The Love of Alexander
Hidden away in a dark corner of the hall, Hephaistion's eyes did not stray from Alexander. Sconces flickered on either side of his body, creating shadows on his face and in the area around him. Hephaistion heard his name whispered, fear and awe discernable in the foreign tongues. In Greek there was only resentment. Hephaistion had grown used to such murmurings years ago when he and Alexander were still boys in Pella. When compared to the other boys who had been Alexander's playmates he was no one special. What he was, however, was the only one who would treat Alexander as an equal. The only one who had no qualms about shoving the smaller boy's face into the dust when he proved weaker in a wrestling match. Hephaistion loved him because he was Alexander and not because he was Alexander, son of Phillip.
To love Alexander the man, though, was to know that his heart belonged to many. As much as he knew that Alexander loved him, Hephaistion could make no sole claim to the man's affections. He had to share Alexander with a great many others including the eunuch Bagoas who was at that very moment enticing the fair-haired Macedonian with his sinuous body. Hephaistion did not question that Alexander would spend his night enjoying the pleasures of the Persian eunuch, nor did he begrudge him the comfort Bagoas would offer.
As Hephaistion continued to watch, Alexander lifted his head, scanning the room for something. He was immediately heartened when Alexander's gaze lingered upon him, a slight smile curving the younger man's lips. Moments such as those were the ones that Hephaistion treasured most because while Alexander might be willing to share his body with many others, his heart, the deepest part of his love, belonged to Hephaistion alone.
Even with that knowledge, Hephaistion still felt an ache deep in his chest as he watched Alexander leave the hall trailing after Bagoas.