CHAPTER 64

 

After almost emptying a jug of wine, Alexander fell asleep. He was very tired, and as soon as his head touched the pillow the started to snore. His head was so full of ideas, problems and other things, that even if his body was resting his brain kept working, dreaming, taking him to a different place, far away from there…

 

Alexander was standing in the midst of a sumptuous room he had never seen before; high walls covered with tapestries and paintings depicting divine scenes, relieves covered with gold, curtains of the finest fabrics, hanging from the walls and the roof. He didn’t know how he got there, but for some reason, he knew it was all right for him to be here. He saw the front, and his uneven eyes found many stairs that lead to a magnificent golden throne with embroidered cushions of imperial purple. The back of the throne was so big that it appeared to be merged with the wall, showing a series of complicated and intrinsic carvings; a perfect and harmonious blend of wood, marble, gold, silver and precious stones, which gave life to a series of magnificent winged humanoid figures that seemed alive. They gave the impression of trying to leave their prison in the altarpiece to talk to the King.

 

He blinked, and, when he opened his eyes again, he was sitting in that throne, resting both arms on the throne’s arms; his feet covered with gold sandals were resting on a small stool. He raised a hand, seeing it as if it weren’t his own, each finger covered by gemstone rings, their arms with bangles. Alexander looked down at himself, and for a moment he thought he was seeing the body of another person; he was wearing an embroidery silk chiton, a superb cloak was hanging from one shoulder, caught with a brooch, and the long fabric of the cloak slipped over the side of that throne, so long that covered the stairs leading to him. A carved leather belt with parts of gold and silver surrounded his chest over his clothes, all the way through the shoulder holding the cloak.

 

When he lifted his head, he met two beautiful dark and deep gray eyes, shining with different tones of gray, that made him hold his breath.

 

- Phai ... —he said with a sigh—What are you doing here?

 

His best friend replied with an arrogant and lazy smile. Hephaistion wasn’t dressed like him, he was wearing his armor without a helmet and without his coat, his swords at his back, his long hair spilling over his shoulders, looking beautiful, radiating a dangerous sensuality that made Alexander shivered from head to toe. His gray eyes quietly announced untold pleasures; one look and the King felt the General stripped him of all his defenses.

 

- I came to see you –the voice of General was dragging a warm sensuality, leaving Alexander as entranced for a moment that he forgot how to speak.

 

- What am I doing here? –Hephaistion opened slightly his eyes, taken by surprise.

 

- You are the Great King, where else could you be?

 

That answer satisfied Alexander. His best friend, ascended the stairs slowly, giving the King time to admire his figure, every step got them closer. Hephaistion knelt on the stool where the King had his feet, between his legs slightly apart, and placed his hands on the arms of the throne, near Alexander's arms without touching him. Always holding his gaze.

 

- I came to fulfill all your wishes –drawled Hephaistion almost purring, and the King blushed furiously. Two red spots burning his cheeks.

 

Hephaistion bowed, his hair sliding to the front in a fan of smoothness that opened in several thin strands, and kissed the King's knee, where the chiton’s fabric let see his skin; and slid his lips all the way up through his thighs. Alexander felt a heady arouse through his body, seeing how the head of his best friend moved between his legs, going up.

 

Hephaistion dragged the palm of his hands, from the throne’s arms to the King's knees, and spread his legs tightly. The General licked his lower lip, took one of Alexander's legs and place it on the throne’s arms, holding it below the knee to get better access to his thigh. The King's muscles tensed, and his chest rose and fell, his breathing becoming more rapid.

 

His best friend licked the length of his thigh, leaving a trail of saliva following the blue veins that could be seen over his skin, feeling the blonde’s muscles contracting under his touch. Alexander groaned softly, his body burned and reacted dutifully to each stimulus that his best friend gave him. Hephaistion lifted his leg even more, making the King, on the throne, to slip as if he intent to leave him head down, holding him as one does with a toddler. Since when his General was so strong? But soon, the question was disbanded amid the heat wave that crossed his body when he felt how his best friend nibbled on his skin, sucking up to leave a mark.

