CHAPTER 72

 

Hephaistion woke up, feeling lost for a moment after that strange dream. He needed a moment to remember where he was and what day was that day. He moved lazily on the bed, feeling the delicious sensation of the silk sheets against his skin; he didn’t want to get up, it was one of those mornings in which you only want to stay in bed, staring at the ceiling and delaying the moment to get up and start a new day. He had no idea what time was, the last thing he remembered was coming to the Great King’s…sorry, Alexander’s room after a very long and wild party.

 

What a week! The march to reach the Pinarus River had been tiresome and harsh, the battle a savage one and the treasures they found at the Persian camp had surpassed the men’s perspectives; not even in their wildest dreams the Macedonian soldiers would have imagine such luxury. They were accustom to the Spartan regime of the army, and almost all of them were peasants who had not known a better life if, first Philip and then Alexander, had not trained them in the art of war and led them from victory to victory over the years.

 

Of course the celebration of the night before had been equivalent to all the hardships suffered, so it goes without saying that it had been a great party, one of those who would be remember for a very long time. Hephaistion had betrayed his vows and had drunk again, that delicious wine that, until a day before, had been served only for Darius, and that the nigh before had been enjoyed by all the officers and captains of the Macedonian army.

 

But thanks to the high quality of the wine, he didn’t feel like dying this morning, but he wanted to spend the day in bed doing nothing, he was still very tired and thought that he would gladly sleep for a whole week…but he knew Alexander better than that, and knew that the King would never let him do that; not with Darius gone to no-one knew where.

 

The General turned over that extremely comfortable and strange mattress, of what was it made? This mattress wasn’t stuffed with feathers, that was for sure...wait a second, the night before a servant had told them this was a water-filled mattress if he didn’t recall wrong. If someone had said before that there were water-filled mattresses, he would not have believed it.

 

Hephaistion found Alexander still sleeping at his side. He smiled, at least this bed was big enough for both of them, and he hadn’t kicked him out. The General didn’t know how long he was there, just staring at him, enjoying the beautiful sight of his sleeping face with his lips slightly parted. He loved and treasured these scarce moments of peace he had with Alexander, when he wasn’t the King and the commander of the army, when he was just his lover. He knew that, from now on, these moments alone with Alexander would be even more rare, every time they won a battle, every time they achieved something big, Alexander became more a King and less his “Alex”.

 

But this is how things must be –thought the General.

 

He kissed the tip of the blonde’s nose, and saw how the golden arch of the King’s eyelashes trembled. Alexander smiled when the first thing he found were his beloved dark gray eyes on him. He couldn’t think of a better way of waking up.

 

- I didn’t mean to wake you up –said Hephaistion softly, his face against the pillow and the silky locks of his hair over his face.

 

- It’s all right –answered Alexander, slightly hoarse.

 

The King leaned his forehead against his friend’s, eyes closed, feeling the silky strands of his General’s hair on his own cheek. It was so nice; to feel that nothing bad could happen to him if he had Hephaistion at his side, he could do anything because nothing was impossible if they were together.

 

He sought his General’s waist under the sheets and hugged him, pulling him gently but with firm grip, towards him. Alexander wanted to feel his beloved’s body against his own, to experience his warmth, to remember that he was alive. Sometimes it seemed as if he were floating aimlessly inside a dream, a dream full of gods and heroes, a dream of a great adventure that would lead him down a path of glory to attain his goal, to reach eternity.

 

But, to feel Hephaistion’s breath on his lips, and the warmth of his body next to him, made the King return to reality, helped him to stay in this world and not lose himself. Alexander knew the world could end that day that the sky could fall on their heads as the Gauls feared, and yet, Hephaistion would always be at his side. His beloved was a constant in a world full of uncertainties; he was the force and stability that he needed to keep going.

 

He really was his other half, and the idea of losing him seemed as ridiculous as the idea that he could be defeated on the battlefield; in a word it was impossible. Hephaistion, languidly, dragged his arms over Alexander’s shoulders to surround his neck.

