Chapter 7 – The Banquet
That Night at the Palace,
Hepheastion stood in awe with a surprise appreication for the interior design and magnificence of the royal palace. He slowly walked up the small steps that led through the large pillars that opened up into the grand wooden doors. Hephaestion looked around as he entered into a wide spacious receiption area. He saw the bright brazens were set high up on the walls to reveal beautifully woven rugs and fresco hanging. The décor of heroric and glorious images of battle scenes and local landscape added life to the room. Hephaestion took sight of the various sculptures and tapestries that accented the room. He presumed the duplicity of the images of these alabaster statuettes to be that of the King, observing the molded patch that covered the right eye.
Hephaestion quickly noted the heavy presence of guards throughout the entry way leading into the banquet room. There was one stationed at each corridor of the hallway. Had it not been for the low key sound of instrumental music that lingered in the air, mixed with the voices of the boisterous laughter, the scene before Hephaestion would appear more like of a war council than a dinner celebration. The young Amyntor could not help but be distracted by the diverse ambience of the room as he tried to follow closely behind his father who led him and Pericles towards the entrance way into the banquet.
As they finally entered into the banquet hall, Hephaestion was again taken in by the opulent extravagance of the room. The hall was filled with men dressed in richly made garments. As he followed his father through the makeshift archway leading through the stone pillars, he was overwhelmed by the grandiosity of the dining hall. He immediately took sight of the white draped couches spread throughout the room. The purpose of the arrangement was apparent, it was to force the guests to interact and engage rather then cluster apart in their small isolated seating areas. In the center of the hall, encircled within a raised brick wall, sat a large fire pit, ablaze with huge flames. On the walls, Hephaestion could see even more colorful and designed rugs and massive plaques and ceramic relief. The room was alive with activity and commotion. Distracted with his surroundings, Hephaestion had lost sight of his father. He searched the room before going further in from the doorway, when he felt the presence of another standing next to him.
"They appear civilized yet under all this décor they are nothing more than barbaros." grumbled Pericles with little regard to the guards standing before him, "This façade of civility is sickening."
Hephaestion's face hardened as he was shook out of his admiration of the interior design. He quickly reached out to forcefully grab Pericles' upper arm, "You will conduct yourself according." forcefully exclaimed Hephaestion as he stood close to his friend's face, "I will not have you make a mockery of my father's generosity in allowing you to join us!"
The taller youth stared at this friend with a bemused look, as he felt his fists clenched at his side, "You have come to love these people" snided Pericles with complete contempt, "There was a time you saw them as I did!"
"Never!" countered Hephaestion unwilling to release his hold, "It was you alone. But perhaps It was only my fleeting fascination for you that convinced me to listen. I never truly believed your Uncle's propaganda. By no means have I ever looked upon these Macedonians, as non-Greeks, as barbarians. As I spend more time here, I come to learn the truth among all the lies I had heard in Athens." He then stepped closer, "You seem to forget, I am one of THEM. These are my people!"
The lanky and deft Athenian nodded prepared to respond, but held back as he saw the harshness in Hephaestion expression, "Let us call a truce Hephaestion!" he relented in a soft tone, as he heard his former lover describe the insignificance of their affair, "I do not wish to argue with you." He then instinctively reached out to place his hand over friend, "You are right. I just want things to be as they were before. To remind you of us".
Hephaestion yanked his arm away, "There can never be an US!" angrily barked the young Amyntor, "It is over!"
"It is because of that meaningless boy!" agitatedly responded the arrogant youth, "You have allowed yourself to fall for a mere blacksmith!"
Taking note of the attention being aimed at them by other guests entering into the hall, Hephaestion again grabbed hold of his friend to yank him outside the doors of the palace. He looked solemn and hard at this former lover, "My personal affair is of no concern to you!" stated the Young Amyntor as he stood inches from his friend, "But hear me well for I will only tell you once. It is better to love a blacksmith then the ass of a mule." His eyes then grew darker, "Alexander is a far better man than you, no matter he be a blacksmith, a farmer or a King."
