CHAPTER 79

Melkar knew that to capture Hephaistion was the same as to try to capture the sun, in two words: ridiculous and impossible. As he told Darius days ago, he had witnessed the great duel that was held between the Macedonian and Kingu. Kingu, a man who filled with reverential fear the hearts of his opponents, whose name was uttered with the same reverence as the name of the Gods. And the impossible had happened, a foreigner, whose face was so beautiful that nobody would have thought him capable of having such power in him, had defeated the dreaded Kingu.

Maybe that was Hephaistion’s secret, his opponents underestimated him because of his unearthly beauty, and why shouldn’t they? No man could have everything in this world; no man could have the strength of the God El, the wisdom and sharp mind of the Goddess Asherah, the physique of Adonis and the astuteness to deceive a King, because then, he would cease to be a man to become a God.

But Hephaistion isn’t a God –said Melkar to himself, pacing in his room like a predator, waiting for the right moment to attack.

He stopped in front of his window, and watched from this privileged position, the city of Tyre: majestic, rising with all its pride to the skies; surrounded by its ancient walls, making it impregnable, unconquerable, invincible. Tyre was an island, which gave it a privileged position, away enough from the continent to not suffer the hardships of a land attack or aggressions by ambitious neighbors; and close enough to stock up in case of being necessary.

Yes –said Melkar to himself—This is a privileged and powerful city.

He raised his dark eyes, taking a look far beyond the walls. He had to squint his eyes to distinguish the lights that were on the coast. The Macedonian King had arrived with his army, and the notables of the city, led by King Azemilcus’ son, and his own son-in-law, had gone immediately to request an audience with Alexander.

The Fools! –Melkar thought, placing his hand on the frame of the huge window—Why is that they can’t see the situation? 

Alexander was an ambitious man, did they really believe that with a golden crown and hollow promises of a partnership were to appease the Lion of Macedonia?

Melkar had thrown his head back and launched a cruel, evil and psychotic laugh that had given the creeps to all who had heard him, when he learned what had happened next. Galussa, his faithful servant, had given him a full report about the hearing that Alexander had granted. Tyre’s important men had tried to soothe Alexander, saying what he wanted to hear and hoping that he would continue his journey, leaving the city in peace behind him.

Tyre had no intention of surrendering to the invader; they wanted to continue under the authority of the Great King, to avoid a direct confrontation with Alexander and, to wait until Darius gather another army to drive the Macedonian army back to his backwater kingdom. But the Macedonian King was no fool, he immediately noticed that the Tyrians were "more inclined to accept an alliance with him than to submit to his rule"(1) But, for Alexander, it was all or nothing, and he immediately asked to be allowed to make a sacrifice inside the city, at the temple of the God Melkart.

That made Melkar smile; he took this as an omen that his destiny and the King’s were intertwined, and as a sign that the time to act had arrived. Alexander claimed to be descended from Herakles, and for Tyrians, Melkart was their own version of Herakles. And Melkar had the same name of this God. Yes, he would show Alexander that their destinies were indeed intertwined. 

Tyrians refused to let the Macedonian King in, because the problem wasn’t to let him do the sacrifice but how to take him out after that, and, since they wanted nothing to do with this war, they went to him kindly, with charming smiles, to let the Conquering King know that "his request was out of question. However, another temple, just as good, existed on the mainland at Old Tyre, and perhaps he would like to sacrifice there?"(2) Of course that blew up that bomb known as "Alexander’s bad temper" If there was something that could piss him off, in addition of not getting his way, was neutrality. For him that was nothing more than another word for cowardice.

And the King immediately called his military council. He would show the Tyrians that their island was also part of the mainland. 

Melkar still couldn’t believe how stupid were his fellow citizens to believe that their plan could actually work, and now they were about to face a siege. A siege! That still amused Melkar, now, whenever he was angry, the Carthaginian remembered the young King trying to besiege Tyre, and laughed. He had to tell his family in Carthage, this was the most ridiculous and funny thing he had heard in his life.

Of course, that this ... siege, fell as a gift from the Gods to Melkar. Now he had all the pieces in place, and just had to give the order to launch his plan and capture Alexander...not Hephaistion, that was almost as impossible as the odds of the Macedonian King to take Tyre besieging it. No, he would capture Alexander and lure Hephaistion into a trap. 

