The Contestants
The palace was getting ready. The banquet and party tonight was coming together down to the minutest detail. But the food and entertainment was far from the important planning that was going on away from the banquet hall. Intrigue was behind every corner. The contestants entered the hall and took up their places.
The Queen wore her finest silks, imported at an exorbitant cost. She was adored with inks and jewels that sparkled like her eyes. She had spared in amount of expensive or time to adorn her body with everything she knew to be pleasing to his husbands eyes.
Bagoas had spent hours getting ready and he gracefully entered the hall. His beauty was renowned and several whispered were heard as he passed by. His young smooth and sleek body was oiled and perfumed. He was a walking work of art. Fine silks caressed him and flowed around his slender form.
The pages were bathed, premed and groomed on every inch of their young bodies. Each tried in some way to showcase the one thing that had gotten them noticed by the King in the first place. Hair was glistening and styled, legs scrubbed clean and oiled. Jealous glances and competitive glares were thrown about the room in every direction, each young man fighting for the chance to be chosen tonight.
Alexander entered alone and took his place in the center of the room. He sat majestically and looked to the empty seat to beside him. He looked around the room at the hopeful candidates to fill the space.
His Queen looked back at him with dark lovely eyes as he glanced her way. All of her primping did not go unnoticed by her King. He looked behind him and saw Bagoas. The young man was beautiful to behold and Alexander took in his long sleek form and sly smile before moving on to several pages not far away. Eager faces greeted him as he smiled at each one and was rewarded in kind from all of them in return.
He looked back to the center to make his decision when a movement coming into the room caught his attention.
No adornments or fine silks were on the body that quietly and gracefully entered the room. A simple white chiton was the only piece of cloth on the body. The only adornment was a single pendant that hung around the strong neck and shoulders. The hair was unadorned and hung halfway down the strong back. It was simply brushed and two single braids hung on each side of his face. No kohl adored the blue eyes this night and on his feet he wore simple plain sandals.
Many eyes watched Hephaestion enter but he returned only one glance.
Never breaking contact from the pools of blue, Alexander's right hand moved to pat the seat beside him.