Warning: This is an –M– chapter. 

 

CHAPTER 89

 

It amazed Hephaistion to realize how happy he was to see his son again. Of course he loved Achilles, but he never imagined the wonderful feeling that would fill his heart when he held his son again in his arms. It was almost as if he had awaken from a terrible nightmare, from being alone and confined in a small room to be again surrounded by his loved ones.  

 

The General, kneeled in front of him and embraced Achilles with force, as if the boy were a big teddy bear. This was real, and against all odds, he had his life back.

 

- You are so tall –said the Hephaistion his voice trembled with emotion, and his dark gray eyes sparkled as if he were about to cry, but no tears flowed. He patted the boy’s head and for a moment he thought he was staring at the son of someone else. Alexander was right, Achilles had changed, his innocent uneven eyes looked at him very different, as if something had awaken inside him. 

 

Achilles for his part cried like a little baby, even if he knew that Kleitos would disapprove it, he was so happy to have his father back that it took him half and hour to calm down; he embraced Hephaistion, clinging to his clothes without being able to release him. But not only the boy cried, in the same moment the General stepped inside his tent, Xsayarsa ran in his direction, embraced him and cried on his shoulder for so long that, by the time he could speak again, Hephaistion’s chiton was soak. For a moment the General thought he was in the middle of a funeral, a very funny funeral, but a funeral nonetheless because Kyros and even Atash, the eunuch’s slave, were crying.

 

- All right people, I’m fine there is no need to cry –even if Hephaistion didn’t say it, he was deeply moved by their displays of affection.

 

- I thought…—Xsayarsa sobbed and blew his nose with his handkerchief, still embracing his patron—I would never see you again, Peris…I thought…you have been sent to the mines…

 

Hephaistion patted his shoulder.

 

- The important thing is that I’m back –he smiled at him and the eunuch blushed—And that this hand –he took the Persian’s right hand—Shouldn’t be “embracing me” down there.

 

Xsayarsa giggled like a teenager, and moved away.

 

- Are you hungry? –asked Kyros at once and wiped his tears with the back of his hand. He was eager to do something for his master. All those weeks he had made daily sacrifices to all the Gods he could think of to pray for Hephaistion’s safe return, he even had made an offering to Ahura Mazda because Xsayarsa had told him it would help; the now 16 years old boy had truly feared he would never see his master again and couldn’t find words to express how happy he was to have him there again. 

 

- I’m starving –the General admitted. Thanks to his seasickness he didn’t eat much during the trip. 

 

- I’ll get you something in a minute, don’t move –Kyros left running.

 

The General sat down on the first chair he found, and Achilles sat at his side, still embracing him. For the boy Hephaistion was his entire world, even if he was so intelligent he was still a child and he couldn’t imagine a place without his dear father. Achilles had concealed all his feeling during the General’s absence because he wanted to be strong, he wanted to be like his uncle and to be respected by a man like Kleitos, he wanted to be as brave as his father, but the reality was that he had cried every night in the loneliness of his room, asking himself if he would ever see Hephaistion again. 

 

Now, Achilles just stayed there, embracing him. He would have one moment of sentimentalism, and next day he would be as Kleitos was teaching him to be: strong and self-confident.

 

- So, what’s new in the camp? –asked Hephaistion, caressing his son’s back, but after 15 minutes he regretted making that question because Xsayarsa, once he started talking he couldn’t stop. It was as if the eunuch knew every detail of what was going on with the generals’, officers’, commanders’ and even some rank soldiers’ lives.

 

This is going to be a very long night –thought Hephaistion, when his uncle Althaimenes, his cousin Demetrios, his grandfather, Lysanias and Berenike arrived; successfully interrupting the eunuch’s monolog.

 

Grandfather Demetrios was the first one to run and embraced him with such a firm grip that the General felt his bones cracking in protest.

 

- Son…you are fine –his grandfather’s voice trembled and, for the first time in his life, Hephaistion believed what Lysanias had said to him once, that his grandfather loved him more than he loved his own sons.

 

The General patted his back, grandfather Demetrios looked very old, he had been extremely preoccupied for his grandson and had volunteered to go with Alexander to rescue him, but the King had convinced him that this wasn’t wise. Hephaistion thought with sadness that his beloved grandfather was getting old.

