stretch a little and…

 

- You didn’t answer me –Hephaistion whispered, stopping him. At first Alexander had no idea of what was he talking about—Would you die like Hermeias for your best friend?

 

The Prince caressed the back of his hand, running his fingers through the length of his arm, immensely enjoying his milky skin, until he reach his best friend’s shoulder. It was a pleasure to feel Hephaistion’s body so close to his.

 

- If you can’t see how much do you mean for me, then you are an idiot too –Alexander whispered, approaching him.

 

Since Alexander almost crushed Hephaistion under his horse in the festival, he had dreamed of kissing him daily, but in almost 3 years of friendship he didn’t find a chance to do it…until now. To feel those warm lips made the Prince touch the sky, he couldn’t explained it but was the most beautiful thing he had ever felt. He had no idea of what to do, he had never kissed someone, so he just slid his lips over the other’s, crashing against his nose clumsily in the way.  

 

Hephaistion laughed, a soft laugh like a purr.

 

- You suck at kissing –he whispered, making Alexander laugh too.

 

- Then I’ll have to practice every day to improve, don’t you agree? –the Prince kissed him again. This time, parting his lips slightly with the tip of his pink tongue.

 

Hephaistion closed his eyes, trying to forget the kiss King Philip had stolen from him, and forced himself to concentrate in this moment, to enjoy this kiss. The young man hadn’t the sightless idea of what to do, at first his approach was shy, he didn’t want to ruin the moment, but judging by Alexander’s clumsy but eager attempts, he hadn’t much idea, either.

 

Hephaistion searched in his memory for every comment he had heard from his older brother about kissing, but found nothing useful, when the Prince caught his lower lip between his teeth. The blond was instantly rewarded with a soft moan that shook his entire nervous system.

 

- Do that again –asked Alexander, kissing him one more time. That mouth was going to be his doom, he insisted.  

 

- Make me –Hephaistion lips curved against the Prince’s. His shy tongue ventured inside Alexander’s mouth, tasting the sweet flavor of apples.

 

The Prince took his hand to the other’s waist, and brought him even closer, moaning when he felt his warmth against his body. He wanted to go further, he wanted to feel his skin, he wanted everything, but…

 

Peritas arrived, very excited to show his master he had caught a hare.

 

- No Peritas, not now –Alexander complained, sitting to push the dog off him.

  

Hephaistion laughed and stood up, smoothing his chiton.

 

- Where are you going?

 

- To the dining room.

 

- You are kidding, right?

 

- No, Peritas ruined the mood and I’m hungry; so this will have to wait –said Hephaistion, walking back to civilization.

   

Alexander sighed and saw the excited dog moving his tail happily, his tongue out as if he were smiling.

 

- And why are you so happy? –as an answered Peritas licked his face.

 

Peritas was a Molossus dog, an extinct breed of dogs very common at that time in Greece and Rome. He was big with brown fur but with a gentle nature. His breed was usually used to fight and Peritas was a strong dog, but also a very sweet one. Alexander had found him two years ago when he was a puppy, abandoned in the streets of Pella, he was almost dead from starvation but the Prince had saved him, and, in returned, Peritas loved him unconditionally. 

 

So, Alexander stood up and returned to the house, with his happy dog behind him.

 

XXX

 

- Phai.

 

- Mm?

 

- Are you sleeping?

 

- Not anymore –answered a drowsy Hephaistion.

 

Alexander walked to his bed and climbed, lying down at his friend side under the blankets. His best friend moved lazily to make room for him.

 

- Nightmare? –as an answered the Prince kissed him.

 

Hephaistion smiled, put his arms around the blond’s neck and buried his hands in his untidy hair. The simple touch worked magic in Alexander, he was so relax that he almost started to purr.

 

- You are so easy –his best friend caressed him behind his ears.

 

- With you always –the Prince caressed his cheek with his lips, and surrounded his waist playing with the soft fabric of this tunic.  

 

Hephaistion slid his fingers all over Alexander’s cheek, going down to his jaw and moving back behind his ear.

 

- What are you thinking?

 

- How do you know I’m thinking something right now? –asked Alexander against his lips.

 

- I just know… Are you thinking about what Kallisthenes said about Thracia?

 

- Now you read minds? –the Prince kissed him again, taking his time to savor that sweet mouth—Yes, I’m thinking about my father’s victory in Thracia… And in his new wife, Meda.

 

- Does that bother you?

 

- What?

 

- The fact that your father had married again –Hephaistion caressed his lower lip with his fingertips. Lying on his side, his hair slid over his face, covering one of his gray eyes.  

