Chapter 8
As soon as they entered Alexander's private chamber, Alexander hugged Hephaistion and kissed his lips. Then he held Hephaistion's hand and led him to his working desk. He opened the parchment and handed to Hephaistion. Hephaisiton quickly read through the letter and nodded. Alexander took the letter back, sealed it, ring-printed it and put the letter into a royal leather bag. He handed the bag again to Hephaistion and Hephaistion tied it to his belt.
Then Alexander led Hephaistion to a coach, let him sit down while still holding his one hand and asked him tenderly:
"You want some more wine Phai?"
"No Thanks Alexander. I am much tired and want to rest early tonight." Hephaistion rubbed his face with his other hand.
"Can you stay with me tonight, Phai?" Alexander asked, almost pleading.
Hephaistion was somewhat reluctant because he knew that Cleitus might still be waiting for him. But looking into Alexander's tender eyes he just didn't have the heart to deny Alexander, if ever anything. He slowly nodded and Alexander smiled happily and quickly walked to the outside and quietly inform Hephaistion's page. He then quickly walked back in and tenderly held Hephaistion's hand and led him to the inner bed chamber.
"Alexander, I am much tired and I just want to sleep." Hephaistion hesitated and hinted that he wasn't up to love making tonight.
"I know my love. Now sit down on the bed and I will help you undress and clean."
Hephaistion did what Alexander told him to do. Alexander carefully removed the leather letter bag and put it on the night stand and removed Hephaistion's clothes. He then wet a piece of clothes with warm water and cleaned Hephaistion from head to toe. Hephaistion thought it was ironic that on the same day both his lovers cared him so gently - first Cleitus, now Alexander.
"You will spoil me Alexander. If these Persians ever knew that their Great King is being a mere servant to his general tonight, they may lose respect to you. I heard the Great Kings never even moved a finger for themselves."
"Great King or not, I am just your Achilles to you my Patroclus."
"How long had it been
since you last called me your Patroclus Alexander? Let me see,
wasn't it two and half years ago in Persepolis during that burning
banquet? The end of Greek's revenges on Persia and the beginning
of the dynasty of Alexander the Great?"
"I know you still
blame me for burning down that palace. I am sorry Phai and I regret
it as much as you do. Let's not talk about the sad thing. I am
sure we will build something grander than that someday."
"Sometime I wonder why we are doing this Alexander – burning things down and building new things up. Isn't it all wasting money and energy? Although I enjoy building new cities, but burning down and building up, burning down and building up, it made people so tiring. It made me so tiring. How can we get out of this bad cycle?" Hephaistion murmured to himself.
"You are just too tired my love. Now go to sleep and you will feel better tomorrow." Alexander gently lay down Hephaistion on his back and quickly remove his own clothes and lay down next to Hephaisiton. Tugged under the warm fur blanket, Alexander felt the warmth of Hephaistion's body and gently touched his skin everywhere with his finger tips while thinking about Hephaistion's words. He felt sad that their pure love from childhood became so complicated now. The love was still deep and no doubt the most important thing for them both. Hephaistion still believed in him and would follow him to the end of the earth, but it didn't mean that he won't have doubts sometime, about Alexander's love and about their destiny. Alexander didn't blame him for that, because sometimes he had doubts himself too.
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Inside Cleitus' inner chamber, Cleitus tossed on his bed. By now he knew that Hephaistion would not come. He didn't want to think about what Hephaistion might be doing right now. He sighed deeply, blew off the lamps and tried to fall sleep, still holding the two lockets in his hands.
