Chapter 1

"I am so bored, Hephaistion."

Alexander sighed, gazing down at the calm body of the Mediterranean Sea from the balcony. It was late July in Alexandria, and the city was almost completed under Alexander's orders. The army was finally able to recoup after the siege of Tyre, before heading to another battle in Persia, but Alexander was feeling restless.

"You should be excited at building a new city" Hephaistion replied teasingly.

"Yes, but there is not much to do after giving orders to architects and engineers, it's not like at battle."

Hephaistion chuckled.

"It will take at least four more weeks before we gather all the supplies needed. Until then, we have no choice but to wait."

"I hate just waiting." Alexander said irritably.

"What do you suggest then?"

"I don't know, but I will do anything but just wait for four more weeks."

"Well, then we can take time off and go on a trip, just two of us?"

Alexander's eyes brightened.

"I like that. But where can we go? We have already visited most of the famous sights in Egypt."

"Have you heard of Great Pyramid of Giza?"

"Yes, but it is just a tomb of an ancient Pharaoh standing in the middle of nowhere, it is not even a monument built for a god."

Hephaistion did not know why, but he felt something inside him urging this trip. He desperately needed to go there, to see the Pyramid. His mind was working so hard to convince Alexander about this trip.

"Exactly, nobody wants to follow us, so we can have whole days just for the two of us."

This interested Alexander.

"How long does it take, do you know?

"I think three days to get there, stay at the Pyramid for a day, and three days to come back if we ride camels along the Nile River. It may be the easiest if we took the boat, but we won't be able to be alone."

"Seven whole days, just you and I. Now, we are onto something. Let's get supplies gathered, and leave at first light tomorrow."

Hephaistion flashed a smile at Alexander. Somehow, Hephaistion always could get what he wanted from Alexander if he really tried.

Next morning when Alexander and Hephaistion were preparing for the trip, several generals came over to look for some action for themselves. They were bored as well. However, as Hephaistion suspected, they walked away when they found where Alexander and Hephaistion were heading. Even if they were a little restless due to a lack of action, staying in Alexandria seemed more inviting and entertaining. Besides, the weather was much cooler here.

Although it was very hot during the day along the river, the temperature at night did not drop so much as in the desert, and as a welcome surprise, the humidity stayed relatively low most of the time. The gentle breeze from the Nile was soothing as well. Since Alexander and Hephaistion did not have any urgent issues, they took their time and appreciated exotic spectacles. On the third day of the trip, they started to see the Great Pyramid in distance.

"We should be there right after the sun set, if we do not spend too much time for lunch as we did for the last couple of days," Hephaistion said mischievously.

"Are you telling me no dessert for lunch?"

"No, unless you want to freeze in the desert after sunset."

"Very well, save it for dinner then."

Hephaistion laughed. Alexander was glad to see Hephaistion happy, and thought the trip was an excellent idea.

They were still a little far off, but the view of the Pyramid was magnificent. The sun was just about to set, creating an aura effect behind the Pyramid. The sight was almost solemn. As Hephaistion watched the Pyramid intensely, he noticed something unusual. The middle part of either side of the Pyramid looked slightly concaved, which transposed the shape of the Pyramid almost to a star.

"Look, Alexander. Doesn't it look almost like a star?"

"Humm, yes, if you look very carefully it sure looks like a star."

Hephaistion did not know why, but he felt indescribable anxiety creeping up to him. As soon as the sun disappeared behind the Pyramid, the temperature started to drop so quickly. Alexander noticed that Hephaistion was shivering so uncontrollably that his teeth were chattering even under the heavy cover of the blanket.

"Stop for a moment."

Alexander brought his camel to a halt by Hephaistion's, and climbed over to sit behind Hephaistion, so he could hold to give him more warmth. Hephaistion was quiet, and he could not stop shivering even with added heat of Alexander's body. And the cold temperature was not the sole reason Hephaistion was shivering. He did not know why but his level of anxiety was increasing as they came closer to the Pyramid. They dismounted from the camel as they arrived at the Pyramid.

"Are you all right?"

Alexander asked worriedly, wrapping his arm around Hephaistion's shoulders. Unable to speak, Hephaistion just nodded.

"Let's hurry into the Pyramid. It could be warmer inside, at least it's protected from the breeze."

Alexander took two lamps from the back of a camel, and squatted down to light them. By the time he had successfully lit them and turned around, Hephaistion was already walking towards the Pyramid.

"Hephaistion!" Alexander called out.

"We'd better bring few things along."

Hephaistion walked back to Alexander, but as soon as he received a lighted lamp and a few furs he started to walk to the north side of the Pyramid again. Alexander hurried to catch up with him with another lamp; a sack filled with a tray, some bread, dried fish, dried dates, a melon, honey, and most importantly a good wine in sheepskin. He felt it was strange for Hephaistion just to take off like that, but Alexander kept quiet. Something in Hephaistion's expression told Alexander to trust, and just follow. Hephaistion climbed up a few stones and revealed the entrance, which was camouflaged, thus not easy to see with human eyes, especially in the dark.

TBC