"Alexander! Love?" exclaimed Pericles as he repeated the name to confirm that he had been replaced, "Alexander... that is the name of this peasant boy. Ha! He is nothing. Of no significance…"
"Stay away from me and Alexander!" warned Hephaestion as he reached out to take hold of Pericles' arms with both hands. He then paused as his expression gradually softened. Hephaestion soon realized he could offer not further explanation. His former lover was nothing more than a heartbroken and pathetic boy. Any words Hephaestion put forward would be in vein. With this knowledge, he released his hold and stepped back to look straight at this friend without a shadow of amity, "Go home Pericles! Go Home to Athens!" He stated again and without another glance, he turned and walked away.
Pericles let out a deep sigh of relief. He flattened the creases of his chiton as he felt the disdainful glares darting at him. With little regard to those gathered in the hall, he stood straight and regained his composure. He then scanned around to find the men he had met earlier in the market. The lanky youth then slightly nodded in recognition as he looked across to see Hephaestion enter into the banquet, "Soon Hephaestion you will come to see how things should be!" growled Pericles under this breath as he casually walked up to the men across from him and briefly stood before them. He said nothing to the men at first as he stared to examine a rug hanging on the wall, appearing to admiring it. Pericles then skimmed to face the dark eyed man beside him, "Very well" he whispered, "I agree. I will be in the courtyard."
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Having deserted his friend near the doorway, Hephaestion proceeded further into the banquet hall. Quickly the crowd grew thick. It suddenly became a shoving match as Hephaestion pushed his way through the masses of bodies. The distant Northern dialect of the men conversing around him filled the air. He was seething with rage at Pericles' continued impudence and grimaced in disgust as he reflected upon his friend's belief toward the "unrefined language" being spoken in the room. Hephaestion pushed through the crowd to find his father motioning towards him.
"There you are!" stated the old Amyntor taking in his son's flustered look, "Is everything alright?" He then looked over his son's shoulder, "Where is Pericles?"
"It is nothing father!" replied Hephaestion with a small smile and little regard for his old friend, "I am sure he will be here shortly."
"Here I am!' came a voice then a grip on the Hephaestion's shoulder, "Sorry, I was distracted with the magnificent décor around us!" Pericles came to stand close to his former lover as he threw a quick wink. Immediately, Hephaestion jerked his shoulder free of his friend's hold.
"Very well!" suspiciously responded the General as he saw the obvious annoyance in his son's eyes, "Try not to wonder off…" he continued to say until he heard a shout from the other side of the room.
"Amyntor!" called out a voice from across the outer edge of the room, "Amyntor Here!" Hephaestion turned to the male voice calling out his family name. He immediately distinguished two older men impressively dressed in fine woven chiton. They stood before a small group of commanders. They were all strikingly dressed in purple chlamys clasped together with a star pendant, similar to his father. At the head of the group, waving to the newly arrived guests was the King's highest ranking General, Parmenion. Alongside the gray haired leader, was the taller and ever stately Antipater. Hephaestion eyes widened as he came to also recognize, the loutish but gentle Cleitus. The young man's heart raced in excitement as his hopes of finding Alexander at the banquet lightened his mood.
Excitedly, General Amyntor headed towards his comrades with his son and Pericles in tow. "Amyntor!" again called out Parmenion, "You have finally found time to join your old friends here at the palace" as he motioned for a servant carrying a tray of wine to move towards them, "Come to join us for some…." But he was roughly interrupted by an arm that reached out in front of him.
"Amyntor has been here over a month and only now he finds time to visit" playfully scolded Antipater as he reached out to offer a bowl of wine to his friend, "I blame you Parmenion, you were never one to be a good host!"
"I was made to wait to be invited!" laughed out the older Amyntor, as he eagerly took the bowl, "Having been away from Court has put me at a disadvantage."
"Nonsense!" cut Cleitus as he threw an arm to embrace his old comrade, "I have it on good information that our King had sent for you on more than one occasion."
