This was inspired by the movie Alexander, with a big dose of inspiration from Mary Renault's "Fire From Heaven". (If you have not read that book, I highly recommend it.)
I do not own the story or any of the characters, though if I could...I would love to own the beautiful Hephaestion!
Summary: Springtime in Mieza, when a young man's fancy turns to...well, all sorts of things.
Rating: T
The rest of the evening went by quickly, and the tired boys decided to turn in a little early.
Alexander and Hephaestion lay in their cots, talking quietly.
"Are we okay, Phai? You are not upset with me or anything like that, are you?"
"No, my Alexander, we are fine. Again, I am sorry for my behavior. I will explain it another time. It is too late to get into it now, and you no doubt are as tired as I am."
Alexander lay looking at the ceiling, thinking. "Did you notice, Phai…that stallion. He bit her neck! Just like the foxes! It must truly be the passion of Eros. What do you think?"
Hephaestion looked over at his friend, his eyes sparkling in the faint light. "I think it most certainly must be that. I think passion can make a person do many things, things they may not normally do. I think, as you said yesterday, that passion must be a powerful thing."
He felt Alexander's hand on his shoulder, sliding down his arm in search of his hand. He could not stop the shiver that went through him, and he knew Alexander had to have felt it. Alexander's hand found his, lacing their fingers together.
"Let us sleep, Phai. We have much to think about. Tomorrow, we can talk. Rest well."
"Good night, Alexander. You rest well, too." He gave his hand a slight squeeze.
Both boys slept peacefully that night, holding on to each other's hand through most of it.
Hephaestion work early the next morning, at first light. Alexander was still sleeping peacefully, snuggled up in a thick fur, as the nights were still a little cool. Hephaestion smiled warmly at the sleeping form of his best friend. "By the Gods, Alexander" Hephaestion whispered to himself "I would lay down my life for you. Without you I should not want to live." He hoped that Alexander might return those feelings. He decided to go and make an offering to Aphrodite, that she might smile upon them.
He dressed in a simple chiton and sandals, drawing a chlamys around himself to keep out the chilled morning air. It was quiet, as few had risen yet. He gathered roses and some large white lilies, and made his way to the temple. As he approached, he noticed that someone else had made an offering of flowers to the goddess. Roses and violets. "Could it be?" he wondered. Alexander had often picked flowers from his special place in the woods (though Hephaestion had not known of the place then), always roses and violets. He smiled. It was an omen. He placed his flowers beside the others and thanked the goddess, for it seemed she had already answered him. Today, he vowed, he would take the next step. The gods had blessed it.