 

- Does this not bring back memories? –the General asked in a whisper— When we were in Mieza we used to sleep like this.

 

The King smiled.

 

- I remember –Alexander ran his hand over his beloved hip, looking for the edge of his tunic, he wanted to feel him, and his fingers burned with anticipation to feel that creamy skin beneath them.

 

When he found what he was looking for, the King took his hand up his thigh and Hephaistion took his leg up over Alexander’s side, feeling his fingers on his skin, walking up and down, his muscles rippling under his touch. It seemed as if this were the first time Alexander was touching him, playing with Hephaistion, caressing him too delicately, almost as if he didn’t wanted to touch him, tickling his beloved, rubbing his creamy skin with his nails and dragging his fingertips along his thighs. It was a delicious contrast; his calloused hands on that skin, so soft that it was like a dream.

 

Hephaistion felt how a gentle heat concentrated down his waist. He hid his face in the King's neck with his arms still around him, hitting him gently with his breath, and a moan that sounded more like a purr, left his lips when he felt Alexander’s fingers reach his butt, crawling over his skin.

 

- You are teasing me –sighed his General, sticking his hips to the King’s. He poked the tip of his pink tongue and tasted the salty skin of his neck, making the King's body shiver from head to toe. Alexander didn’t respond with words, instead, he took his fingers to Hephaistion’s hip, through his depressions and caressing the bone with his thumb—Do you want to have me?

 

- No –said Alexander with a softness that many flowers would have envy. He took his hand between his beloved’s legs and Hephaistion sighed, feeling how his fingers touched him almost by accident, making his whole body shiver.

 

- Mm...

 

- Do you want to know why I sent for you yesterday? –Alexander asked, speaking against his hair, and his beloved nodded— I needed to see you after the battle, I hadn’t noticed until now, because I had never obtained a victory like this before, but you are my anchor to reality, if it wasn’t for you my mind would wander aimlessly –Hephaistion shivered again, feeling how the King explored him playfully, almost with curiosity. His breathing quickened, the King was so close to him, that every time his chest went up and down he could feel Alexander’s strong body against him. The King sought his beloved’s ear and whispered what was what he really wanted from him, making Hephaistion open his eyes in surprise.

 

- Are you sure of what you're asking me? –the General asked with choked voice, and the King nodded.

 

- Phai, "sex and sleep alone make me conscious that I am mortal" and I really need this –Alexander said firmly. Even he needed sometimes to remember that a lucky arrow or a sword could kill him. It was so easy to believe he was immortal, pass the time in the inner world of his mind… and he needed to focus his ideas. He had power and authority over thousands of souls, but not over Hephaistion.

 

He could be his King, but he knew he could never manipulate his beloved as he did sometimes with his officers or his men, he could not manipulate him. Hephaistion would always be Hephaistion, and if he followed and obeyed him it was because he loved him; his General had had many opportunities to leave him: for his father, King Philip, or for Memnon or Darius, but he hadn’t. Hephaistion had disobeyed him sometimes to follow his instincts, like when he went as a spy to the Persian camp or when he fought against Dardanos. No, Alexander was convinced he had no authority over his beloved and no interest in having it ... he loved him for that very reason, because he was always challenging him and forcing him to be a better person.

 

Why would he want to have a puppet at his side? The King wanted someone with a strong personality, brilliant and outspoken, not a slave always afraid and always eager to please him.

 

Hephaistion wasn’t very sure to do what Alexander asked but he agreed. If the King were sure this was what he wanted then he would do it. He raised his face and tenderly kissed his lips, it was his way of asking a silent apology for what he was going to do.

 

The General took the King’s arm and turned him abruptly, leaving him face down; everything was so fast that Alexander needed a few seconds to register what had happened, his face against the extremely soft and gelatinous water-filled mattress. Hephaistion knelt astride on his back, and took his wrists, bound with only one hand, over his head; it was at times like these that to be taller than him was useful. He leaned closer to Alexander’s ear without letting him go.

