Aphrodite and a Mother's Prayer
Olympias' concern about her son's obvious lack of interest in the fairer sex gains some "Heavenly" assistance. Aphrodite hears another Mother's prayers and aids her. Alexandros and Hephaistion find themselves being used as little pawns on a chessboard.
Part 1
Pairing: Alexandros & Hephaistion
Author: Lysis, (Copyright November 2011 by Elizabeth C. Owens)
No warnings.
Spring had come to Macedon with the first sign of the winter melt. Seasonal rains fed small streams that became larger ponds and the fields were a riot of color. The tender hue of early violets as they clustered green budded on the tree-lined banks of ponds and river's edge called to the more vibrant golden daffodils and bright white and red country roses that were strewn throughout the fields. Helios hung shimmering in the air, and birds flew about singing in the cool, fresh breeze.
Two lovely youths were striding along through an open field laughing; the shorter of the two, a graceful, muscular boy had a sensitive, sweet mouth that could have graced the Cypriot's face itself. His bright golden hair and large, lustrous blue-grey eyes shined in competition with Helios, occasionally groped around the trees to snatch a violet or two to add to the small bouquet in one hand. His companion, a tall, beautiful youth, whose shining bronze tresses and blue eyes turned heads wherever he went paused while his friend did this and played a few notes on the little flute he had pulled from a pack. They looked the image of the young wastrel with time on his hands and nothing better to do than invoke the goddess and enjoy her delights day and night. However, looks can be deceiving.
"We must hurry or I'll miss my place at the mess. I'm on duty within the hour and I'm starving. Hurry up Alexandros. Your Mother won't die if you don't bring her flowers this day."
"Aye, but I'll feel badly," Alexandros, the blond youth looked up and grinned at his companion. "These aren't just for her. I offer to the Cypriot as well." He nodded toward a roadside shrine where the stiff grace of an archaic statue of Aphrodite stood.
"Ah," Hephaistion, his companion replied but pursed his lips and frowned. "Why do you offer to the Goddess?" He tried to keep the concern from his voice. They were the best of companions and had been lovers for the last three years, when they had formally consummated their love when he had been sixteen and Alexandros fifteen. Had some other caught his eye? His frown deepened as he wondered had his lover had found another? No, there was no sign, Alexandros was as always, loving, attentive, nothing seemed to have changed.
"So, she'll take my side and keep Mother from it." Alexandros bit his lip as he looked up at his companion who colored a bit under his companion's perusal. "I've much to thank her for, for she has sent me the fairest of all Macedon's sons for my lover and companion. He is all I need." His voice was full of pride. "I honor her whenever I can."
Hephaistion smiled shyly and they joined together in a kiss. "Come, Alexandros gather your flowers. Here, add these." Carefully he plucked some daisies and red roses and a sprig of some pink flowering branch to add to the growing pile. Then he stopped, "Has she been at you again?"
Alexandros sighed and shook his head. "Aye, and father, too. Father has no quarrel with our friendship, as friendship. " He wagged his head back and forth for emphasis and gave Hephaistion a mischievous roving glance that he'd seen his father bestow on the handsomest of pages all too often. "He counts me fortunate in my choice, but feels for the sake of appearances I should spread my affections about. At first there was a bit…." He looked up as he sniffed the flowering branch and closed his eyes inhaling deeply, "Hmm, pretty," He rearranged his little bouquet settling the sprig in the middle, "Well, you know, we had words.
"I would say they were more than just words, Alexandros. He near to insulted you suggesting that our companionship is more than it is." Their eyes met, and Alexandros' eyes darkened and Hephaistion's flashed with anger.
"He knows not to speak of such things again." Alexandros muttered. "Besides he should keep his own tongue silent, it gets use enough." Hephaistion gasped and giggled, but soon pulled himself together. "Did you say that to him?"