XXX

Hephaistion couldn’t sleep that night. He was still thinking in Alexander’s plan of besieging Tyre…even with all the love he felt for his King and the trust he had in him, he knew that this was a bad idea. How do you put a siege around a walled island?

I can see you laughing at this. Of course, for someone born in these modern nights it seems absurd that the fact of besieging an island had kept me awake, but I must remind you that in my time there was no missiles or air force, so for all of us who heard the speech Alexander gave that day, when the envoys of Tyre left after rejecting the request of my King, Alexander was really nuts.

- “Friends and fellow soldiers” –said Alexander that day to his military council, to his Companions and officers of all ranks reunited in the meeting room of his tent—“I do not see how we can safely advance upon Egypt, so long as Persia controls the sea; and to pursue Darius with the neutral city of Tyre in our rear and Egypt and Cyprus still in enemy hands would be a serious risk, especially in view of the situation in Greece –he wait a moment to be sure that they were paying attention—With our army on the track of Darius, far in land in the direction of Babylon, the Persians might well regain control of the coast, and thus be enabled with more power behind them to transfer the war to Greece, where Sparta is already openly hostile to us, and Athens, at the moment, is but an unwilling ally; fear, not friendliness, keeping her on our side. 

Alexander knew that they all thought he was crazy for trying to take Tyre by force. This could have been easier if their charming King hadn’t dismiss the fleet a year ago, after they took Miletus, and Alexander knew that his most veteran commanders thought he was a fool. So, now, he had to make them see the situation, and made them understand that taking Tyre was necessary. 

- “But with Tyre destroyed, all Phoenicia would be ours, and the Phoenician fleet, with both in numbers and quality is the predominant element in the sea-power of Persia, would very likely come over to us –the King continued, with that powerful voice— “The Phoenician seamen, ships’ crews or fighting men, once their towns are in our hands, will hardly endure to face the perils of service at sea for the sake of others. The next step will be Cyprus: it will either join us without trouble on our part, or be easily taken by assault; then, with the accession of Cyprus and the united fleets of Macedon and Phoenicia, our supremacy at sea would be guaranteed, and the expedition to Egypt would thus be a simple matter, and finally, with Egypt in our hands we shall have no further cause for uneasiness about Greece: we shall be able to march on Babylon with security at home, with enhanced prestige, and with Persia excluded not only from the sea, but from the whole continent up to the Euphrates”(3)

Hephaistion knew that, all the reasons Alexander had given to them, were more than valid, he was right in insisting that Tyre was an important piece in his strategy, and that all would benefit from its fall ... all but the Tyrians, of course. But one look at the fortress, its strong and lofty walls, and the thought that the entire fleet that was haunting these seas was Persian or Phoenicia, made him see that what King was asking was nothing more than a miracle.

In the end, Hephaistion had enough of being lying in his bed, and decided that, if sleep would continue to elude him, the best thing was to go for a walk. He took his cloak and went to the beach, a little far from the rest of the camp, but he wanted to be alone. The General squatted and took a handful of sand, seeing it slip through his fingers. They had come this far…maybe if they could find an ally inside Tyre, someone willing to betray the city and open the gates for them… 

- Somehow –said a voice and Hephaistion quickly drew his dagger—I knew you would come.

It was Alexander, sitting on a trunk, under a tree. The General sheathed his dagger.

- Never do that again –said his beloved, walking to him—What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be alone, is dangerous. 

- You exaggerate; nothing is going to happen to me –Alexander turned to see the island, arms crossed over his chest, his back against the tree behind him, and the legs stretched on the trunk. Hephaistion sat near his feet.  

- Oh, really? If I were an assassin you will be death by now, where are your guards? –asked Hephaistion, surveying the surroundings. The King’s security was his responsibility and he would never forgive himself if something happen to Alexander.  

- I have no idea. 

The General frowned. 

- You are worst than Aki –he said, and they fell silent for a moment. Days ago, Alexander told him about what had happened with Achilles and the bees, but they had been so busy that their time together was limited only to the official meetings and when Hephaistion had to deliver a report. They couldn’t talk, and this was the first time in days that they could share a peaceful moment alone. 

- What do you think about Aki? –asked Alexander, his uneven eyes on his friend's profile. 

Hephaistion leaned his weight to the front, his elbows on his thighs. 

- I think we are very lucky that he is still with us –said Hephaistion with soft voice—I never thought that bees could be so dangerous. 