 

No, he is old, but I never thought about him like an old man because he always looked so full with life –he said to himself. This wasn’t a life for grandfather Demetrios, concerns were destroying him in a way that the many battles he fought as a young man never could.

 

- I…thought we…would never see you…again –Berenike cried on his brother’s shoulder, and Xsayarsa cried too, again. This situation was too intense for the emotional eunuch. 

 

- We must make an offering to the Gods –said uncle Althaimenes, extremely happy to see his nephew again—They granted us a miracle. 

 

Hephaistion just smiled, keeping his opinion about those things. This was not the time for his blasphemous ideas.

 

- We didn’t say anything to uncle Amyntor –said cousin Demetrios, taking a seat—We thought it would be better to write him once you were again with us.

 

- Thank you, this was better –Hephaistion agreed. He smiled when he saw that Lysanias was crying too, things with his brother had improved greatly since their trip to Sidon months ago….just months ago but for the General it seem like years, after his experience as a slave—You know? There has been enough crying for one night, why don’t we celebrate? And I promise to open the amphorae of wine that were part of the Great King’s baggage. 

 

- Why do you have them? –asked cousin Demetrios with curiosity.

 

The General smiled sweetly.

 

- War spoils –he said.

 

And being Alexander’s beloved helps too –he thought.

 

XXX

 

Next day Alexander was the first one to wake up, he had been far for too long and his men needed to see him and he needed to see for himself how was the situation after the Tyrans attack. His officers were good men but there were things that only he could do.

 

The moral was low, the men were starting to doubt that it was possible to reach Tyre this way. The construction of the mole was easy at the beginning, but now, the more they approached the island the sea was deeper and the waves hit them harder, that without taking into consideration the constant attacks of the Tyrian fleet and the many wounded they had. The men were questioning that, if it took 13 years for the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar to lay siege on Tyre and, at the end, he abandoned the enterprise, what were the odds that they, without a flee and as many resources as the Babylonian King, would succeed?

 

- Are you comparing yourself with the Babylonians, Clytius? –asked Alexander to one of his men.

 

- No sire, I’m just saying that…

 

- Do you want to know why are we going to succeed? –the King interrupted him, standing on the mole among the workers—Because I’m here, and I’m the descendant of Herakles and Achilles, and no Persian or Babylonian King can compete with that. Besides I have with me real men, no Babylonians scared of doing men’s work. 

 

His men laughed, feeling much better and, by the end of the day, the moral was again high and the men thought that everything was possible as long as their young King was with them. It took Alexander all day to inspect the camp, paying special attention to the construction site and the zones where the Tyrians attack had done more damage. He always had an answer for every question, and a word of encouragement for his men. He didn’t feel guilty for leaving them for 2 months, why would he? Alexander had done the right thing going after Hephaistion and the proof was that his beloved was, once again, at his side, unharmed, and the mole was still there.

 

But the young King knew that this task, this monstrous construction project, could only be complete if he, in person, was there to give the instructions. 

 

I need a fleet –said Alexander to himself—I didn’t want to admit it but it’s going to be necessary if I want to take Tyre in this life time; but now the question is, where do I found a fleet?

 

When night fell he was eager to go at Hephaistion’s side and talk to him about everything he had seen during the day, about his plans, about the men’s mood, about the Tyrians defenses, about the supplies, about the damages…about how much he missed him even if it had only been a day; but Eumenes remembered him that Reah, his sister’s messenger, had been waiting all day for an audience.

 

- With everything I have to do I completely forgot about her –the King admitted. One of his pages gave him a cup with watered-wine—Do you know what does she want?

 

- I only know that she is carrying 2 letters, one from Queen Cleopatra and another one from Queen Olympias –said his secretary, collecting the several letters on the King’s desk—But Reah refused to tell more.

 

I wonder why the mystery –Alexander asked himself.

 

- Call her; let’s end with this now –said the King. The page collected the remains of his dinner and left behind the secretary.

 

Reah hadn’t changed much since Alexander was a boy, just her hair spoke of her age, a little gray at the sides; she had never been a person who smiled a lot, so the wrinkles in her face were minimal. The King took a minute to look at her, the sight of that tall woman with hard features brought him back many memories about his childhood and the turbulent life at the royal palace, a life, he thought, he didn’t miss one bit.

