CHAPTER 93

 

- Stop it! –asked Hephaistion, laughing uncontrollably. He was panting, his face, against the arena, was red because of the effort of trying to take Alexander off him; but so far all the General’s attempts had been in vain and the King continued tickling him without mercy.  

 

- You are a coward, surrendering so soon –an evil smiled curved Alexander’s lips while his fingers kept teasing him, working on his naked sides, the muscles tensing under his touch. He could hear the General fighting to breath in that uncomfortable position but he wasn’t ready to let his beloved go. 

 

- I’m… whatever… —a laughed attack cut his words—…whatever you want… but STOP! –he laughed again and tried to punch the King, but in his position it was extremely difficult. Alexander had him completely immobilized.

 

How was that he had ended like this?

 

Three days had passed since the games, the King had organized for his troops, ended, and that morning Alexander had gone to his beloved’s tent to interrupt his work. After 6 months of siege Hephaistion had now the tremendous task of making reports and lists about: The casualties of his unit. For each dead man the General had to make a list of the things that he left in his will, and to specify where were his ashes going to be sent. Wounded soldiers. How many were they, the wounded soldiers who were ambulatory, able to carry his own equipment and to march with the rest of the army and the ones who would be need to be transport on wagons. The equipment. The one that had been lost during the battle, the condition of the remained equipment and what were the men needing. The supplies of the Agema, the rations of water, grain and dry meat…  

 

But Alexander had a better idea and challenged his beloved to a wrestling match.

 

- You can let Glycon and your clerk do the rest –had said the King.

 

- You know perfectly well that this is something that only I can do –said the General, still sitting behind his desk, holding Alexander’s gaze; but the King had made up his mind and there was no power on earth, or in heaven, that could convince him otherwise.

 

- Finish that later, I’m sure your King won’t mind –and when he smiled like that it was impossible to refuse him something.

 

Alexander knew how to be intimidating, how to fright his enemies, but he also knew how to be adorable and charming, and that morning he was all that and Hephaistion couldn’t help it but to fall inevitably in the spell of his adorable puppy eyes.

 

- Fine.

 

As soon as the General pronounced those words he regretted it. He knew it was a bad idea; one because he sucked at wrestle and two because every time they tried to wrestle they always ended in the same way: making love. It was too much for them to roll on the arena, naked, their sweaty bodies pressed together…just the thought of it made Hephaistion’s blood burn in anticipation. He shook his head and followed his King.

 

- You are…a…cheating…bastard…—said Hephaistion panting when Alexander finally stop tormenting him. He lay languidly, the King was no longer holding his arms and restraining his movements but he was still lying on his back.

 

- I know…but you were too much of a temptation –Alexander smiled, his cheek against the sweaty and hot back of his beloved, hearing his rapid breathing. It was an addictive sensation to feel that magnificent body against him, no matter how many times they had been together, the King would always feel that soft and warm tingling through his body, and butterflies in his stomach, every time Hephaistion was with him.

 

- I don’t think that… Achilles ever cheated while fighting… against his enemies –the General’s hair, covering his face, moved at every breath.

 

- “You are not a common enemy, General” –the King quoted his beloved, making him laugh.

 

- Ouch! My stomach hurts…—Hephaistion complained, after being the victim of a tickling attack for almost 15 minutes his abdomen was numb.

 

The General’s hair was spread on the sand, the silky tips rippling like water waves, and fine strands were over his face partially covering his narrowed eyes. Alexander let his fingers wandered on his creamy skin for a moment and he hid his face in the back of Hephaistion’s neck. He was sure that he could die there as a happy man. The tip of his tongue tasted the salty skin and the General shuddered.

 

Alexander didn’t lose time and took him with force by the hips. He was so close to his beloved that the warmth of his body was driving him crazy. An idea crossed his mind and the King thought in playing him a little joke. He took Hephaistion’s arms behind his back, holding them and immobilizing his beloved again, the uncomfortable position sent a sharp pain through his arms, but he was used to it after wrestling with the King for almost half and hour before the brutal tickling attack.