Of course he had been very scared when he had heard that his son almost die suffocated, even more seeing Achilles’ leg reddened and swollen. But now they had another problem…

- Nobody can know about this, Phai –said Alexander, giving voice to his beloved’s thoughts—One day Aki is going to be King and if someone knew this…

  

- I know –the General brushed his hair back—I know –he lifted his eyes to the sky and a humorless smile curved his lips—He truly is worthy of his name…Achilles, our boy also has one mortal weakness. 

The King said nothing, this was serious and he was concerned. The next King had to be someone capable of ruling a vast Empire as Persia, because not even for a second Alexander doubted that he was going to conquer all; and, when he died, Achilles would be more powerful than Darius, more powerful than his father Philip ever dreamed to be, and he had to be a strong King, but if he could die because of something as small as a bee…was he the right person to be his heir?

What am I thinking? Of course he is –said the King to himself—He has Hephaistion’s blood and mine in him, besides, Phai is right, my boy and Achilles had one mortal weakness but that didn’t stop my ancestor of achieving great deeds. 

For a long moment they remained silent, just hearing the sound of the waves and enjoying the warm breeze. 

- Barsine is here –said Alexander suddenly, and for a moment Hephaistion didn’t know of what he was talking about—She came days ago, while you were in Sidon. She was among the hostages Parmelio caught at Damascus. 

- What did she want? –the General tried to hide all his emotions from his voice but the King knew him better than this. He knew his beloved disliked Barsine and he could hardly blame him for that. 

- She has a child of mine, a son –there wasn’t an easy way to say this, so Alexander chose to be as direct as possible, sooner or latter Hephaistion would know about this, and he didn’t want to have secrets with the most important person in his life.  

Hephaistion’s expression remained the same, but in his heart a whirl of emotions was unleashed. He knew that Alexander had no feelings towards Barsine, that he had only slept with her because he was angry and jealous, but… 

A son, she gave him a son –he thought—No matter how much he loves Aki, he is not his son…and now…

The General had to admit he was jealous. This was the only thing he could never do for his King, he could never give him a son and he had to admit that it bother him most to know his King with a woman that with another man or boy, because a woman could give Alexander more than him. 

The silence lasted for too long, and the King pushed Hephaistion playfully with his foot. 

- Why don’t you ask me what you really want to know? –his beloved turned to see him—You want to know what I’m planning to do with her, don’t you? –the General nodded, he didn’t trust his voice—Nothing.  

- Nothing? –that was the last answer he would have expected. 

- I told her, I can’t recognize her son and I can’t name him my heir –said Alexander, without emotion, simply stating the facts—I’m thinking in leaving her and his sons comfortably settle in a city.  

“Her sons” Hephaistion noticed that he had no interest in his child. 

- What is the boy’s name? –his beloved wanted to know. 

- Herakles. 

- Do you choose it? 

- No. She did. 

- How does he look like? 

- A lot like her –said Alexander, feeling the soft warm breeze hitting his face—But with blue eyes and white skin, I just saw him once. 

- Alex, do you really feel no curiosity about him? –asked Hephaistion. 

- No –his beloved saw him surprised and confused—Do you remember when Aki arrive? 

- Yes. 

- You told me, that you knew you have to love your son because he was your son, but you knew nothing about him –the General nodded—Well, I feel something similar, but for me there are other things that stop me for feeling something for this boy. 

- Like what? 

- I don’t love Barsine, in fact, until days ago I truly disliked the woman for tricking me –the King explained with cold indifference. He didn’t hate her and he didn’t hate his son, he just didn’t care—She is not Macedonian and she doesn’t have the ancestors to make her the mother of my heir. 

- I don’t have illustrious ancestors either –said Hephaistion, taken by surprise by his answer. He would have never imagined that Alexander could behave like this with a son of his own, but he understood perfectly what he was saying. 

- No, but you are you –said Alexander, straightening to take a seat beside him—You are my other half, what else could I ask? –he kissed his cheek, inhaling the delicious aroma of Chamomile of his hair. 

 

We are very different –thought the General—I’m more sentimental than he. If Herakles were my son, I would have raised him, just like I’m doing with Aki. But now…now I truly understand that when he says he loves my son as if he were his own, he not only mean it, he consider my Aki worthy enough to be call the son of Alexander. I haven’t thought things this way. 