"What is this I hear? You would dare to deny Philip his request" replied Antipater in disbelief of what he was hearing, "I have never known you, Amyntor, to deny anything to our King. I remember a time when we were boys…"
Just then the older Amyntor withdrew his bowl from his lips, "There is no need to dredge the past!' he tersely looked as his friend with raised brows and a slight shake of his head. He then pointed to Parmenion, "I see that you have primped up nicely for this special occasion. If I am not mistaken Parmenion, I do believe you have on your best chiton tonight. Is that the one you wore for your union ceremony to Adrie?"
"You jest!" teased Antipater out of character from his usual regal demeanor, "See this bulge" pointed the General to his comrade's mid abdominal area, "It has expanded out just like our old friend's ego. You must know this chiton he wears was made to be worn long."
"It is only this "healthy" appearance that keeps me looking youthful" winked Parmenion as he patted his small protruding stomach, "Soon we will be out on campaign, and back in shape."
"Well then, I stand corrected" added the taller general, "It would seem our old friend here is merely stockpiling enough supply to supplement a grueling winter" again as he tapped his comrade's round belly, "This is good news. I had feared he was with child!"
The men laugh in amusement as they all decided to join in to exchange childhood stories about Parmenion's adolescent insecurities.
"And who are these young men you have brought with you!" inquired Cleitus as he nudged Amyntor at the youths beside him. "I do believe the handsome one is your son, Hephaestion!"
"General Cleitus" acknowledged the Hephaestion with laughter in his eyes, "It is good to see you again!"
"You have already met?" stated the Older Amyntor bewildered, "When?"
"I had met the lad near the training ground!" quickly offered Cleitus, "And who is this other boy, another son?" The dark haired general continued on ignoring his old friend's look of perplexity, "I had thought you had only one!"
"No… No!" explained Hephaestion severing any opportunity for his former lover to speak, "This is Pericles, an old friend from Athens. He will be leaving here in a few days."
"Joy to you!" stepped up Pericles as he extended his hand to greet Cleitus and the others, "It is true, I await for my escort to arrive. But know I have found it truly an experience visiting this City." Hephaestion and his father stood in amazement by the lanky youth's response and smiled dumbfounded at his remarks.
"Haaa!" exclaimed Parmenion, "Perhaps you may soon find yourself taking leave with the visiting delegates from Athens. Their stay here may be over shortly." Just then, a loud roar of laughter boomed from across the room distracting the men.
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From across the room, the King sat agitatedly as he took all his will to restrain himself from lounging at the stumpy grizzly bearded man talking to him. This envoy from Athens had been expected weeks earlier and now here, they expect to dictate the topic of conversation, the future course of Macedonia. For what seemed like hours, the King listened to the Athenian delegation press their point upon him to stall his plans to move further North until a meeting could be held with the Greece council. But the King dismissed any more discussion as he disregarded their proposals. Phillip had no intention of being told how to run his campaign or his kingdom by any pompous intellects. The King thought the Athens to know nothing of war or peace except what they can gain in riches to fill his pockets.
"Philip you must heed towards a more democratic system if you wish to gain any credibility with the other city states" explained the Athenian delegate as he grabbed for another handful of olives. "You must come to take note that your policy of ruling as a single monarch will be viewed as less egalitarian"
"Yet you make no qualms for the vast wealth and power of my kingdom" angrily retorted Philip "Had I listened and followed your plans, Macedonia would still be nothing more than a small farm state."
"Democracy!" blunted Alexander roguishly, as he reclined back in his couch, "It is but a farce to have the elite class rule. The 'Athenian democracy' you speak of, to be 'ruled by the people" is a misnomer in which only the very rich people possess the power. How long have the Athenians and Sparta fought among themselves to be the dominating super power?" He paused to drink his wine then looked across at the delegation intently, "You wish only to control Macedonia as a subordinate, to be told when to fight, what to think, how to act."