 

Perhaps, it’s because of this that I don’t want to go back –he said to himself—I don’t like the life at the palace, I don’t have a wife waiting for me, and usually women are the ones who tie a man to one place –he smiled— The only one who could have made me go back is here with me.  

 

No, Alexander wasn’t planning go back to Macedonia any time soon.

 

- Its good to see you again, Reah –said the King politely, sitting behind the magnificent desk of the Great King.

 

She bowed slightly.

 

- Sire, you are too kind –it had been years since the last time Reah had spoken to Alexander, if she didn’t recall wrong, she saw him for the last time the day of King Philip’s murder, after that, Cleopatra had left with her husband to Epirus taking her trusted nurse with her.

 

At that time the King was 20 years old, but 4 years later this man in front of her was a complete stranger. Alexander was a King as she had never seen one, the powerful aura around him marked him apart for the rest of the men, not even his father or the late King Alexandros had an aura like him, he commanded respect and obedience with just his presence.

 

- Please, have a seat –Alexander extended his arm to point a chair in front of his desk—Eumenes told me you have 2 letters from my mother and sister.

 

- That is correct, sire –Reah looked among her clothes—The Queens sends me with a request –he handed him the letters—Here.

 

The King didn’t understand what did his sister want that required to send here her beloved nurse, about his mother he had a better idea, most probably she wanted to complain about Antipater again, so he decided to read Cleopatra’s letter first. While he broke the seal of his sister’s letter, he thought that maybe she was in some kind of trouble with Epirus’ enemies or maybe her borders had been invaded; if that was the case he would have to send Antipater to help her and Alexander could hear, as clearly as if he had his regent sitting there, all his complains regarding the lack of men and resources to aid Epirus.

 

I’ll deal with that in time, I know Antipater needs men and resources but so do I –he thought.

 

From Cleopatra Queen of the Epirotes, to Alexander King of the Macedonians. Hail!

 

Dear brother, I’m writing to you because you are the only one who can help me. As you must know I’m a widow now, and ever since the tragic death of my husband I have been tormented with endless nights of no sleep, the memory of my child haunts me and doesn’t let me rest.

 

The only reason why I had to abandon Achilles in Illyria was because of my late husband; you knew our uncle, he was a jealous man and he would have killed us both, my son and me in the same moment he heard about my infidelity. You must believe me when I say I love my son and I would have never abandoned him if I had had a choice.

 

I panicked when I heard Achilles was in Pella, so I asked for our mother’s help to kill him. I’m ashamed of myself for even thinking that, I’m very sorry and the Gods had made me paid greatly for trying to kill my own son. I will always be grateful with you for taking care of him and saving his life.

 

But now, things are different. I’m a widow and there is no reason why Achilles should be away from me. I’m asking you, as a mother and as your sister, to send my son back to Epirus. Reah will take care of him and…

 

Alexander didn’t finish the letter; he crumpled it in his fist and lifted his eyes to see Reah. 

 

- She wants my son back –he said in a dangerous tone that gave the creeps to the old nurse—Achilles is my adopted son and my heir, how could she possibly been thinking in asking me this? –he shook his fist in the air.

 

Reah swallowed, she could feel her heart beating faster and her hands trembling.

 

- Sire, if you read the end of the letter, the Queen said she understands perfectly well her son’s status, and she is more than willing to raise him in your absence as your heir –said the nurse trying her best to keep her voice still—She is concerned for the child’s wellbeing, sire, a military camp is no place to raise a little boy.

 

- Cleopatra doesn’t understand a thing –Alexander stood up furious, and threw the letter on his desk— She is concerned for Achilles? –he forced a laugh that only scared the nurse even more—Cleopatra tried to kill him, and now she is concerned?

 

- Sire, she was married when the boy was born –Reah defended her Queen—Her life was in danger, now...

 

- Now she has no right to claim a son she never took care of –the King paced around.

 

- Sire –said the nurse with caution, Alexander truly frightened her—Your mother also thinks you should send the boy back to…

 

- I don’t care of what my mother thinks! –the King didn’t raise his voice but his voice was strong—You said a military camp is no place to raise a child, and I say that the royal palace isn’t the best place to raise one either –he hit the desk with his fist making Reah jumped—Do you truly think I don’t know why my mother wants Achilles with Cleopatra?  