Hephaistion turned to see him, taking his time to admire the King in silence. They had been apart just for a few days, but for him it seemed like years. He knew Alexander belong to no one, that he had things to do, and that he had to share him with another several thousand of men, and he understood this…even if he didn’t like it. He would love to have the King just for him, but he knew that was impossible. 

- I truly have good taste –he said taking the blond by surprise— I should claim you as mine and lock you up –Alexander gave him an arrogant and lazy smile, his eyes twinkled as if he were a wild beast ready to attack a prey.

- And, why don’t you claim me now? 

Hephaistion cocked his head and curled a lock of hair on his finger.

- Maybe I will. 

Alexander took his arm, pulled him and kissed him with the intensity he had been keeping for days, and the same need of someone who has spent too many nights alone. Hephaistion returned the kiss with the same passion, Alexander was one of the most gloriously good-looking men he had had the pleasure of meeting and that kindled all his senses. He too had been alone for too many nights. 

His beloved was sweet and tender, but at the same time passionate and demanding, his mouth tasted like heaven, which had Alexander’s body contracted with desire. Each time he kissed Hephaistion it was as if it were the first, each time were different and unique, and after all those years together, he still felt butterflies in his stomach. The General straightened without releasing his mouth, he couldn’t stop tasting it, nipping and sucking his lips, drinking in every moan exhaled by the King as he sat on his lap.

They both felt dizzy for the lack of air, but that didn’t matter in those moments, they could have died by suffocation and they would have been immensely happy, as long as they could still feel the lips the other. 

Alexander moaned almost groaned when he felt the General’s weight on him, trapping his growing hardness against his body; Hephaistion pressed his thighs against the blonde’s sides and, it was as if someone had pressed the ON button in Alexander’s body. The King raised his beloved taking him by the butt and turned to left him with his back against the tree trunk behind them, the tips of his beloved’s bronze-gold hair brushed his cheeks making him tickles.

Hephaistion put his arms behind the King’s neck and played with his hair, his fingers sinking in those rebel locks. He stroked his head as he would do with a kitten and was rewarded with a long, soft moan, feeling for the blonde’s body melted under his touch. Alexander massaged his buttocks and slid his hands up to reach his hips. 

Oh Gods! His skin –thought the King, loosing himself in its softness. Desire took control of him, it was such a powerful emotion that made him moaned.  

The General smiled against his mouth and cupped his face in his hands, stroking his cheeks with his thumbs.

- You have such a fire in you –whispered Hephaistion without breath, taking his hands down, through his neck, feeling every curve, every plane and every hollow, his skin so hot under his palms, until he reached his strong chest. 

The King trapped his lower lip, and nipped it. 

- You are the one who made me burn this way –Alexander purred. He kissed his beloved’s cheek, and took him by the thighs wanting to cover them all at once, touching him everywhere. His beloved’s skin was a delight and, at every stroke, his muscles twitched under his fingers.  

- Oh…Gods! –exclaimed Alexander, under his breath. 

Hephaistion bent his knees at the King’s sides, his chiton slipped exposing one shoulder and, his hair, like silk ribbons, covered part of his blushed face. Alexander only had to take one look at him to feel every fiber of his body tremble with lust. His General was a vision; the best example of what should be a man, it was impossible to see him and not stop to admire him, Hephaistion could make someone sell his soul for just one night in his bed. And, the best thing was that that seductive package kept a quick-witted and intelligent mind, which only served to increase even more the King’s fascination. He could never get tire of him.

His beloved bit his lower lip and stroked the King's nipples over the fabric, teasing him until they harden. Sometimes Hephaistion wondered, what have he done to deserve a lover like Alexander? The King had everything: he was handsome, oozing manliness from head to toe, surrounded always by that powerful aura that marked him more like a God than like a mortal man, brilliant and brave. And his eyes, no one had eyes like him, nobody could held his gaze because his eyes kept thousands of secrets locked, it was as if he could see all, as if he could penetrate in your most intimate and hidden thoughts. 

How was that this man, capable of commanding thousands of men, was with him? The mere thought of his King in the middle of the battlefield was enough to make him shiver. Yes, Alexander could command thousands of men, but he was the only one who could own his heart, and see him like this...the real Alexander. 

Reluctantly, the King left Hephaistion’s magnificent thighs to get rid of his own chiton; he took it off so fast that it seemed as if the fabric had spikes. 

His beloved laughed amused, looking adorable with his pink cheeks and inflamed wet lips.