 

- Nn ... Phai ... Mmm ... —sighed the King, wishing that his best friend could touch him more deeply, more intimately— Please...

 

- Please what? –asked Hephaistion against his skin, in a wickedly playful tone, biting him again to mark his teeth into the thigh of the King.

 

Alexander stifled a groan; that had hurt but at the same time had sent sparks throughout his nervous system.

 

- Stop playing with me...

 

Hephaistion laughed noiselessly, and dropped his leg without any consideration.

 

- I thought you liked that I play with you.

 

How to rebut a response like that? The General kissed him before he could answer making him tremble, tasting his lips and sucking his lower lip gently. Alexander tried to bring his body closer to Hephaistion but his best friend didn’t allow it. Hephaistion knew perfectly well that what the King wanted but he would not give it to him so soon ... not so easily.

 

Alexander put his arms behind his best friend's neck, the fabric of his cloths seemed to burn his skin, every touch against his hypersensitive body was a torture and the only person who had the key to his release refused to give it to him.

 

- Please ... —repeated the King, between kisses, his chest rose and fell rapidly.

 

- How impatient, my love –Hephaistion whispered affectionately against his cheek. He helped the King to unleash his clothes from the shoulder, almost ripping it off, leaving him naked to the waist, the silky smooth fabric swirling on his lap. The General took his long fingers to the belt still surrounding the King's chest, looking for the brooches, when he found them, he grinned and pulled it to tighten further.

 

Now Alexander couldn’t breathe well, that belt was squeezing his chest making it difficult for him to breathe, when he was so agitated, but that, far for being uncomfortable, kindled all his senses.

 

Hephaistion tenderly kissed his cheek.

 

- I love you –he whispered against his skin, before bringing his lips to his powerful and imprisoned chest— Since I met you –he continued talking, purring the words as he placed sweet kisses on the blonde’s skin—Everything is perfect ... you are truly my other half.

 

- Oh ... Phai, stop ...

 

- Stop? But I thought you wanted the opposite –said the General, feigning innocence.

 

Alexander began to pant, he made his head back and settled his uneven eyes at the ceiling, the magnificent ceiling that was painted to resemble the sky, with clouds, stars and planets.

 

Hephaistion took his free hand between the King’s legs, and Alexander felt his body inflamed…

 

Alexander tore his throat groaning with all the force of his lungs, feeling how his best friend savagely thrusting inside him, not giving him time to get used to this intromission, making him see stars at each thrust. The King began muttering nonsense, delirious in the midst of this whirlwind of feelings that had overwhelmed his senses. He wanted that Hephaistion touch the depths of his soul, he wanted to stop thinking, not knowing where his body ended and started his best friend’s…

 

XXX

 

Lysanias entered the King’s tent, leaving a path of puddles at each step. It was a horrible storm, it was raining so much that it appeared as if Zeus were pouring water directly over their heads. But the page was on duty.

 

- What took you so long? –asked Andreas angry, the page he was going to relieve.   

 

- Sorry, but Damasithymos, my companion, is sick –explained Lysanias, taking off his damp cloak.

 

- Well, I guess you are going to stay alone this night –said Andreas, yawning.

 

- It’s fine –answered Lysanias, shrugging—There isn’t much work to do. The King?

 

- Sleeping, but you know the rules, you have to stay alert –Lysanias nodded.

 

- Yes, I know.

 

The other pages took their cloaks and left, eager to sleep, it was a cold night and they had been on duty since morning, so, neither asked if Lysanias was going to be fine alone.

 

Hephaistion’s younger brother took a towel to dry himself, and checked that everything was in order. Those days after his love confession had been difficult to him, but he wasn’t going to give up…even though he had no idea of what he could do to win the King’s affection. He took a seat on a couch and left the towel at his side. As soon as he was warm, he started to feel sleepy, the page was so tired that, when he heard noises, first he thought he was imagining things, but then, he listened with attention and heard the same noises again.