The prince then smirked proudly as their visiting guests looked upon him stumped. Alexander was in his element as he relished in the moment. He was well versed from his lessons with Aristotle as to the policies and histories of the neighboring Greek states. He knew how to argue and held no fear in speaking out his mind. "This system of a 'city-states' you describe works only for the benefit of Athens.' Continued the Prince, "As a larger city, Athens, has been able to manipulate and threaten their smaller and defenseless allies into submission. But be assured, Macedonia is not weak and we will not be intimidated."
Annoyingly, the short dark eyed delegate growled at the Prince, "What would a boy know of the ways of politics and policies?" smirked out the guest, "You have no experiences of the real world."
"I know more than enough" retorted Alexander smugly as he shot up to sit upright on his couch, "History tells no lies. You may recall during your fifteen year conflict with Sparta, it was the Athenians who mocked the Spartans for their 'cogs and military ideologies'. Yet towards the end of the Peloponnesian War, it was the Spartans who bested you."
"Aye where is their society today?" smartly countered another one of the delegates as he sat forward confident in his response, "Sparta is nothing more than an insignificant village, well pass their prime."
"Need you be reminded …we. Macedonians are no Spartans! My father and his army are more organized and better trained. And must I remind you we are far wealthier than the Spartans ever were." angrily replied the Prince in a control tone, "You would be a fool to underestimate us!"
"Of course! Of course!, I… we make no quarrels with your father's status or his…." Withdrew the scaled face Athenian who now sat back slumped on his couch, "I only meant that Sparta had made their mistakes which I know King Philip does not seek to duplicate."
"No the King will not! But what shames me is your lack of appreciation for my father and his achievements as a leader. You delay your visit here having my father wait on you like some mere servant." Alexander leaned forward sternly to challenge the delegate, "Do not think we are not aware of your "meetings" with the Thebans and Thessalians. You come here speaking of peace, but beyond our city walls, Athens along with the other states continue to refuse to recognize our King not only to his status, but as to being Greek. You hold no regard to my father's kingship … or Macedonian's place as a nation. We are not fools!"
The King gave a thunderous laugh at the hilarity of watching the humiliation shadow over his pretentious guests. "It would seem that my son has outsmarted you." Again, roared Philip joyfully with pride at Alexander's brilliant handling of the delegates. His son would make a worthy leader one day.
"Tell me Philip are we to expect another to join us tonight" interject the third delegate as he turned to point to the vacant couch beside the King. "Who do you expect?" The scrawny delegate humbly smiled hoping to divert Alexander's father's attention.
"Ah yes… I expect my friend Amyntor to join us here tonight" grinned the King as he took a swig of his wine and squinted at his son's response, "I do believe you are all familiar with my ambassador in Athens?"
"Of course Amyntor, he is a good man" replied the short stubby Athenian, "He is clever and quite sharp with his tongue"
"Yes! Amyntor could always talk his way out anything. Indeed, he has been gifted by the Gods for his skills in argument and debate." proudly offered the King, "Amyntor is in town with his son, Hephaestion for the season. I do expect them both to join us here tonight."
At that moment, Alexander's mouth dropped as his eyes turned white in surprise. It was now the Prince who sat up straight with a nervous expression. He looked painfully at the entryway watchful for Hephaestion's appearance. Quickly gathering his bearings, the Prince turned cold face at the King, "Father, perhaps I should go and greet some of the other guests." He shuffled off his couch to stand, "I cannot allow for all my attention to be taken by the visiting delegates. Surely we will have more time together in our talks over the next days."
The King smiled fully aware of Alexander's obvious discomfort and edginess. He knew having once announced Hephaestion's presence at the banquet it would have some affect on his son. He nodded in acknowledgment as he ceased his laughter to look at his straight-faced son, "Of course go!" spurred out the King as he gestured for more wine trying to appear oblivious with Alexander's change in behavior, "Go and enjoy yourself".
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Hephaestion looked toward the direction of lively noise to see a few men in the center of the room atop several elaborately decorated couches. He watched the source of the boisterous laughter sitting in the middle of the couches. The well-built man was dressed impressively in a white chiton with dark colored plum trimmings interwoven with gold. He wore an ornate twisted gold belt with a matching band around his head. But what attracted Hephaestion, was the large fibula of the Vergina Star that held the black chlamys around the man's shoulder.
