SEDUCED
Author: Lysis/Selket Revised January 2012
(Copyright ©2007 Elizabeth C. Owens)
Disclaimer: Completely fictitious, in other words I made this up.
***With regard to Hektor, son of Parmenion there is little known except that he died of drowning in the Nile while possibly on a sightseeing trip with Alexandros. I have made up what is written here.
Summary: Hephaistion reflecting on things as he makes his way to Alexandros' chamber one night while the army is in Babylon. He's a little bored and looking for some entertainment.
Chapter 1
Hephaistion strode through the heavy bronze doors inlaid with great golden winged bulls that led toward the King's private chambers. He sniffed and sneezed, shaking his head and making a face, the palace reeked! That cursed incense; at least that as how he thought of it. The damned stuff permeated every last corner of the enormous complex. Its blue smoke rose slowly winding its way seductively through the air swirling about his head until he felt caught up in its strong, mysteriously sweet grip. For a moment, he was reminded of Ptolemy's Thais, and her doe soft eyes that she every so often would slant his way. Yes, he chuckled a little to himself, pretty, yes, lovely even, but too much of such a thing and a man will drown in his own senses, brought down by the Cypriot's smile, full of roses and honey. Moderation, moderation as Aristotle had taught, he sneezed again, this Zeus damned incense it would tickle his nose! Yet it was as constant as the eunuchs so it was something necessary, no?
"No, I for one could do without it." He decided for himself as he shook his head he preferred the open air of the stables or the training ground or the hunt. Zeus knew he needed his wits about him; he had to watch everything and everyone now, now that they had taken Babylon, the great whore. At that, he laughed again much louder, thinking of Alexandros.
The embrace of myrrh and amber grew stronger the closer one came toward the King's chambers. By ancient custom incense was burned day and night to honor the God King, whom all the Persian Empire worshipped. Alexandros didn't seem to mind, in fact, Hephaistion thought with a wry smile, he rather enjoyed all the little the rituals that were paid him here in Babylon. Ah, but that was Alexandros. He could be such a little whore for such things, he had always been. Hephaistion smiled, knowing Alexandros would laugh and willingly agree, but only privately, to Hephaistion. Until recently he had always been careful about showing his pleasure for such things to all but a very few close companions. Well, if he chose to hold his true feelings close to himself, it was his business and no one else's. Those great grey blue eyes of his would fall upon certain persons and Hephaistion could tell he was pondering the truth of their loyalty. Little doubt was there for Hephaistion to wonder why Alexandros chose to reveal his true nature to so few.
For a moment, his good mood evaporated as quickly as a morning mist in the desert and he sighed softly. Until of late, well until Khmet, actually, Hektor, son of Parmenion had been their shadow and had been another ear for Alexandros to bend with his private feelings and concerns when he was not available. Though scarcely more than a youth of twenty-one years, Hektor's charm, wit and good humor, had captured both Alexandros and himself, there was something in him, a wisdom that at times had caught Hephaistion out and surprised him. At times, he found it hard to believe this same Hektor was also the son of Parmenion and brother to Nikanor and Philotas. He found himself sneering when his mind went toward Philotas. He trusted the man as much trust as he would one of those large, wily king cobras he had seen in Khmet. They were quick and deadly, striking without warning. He had seen one strike at a horse and watched, as the animal had died a terrible and painful death. Ah, but Philotas, there was something about the man; he had grown wily and shrewd and more bold in his distain toward Alexandros since Khmet. In truth, Hephaistion realized it was since Siwah.
Pluton take him! Hephaistion swore silently nor did he strike the earth to take back the oath, for he meant it in truth. He neither liked nor trusted the man.
Hektor with his shining light brown curls and blue eyes was so unlike his older brother. Oh, he could be, had been, Hephaistion amended, a wild one at times, yet he had the sensibility that Hephaistion had seen in Nikanor, Hektor's other brother, whom he did like. He smiled as he pictured the younger man in his mind, he had liked him, indeed he had. What was more than that he had been trustworthy, and that alone was worth an oath taken upon the tomb of Herakles and Iolas. His death had been a terrible loss, and Hephaistion mourned knowing Hektor would have been thrilled with Babylon's richness and exotic beauty.
He smiled to himself lost in his thoughts. Issos had been Hektor's first real taste of the rewards of battle. Oh, he had been at Tyre and Gaza with them, but it was Issos where Alexandros had first honored him with war prizes. Nor had it been due to his being Parmenion's son, but Hektor's own bravery and prowess on the field. He had been wounded in the right thigh and calf of the left leg as he had fought with his brother Nikanor in the Royal Hypaspists.