 

Lysanias stood up and went to see, following the noises to the King’s bed. Alexander was sleeping face up, covered with a blanket and…moaning? For a moment the page thought he was in pain, maybe he should call doctor Philip, what if the King wasn’t completely recovered from his sickness? But when he approached, bending over Alexander, he noticed he was dreaming, his golden eyelashes were trembling and the sounds that were leaving his mount made Lysanias blushed savagely.

 

He was almost 14 years old, sharing a tent with other teenager boys; he could tell when someone was having an erotic dream.

 

Lysanias swallowed hard, and his hands shook. What was he going to do now? He looked side ways to make sure nobody was there, and looked again at the King’s sleeping face. Well…nobody was there, and…the King was sleeping. He swallowed again, feeling his heart racing. What he was thinking was crazy, but, in that moment his hormones told him it was a good idea, and who was he to go against the command of the almighty teenagers hormones?

 

Lysanias bent again over the King, but this time looking for his lips. Those lips slightly parted that had made him sigh dreamily so many times. He had never kiss someone before so, he just left a clumsy quick kiss on Alexander’s lips; but the King moaned more loudly, making his nervous system tremble, and making him felt as if smoke were coming out from his ears. What was he dreaming? 

 

He tried to kiss him again, but this time slowly, he had heard other boys talking about kissing many times, so, he tried to remember what they said. Lysanias ventured the tip of his tongue between Alexander’s lips and then the King opened his eyes. The page jumped so high that he thought he would touch the ceiling.

 

Alexander sat and took his hands to his head. He felt his face burning, and was still breathing hard, his blond hair damped with sweat, attached to his cheeks; he remembered clearly his dream, and that didn’t serve to calm down his heart. They spent a long moment in complete silence, and when the King said nothing, the page gathered all his courage to speak.

 

- Sire, are you all right? –that was the only thing Lysanias could think.

 

- Lys? –asked Alexander, confused and half sleep. He hadn’t noticed he wasn’t alone, in fact, it took him a few moment to fully understand where he was. 

 

- Yes, sire –the page’s voice trembled. 

 

The King looked for his oil lamp and lit it. The weak light illuminated the place with it’s warm, and Alexander found the innocent blush face of Lysanias a few paces from his bed, so alike to his Hephaistion and every fiber of his body burned with desire, remembering his dream. Hephaistion’s lips over his body, his touch, his breath making him shiver…

 

He moved his arm and threw the jug of wine to the floor. The jug jumped twice filling the place with its metallic sound, and the dark liquid ran through the floor. His page ran to pick it up and clean, but Alexander’s arm moved, as if it had his own life, and took Lysanias’ wrist. The page lifted his head, his cheeks burning and his dark gray eyes, like his brother’s, open in a mix of surprise and embarrassment. Would the King remember that he had kissed him? He was regretting of listening to his hormones… why he had done that?

 

The King was breathing heavily, he missed his best friend, wanted to feel him again and know that everything was going to be all right, at least for one night. Alexander was horny, sad, worried, angry…a bad combination of many strong feelings that threatened to drive him crazy. He missed Hephaistion and loved him more than his own life, but, he was also angry with himself, angry because he couldn’t live without him, angry because every time they were apart he couldn’t think correctly, he couldn’t sleep missing his warm body next to him, couldn’t eat, couldn’t go on…

 

Alexander depended so much on his best friend; he had never thought about that as he was doing it now. When Memnon had kidnapped him, was only the beginning, and now…he could be the master of his army, but Hephaistion was the master of his heart…

 

Alexander settled his eyes on Lysanias…he was Hephaistion again at his 13 years old, again the boy that had been with him at Mieza, when life was simpler, when they were together every night. And for this night, just for this moment, he wanted to feel that again, to have under his power the younger version of his best friend to feel again that he had the control over his own life…