The young Amyntor studied the man who sat in the center of the room. Contrary to the richly made garment, Hephaestion knew instantly the man to be the ruler, the King of the Macedonians. He stared studying King Philip and thought how frightful he appeared. The leader of the growing Macedonian nation wore a black patch over his right eye. His long auburn hair converged with a small beard that hugged over his square face. His yellow stained teeth stood out behind his thick mustache that frowned over his lips. From his distance, Hephaestion could make out the battle scars that were rooted across both the King's arms and lower legs. The man reminded Hephaestion of the stories his father used to tell about Kuklōps, the terrifying one-eye beastwho once roamed the lands.
As he watched the King engage in some conversation, Hephaestion scrutinized the other men gathered around the ruler. The guest did not appear to be all to amused with the boisterous laughter and unruly slaps across their backs. They looked to be frustrated and perhaps embarrassed as the King continued to invoke them. Hephaestion knew these men to be Athenians simply based on their arrogant demeanor and overly dressed garments. They all wore a deep colored chiton which clashed with the lightness of those in the room. The delegates appeared to be guests to a funeral game rather than a festive celebration. Hephaestion shook his head in extreme pleasure as he watched the delegation squirm in their seats, as if victims of some crude joke, a pun of a cruel satire.
"I understand it was you Amyntor who arranged for this little delegation we see before our King" announced Cletuis his detest for the visiting guests apparent, "They do not appear to be very pleased."
"I merely arranged for what the King had ordered!" defended the Old General, "I had warned Philip the meeting would be for waste."
"Well no doubt the King should have listened to you!" agreed the leader of the Royal Guards, "As the Ambassador in Athens, you would know more than any other on how to handle these arrogant mules!"
"Ah this reminds me. Is it true Philip denied your request for a retirement" questioned Parmenion as he reached out to grip his friend's shoulder, "You should have known Philip would never let you go"
"We came to a compromise" responded Amyntor with a slight smile, "I have been allowed to retire in…."
"In a season or two" interjected Parmenion with a swelling chuckle, "He needs you too much!"
"I will continue to serve Philip in Athens for one more season" emphasized the older General, as he realized the astound look from his son. He had yet to discuss this new arrangement with Hephaestion. It had been their hopes that they would visit the Greek Coastlines for a short time after their visit to Pella. "I do intent to leave my post…"
"Of course!" consoled Antipater unconvincingly, "But for the time being, it is good to have you here". He then looked to Amyntor's son, "Now tell me have you decided on whether you will be sending Hephaestion to Mieza?"
"I have yet to discuss this with him!" quickly stuttered the older General, as he tried to push the topic aside, "But that matter has yet to be settled with the King and my son."
"Well tell me Hephaestion!" cut Parmenion as he now looked at the auburn youth standing before him, "Have you met the King of Macedonia?"
"No Sir!" replied Hephaestion as he tried to recover from his father's new future plans, "It is my first time here at the palace."
"I believe his son is also here" continued the gray heard commander, "Have you met the Prince?"
"Sadly Sir I have yet to meet any member of the royal family" replied Hephaestion as he again turned to look over at the King. "I was here earlier today and…" he began to explain, when he leaned his head forward and squinted his eyes with raised brows to look closely at the young man quickly dashing away from the royal couches. Just then, Hephaestion's eyes enlarged into two large pools. He could not believe who was across from him. He was in complete disbelief, "Alex…an…der?" hesitated Hephaestion under his breath. He concentrated harder, and then with sudden affirmation, the young Amyntor took a step forward, "Alexander!"
TBC
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Hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I am taking off for vacation next week… so lemme know if you want to next chapter posted before I leave! ;}
P.S. Big hugs and Smiles again to my "sisters" and to Stella – hope you are enjoying your vacation! Hey Ann – this chapter is dedicated to you!