- Take it easy, I’m not going anywhere –Hephaistion took his hands to Alexander’s hips, and playfully, ran them over his buttocks. Oh, how he loved this part of the King’s body. 

For the General, if Alexander looked beautiful dressed, naked he was sublime, and he moaned softly feeling that wonderful butt under his hands. 

Alexander bowed to kiss his beloved’s shoulder; one hand stroked his leg, while the General pressed his body against him, and rocked his hips. This time, it was Alexander's turn to melt and moan giving away the last trace of his restraint, the friction between the two threatened to steal his reason. But, in the middle of that whirling of emotions, one coherent thought made his way: he couldn’t make love to Hephaistion on the trunks; even if his hormones were begging to differ. 

The King took him by the arm, and pulled him to follow him to the sand. Not exactly his ideal place, but in that moment this was the last concern in his mind. The General laid face up beneath him, breathing heavily with his cheeks blushed. 

Hephaistion laughed amused, having fallen on the sand in that position, but his laughter was soon replaced by a series of sensual sounds that left his mouth as Alexander licked the inside of his thighs. The King passed one leg over his shoulder, kissed his calf and the back of his knee, using also his fingers and nose.

- Alex…you are…Nnn…getting better…at this…—Hephaistion moaned, aching his back. That felt so good, his body felt overwhelmed by all this emotions, his head was spinning, and he thought he was going to explode when Alexander sucked the creamy skin of his thigh, biting it slightly, and licked its length, tasting the salty flavor of him. The blond bent over to touch his groin almost as if he didn’t wanted to, making him shiver. 

- I’m good at everything, Phai –the King whispered against his skin. 

Suddenly, Hephaistion pushed him away from him, slowly, his foot against his chest, and straightened up on his elbows.

- Do you think you are good? –asked his beloved, panting, holding his gaze defiantly through the locks of his silky hair. All right, now he was really going to use the knowledge that Xsayarsa had given to him. This time was Alexander's turn to be beneath. 

Hephaistion dragged his lips over the blonde’s wavy abdomen, his fingers sliding through his depressions and curves, up and down, with tortuous slowness leaving a wet path behind him. 

Yarsa, for your own good this must better work –thought Hephaistion.

The General took one of Alexander’s pectorals in his hand, as he would do with a woman, and pressed his thumb against his nipple. The King moaned loudly, without restraint, without any restriction, his cheeks were burning; his lips parted looking for air and his eyes narrowed. 

Hephaistion kissed his nipple again, but this time he caught it between his lips tightly, squeezing his chest so hard that the King felt his nails digging into his skin; and his beloved sucked the bulb with the same force of which an infant clings to his mother.

Alexander began to pant; he made his head back and settled his uneven eyes at the sky, the magnificent night sky. He couldn’t think, all his thoughts had melted under a heat wave, he was so vulnerable in that moment, so exposed and he didn’t care. Hephaistion could have murdered him and he would not have defended. The only thing the King could think in that moment was in keep feeling his beloved’s caresses, he needed him and wanted him badly.   

The sand felt so rough against hypertensive body, but he couldn’t care less. 

Hephaistion took his free hand between the King’s legs, looking for his tight entrance as he continued sucking as if he really wanted that something sprout from there. Alexander moaned every louder, if that was possible, closed his eyes and spread his legs, bending his knees. 

The General kissed his chest, and slid his lips down, until he reached his masculinity, and, then, he blew cold air, making the King’s nervous system tremble. 

Well, that wasn’t that bad –thought the General, after all Xsayarsa could keep his head in place.  

He took Alexander in his mouth and did exactly as the Persian had told him. The King’s moaned so loudly, that the General thought someone would hear him and came to see what was happening. Alexander moved his legs over the sand, he arched and panted heavily while his beloved made him things he wouldn’t think possible, carefully watching him to deny him his release, taking him by the hips to keep him still, stopping when it was necessary.  

- No…Phai…—said the King with drowned voice, he had been so close—I need… –but the General never heard what he needed because he kissed him, stealing the scarce air from him. 

Alexander was sure his beloved wanted to drive him mad. 

- Are you tired? –whispered Hephaistion against his lips. 

- Never –was the challenging response. This was the Alexander he loved, indomitable and undefeatable, even in that state of abandoned arousal when most people were nearly incoherently, he was still challenging him, an that made the General smiled. 

