From within the King's sleeping chamber came Perdiccas raucous joking and subdued laughter - sounding much like Hephaistion's.
"I take he's finally come around?" Leonnatus inquired as Alexander released him from his bear hug.
"When I walked in from the feast last night, he was awake attended to by his pages Lysus and Timotheus." Alexander cackled excitedly "I was really beginning to despair and …."
"be afraid…come now Alexander admit it!" came Perdiccas cheeky retort as they entered the sleeping chamber where the woken Hephaistion lay smiling, obviously still weak but freshly shaved and not anymore so pale. " I tell you Leonnatus, these two are like car and wheels, one can't move without the other". He continued as he theatrically waved a hand at the lovers now seated on the bed.
"More like horse and chariot, I should say" Leonnatus quipped winking an eye at Hephaistion, getting a grin from the man as response.
"You mean ass and wagon" Perdiccas countered continuing his brazen onslaught as he eyed his cousin and snorted;
"Question is though… who is the ass between them?"he smirked broadly at Hephaistion and Leonnatus.
Alexander now lay on the massive bed. His head rested on Hephaistion's thigh, eyes closed savouring his beloved's warmth, only registered the ensuing silence to the comment. He opened his eyes to three other pairs peering down on him. Having been lulled into a shell of coziness by his beloved's presence, he failed to gather the gist of what was said. It took him a few seconds to decipher the reason for the stares.
"I shall make you pay for your insolence to your King, cousin or not" he threatened mockingly as he lifted himself off the bed to chase the fleeing Perdiccas who, mimicking a cry of distress dashed through the tent chambers making the heads of the pages on duty turn with an alarmed look on their faces whereupon, realising it was mere horseplay, broke-out in relieved laughter.
"Is is incredible how Lord Hephaistion could affect the King's mood" the new page Amyntas whispered to Alexander's senior page Koiranos who, nodding with amusement in his eyes followed the antics of the two men that rushed by them.
" For or against, nobody will admit it. Least of all Hephaistion himself...but he is the King's life line. However, breath no word to anyone as to what I have just told you nor anything you see or hear within this tent.". Amyntas nodded as he glanced at the older page who as if in afterthought muttered almost imperceptibly. "Alexander's magnanimity is equal to his temper. Loyalty is everything to him….remember that."
As the laughter and the noise made by Alexander and Perdiccas receded, they slowly made their way back to the bedchamber. Leonnatus sitting next to Hephaistion pulled him into a hug. "Am I really glad we have you back! That is good because now, we also have Alexander back" he remarked quietly. Hephaistion understood perfectly what he meant.
Hephaistion chuckled "I'm flattered and grateful you think that way. However, you and I know in the end, he always will be his own man"
"I agree but you know as well as we do how much of a nightmare that can be for everyone at times. Headstrong, driven, calculating and amongst us his peers intellectually conceited at times…but I guess that is what makes him a good soldier King…"and as if adding an afterthought "hopelessly fallen for you"
" I would love that…but if I had my way I wish I could only have Alexander, not he King" a small sigh emanated from him as he continued"… in the same manner I'd rather much be just his Hephaistion not the general"
It never failed to surprise Leonnatus that after all these years, Hephaistion has not seem to have truly comprehended his worth in Alexander's life. He wanted to tell the cerulean-eyed man how unsettled and uprooted his lover was without him around but decided against it. However, by this incident, he now had irrefutably affirmed to himself how much Hephaistion meant to the man and the King. He only wished that however long they may live, that Alexander would never loose sight of how blessed he is by the gods for having someone as precious and devoted as Hephaistion.
As both Alexander and Perdiccas re-entered the chamber. Alexander immediately headed for Hephaistion's side and inquired in a voice sparked with tenderness if there was anything he wanted.
"Nothing much" the injured man replied "by all the gods, you are more than I could handle at times anyway. Two of your kind would definitely be my death".
Both Leonnatus and Perdiccas heard the teasing in Hephaistion's tone of voice and saw the pout on the man's lips but his eyes said something else that made both men feel a twinge of envy. They were full of love and devotion as he regarded Alexander who in equal measure silently gazed back at him with the same intensity.
…would be my death...my death…He was jolted from his reverie as Ptolemy asked him if he was to join them leave the dining hall. He nodded his assent , while the phrase played on in his mind.
"Shall we see to Alexander?" Perdiccas queried on the way back to their rooms as he shifted his gaze from Ptolemy to Leonnatus.
Ptolemy regarded the other general for a moment "I do not think there would be much change to the state he's in. Not now...this is a wound that will cut deeply and won't heal for a long time" then he added in a very tired voice almost to himself "..if ever".
Perdiccas let out an anguished sigh for deep within he knew the man spoke the truth. Leonnatus nodding his assent in silence.
--o0o--
Perdiccas let his gaze sweep across the throne room. Both himself and Lysimachus accomplished the task of overseeing Hephaistion's prothesis truly well. He responded with a nod to Lysimachus' farewell as he watched him leave with the embalmers having volunteered to report to Alexander about the job being completed.
Originally, they planned to have the bier at the courtyard to accommodate all those who would come for the viewing but the unstable weather forced them into the palace.
In whispers, he knew a lot of the companions thought it a little too extravagant of Alexander to have the bier viewing in the great throne room. He however knew that, as was in Troy moons ago, this was the King's way of telling the world that a great King has passed away -his other half.
Being in the presence of Hephaistion while his body was being prepared for his journey to the underworld left him totally bereft. However, he received very explicit instructions from Alexander about it's preparation which made him persevere. In his heavy heart he carried the certitude that he owed this much to Hephaistion as well as to Alexander to oversee the ritual.