 

- Are you sure about this? –Hephaistion whispered—I do not want to hurt you.

 

- That's the whole point, Phai –Alexander felt his body burning, feeling his strong grip, pinning his wrists.

 

- Fine...

 

Hephaistion took him by the waist with his free hand, forcing him to lift it and to come closer to him. He gently stroked his butt, massaging and separating the tender skin, leaving Alexander with his cheek resting against the blankets. The King tried to turn his head to see what was his General doing, but he couldn’t move. Hephaistion was truly stronger than he. His beloved raised his tunic to leave him exposed and Alexander bit his lower lip in anticipation.

 

The General stopped, he wasn’t sure about this and his inner cricket told him that all of this was crazy, but…He shook his head and thrust inside him with force and without giving him time to get used to him, without preparing him and without considerations. He knew how painful was this but he did it just as his King had asked, feeling how Alexander’s body was first tense and then relaxed under him. The King tightly grabbed the blankets and moaned when he felt his beloved resting inside him. It hurt, but the pain was also a bliss, so weird but at the same time so natural.

 

What Hephaistion felt every time he was with Alexander, was something that could steal his reason, to feel his warmth, knowing that the King belonged to him was something that made him happy and inflamed every one of his senses. He loved him, and he knew it would be like this forever, he had never doubted that. Soon, both of them were trapped in that endless spiral of pleasure, the General encouraged by the sensual moans that left the blonde’s mouth.

 

- Gods…Phai…that’s…delicious…—Alexander’s voice was choked, and he didn’t bother to lower his moans and panting, which was a huge encouragement for his beloved. He loved Alexander’s voice, to hear him groan aroused him beyond the limits, his voice choked with pleasure, his sighs, his quickened breath, every sound that came from his throat, sent sparks through Hephaistion’s body.

 

The King felt his body sinking into the mattress with each thrust, he would have never imagine that he could feel something like this; finally his unspoken needs and his most secret desires were satisfy, but this was something that he could only do with Hephaistion; he wouldn’t share this with anybody else, because, it was like sharing a part of his soul, a dark part. The King was lost in a whirl of emotions and sensations, intense, redeeming, arousing.

 

By the time all of this ended, Alexander was exhausted, his messy blond hair on his flushed face, and his moist lips slightly parted. Now he knew for sure that only sex and sleep made him conscious that he was still mortal.

 

XXX

 

When Berenike woke up that morning she smiled. She was feeling so good even with the bruises she still had from the battle, she had never slept so well in her life, a deep sleep without dreams; for blessing hours Berenike had lost all conscious, shutting herself off reality and had surrounded herself into that abyss of oblivion that was Morpheus’ domains, ceasing her existence for the rest of world. She embraced the pillow and sighed, cuddling her naked body among the rumpled sheets…wait, naked body? She opened her eyes and then started to remember what had she done the night before. Berenike straightened up and turned, finding Kleitos’ strong and naked back covered with scars, which made her blush at once.

 

Oh dear Zeus, oh dear Zeus, oh dear Zeus –Berenike thought, trying to calm herself down. She took both hands to her face, thinking. After that savage kiss outside the Great King’s tent, Kleitos had carried her to his tent and shared with her the wildest night of Berenike’s life—I have to go. 

 

She started to pull the sheets to cover herself, but then, she saw she was uncovering Kleitos who was just like the day he was born. Berenike blushed and left the sheets, then she started looking for her dress…if there was something left of it, after all the hipparch had almost tore it trying to take it off her. She found it on the floor and stood up trying to make as little noise as possible, when…

 

- Up all ready? –she jumped when Kleitos voice filled the place.

 

He turned and Berenike ran to cover herself with her dress, the best way she could.    

 

- Seriously? After what happened last night and you are still covering yourself? –asked Kletios amused.

 

Berenike blushed.

 

- I’m sorry…

 

- Don’t apologize –he yawned— It’s not like you did something wrong –said he hipparch, making her feel a little uncomfortable.