 

Reah didn’t found her voice or strength to look at him, and the King left her alone in his study. The nursed fan herself with her hand, feeling as if she were about to faint. 

 

XXX

 

Eumenes was going to ask Alexander where was he going, they had much work to do, administrative work that had accumulated in 2 months, and he needed the King’s signature, but as soon as he saw his furious expression, he changed his mind and closed his mouth. He valued his life.

 

The King went striding to his beloved’s tent, his guards hesitated, not knowing if they should follow him or not; usually when he was this angry, the best thing was to leave him alone, but since Melkar kidnapped him, or “kingnapped” him as Leonnatos liked to say, they had strict orders of never leave him on his own.

 

- I’ll go if you go –said one of the guards to his companion, watching the King at the distance.

 

His companion sighed.

 

- Fine, let’s follow him at distance and everybody happy, what do you say? –the guard nodded and they followed their King.

 

Alexander was so angry that his face appeared to glow red, like a flashlight in the middle of the night; many of his officers, as soon as they saw him, approached him with all kind of complains and questions, but his bad mood was such, that as soon as they were close to him and his uneven eyes, that looked ready to kill, settled on them, they mumbled all kind of excuses and left him. Even Krateros who had an urgent message turned and go away when he saw his King.

 

Alexander entered his General’s tent and, when he didn’t find Hephaistion, he turned his attention to Kyros, who was cleaning the table. The Theban sweated cold. 

 

- He-Hephaistion is in-in his room –Kyros was amazed that he could actually speak.

 

The King said nothing and went directly to his beloved’s room, he was like a robot with only one thing in his head: find Hephaistion. The Theban saw the King disappeared into his master’s bedroom and decided to go out to take some fresh air, he really didn’t fancy the idea of being around Alexander when he was angry, the King had always scared the living hell out of him.

 

Alexander entered the small room as if it was his own; in his head he was repeating over and over again the words in his sister’s letter.

 

There is no reason why Achilles should be away from me…

 

…send my son back to Epirus…

 

How could she think, even for a moment, that I was going to agree with this nonsense? –thought the King when he lifted his head and found Hephaistion sitting on his bed.

 

The General was naked drying himself with a towel. He too had had a very difficult day, and his desk was also buried under a mountain of pending work. Glycon had proven once again his skills as a great organizer and had taken care of most of the work, but there were things that only Hephaistion could do.

 

It had been a hot day and the General had taken a bath, after telling Achilles a bed night story. He was in the process of getting dress when Alexander arrived and Hephaistion saw him with surprise and curiosity. The King stopped abruptly. The General’s long wet hair was attached to his back, and the water drops slid through his spine going all the way down. In the same moment Alexander’s eyes found the gorgeous sight of his beloved’s body, his anger met with another very powerful emotion: lust.

 

He hadn’t made love to Hephaistion since that night on the beach before his kidnapping, and that had been 2 months ago. Contrary to what Perdikkas thought, they didn’t do it on the ship not because he didn’t want to but mainly because of his beloved’s seasickness; not even Hephaistion looked sexy with an unhealthy green color on his face and puking.

 

- Did some…? –but the General’s words died in the same moment the King kissed him.

 

It was a demanding, hungry and savage kiss, a kiss that looked to devour his lips, to drink every breath and every moan that escape from his beloved’s mouth. Hephaistion was taken by surprise, at first he just opened his eyes, wide and round as the moon outside on the night sky, but as soon as he felt Alexander’s hands taking him by the hips, and his arousal against his thigh, he embraced the blond. He knew perfectly well what did his King wanted, but Alexander had never before taken him so desperately, he didn’t give him time, and 2 heartbeats later, the King was making his way inside him.

 

- A-A…lex…mm…—Hephaistion moaned, feeling fire running through his veins, soon his hormones took control over his body and he stopped asking himself what was going on.

 

It was so simple, in that moment it was just a pure and animalistic desire what flowed through Alexander’s body. He let the voice of his impulses dictate his movements, he didn’t think, he just act, too angry and too aroused, two emotions that found a way out in each thrust inside his beloved’s warmth. 