 

- No, I know why he does that, they are political marriages to secure the loyalty of some people –Alexander answered with simplicity. 

 

- And your mother?

 

- The same as always, the only way she could be upset about my father’s marriages is if he replaces her as a queen.

 

- It’s so weird for me. I wouldn’t get used to the idea of my father getting married with another woman, let alone another 4 –the Prince kissed his fingers.  

 

- Phai, your family and mine are completely different. I love your family, they are great, but your father is not a King and your destiny is not mine –his best friend leaned his forehead against Alexander’s—I have to live extraordinary situations because I’m not like the rest, I have to exceed the others, to be a God among men.

 

- Mm –was the only answer of Hephaistion.

 

- Mm? –Alexander moved away a little—What’s that?

 

- What do you want me to say? “Yes my lord you are destined to own the world”

 

- You are mocking me.

 

- A little –admitted Hephaistion, curling one of the Prince’s blond locks on his finger—Don’t look at me like.

 

- It’s a night without moon, how do you know how I’m looking at you?

 

- When you keep silent like that you always look at me in the same way –said Hephaistion—Don’t get mad, it’s just… I don’t believe in destiny. I believe everyone does his or her own destiny, so if you want me to tell you that you are destined to be the best King in Macedonia history, you are wrong. If you want to be the best you are going to be because of your own actions not because some God dictated it the day of your birth.  

 

Alexander laughed, making him frowned.

 

- You have such a weird ideas –Hephaistion stopped his caresses.

 

- Goodnight Alexander –said his friend, turning his back on him. The Prince hugged him, laughing.

 

- Phai everybody knows the gods dictate our destiny; if they hadn’t wanted us to meet, then we would never know each other –Alexander spoke against his hair. Hephaistion turned to face him.  

 

- Do you really believe that?

 

- Am I not telling you this?

 

- Alex, the Gods doesn’t exist.

 

- Now you are talking like Aristotle –said the Prince, enjoying himself.

 

- Because it’s true.

 

- You speak as if you had gone to Olympus and found the place empty –said Alexander kissing his cheek.

 

- Consider this for 2 seconds: don’t you think is weird that they are Gods, immortal, wise and everything else, but they have the same faults and weaknesses as us? No, please let me finish, have you ever actually seen a God? –his best friend challenged him.

 

- My ancestor was Heracles; do I have to remind you what he did?

 

- And you knew Heracles? –Hephaistion insisted—Alex I don’t know ONE person who has seen a God or has proofs that the Gods exist.

 

- My mother said Zeus visited her in the form of a serpent –Hephaistion bit his tongue. He had no way to contradict him without saying: “your mother is a crazy witch!”—Whatever, I’m just saying that I don’t believe the Gods exist, that’s all.

 

Alexander cupped his face between his hands and kissed him. He couldn’t stop kissing him.    

 

- Your mouth is too sweet to be this blasphemous… Tell me something, according to you, do I have potential to become a great King? –the Prince wanted to know. 

 

- Let me think… mm…—Hephaistion put his arms around his neck—I think you can do anything you want.

 

The Prince embraced him with so much force that took the air out of his lungs. He couldn’t express with words what meant to him to know his best friend believe that. Hephaistion punched him softly; he couldn’t breath.  

 

- It’s late. Do you feel like sleeping? –he asked.

 

- Not really.

 

- Alex?

 

- Mm?

 

- I have something to ask from you –that took Alexander by surprise, Hephaistion never asked for anything.

 

- Sure, whatever you want –his best friend smiled.

 

- Don’t you want to know first what do I want?

 

- No –answered the Prince with all certainty.

 

- And what if I ask for half of your kingdom? –Hephaistion teased him.

 

- I know you better than you are willing to admit, and you’ll never ask for such a thing –said the Prince. 

 

- That’s unfair.

 

- What do you want to ask for?

 

- Sing for me –that was the last thing Alexander thought he would hear.

 

- Why?

 

- Because I’ve never hear you sing, and someone told me you are really good –whispered Hephaistion, snuggling against him.

 

- It had been years since the last time I sang.

 

- I know, since your father ridiculed you in a banquet, saying that you sang like a girl –Alexander saw him surprised.

 

- How do you know that?

 

- My father was in that banquet.

 

- Oh!… That’s not something I want to remember –the Prince admitted.

 

- I know… but I really want to hear you –said his best friend, his head resting against his chest—But if you don’t want to do it, I’ll understand.

 

- I told you to ask for anything –Alexander accepted, leaning his head over Hephaistion’s.  