Alexander turned him, and Hephaistion fell on his back again, he was still dressed and that made the King frowned. The wet blond locks of his hair attached to his neck and beaded sweat covering his body, even with his cute red spots burning his cheeks he looked wildly beautiful. He truly was the Lion of Macedonia. The King took his General’s chiton off, almost ripping it in the process, and stopped to admire him.

- You are painfully beautiful –he said panting.  

- So do you –Alexander kissed him again, a tender and chaste kiss so out of place in that situation. He tweaked his beloved’s nose playfully and licked his index finger. 

Hephaistion just watched him through half opened eyes, admiring how damn hot he looked with his mouth full like that and his red spots on his cheeks. Yes, he loved everything about him and was sure that the King couldn’t do a thing to make him stop loving him the way he did. His body and soul were Alexander’s possession and he could do with him whatever he wanted. 

The King introduced his finger into his narrow entrance and his General rewarded him with a long, loud moan. 

- You don’t have to be… so careful ... you can’t hurt me –said Hephaistion panting. He spread his legs even more, and straightened with one arm leaning back. He was crazy for being thinking this, or for not thinking at all and just following the eunuch’s instructions, but the General also licked his finger, and introduced it inside him, and that was the weirdest sensation for him, he had never touched himself like that. He played with the King’s finger, making Alexander touch the sky. 

Alexander was so aroused that he forgot about everything, time appeared to have frozen, and, in this moment only he and his beloved matter, the rest was like mist. Hephaistion kissed his cheek. 

- What are you waiting for? –he whispered against the King’s skin.

That was too much. Alexander took him by the thighs to spread them even more, and possessed him with a single thrust. Hephaistion threw his head back, arched and moaned loudly without bothering to hide how much he enjoyed that, he moved his hips following his movements and soon he was the one who started muttering incoherent words. The King thrust inside him with such force, that it seemed as if he wanted to merge with him. Alexander leaned over to kiss his beloved and Hephaistion hugged him tightly.

They had no idea of how long they were there, lying on the sand, hearing the lulling sound of the waves, and their accelerated breathings. Hephaistion was face up, feeling he was going to fall asleep at any moment, he felt to relax, happily wasted, and it was so peaceful there... 

- Phai… —said Alexander without breath. 

- Mm? 

- You were…amazing… –those words made the General smiled—But…who taught you… to do that? 

For a second, Hephaistion was very tempted to tease him, telling him that he had learned many things in Sidon…but he thought things better, Alexander didn’t took well that kind of jokes and he was too happy and too tired to be arguing. 

- Nobody –he lied—You can say that I have an…innate talent for these things.

That made Alexander laugh. The General didn’t want to tell him the truth because if he did that, from now on, the King would be always asking him: “Xsayarsa taught you all that?” Every time they made love, wondering how many things the eunuch might have told him. It was better this way, to keep the mystery. 

- I see now! –the King exclaimed suddenly, scaring his beloved. Hephaistion turned on his side and saw Alexander sitting, his eyes on the walled island—I know how I’m going to convince the men that we can take Tyre.  

- Honestly, are you thinking about that NOW? –only his King would do this.  

- I’m going to tell them I had a dream –said Alexander as if Hephaistion hadn’t say a thing. 

- About what? –now the General was intrigued.

The King turned to see him. 

- I will tell them that I dreamed about Herakles sitting on Tyre’s walls –his beloved laughed.

- Alex that’s ridiculous. 

- For you maybe, but soldiers like good omens, and what better omen that this –said Alexander, bending over to kiss the General’s head. 

- You are a cheating bastard. 

- This is no cheating; I’m just resourceful –said Alexander, proud of his idea. 

- Right…you are going to manipulate 30 thousand men to take a walled island lying about a dream about Herakles –said Hephaistion, and the King pinched him—Ouch! 

- You know I have to take Tyre. 

- I know, I’m just teasing you –his beloved yawned—Lets go to sleep, I can barely keep my eyes open. 

- All right –Alexander stood up and gave Hephaistion a hand to pull him up; for a moment, the General’s legs shook and Alexander had to embrace him—Be careful my love –he kissed the tip of his nose and his beloved yawned again, leaning his head against his shoulder, it was so nice to be there. 

- Just a litter longer –asked Hephaistion half a sleep, and the King caressed his head. 

XXX

(1) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 247

(2) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 248

(3) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, p 17 and 18