 

But this time something was different. The General felt Alexander’s arousal against his butt, and he tensed and panicked. Hephaistion hyperventilated, he tried to relax thinking with desperation that this was fine, that nothing was going to happen to him, and, in a vain attempt to find some comfort he closed his eyes for a moment. That was worst. Flashbacks, memories, fragments of voices and noises, even the smells of a terrible night so many years ago assaulted his mind in a whirl that threaten to sink him in the abyss of eternal despair and fear. 

 

Alexander had never before taken him like that, and he was exactly in the same position in which King Philip had raped him the first time. No matter how much he fought against his memories, it was a lost battle. 

 

- Let me go –Hephaistion left his heart beating faster, and his hands sweating, he was going to have a panic attack.

 

- Now you are being a bad looser –Alexander teased him, thinking he was playing again; they had been teasing each other since they arrived at the arena and could have never imagine what was happening inside his beloved’s mind. He moved his hips closer, with all the intentions of making his way inside his General.

 

- LET ME GO! –the force, anger and desperation in his voice took the King aback, and he released Hephaistion automatically.

 

The General moved away from him, stood up and gave Alexander his back, not wanting to face him. What had happened? It had been years since the last time he thought about in what King Philip had done to him, then, why now? And why was his heart beating like that? He wasn’t the same scare boy who had been forced into the King’s bed, and Alexander was not his father, then, why?

 

- What’s wrong? –the King was seriously confused, what had he done wrong? As far as he knew Hephaistion had never complained before when they had had an especially wild love making, what was different now?

 

- Nothing.

 

- Nothing? –Alexander stood up. He knew that tone in his beloved’s voice and he didn’t like it, that “nothing” meant something important was on his mind—If you don’t want to tell me I prefer to hear that instead of “nothing”. 

 

- Fine, I don’t want to talk about this –Hephaistion’s voice was cold, distant and his words outright.

 

- Why not? –his beloved brushed his hair behind his ear—Hephaistion!

 

- Don’t ask me! I… –he made a pause, trying desperately to compose himself—I’ll see you later. 

 

Running away wasn’t the answer but in that moment he didn’t want to talk. Why couldn’t he speak about what had happened with King Philip? Why not tell Alexander what was bothering him? He truly wanted to do it but every time he opened his mouth to say something words failed him. He needed more time. 

 

- Phai! –the King followed him, but before he could reach him, Eumenes appeared blocking his path.

 

- Alexander a letter arrived for you –said the secretary, waving a parchment in his hand.

 

- I don’t have time for… —he tried to see where was Hephaistion going over Eumenes’ shoulder. 

 

- It’s from Darius –that stopped the King.

 

Alexander cursed, making his secretary jumped, and ran a hand through his hair. He puffed his cheeks out angry. 

 

- Give me the letter.

 

XXX

 

Alexander called his war council immediately. He took a quick bath and put a clean chiton on while his pages ran in all directions to find every single high commanding officer. It was pointless to delay the news about the letter, if Eumenes had received it that meant that by now half of the camp knew about the Great King’s letter. It was fascinating how fast news traveled inside a military camp, sometimes the King thought soldiers were even more gossipy than women…well at least Ptolemy was, but Xsayarsa was putting a savage fight for the first place in that area. 

 

The King shook his head, putting aside such trivial thoughts to concentrate in what really matter in that moment. He read Darius’ letter twice before deciding to make public the entire contents, this time he wouldn’t hide anything from the faction led by Parmelio, the faction of “Philip’s veterans” men who would always belong to his father even he had long been cremated and buried.

 

Why was that he couldn’t transform them into his own men? Alexander’s men. The answer was too simple, because of their age. They were contemporaries of his father, and they belong to a generation of Macedonians who had been born in a backwater kingdom threatened at all its borders. They were ambitious, yes, but they also wanted to do everything with a certain degree of certainty, they were used to do things by the book, not to adventure themselves into the unknown, and for them, he would always be the reckless son of King Philip. As simple as that. 