 

XXX

 

January arrived. And the snow covered almost all the gardens of the Precinct of the Nymphs, so classes were taken in doors. Near noon, the boys were taking their meal, when…

 

- Hephaistion, your horse is magnificent –said Ptolemy, taking a seat at the table. Aristotle had order to change the couches for a table.

 

- Er- thank you? –Hephaistion didn’t understand.

 

He had given to his brother the beautiful horse King Philip bought for him. He wanted NOTHING from the King, and the horse he had now was everything but magnificent.

 

At his side, Alexander bowed his head to hide a mysterious smile.  

 

- Who is the owner of that gorgeous white horse in the stables? –asked Koinos, removing the snow from his cloak.

 

- Hephaistion –answered Ptolemy, drinking hot wine.

 

- I don’t have a white horse –said Amyntor’s son.

 

- No? The groom in the stables said he was yours –said Leonnatos, devouring his bread.

 

- Which groom? –Hephaistion was starting to consider the possibility that his friends were utterly crazy.

 

- I don’t know his name, but he is one of the boys who attend our horses. I saw the horse this morning and he said that beauty was yours –Leonnatos explained.

 

Enough –thought Hephaistion. He stood up and went to the stables to clarify this.

 

When he arrived, he found the boys grooming a wonderful white horse, big and muscular, clearly a warhorse of the finest breed.

 

- Who is the owner of that horse? –asked the young man of 16 years old. 

 

The grooms interrupted their conversation, and the older one answered quickly:

 

- Yours, sir.

 

- Mine? According to whom?

 

- According to me –said Alexander, walking to him—It’s a present for your birthday.

 

-You are mental –Hephaistion saw the horse again—Are you serious?

 

- Very serious –the blond nodded.

 

His friend approached the horse and hesitated to touch the animal. He was perfect, and a better horse than the one Philip had given to him. This animal had nothing to envy Marengo, Napoleon’s white mount. The grooms left the stables and Alexander stopped beside his best friend.

 

- Do you like him?

 

- He is magnificent –answered Hephaistion, captivated by the horse, caressing his back; but suddenly, he stopped and turned to look at him—I can’t accept him. 

 

- Of course you can! It’s not the first time I give you something –Alexander insisted, and cocked his head, showing one small mark he had on his neck since birth.

 

- You have never given me a gift this expensive –Hephastion pointed at the horse.

 

- How do you know how expensive he was? –his best friend watched him like saying: “I’m not stupid”—How do you know I paid for him? What if I stole him? Or I could have find him on the road or he could have followed me here, or maybe a village gave him to me in gratitude for saving them from a band of ruthless bandits, or maybe…

 

- I get the idea –Hephaistion interrupted him—I just… I can’t accept the horse, is too much for me and I don’t want people saying that I take advantage of your friendship.

 

- Don’t pay attention of what people say.

 

- That’s easy for you to say, you don’t care for anyone’s opinion.

 

- I care about your opinion –Hephaistion closed his mouth—Phai, everybody knows by now that this horse is yours; it will be more complicated to explain otherwise.

 

- You cheating bastard! You knew I would never accept the horse, so you told everyone the horse was mine so I couldn’t refuse him –his best friend understood everything.

 

- I told you, I know you better than you would like –said the Prince with self-sufficiency.

 

His best friend smiled.

 

- You are the worst.

 

- Does that mean you accept the horse? –Hephaistion shook his head.

 

- I suppose…Thank you; but now you put me in a difficult position.

 

- How so?

 

- What am I going to give you in your birthday? –Alexander caressed his cheek.

 

- Everything that comes from you is right.

 

- Yeah sure, as if I didn’t know you; you are demanding and picky with your things –said his best friend—One can’t give you just “anything”

 

- In that case, I will think of something, I still have 7 months to ask for the perfect gift.

 

XXX

 

In the dining room, the future marshals of Alexander’s army were playing jokes to each other with rude vulgar words that would have offended a more chaste person.

 

- Ptolemy, do you think Alexander is sleeping with Hephaistion? –asked Harpalos, chewing his food.

 

- I bet you two drachmas that he is –answered Ptolemy, absolutely sure of what he was saying.

 

- Please, they share the same room –said Cassander, liking his fingers—If Alexander isn’t bedding him, then he is an idiot. I said it once and I say it again, the only good thing in Hephaistion are his looks… Right, Philotas? –Antipater’s son kicked his chair.

 

- Why did you ask me? –his companions laughed.

 

- Do you like Phai, Philotas? –Perdikkas teased him.

 

- No –lied Parmelio’s son without fooling anyone. The boys teased him ruthlessly.

 

- What are you waiting then? Do something about it! –said Koinos, leaving his wine cup on the table. 