"I let him know I am a man in all ways as is he, and for him to think otherwise or suggest it of you was to invite my anger. He backed down. Well, he understands now." At this, they both laughed, but Alexandros' face soon grew sober. "However, he joins with Mother. I must take a girl. Even if I beget a passel of bastards, I think they would be pleased. He does not want me to marry yet, as she does. Indeed, he is against it. He says there is too much yet for me to learn and with the conquest of Asia to come...there is time still to take a wife. Besides, I know him, when I do it will be for Macedon's benefit, Philip's benefit." He smiled wryly. "They neither care for my feelings, Hephaistion.
"Ah, parents and their desire to be grandparents. And, in your case to control you and your heirs." Hephaistion yawned and moaned softly and he began to tootle a melody on his flute, but stopped. "Ugh, it's all sticky," he brushed his hand and flute against his chiton and licked his hands. "Watch that apple there, it's sticky with honey."
"Hmm, "Alexandros' responded as he set his bouquet down and rubbed his hands on the still damp grass.
Hephaistion continued, "Why are my sisters not enough to please them with grandsons? This seems reasonable to me, but no, they must see mine first. It is wearing. Yet, compared to yours mine are not quite so bad, as of yet. Although every so often my Mother gets a soft glow in her eyes when she sees me. I swear by Dionysus I can read the thoughts in her mind. She will not speak the words, but would pleased beyond all reason were I to bring a bride home."
"Olympais wants me to marry now, and we know what lies behind her desires." Their eyes met and complete shared knowledge and agreement was echoed there. "Father says we had both best be off about it now, then no one will care what else we may do. He even suggested I look for a girl with the look of you, if it will make it easier." His eyes met his friend's and they both burst out laughing. "I tried to explain, Hephaistion how it is for me. I think he tries to understand, but Mother, Gods' above, she will not let be."
Hephaistion shook his head slowly. Just lately he had heard such a lecture from his own father, but it had ended on the note that he did not need to think of taking a bride for a good while, but an occasional show of visiting an hetaira would not hurt. Hephaistion recalled his reaction to that, pure distaste. It was not that he was immune to the beauty and joys of women, it was more that he was deeply in love with his friend and all thoughts of anyone else, man or women was distasteful to him. He knew his feelings to be equally returned. He studied the young man standing near him. They had known one another since Alexandros was six years and he seven, and in all those years, esp. since they had become lovers he had never thought of wanting another. It was not that he had not been tempted. His beauty had shown itself early, and by the time, he was twelve years he was already receiving the addresses of older men, youths, and even women. He knew he would never be a lover of women; it wasn't part of his being. The youths and young men, occasionally he had looked twice, but always Alexandros was there, and that was all he had ever wanted. He had told his mother once, when he was younger, about fourteen years that he felt he would always love Alexandros, that there would never be another. His mother had just smiled at him with an expression that spoke of an inner knowledge that he had always wondered about - tenderly, she had kissed his forehead and told him to honor and love Alexandros well for the gods rarely granted such a gift more than once in a lifetime.
A Mother's Offering.
Sheltered in the shade of the small woods about her, Olympias watched her son, the one on whom all her dreams were centered entered the courtyard arm in arm with his beloved. She studied the pair carefully, scrutinizing Hephaistion's perfection. "If only he were a girl," she thought wistfully, for he was truly a vision of beauty. She had admitted to herself, she could fancy him, and if she were the sort of woman who took young lovers, she would have had him in her chambers long ago. However, in spite of her issues with her husband and King, she honored that union and the children who had been born of it.
She turned toward the marble goddess standing in the flowered bedecked alcove and offered her sacrifice. "You, oh, Lady of the Violets, shining of eye and glorious to behold. Hear a simple mother's plea, I beg you, my lady. She wiped the blood from the sacrifice across her forehead and cheeks in accordance with the ancient ritual and watched the smoke rise in the air as she chanted the anique words of offering. Something fluttered to the ground. She glanced down, at her feet lay a small pink apple bud. A soft smile lit her face.
To be continued.