 

Alexander sighed, playing with the piece of fine parchment in his hand. This time his situation was different, the victory over Tyre had gave him the absolute trust of his men…but just for now, a soldier, as any other man, had a short memory, he had to exploit his outstanding victory now that it was fresh in their minds.

 

One by one, the officers arrived at the portable palace that was the King’s tent. Some knew about the letter, many found out when they arrived. Alexander remained seated, sharing just one or 2 words with is officers still thinking in what he was going to tell them, when he saw Hephaistion. He looked very serious, barely paying attention to what was Leonnatos saying, he was extremely quiet, and avoiding to look directly to him. 

 

I’ll deal with that later –thought Alexander.

 

- Darius sent me another letter –said the King once they were all reunited. He went directly to the point and catching the attention of all the present—He offers terms to end this war peacefully.

 

- Now that we beat him like a dog he comes with terms –Perdikkas muttered under his breath.

 

- He is offering me the territories from the Euphrates right to the Aegean –Alexander continued and his words started some murmurs— He is willing to pay 20 thousands talents of gold as ransom for his family, and he is offering me the hand of his older daughter, of course with all the benefits of being the Great King’s son-in-law –he wasn’t happy with this news, in fact he was indignant. How could Darius think, even for a moment, that he would accept after the Great King had tried to kill him? He took a deep breath and continued—He also says that: “the Persian Empire is vast and sooner or later my army would have to emerge into the steppes, where it would be far more vulnerable”(1)

 

More murmurs rose among the officers and the King felt as if he were in the middle of a honeycomb.

 

- Alexander, this are acceptable terms –said Parmelio who had arrived from Damascus in time to enjoy the games—“If I were you, I’ll be happy to end the war on such terms and be done with any further adventures”

 

- “That” –said the King, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the murmurs—“Is what I should do were I Parmelio; but since I’m Alexander, I shall send Darius a different answer”(2) –he moved closer to Parmelio—Darius kidnapped me and my son, and it was by his orders that Melkar sold Hephaistion into slavery –the General moved uneasy, he didn’t like to remind of that in front of the whole war council—Do you think I can accept his conditions now?

 

- You are dragging us into a costly war –said the old General.

 

- Darius dragged us! –Alexander replied with strong voice—Honor demands that we fight him again.

 

Many officers nodded their agreement. The first letter of the Great King had arrived in a very different moment, now it was as the King said, Darius had insulted them all, and they would have to fight him again.

 

When the meeting was over, Alexander called Hephaistion. The General was expecting this even he wasn’t ready to explain what had happened, at least not in the way the King wanted.

 

- We need to talk –said the King, and his voice told his beloved everything he needed to know.

 

- Fine –his answer had been a defensive one but he couldn’t help it, he took a seat at Alexander’s side. 

 

The King took a moment to observe him, his beloved was uncomfortable and nervous, this was the second time he saw him brushing his hair behind his ear, but even if he tried to find an answer of why was Hephaistion acting like this he couldn’t. He was going to open his mouth when Eumenes arrived.

 

- What now? –he asked in a bad mood, and his secretary was taken aback for an instant.

 

- Alexander, 15 delegates from the Hellenic League has just arrived from Greece and they ask for an audience with you –the King took both hands to his face. He couldn’t catch a break.

 

- What do they want? –asked Alexander lifting his head. 

 

- They bring you a gold wreath, as a prize for your valor and in recognition for all you have done for “the safety and freedom of Greece” –Eumenes quoted them, unimpressed. Everybody knew how fickle were the Greeks.

 

Alexander smiled sardonically. Only a fool would believe such hypocritical words, he knew perfectly well that the Greeks despised him, specially after he had destroyed Thebes, and that they only called themselves his allies because they were scared of him, Alexander had no doubt that, at the first sign of weakness from his part, they would rebel against Macedonia. Nevertheless, for the sake of appearances, he would have to receive them and thank them, from the bottom of his heart, for such an honor. 