 

Hephaistion arched and closed his eyes, concentrating all his senses in feeling and he pressed his knees against the King’s sides. The blankets beneath him felt so rough against his oversensitive body, so strange, and so stimulating at the same time. He dug his nails on the King’s back, hurting his skin. It had been a while since the last time they were together like this, and it felt so delicious, Alexander was brutal with him but that only served to ignite his senses.

 

The General moaned with such force that it wouldn’t surprise him if next day someone told him they had heard him in Tyre, he could hear Alexander moaning and patting and the bed cracking beneath them. The King moved in and out of him increasing the force and speed of his thrusts. That was a curious sensation, thought Hephaistion in a brief moment of lucidity, to feel Alexander so close to him, it was so right, so beautiful and that was something that made him feel complete and happy. 

 

It took Alexander a while to be entirely satisfied and then, he lay on Hephaistion, feeling the savage beating of his beloved’s heart against his head. For long moments the only thing they could hear was their own breathing, and the murmur of the insects outside the tent. The King closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the sensation of his beloved’s body against him. 

 

- What was that? –asked the General in a whisper.  

 

- I don’t know –answered Alexander with all honesty. He straightened to see him—I just know that, when I saw you, I felt the urge to make love to you.

 

Hephaistion smiled, and brushed his hair back.

 

- Well, I’m glad that you decided to come –they fell silent again.

 

- Is Aki sleeping? –asked Alexander.

 

- I hope so –said the General. They had been really noisy a few minutes ago—Why do you ask? –he gave him a lazy and arrogant smile—Are you ready for round 2? –his voice was a sensual purr.

 

The King felt his body burning and for a moment he forgot why he had come here in the first place. He rolled over to lie at his beloved’s side and took a moment to chose his words.

 

- My sister wants me to send Aki back to her –contrary to what Alexander had expected, Hephaistion laughed and turned to rest on his side.

 

- Seriously? –he asked as if this were a joke. 

 

- She sent her nurse, Reah, to accompany him to Epirus –the King explained.

 

- I remember that name, Eni told me she was the one who left the newborn Aki in Illyria –said Hephaistion—I imagine that, since King Alexandros is dead, she thought it would be very simple just to have my son back…As if he were something you can throw away and later came back to pick it up.

 

Alexander took his hand and caressed the back with his thumb.

 

- Reah says my mother agrees with this –said the King.

 

- I can imagine why, she is always complaining about Antipater –said Hephaistion at once—She wants to be in control and what better way to achieve this than having the crown Prince with her.

 

Alexander smiled, pleased.

 

- My thoughts exactly –he said, happy to see once again that the only one who truly understood him was his beloved—My mother wants Aki near her to control Antipater and to influence Aki. You must admit she is clever.

 

- Oh, I have never thought otherwise, your mother is very intelligent…and manipulative –said the General—What did Reah say when you refused to send Aki back? –again, he knew Alexander enough to guess what had happened.

 

- Nothing, she was too scared to say something –said the King, kissing the back of his hand.

 

Hephaistion saw him in silence for a moment, enjoying his kisses.

 

- Alex, don’t be mad.

 

- How can you ask me that? –he left his hand— Cleopatra tried to kill Aki, and now she wants to have him back? –only to think about that made Alexander angry again—You should be as indignant as I am. 

 

- Alex, you sister has no way to force you to do as she wants –said Hephaistion slowly—You are the one who has the last word, and all you have to do is refuse, don’t you see? –he caressed the King’s lips with his own—The ones who should be angry and yelling are your mother and your sister, not you.

 

The General knew that, even if Alexander didn’t love Achilles in the way he did, even if Achilles weren’t his adopted son and heir, just for the simple fact that Achilles was his son, Alexander would never do as his family wanted.

 

The King puffed out.

 

- I guess you are right –Hephaistion kissed him.

 

- Of course I am, now turn off that lamp and came to sleep, we both need to rest because our crazy King is going to make us work until we drop dead tomorrow –the King smiled and did as he was told.

 

- Phai? –asked Alexander in a whisper, when they both were under the blankets.

 

- Mm?

 

- Do you still want to have a round 2? –the General smiled and cuddled against his King.

 

- Right now, I only want to sleep.

 

- Fine –Alexander sighed a little disappointed and embraced him.