A Giant Step Backwards

Enough is enough, thought Hephaestion to himself. The time had come to step back and have some fun, and a sprinkle of mischief.

One too many battles, two too many responsibilities and three too many miles had taken their toll on all of them, the King included. But now was not the time. The stack of scrolls covering his desk screamed for his attention. The line of people waiting outside his door only verified that he needed to stay strong and not give in to these thoughts of escaping and fleeing. After all, he had responsibilities; people depended on him and his strength.

A flash of lightning lit up the sky outside his window. He turned to watch it fade into the distance and listening to the echoing thunder that followed. The weather matched his soul today.

He looked back at the piles filling his desk, listened to the mumblings of the lines waiting to see him and sighed deeply. One of his orderly dropped a tray of tasty morsels that would have been his lunch and stopped frozen in place at his mistake.

It was the look on his young face that finally crumbled the walls around Hephaestion's' invisible prison. He smiled first and then began to laugh. Sensing he wasn't in trouble the page began to smile too, if only to see the wonderful smile that his master rarely wore these days.

Hephaestion patted his young charges head as he walked by him and out a side door, away from the never-ending lines. Lingering laughter and happiness melted away the fatigue. His steps became lighter and faster and he was soon sprinting across the courtyard. People dropped what they were doing and started to follow to give assistance if needed. By the time he arrived at the golden doors, he had an entire parade following him. He stepped through and closed them all behind him leaving them all of wonder what was the disaster was now.

Alexander looked up from his meeting with local diplomats as Hephaestion closed the door. The others in the room all watched as Hephaestion walked over to stand next to his King. Hephaestion then calmly explained that the meeting would have to be postponed, that something of grave importance had come up and needed the Kings immediate attention. They all nodded and hurriedly left the room silently.

Alexander stood, a serious and concerned look on his face and asked what had happened. He wanted to know who had died and why.

Hephaestion took a step forward, placed his hands on either side of Alexander's face and kissed him. He then took his hand and led his out on to the balcony into the curtains of rain and repeated the kiss.

Alexander pulled back with a confused look on his handsome face demanding to know what had happened.

"Someone was dying," explained Hephaestion, "But I saved him."

"Who?"

"Me, and you too."

"Hephaestion, I don't understand, what are you talking about?"

Hephaestion smiled and wheeled around on the rain-soaked balcony.

"Do you hear that…do you see that?" asked Hephaestion with his arms raised up towards the skies.

"All I hear is the rain and all I see is you." Said a still confused King.

"Exactly!"

Hephaestion smiled and began to laugh again. He grabbed Alexander and pulled him his happiness. It took awhile for Alexander to relax and realize what was going on but soon he joined in the dance.

The rain kept falling and washed the years away, and for a little while, the world and its responsibilities melted away. Two men became boys again and renewed their lives…

And their love.