 

- I…I should go, you know before…–oh Gods this was so embarrassing—Before Leon finds out. 

 

Kleitos nodded and stood up, making her turned to other side. They could have had the best and wildest sex of her life, but she was embarrassed of seeing him naked.

 

- When are you going back home? –he asked looking for his chiton.

 

- I don’t know…I think as soon as I finish packing –she said a little sad, coming back to reality and the fact that she was going back to Macedonia.

 

The hipparch nodded and looked for water. Now that he wasn’t looking at her, Berenike dressed quickly, tying her dressed the best way she could, because Kleitos had indeed tore her dress. She brushed her hair with her fingers and went running to the entrance. Then she stopped. Berenike didn’t know what to say, she knew she had to say something but, what? What does one say after night doing…? She blushed again. 

 

- Em…health to you, Kleitos –Berenike didn’t turn and went out with just one thought in her mind: going back to Leonnatos’ tent before someone could see her.

 

Outside, Thais was taking a walk with Sophonisba when she saw Berenike, trying to pass unnoticed while leaving Kleitos’ tent, which only served to make her look even more suspicious, and that immediately caught the hetaira’s attention.

 

No kidding –thought Thais, watching her running back to Leonnatos’ tent, which thanks to the Gods wasn’t too far from this one—Isn’t that Kleitos’ tent? –she said to herself truly amused to see a “good girl” like Hephaistion’s sister in that situation. 

 

When Berenike arrived to her husband’s tent, she found a very worried Netikerty there, her slave hadn’t slept all night waiting for her, wrapped in a blanket and sat on a chair near the entrance; but now that she saw her mistress was fine she felt better.

 

- And Leon? –asked Berenike whispering.

 

- He hasn’t come back…

 

- Thanks father Zeus! –exclaimed Berenike, hiding her face in her hands—Help me, I need to change…and bathe.

 

- Where were you last night? –Netikerty had a bad feeling about this.

 

- You are not going to believe me –said her mistress in a mysterious tone.

 

XXX

 

It was still early by the time Leonnatos appeared; he found his wife and Netikerty packing. His tent upside down, with open chests and trunks, and cloths, blankets, toys, papers, books and other things scattered all around the place.

 

- Eni –he said in his usual soft and loving tone of voice—I want to talk to you.

 

Netikerty left them with the excuse of looking for another trunk. Berenike didn’t turn and kept folding her children’s cloths without looking at him.  

 

- About what? I’m packing and I’m leaving as soon as I can, that’s what you want, don’t you? –she was still hurt remembering their argument last night and the things he had said when she arrived at the banquet. No one had ever talked to her the way Leonnatos did the night before, and she made him feel really bad.

 

- I’m sorry –that made her turned and found her husband with a very simple and cute bouquet of wildflowers in his hands—This is for you –he gave her the bouquet—And…I don’t want you to go.

 

Now it was Berenike’s turn to feel bad. She saw the love in Leonnatos’ eyes and started crying, taking a seat on the closest chair, holding the bouquet with force between her shaking hands. Leonnatos panicked, thinking it was his fault that his wife was crying again, so he embraced her, whispering how much he loved her and how sorry he was for having yelled at her.

 

Berenike cried almost for 15 minutes, her head against Leonnatos’ chest until she could speak again, feeling how all her emotions were trapped in her chest, difficulty her breathing.

 

- I’m…sorry…I…I…–she would tell him everything, everything about what had happened with Kleitos, she couldn’t hide it, she felt like the worst woman on earth for having cheated him the way she did. Berenike would say it and assumed the consequences no matter what—Leon, I…sl…

 

- Don’t say anything, please listen to me –her husband kneeled in front of her—I overreacted yesterday and I’m sorry. I’m worried about you, and I can’t even imagine the possibility of loosing you…or my children. You truly hurt me yesterday when you said you did this to have better food rations…please –he took her hands—If you have a problem tell me first, don’t go to Alexander, I’m your husband and I’ll do anything for you –she cried again—I love you.