 

- Leave him Koinos, can’t you see you are breaking Philotas’ heart? He has enough knowing that Alexander has Phai’s pretty butt well attended every night –said Leonnatos and the group laughed rudely, with the obvious exception of Philotas that is.

 

- I don’t like Hephaistion –said Harpalos, shaking his head—But the son of a bad mother is so damn hot.

 

- Oh, yeah –Ptolemy, Nearchos, Koinos and Cassander agreed with him. Philotas remained silent, averting his face as if it were worthless to pay them any attention. 

 

- Damn Phai! He has all the girls in the vicinity screaming for him, the last time we were in the garden his fan-girls were on all the trees to watched him above the walls, I was amazed that the branches didn’t broke –said Perdikkas, remembering that day.

 

It had been very funny. They were competing in a horse race, and when the turn came for Perdikkas and Hephaistion to run, they heard an outburst, as if a rock-star were in the house. When the boys turned they saw the girls on the trees’ branches screaming, it was like being in the middle of a Jonas brothers concert. The expression on Alexander’s face had been priceless, so his best friend had decided to tease his Prince and do some fan service. He started to act exactly as his brother Nikandros would have done, showing off for the delight of the girls, and at the end of the race he even blew them a kiss, which unleashed the Apocalypse. Even Aristotle went out to see what, in the name of Athena, was happening, and if he hadn’t know better, he would have sworn they were under attack. 

 

- I bet Philotas would have luv to scream like the girls when Phai blew then a kiss –said Leonnatos and they roar in laughter.

 

The door opened, and as soon as Alexander and Hephaistion stepped inside the dining room the group went silent.

 

- Did something happen? –asked Alexander, and his friends answered at once: “nothing”—Mm, a group “no”, that transform it into a “yes”

 

- What happened Phai? Is the horse yours? –asked Perdikkas, a servant changed the dishes and Peritas entered the room and sat at the side of his master, moving his tail, waiting to receive some food.

 

- Yes, he is mine –the Prince smiled.

 

- Did you hear about Isocrates’ letter? –asked Nearchos, suddenly they were a group of perfectly serious gentlemen. Alexander thought that was weird, he would ask Perdikkas later.

 

- No –answered Leonnatos for the rest. They were too busy eating.

 

- Isocrates wrote to my father trying to convinced him to establish an alliance with Athens and, together, march against Persia –explained Alexander.

 

- That’s the only thing Isacrates can talked about, invading Persia, he had like what? 90 years old? And all his life he had try to convince the Greeks to unify forces against the Great King –said Koinos—First the stalked Archidamus, the king of Sparta, then Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse and, when King Philip started to gain prestige, he adopted him as his champion.

 

- Not that the King needed to be convinced –said Philotas—With or without Isocrates’ ideas he is going to invade Asia.

 

- Awesome! Don’t you agree, Alexander? –asked Ptolemy, taking another piece of chicken. Peritas looked at him expectantly.

 

- Not quite –said the Prince with indifference.

 

- Why? –asked Harpalos, confused.

 

- My father is doing all the great deeds before me –answered Alexander, playing with his cup of water-wine—“And for me, he will leave no great or brilliant achievement to be displayed to the world with your aid”

 

- You have to be kidding! –exclaimed Philotas, impressed by his words. The chicken in his hand was about to fall and Peritas stood up, ready to catch it.

 

- But –said Ptolemy—“He is acquiring all this for you”

 

Many voices rose in agreement. Hephaistion smiled, knowing Alexander just too well.

 

- “What are possessions to me of I achieve nothing?”(3) –was the Prince answer.

 

- Ever to strive to be the best, and outstanding above all others –Hephaistion quoted Achilles.

 

“To be at the same time a good King and a strong spear-fighter”… that was Alexander’s favorite line of the Iliad. The Iliad. I already told you that mine was the time when people lived the Iliad, and Homer’s words were treasured in the heart of men. Aristotle spend hours discussing with us the Iliad, and praising the Homeric values… We were nothing more than a group of fools with the head full of dreams of glory, greatness and honor. We didn’t know that greatness has a price in blood, that glory asked for a payment in the lives of our friends.

Yes, we were fools.  

_________________________________

 

(1) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon. 

(2) All the ideas I put here regarding philosophy and slavery and Asians and barbarians are Aristotle’s ideas. I basically used one article about Aristotelian ethics, but there was so much information that I didn’t quote all the references I took, but I just wanted to clarify this. I suck at philosophy, and choose those words of Aristotle I think could have influence Alexander and Hephaistion the most. All mistakes in doing so are mine.

(3) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 41

Once again, these are Alexander words, I just changed the context.