 

Alexander’s hand shook, holding with force Lysanias’ wrist. He pulled the page closer to him and kissed him, leaving Lysanias very still. The page was confused, he couldn’t believe that was happening to him, and felt his heart beating in his throat. He had dreamed so many times with that moment, had wished so many times to taste those lips and now, all his wishes were becoming true…

 

XXX

 

Next day Alexander was in a terrible mood, nobody wanted to approach him unless it was complete necessary, and that included his pages. Dismas, who was in charge of the Agema while Hephaistion was in the Persian camp, was having the worst day of his life, hearing all the pages complains.

 

- Lads, he is the King, you can’t expect me to go and scold him as if he were a child –said the veteran soldier.

 

- But General Hephaistion does that –said Andreas.

 

- Son, General Hephaistion is the King’s best friend, I don’t… —Dismas surveyed the boys faces and only found 9—Where is Lysanias? –he asked with curiosity.

 

- He is not feeling well –said Iolaos a little worried—He had been in bed all morning.

 

- Maybe, is Damasithymos fault –said another boy.

 

- How come? I had stomachache because I ate too much yesterday –Damasithymos defended himself.

 

- Enough, lads –said Dismas—Go back to your duties, and stop complaining.

 

The pages left him mumbling and grumbling, things were easier for them when Hephaistion was around and when Glykon was still a page, but now, the 15 years old boy was in the Agema, and they felt as a group of orphans.

 

The only positive thing of that day was that the King received a message from Dolon, his Persian spy in Darius’ camp. Alexander paced around his tent holding the message in his clenched fist, thinking what he could do now, and when an idea struck him, he called his closest officers to an urgent meeting. 

 

- Darius is 2 days on horse from here –said Alexander to Perdikkas, Krateros, Kleitos, Leonnatos and Eumenes.  

 

- What are you planning to do? –asked Kleitos, his arms crossed. He had a hunch that the King had a plan and that he wasn’t going to like it.

 

- I’m planning to go and bring Hephaistion back –all the present fell silent at once.

 

- With the army or alone? –asked Leonnatos, there was something in Alexander’s voice that had made him ask.

 

- Alone.

 

- Are you out of your mind?! –exclaimed Kleitos, uncrossing his arms, taking a step to the King —You are the King, you can’t go undercover to the enemy camp to bring back a General.

 

- He is not only a General –said the King with intensity—He is my soul mate, and I’m going to bring him back.

 

- Alexander –said Perdikkas with the same caution he would use to approach a lion—I understand what you feel, Phai is my friend too and I’m also worried, but Kleitos is right, if you want, I can go with Leon to look for him.

 

Leonnatos nodded.

 

- It’s a good idea –he said—We can take a few men with us, and bring him back.

 

- That is more reasonable –said Eumenes, for whom all of this was an utterly nonsense. If he could give his freely opinion, he would vote for leaving Hephaistion where he was; after all, it had been the General’s decision to go to the Persian camp as a spy, nobody had forced him. But even he knew it was a bad idea to say something like that when Alexander was this angry. 

 

The King shook his head.

 

- Hephaistion is too stubborn…

 

Just like you –was the general thought there.

 

- He is not coming back unless I’ll go for him –his uneven eyes shone with intensity. He was tired of feeling so worried and now, he also felt guilty. He needed to see Hephaistion as soon as he could. 

 

- So, let’s suppose you go to the Persian camp, then what? –asked Kleitos.

 

- I’ll enter with the help of my spy and came back with Hephaistion –explained Alexander with simplicity—It won’t take more than a week and Parmelio can stay here with the rest of the army, pretending I’m still here. 

 

All the men present there thought it was a crazy plan.

 

- Alexander –said Krateros, bending, resting his hands on the table—You can’t go to the Persian camp, you are the KING. If Darius lay his hands on you, we are doom, if you get yourself kill we are doom, if you get injured we are doom…Perdikkas is right, send someone else to bring the pretty boy back. I’ll go if you want…

 

The King hit the table.