 

- I’ll receive them at once –Eumenes bowed slightly and left them, then the King settled his eyes on Hephaistion again—We are not done.

 

- I know.

 

Of course he knew how stubborn was his King. All the way back to his tent and the mountain of work resting on his desk, he kept asking himself the same question, why not tell Alexander everything? The King knew that King Philip had raped him, something only his father and Nikandros knew, and he had only told Nikandros, Alexander and his father found out; but…to talk about his feelings, about the things Philip had done to him…he shook his head, he couldn’t do it, why? Because he was a proud man and nobody had humiliated him like this; not even when Hanon sold him in the slave auction, no, he had had some degree of pride defying the guards, but King Philip…

 

King Philip had overpower him and humiliated him; and deep inside him he felt it was his fault; even if so many years had passed, the truth was that his wounds were still fresh, the only difference was that he had stopped thinking about that and he only realized that now, when a foolish thing like Alexander playing a joke, had left him so confused and depressed.

 

And what he did? The same he always did, stop thinking about that to concentrate his attention in his work.

 

XXX

 

Philotas left quickly the King’s tent after the meeting barely paying attention to what was Hektor telling him. He had his orders, they had to be ready to continue the march to the south to reach Egypt and he had to prepare his men for the journey; the same as Hephaistion he had a mountain of reports and list waiting for him, but he had ordered his clerks to take care of that, he would just read everything at the end and stamp his signature and seal.

 

That was Philotas way, to let others do the things he found below him, like paperwork. Why would the hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry lose time in reports about the equipment? He was a soldier not a pansy clerk.

 

- Philotas! –Nikanor called him, for his absolute frustration, he was in a hurry and the last thing he needed was to lose time with his brother.

 

First Hektor and now Nikanor, what the hell is wrong with them today? –thought the hipparch.

 

- Father wants to have dinner with us –said his brother, and Philotas waved his hand.

 

- I don’t have time now.

 

- Philotas, you know father is leaving again to Lowland Syria, you better come tonight or you will be in trouble –Nikanor shouted but his brother had gone—Asshole! –he exclaimed, kicking a rock.

 

Nikanor was a patience man, difficult to enrage but his older brother had gift for making him angry. He turned shaking his head and went back to his unit, he was sure Philotas was going to the hetairoi cavalry to torment his poor second in command, but what he didn’t know was that he was planning to stop at the Greek delegates’ tent. The hipparch knew that one of the delegates had a letter for him, a very important one that he had been waiting for months and hurried to get there.

 

Philotas bit his lip in anticipation, it was almost a year since he had contacted that person, and almost a year of horrible wait to receive a piece of parchment that contained all the information he needed to make his dreams come true. He was striding to the delegates’ tent when the bulky form of Krateros blocked his path.

 

- What do you want? –the hipparch of the hetairoi cavalry had never been a nice person, but now, he was particularly nasty, he didn’t have time to waste.

 

- I want to talk to you –said the commander, his massive arms crossed over his chest.

 

- Not now –Philotas was planning to continue his way when Krateros took him by the arm.

 

- Get your hands off me –said the hipparch through clenched teeth.

 

- What’s the hurry? –the commander was amused and that only served to make Philotas even angrier.

 

- That is none of business, you illiterate fool –Krateros laughed with that last remark.

 

- Illiterate?…No, I don’t think so; because if that were true, then I wouldn’t have been able to read this –he showed Philotas a letter and the hipparch recognized the broken seal at once. It was the letter he had been waiting for months. Philotas paled and the commander smiled—So now you see, we have to talk. 

 

The hipparch clenched his jaw seeing all in red, he was like a mad bull and he would have gladly draw his sword and demand to have this letter back, but that would attract too much attention and the last thing he needed was to have the men in the camp wondering about that mysterious letter and it’s contents.

 

In the words of the always wise soldiers, Krateros had him by the balls, and he had no other choice than to followed him. He truly had no idea of how was that Krateros had the letter but he would find out and punish the culprit severely. 