 

- Oh Leon…I’m very sorry…please forgive me, but I…when I left the banquet…I…–Leonnatos kissed her hands.

 

- I know, you were feeling terrible but understand that you couldn’t stay –said her husband—You are a noble woman, and decent noblewomen don’t attend to men’s banquets –he explained with calm—Lets forget this, and talk with calm about what happened…but after the ceremony. 

 

- What ceremony? –Berenike sobbed.

 

- Alexander told me he wants to give you a reward for your performance yesterday and I say yes, so…where is your armor? –he said making her smile. Well, she could always tell him about Kleitos after the ceremony, right?

 

XXX

 

The first thing in Alexander’s agenda for that day was to visit the wounded and then celebrate the splendid military funerals of his fallen soldiers. The whole army were assembled, wearing their spotless armors, all of them in battle formation facing the dais where Alexander was standing surrounded my his Somatophilax, Generals, officers, captains and guards. It was an impressive sight that emanated the most pure power; awing the hearts of the spectators, the Persians who were nearby, the camp followers, servants, hostages, prisoners, slaves ... all looked amazed at the most tangible proof of the Macedonian King’s power.

 

It was an impressive sight, the hundreds of funeral pyres, which caught the attention of the Persian, who didn’t have the custom of burning their dead. Usually when a man died, he was cremated surrounded by his family and friends, but since they were so far from home, they were cremated surrounded by the army.

 

Hephaistion found himself observing the flames, eating the cloths, flesh and bones of the dead and wondering, how would be his own dead? He had never thought about that before, but since the campaign started death had been another companion. Would he die in the battlefield? Would Alexander speak at his funeral? Would Achilles be there, watching how the fire consumes his mortal remains? Would his mother receive the urn with his ashes?…He didn’t even know why was he thinking all this but…in that moment he realized something. If he die, many people would be very sad; he had to be more careful in the future because it broke his heart to imagine how sad would be Alexander, Achilles, his siblings, his family, his mother…

 

After the funerals; the King rewarded every single man who had distinguished himself in the battle, praising their achievements and making his men feel as if they were Titans, as if the army were nothing without them. He promoted those who had earned that privilege. But the most emotive moment was when he gave Berenike Darius’ bow. It was obvious that he couldn’t promote her but he could give her a suitable reward for her brave performance. If there was something that the young King admired was courage.    

 

Berenike was so happy that she embraced the bow and couldn’t stop smiling, until she turned and found Kleitos’ dark eyes on her, then she blushed savagely. She had too much conscious to act cynically as if nothing had happened between them, even less remembering how his tongue had gone through her body... all right; she had to stop thinking about that.

 

From that day on, she was the heroine of all the women who were with the army, from the whores to the wives of some of the men, and she truly was Artemis for one day.

 

- Phai, where are you going? –asked Alexander, after the ceremony. His best friend was still wearing his armor, and for what he saw, eager to leave as soon as possible.

 

Hephaistion stopped and turned.

 

- I have something to do in my tent –he said catching the King’s attention.

 

- You said the same yesterday –one of the King’s pages arrived to help him to take his armor off— What’s happening?

 

Hephaistion hadn’t told him anything about his Persian refugees and sooner or latter he would have to, so he decided to seize this opportunity.

 

- Do you remember Yarsa and Bahman? I told you about them, I met them in Darius’ camp –said his best friend and Alexander nodded.

 

- Yes, the eunuch and the Magus –the page took the breastplate.

 

- The same. Well, I kind of rescued them yesterday and took them to my tent –the General explained—And I have to go back and see what am I going to do with them now.

 

The King smiled.

 

- Phai, we truly need to do something with this compulsion of yours of rescuing people after a battle –said Alexander making him blush.

 

- They were very good to me at the Persian camp, I couldn’t leave them to the men’s mercy –explained the General. 

 

- I know…but you don’t have to go now –said the King, taking back his sword from his page—I want you to go with me to see Darius’ family. Leon told me they are still scared and feeling uneasy about their future so, I have to talk to them personally.

 

- All right.

 

XXX