Hektor had been as equally thrilled with the copeous amounts of booty Alexandros had captured at Issos. He had been even more vocal about what had been awarded to him and literally launched himself at Alexandros, plastering the royal face, which at that moment had borne the stains of battle on it with kisses, in thanks for the slave girl and boy and the golden table service and his own tent.
As he strode through the hallways towards Alexandros' chamber, Hephaistion laughed aloud remembering the victory banquet after Issos, Hektor had been clearly absent from the celebratory feast that night after the first few hours, and Alexandros had chuckled and clucked as though he were the boy's father and not that sour, old scurmongenon Parmenion.
"Will it be the boy or the girl with the pretty grey eyes, do you think? " Alexandros has whispered in Hephaistion's ear when he noticed Hektor was missing.
"Neither, I think it is the golden plate, he would prefer to dine in solitary splendor rather than here with us great oafs." They both eyed one another then burst out laughing, "The girl!" They agreed on. Hektor had been like a pup drooling over a freshly brought down brace of ducks at the sight of the slender dark haired and golden-skinned maiden. Hephaistion had noted that after Hektor had installed his "booty" in his new tent, he had sat watch over the girl in an almost brotherly fashion, although not for long.
"'Tis a great pity we cannot join him. Do we dare to creep off do you think and help sample the wares?" Alexandros was already half rising from his couch, but Hephaistion had pulled him back down. He laughed softly almost giggling as he had when he was a boy and pulled Hephaistion down against him, "I've a plan. We will wait until all here are quite within their cups and then raise our hoods and sneak away to his tent. Of course, we must take a gift to ensure our welcome." At this Alexandros looked around and discreetly called for a slave to see that a platter was prepared for him to take back to his tent. "It must be fit for a king!" A whole cooked peacock was to be part of the "offering". "Hektor will enjoy that, I am sure. He can have his slaves make the feathers into a fan. And his lovely new slave can dance with the feathery peacock fan for him."
His white teeth glowed in his wide smile. Hephaistion sipped his wine and sat back, Alexandros was at it again, planning, and capering on about with some idea for one of his companions that he was sure would please them. He loved playing his little tricks, teasing his friends; it took his mind off things that would keep it from peace. For that, Hephaistion praised the gods; for when Alexandros was not peaceful, he might be fractious as he often had good reason to be. So many needs clamored for his attention, the army, the ever-growing empire, and he, a man who took his duties serious would try to see all needs were met. Unfortunately, this was all too often to his own detriment. Though some might think otherwise, Hephaistion knew Alexandros rarely put his own personal needs first.
"Ah, well, so be it," Hephaistion smiled as he recalled the little incident at Issos. Hektor had certainly been surprised, so surprised in fact that he had spilled a good tankard of wine down himself and the lovely girl sitting on one knee when he and Alexandros had appeared. The boy, Hephaistion had been eyeing earlier had been lounging just within the circle of Hektor's welcoming arm.
"Has his hands full, 'eh?" Alexandros could not help but tease him and announced that he and Hephaistion had come to help him along with his training of his new slaves. Hephaistion had grinned like an idiot, when the black-eyed Adonis hanging onto Hektor's arm had blushed when his eyes met his.
The fact that they had been covered in spilt wine had not bothered Alexandros who with no more concern for his own royal state swept up to them and ripped off the top of his tunic to wipe them all down. Hephaistion recalled he had been roaring with laughter when Alexandros grabbed him by one hand and ordered him to find fresh linen for Hektor. Needless to say, Alexandros was Hektor's god after that. Hephaistion did not mind, for he did admire the boy himself and that fact that he could offer something to Alexandros few others could do, peacefulness in his soul Hephaistion had welcomed him into their circle. Great Hera knew he could always use the help in keeping Alexandros calmed, for good or bad, he was always himself, and sometimes that could be a challenge.
Now that cheerful blue eyed boy with his bright smile and sharp wit was gone. Alexandros had mourned him severely, overcome with grief and guilt at his death. He had blamed himself, as they had watched Hektor's limp body still dripping from the green waters of the Nile brought to rest on the hasty pallet that had been found. He had been on a ferry that had foundered as it had tried to catch up with Alexandros' while they had been on a sightseeing trip down that great green river. That the youth had drowned in the Nile had vexed Alexandros tremendously. He had lamented that he had not been able to save him. If only he could have swum back to save him. Hephaistion had heard the lament for days, weeks it seemed afterward and done all he could to console him. It had helped little that Philotas had blamed Alexandros for his brother's death, and been cruelly cutting and harsh to him.
To be continued….