 

- I wasn’t asking for your opinion, I’m telling you all what I am going to do –said Alexander stubbornly—I’m leaving as soon as Parmelio get his orders. 

 

His officers shook their heads.

 

- Fine, if you are going to do this, I’ll go with you –said Kleitos sighing.

 

- Me too –said Leonnatos.

 

- And of course, I have to go with you too, because you can’t do anything without me –said Perdikkas, smiling.

 

- No –answered Alexander—I can’t leave my army without it’s best officers. 

 

- No? But you can leave it without its King? –said Kleitos—We are going with you, like it or not, and you have to promise that if things get nasty, you are coming back and you will leave the rest to us. 

 

The King sighed, and kept silent for a moment.

 

- All right, lets do this –he said at last—Krateros, I need you here, you will help Parmelio.

 

Krateros nodded.

 

- Beside us and Parmelio, nobody must know that I’m not here, is that clear? –asked Alexander.

 

- Clear as water.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion had more than 2 weeks in the Persian camp; his wounded thigh was much better now, and, as Bahman had said, it wouldn’t leave a scar. He will remember to ask the Magus what had he used to treat him, he was sure doctor Philip would love to know. Hephaistion had started his activities as the new commander of the Persian army gathering all the possible information about the troops, how many soldiers, how many infantry men, cavalry, archers, slingers…everything.

 

He needed to have with him an interpreter all the time, Persian was the strangest language he had ever heard and was sure that he would never learn it; he knew a few words by now, but just the basics. Xsayarsa, as he had explained since the first day, was only in charge of providing the mercenaries with all the necessary but he had nothing to do with the military decisions and he couldn’t order the Greeks to do anything. Eunuchs never fought in wars and they never commanded troops.

 

The one in charge of the mercenaries was no other than Amyntas son of Antiochus, the same Amyntas that had fled from Macedonia as soon as King Philip was pronounced dead. Hephaistion spent most of his free time with him, since both of them were Macedonians, and also, because Amyntas was, for a strange reason he couldn’t understand, very excited with the idea of having Hephaistion there. 

 

- I heard your son is taking classes with Darius’ son –said Amyntas one afternoon, after Hephaistion had spent all morning checking the Persian troops. By now, his interpreter was gone, and he was about to return to his own tent when the other Macedonian approached him.

 

- Yes, and he is also very exited –Hephaistion couldn’t avoid smiling. Achilles had said that he liked more Bahman than Kallisthenes, and his father didn’t blame him; Bahman liked children and was an inborn teacher, Kallisthenes…well, he was only interested in himself and in going down in history as a great historian, like Homer. And not only that, apparently Achilles had made a friend in the Great King’s son, Prince Cyrus.  

 

The small boy spent all his free time with him, and when he came back to his father he always had the most fascinating stories about the Persian court.

 

Grandfather Demetrios, for his part, spent great part of his time with the Greek mercenaries, and by now, he had many friends, and much more drinking companions, which helped them a lot to gather information.

 

As ironic as it sounds, Darius had more Greeks under his command than Alexander, and my King was supposedly the one on a panhellenic crusade; but the Greeks preferred to be hired by a Persian that march under the orders of a Macedonian.

 

Amyntas smiled, and walked with him back to his tent.

 

- I’m glad to have you here, I was wondering how long would it take for you, and your family of course, to join me –he said intriguing Hephaistion.  

 

- What do you mean?

 

- Come on, Hephaistion; you and I know you are not here because you have a son with Alexander’s sister –said Amyntas in a mysterious tone.

 

Hephaistion didn’t like this, but he decided to play along and be very careful.

 

- And why is that? –he asked in a conversational tone.

 

- Because of King Philip’s murder –answered Amyntas— After all it was your father the one who convinced Pausanias of killing him.

 

Hephaistion stopped abruptly and turned to see him.