 

The commander took him to his own tent and dismissed his servant to be completely alone, he didn’t want that someone could overhear what he had to say, it was delicate enough to have Parmelio’s son here, but this had to be done. Philotas heavily sat down and crossed his arms, for a moment he reminded Krateros a naughty child who always wants to do what he likes. The hipparch lifted his head and saw him impatiently, waiting for the other to talk.

 

- So, King Philip raped our pretty boy –Krateros went straight to the point, taking a seat in front of him—This letter –he handed it to the hipparch and Philotas rudely snatched it—It’s really explicit about the subject, how did you manage to convince old Glaukos to tell you all this? 

 

Glaukos was the royal steward when Hephaistion was 13 years old; he was in charge of the King’s pages and he knew every detail of what had happened. Philotas had written to him after hearing from his father about the rape almost a year ago while they were at the Cilician Gates, and he had paid the old steward handsomely to know what had happened with specific and graphic details.

 

Glaukos was no longer living in Pella, he was old now, and had his residence in Thessaly; the old steward had assured him that his answer would arrive with the League delegates, and everything appeared to be perfect until Krateros appeared into the picture. 

 

- Cut the crap and tell me what do you really want –Philotas demanded to know.

 

The commander stretched his legs to the front, taking his time and enjoying greatly having Parmelio’s son in his hands.

 

- Glaukos’ letter is a very powerful weapon –said Krateros slowly—Do you have any idea of what would the men of the Agema think if they knew that their beloved General was rape?

 

Of course Philotas knew! That was why he had asked for that letter in the first place. The army wasn’t a schoolyard, this was not the peaceful Mieza with professor Aristotle ready to defend his students, this was the army, and soldiers were men who only respected the strong. Of course Hephaistion wasn’t the first man or boy in the army to be raped, but the fact that King Philip had done it when he was a page that was the scandalous thing of this. Besides, everybody had seen how much damage the rape allegation of loony Pausanias had done to his career. 

 

Hephaistion had had a difficult time earning his place here thanks to his beautiful face because, as grandfather Demetrios had said once, men distrust handsome men and they always though the worst of them.

 

But the General had proven all of them wrong by becoming a powerful warrior; nobody argued that, but this. Philotas’ blue eyes rested on the letter in his hand, this could destroy Hephaistion’s reputation. But Parmelio’s son knew that this was not enough, he knew that the only weak point of Hephaistion was Alexander and he had a plan.

 

- I know you hate Hephaistion –said Philotas slowly, with the same caution he would use to approach a wild beast, his mind was racing thinking how to handle this. So far Krateros had been in charge of this situation, now it was his turn to change this—But if you are thinking that I’m planning to make the contents of this letter public, you are wrong.

 

Krateros leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.

 

- And I know you desire Hephaistion –he counterattacked—Everybody heard of what happened after the drinking contest in Aspendus –Philotas said nothing, it was true and he had no problem with that—Are you planning to blackmail him? I’ll do that if I were you, in fact that is precisely what I want.

 

The hipparch narrowed his eyes.

 

- What do you want to do to him?

 

- The same as you –that answered confused Philotas, he had many explicit and M-rated things in mind.

 

- I don’t have time for games –said Parmelio’s son angry, that conversation was leading to nowhere—I want to sleep with Hephaistion, so what? What do you want? Ruin his career? Take revenge for all the things he had done to you?

 

The commander shook his head.

 

- I can’t do that and you know why –he said—Alexander would have my balls if he knew I spread the news of his boy-toy’s rape. I just want to teach him a lesson.

 

- And why are you telling me this?

 

- Because we can work on this together –said Krateros with simplicity and the hipparch fell silent for a moment; he had a point and the commander’s help could be useful.

 

He nodded slowly.

 

- Fine, but Hephaistion is too smart to fall in a simple blackmailing –said Philotas catching Krateros’ attention.

 

- What do you have in mind? –the hipparch just smile.

 

XXX

 

(1) Peter Green. Alexander of Macedon, p 264 

(2) Arrian. The Campaigns of Alexander, 144