Chapter 21

Alexander and Hephaistion have some private time…

(I borrowed from the great Ms. Renault a bit here.)

The luminous moon rose above Babylon, a gentle presence presiding over lovers and sleeping children alike. Its light spread like a pale gold shield over the two men on the jasmine scented balcony.

"For my beautiful Hephaistion," Alexander laughed, pleased with himself and wrote Hephaistion's name in the wine-lees on the white marble beneath their feet. Hephaistion smiled as Alexander turned and their lips met, slowly. The kiss lingered for each man their gentle sighs filled the air about them like a song filled with the sweet heat that only Eros could write. They parted, but each was loathe to release the other and their hands stayed on the smooth flesh of the other, caressing and stroking. They'd been playing kottabos for the last hour and the spreading golden bloom scented by the rich wine they'd been drinking lay before them.

"Alexander, agapi mou," Hephaistion spoke the words softly, but with a passion that he felt passed in the air between them as the bronze bowl rang true as he threw the last of his wine into it. He was quiet as he gazed up into the star filled sky. He sighed lost in his thoughts. The night was calm, as though the whole world slept but for he and Alexander.

"Hephaistion?" Alexander called out to him. Hephaistion turned to him and dropped a kiss on his lips. As he refilled their cups, Alexander thought back on the day.

It had been a long day, beginning with the ill fated audience with Kassandros, then hunting as they hadn't in months, and been victorious in spearing a huge boar. He had been pleased with the kill hunting boar was a risky undertaking. Usually, when he hunted boar he took several of the Companions, not so small a group as they had been today. To hunt with only four men was tempting fate, but they had tempted that cruel mistress and been victorious. Alexander smiled to himself as he studied his companion who was peeling an orange. He smiled when Hephaistion got a spurt of orange juice in the face.

"Here, let me rid you of that." Alexander put his hands on Hephaistion's shoulders, leaned upon his tall frame and with a wicked giggle had licked the bit of sweet juice from Hephaistion's chin. "Ummm, delicious, the best I've ever tasted."

"I think you've missed a bit, right here." Hephaistion licked his full lips grinning while Alexander ran his tongue over them. Again, Alexander was struck by how much he loved the man standing before him, and how much he was afraid something might take him from him. His mind went back to the boar hunt earlier that day. It had been so close, much too close. If he forbade Hephaistion from hunting ever again would he obey him? No, Alexander answered his own question. He could no sooner keep him from the hunt than he himself would give it up. Still, what to do?

Anyone of them could have been killed outright had the boar broken from the path of their nets and gored them. He'd held his breath at one point when exactly what he feared seemed to happen when Hephaistion had gotten the second spear in and held the boar on his own, when suddenly the spear had twisted in his grip and he'd lost it. The boar had squealed in rage, bristling with outraged pain as the others had thrust in their spears. Grunting viciously the wounded boar had set its tiny, black eyes on Hephaistion and rushed him.

Fortunately, Hephaistion was no raw recruit and had thrown himself to the ground and lay there unmoving until Alexander and Ptolemy and even Bagoas had speared it until it lay dead. Alexander smiled proudly when he remembered how Bagoas had rushed up and with a mighty roar had run his spear into the boar's back. He knew Bagoas was strong from his dancing, but had not the strength of a soldier and was surprised how well he had managed, although he and Ptolemy had taken most of the beast's weight. He had congratulated the young Persian on his good work and was pleased to see the joy spread across Bagoas' face.

However, Alexander had been surprised at the shaking of his own hands as he'd helped Hephaistion to his feet. He'd seen the Ferryman reach out for his beloved companion in that moment in the deep spring wood. His feelings of terror and fear had been nearly overwhelming. After making sure he was unharmed he'd pulled Hephaistion to him and refused at first to let him go. Not even Ptolemy's good natured ribbing would make him release Hephaistion. He clung to him tightly uncaring of the sight. As long as he could hold Hephaistion's warm body in his arms, feel his sweet breath on his neck and know his heart beat steadily beneath his hand he would not be moved. Finally it was Hephaistion himself who had gently unwound Alexander's arms from around his neck telling him he was safe. He had taken him away from the others to comfort him.

"Alexander, I am safe, thanks to all of you. I'm not leaving you. I will not leave you, Alexander, believe me." Hephaistion had smiled as he held Alexander to him and stroked the trembling gold head. For a moment they were thirteen again, back at Pella and as always he, Hephaistion was there to comfort his dearest friend. The memories sweetened by time rushed back and Alexander's eyes burned with them.

Hephaistion frowned seeing the emotion in Alexander's eyes, wondering at it, but was unable to meet his seeking gaze as he remembered what had happened when he'd thrown himself onto the leafy ground cover from the boar's path. He'd had a vision of himself lying deathly still in his bed and heard the heartbreaking lamentations of his beloved Alexander fill the air. He'd seen his own death. He made the sign against the evil eye to protect himself, but he knew it had been an omen. He dared not tell Alexander and he tried not think of it, but he was unable not to. It filled him with dread. Rather than let Alexander find him out he pretended to make light of the entire incident and had been the first to gut the boar, make the sacrifice to the god and prepare it for their journey back to the palace.

For a moment a flood of memories rushed at Hephaistion, his heart full of love, he turned to hide the tears. From someplace deep within his soul a word, unknown to him, floated free. "Cherish," Hephaistion thought studying Alexander who was leaning on the balcony's railing and twisting a piece of jasmine in his fingers. That's how I feel about him, I cherish him. Then he shook his head thinking it must be the wine, where had the word come from? He was sure he'd never heard it before, but in some part of him he knew the word with its soft, gentle sound spoke true of his love for Alexander.

He walked over to Alexander and leaned forward stroking his shoulder and kissed the path where his fingers had tread. "Let's stay up to greet Apollo I don't want to shut my eyes tonight." Hephaistion looked out beyond him toward the great city of Babylon with its lush hanging gardens and wide ranging, green shaded vistas. "I'm, I'm afraid if I do, you won't be there when I wake up." Hephaistion laughed softly brushing off the foolish thought.

Alexander's hand rose to brush a lock of hair from Hephaistion's face. "I'll be here." He kissed the soft, mobile mouth wet with the stain of sweet wine. "I will always be with you. I won't leave you, and you won't leave me. It's just us tonight, Hephaistion." He thought of the lessons taught him by Aristotle, and the words of Plato, who taught that true love was the love of the soul. Alexander knew that in Hephaistion he had found that love the kind of love that nourishes one's soul. He had kept it and honored it. Somewhere off in the distance a harp was playing a plaintive melody. It blended with the sweet rustle of the wind through the jasmine vines. He caught Hephaistion's hand up in his. "Come; let's go to the hanging gardens. We'll spend the night there, just the two of us."

Hephaistion smiled, "Yes, we can swim in the lake and when we're tired of that and other things," he turned to Alexander at this and smiled seductively, "we'll lie on the smooth grass and talk.

To be continued…