 

- What did you say? –Amyntas blinked with innocence—How dare you say something like that about my father? –the General was angry and very pale. 

 

- Calm down, Hephaistion –Amyntas extended the palms of his hands to the front—You didn’t know? I was sure your father had told you…

 

- I will not listen to this nonsense; you are insulting my father. 

 

- Hephaistion, I was there –said Amyntas, while the General started to walk away—Your father said he wanted revenge for something Philip did to his family –Hephaistion stopped again, his back on his compatriot.

 

- Philip is just a man, a King but mortal…I won't let him hurt you again.

 

His father’s words echoed in his mind. Amyntor had said this to him just 2 days before King Philip’s murder. His heart beat faster, and his hands sweated cold. Was it true? Was his father responsible for King Philip’s dead?

 

- Hephaistion –Amyntas walked to where he was standing—Hephaistion, your father and I had unfinished business with King Philip, we both wanted him dead, and when Amyntor heard my story he looked for me and together we went to see Pausanias –he made a pause, letting his words to sink in the General—It was very easy to convince him of murdering King Philip, he was very mad at him after what happened with Attalos…I was the one who prepare the horses for him, to ran away, but of course either your father or I wanted to leave him alive…

 

That was all that Hephaistion heard before continuing his way. He arrived to his tent and sat down on the edge of the soft bed, he felt dizzy and lost. What if Amyntas was telling the truth? But his father wasn’t a murderer, he was an honorable man…No, but…he knew how much his father loved him, the concerned in Amyntor’s voice that day, when he went to see him at the royal palace of Aigai…He knew his father would do anything to protect him, but, to kill King Philip? That was insane…or not? 

 

What would I have done if a man like Philip had rape Aki? –he asked himself, watching his hands, his elbows resting on his thighs. And the answer came at him with all clarity—I would have killed him.

 

- Oh dad, what have you done…? –he said, very pale and without voice, hiding his face in his hands.

 

What am I going to say to Alexander? –he thought feeling lost. He wanted to talk to his best friend, to share with him his fears…when he had come to the Persian camp he thought he would be able to handle the situation, but the true was that he missed his King, and now, he felt a painful urge to be with him…

 

- HERE YOU ARE!!! –exclaimed the shrill voice of Xsayarsa, filling the extremely silent tent. The Persian entered as if he were the owner, his poor servant always running behind him—I have been looking for you Peris for HOURS! –he took his handkerchief to clean his forehead—You have been summoned.

 

Hephaistion lifted his head to see him; it took him a few moments to understand what was he saying; he had been so lost inside his own thoughts.

 

- By whom? –he asked absently.

 

- By my mother! WHO ELSE? The Great King has invited you to have dinner with him –said Xsayarsa excited—It’s a great honor; usually this mightiness takes his meals alone.

 

- Why?

  

- First because in that way he demonstrates his superior position above other mortals; and also because he has many enemies, so if he eats alone that reduces the chances of being poison –explained the Persian—They are many malicious people and many Kings had died by poison. In fact, we have a very special punishment for poisoners –he shuddered remembering that— "There is a broad stone, on which they place the head of the culprit, and then with another stone beat and press it, until the face and the head itself are all pounded to pieces"(1)

 

The punishment for killing a King by poison –thought Hephaistion, thinking again in his father.

 

- Well, stand up darling, one, two –said Xsayarsa applauding 2 times—We have a lot to do before dinner.

 

- A lot to do? –the Macedonian didn’t understand.

 

- Yes, handsome, you didn’t think you were going to dine with the King wearing THAT, did you?

 

Hephaistion puffed out.

 

- This –he pulled the fabric of his cloths by the chest—Are the cloths you gave me.

 

- Yes Peris, but that is not enough to dine with the Great King, so, come with me –Xsayarsa started walking and Hephaistion had no other choice than to follow him.

 

He truly wasn’t in the mood to this, but he knew better than argue with the eunuch.

 

XXX

(1) Pierre Briant. From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire, p 263