The light gray marble columns of the throne room seemed to mirror the reflection of the torches, tapers and votive offerings that cast it's glow on the gold inlaid friezes of the lapis lazuli walls that were polished to perfection. A low podium was built directly before the great king's throne upon which the open coffin with Hephaistion's body on it stood supported by a purple cloth covered dais.
Embalmed in natron and anointed with the most fragrant oils and spices in Macedonian tradition, he lay clothed in a cream coloured chiton the of the finest Persian silk , the edges embroidered with silver and gold thread . His finely woven purple cloak held together by a gold fibulae. His feet adorned with sandals worked with gold trimmings. He wore his cuirass and greaves of beaten gold, with his bejewelled dagger hanging from his golden belt. The dead man's arms and fingers adorned with armbands and rings. The golden Chiliarch's tiara resting on his head and around his neck hung the garnet and sapphire necklace- symbol of his office.
He also had the simple leather thong with half of the agate pendant from Alexander which he regarded as his most treasured possession and always wore. His beautiful face now covered with a death mask made from a thin gold sheet with a very intricate pattern of rosettes on it.
Arranged around the dais, were the offerings for the dead. Gold vases with intricate carvings, silver plates, gold cups, his belts, helmets, swords made of silver, flutes and golden scaled models of his and Alexander's chariots as well as marble carvings himself and the king and their favourite horses. The countless adorning flowers giving out a heady intoxicating perfume, as well as four huge incense burners that practically defined the perimeters of the dais.
Perdiccas let out a heavy sigh. He knew Hephaistion would have definitely decried such extravagance -himself favouring the more subdued and sleek styles of Athens. However, he also was beyond all doubt that Alexander would approve of it. He knew the King only wanted the very best for his beloved. With the last of the embalmers gone, an eerie silence filled the cavernous hall. His pages approached him awaiting his further orders.
"The viewing can commence" he announced in a tired voice. "Yes" he muttered to himself once the pages were out of earshot, "let the show begin". It was the image of Eumenes and his likes that imprinted in his mind.
The pages opened the massive, intricately decorated cedarwood doors. Slowly the great throne room filled with the presence of mourners who arranged themselves in the corner of the room to the right side of where the coffin lay do their lamentation and sing their dirges. Hephaistion's pages, led by the very forlorn Aristogeiton with Lysus,Timotheus and Haimon, his body servants, scribes and grooms now took their places followed by his engineers, officers and common soldiers of his hipparchy. Then came of most of the companions who had come to offer their arms to the dead man led by a sorrowful looking Eumenes.
"You are fooling no one" Perdiccas thought as he acknowledge the secretary's presence with a nod.
After a good half hour, the generals slowly made their way in.
"Alexander would be proud of both you and Lysimachus" Leonnatus remarked sympathetically as he sided up to Perdiccas " you did well with the preparations for Hephaistion's journey to the underworld".
"I hope so" he replied in a weary voice "that was the least I could do for Alexander…although I know Hephaistion would have thought all these too much for his person".
"He once said to me that worldly riches meant little to him and that what he really ever wanted in life he already has and that for him was enough" Leonnatus mused pensively.
"I know. Alexander's love" Perdiccas replied. Peucestas, Peithon, Nearchus, Seleucus and Iollas joined them expressing their gratitude over his efforts. Though not as close to Hephaistion as Perdiccas and Ptolemy, they had over the years learned to respect the dead man's abilities.
Suddenly Cassander walked up to their midst.
"I hope he finally finds his rest" Cassander intoned in a solemn voice that startled the others. "It is not easy being Alexander too" The men exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of the statement they just heard. They however were aware it would have been only a matter of time that the statement Alexander made to the Queen Mother Sisygambis after the battle of Issus when she confused Hephaistion for Alexander would have reach back home to Macedon.
There were questioning glances and amused stares. As far as they could remember, the man had - way back then during their time in Pella, made it one of his life's mission to make Hephaistion's life as miserable as possible -and now this.
"You may find it hard to believe" Casssander continued "but I really cared for him. I just could not accept the fact that he allowed himself to be totally subjugated by Alexander. I just could never understand his total selfless love to a man that does not really deserve it".
Everyone in the group could not help but throw him a glance ranging from complete surprise to undisguised fear. Each realizing the boldness and impudence of Cassander's statement. The intervening years notwithstanding, he has not laid away his brashness nor his animosity towards Alexander. Despite this, the suddenness of his confession surprised his listeners into total silence-eagerly anticipating further comments.
To some of them, the motive behind his boorishness towards the Chiliarch and his intensified antagonism towards Alexander suddenly became all clear. It confirmed what they have long suspected way back then in Mieza.
Before anyone could react vocally, Cassander distanced himself from the group and made his way to where the coffin was positioned paying his respects to the dead Hephaistion.
"Could that be also a reason why he also decided to stay in Macedon?" Peucestas turned to Cassander's brother Iollas who stood beside Leonnatus.
"He loved him and could not get over the fact that Hephaistion chose Alexander over himself" came the quiet reply. Not waiting for a remark, Iollas made over where his brother stood and laid a hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture leaving the rest in reflective silence.
For a minute the brothers stood wordlessly beside each other. Cassander turned to free himself from his Iollas touch and silently headed for the door leaving Iollas alone - his jaw tightly set, hands balled into fists while his eyes glistened with pain and sorrow.
Iollas was never that close to Cassander as he was to their other brother Nicanor however, at this very moment he truly felt sorry for Cassander. The broken chords of the dirges invaded his senses. It was all so very sad.