Chapter 25
Alexander, Setapas, Ptolemy, Bagoas take Hephaistion's body to the temple of Isis hoping for aid.
"He's cold, Bagoas, help me warm him." Bagoas turned at Alexander's words. Indeed, Hephaistion's lips bore a bluish cast. Having no horse blankets or extra cloaks because it was a warm night Bagoas took off his coat and cloak and leaning from his horse covered Hephaistion as thoroughly as he could. Alexander fussed like a wet nurse as he rearranged the covering over Hephaistion, whispering in his ear and kissing the unconscious face.
Bagoas kept watch over Alexander as they trotted through Babylon's quiet streets. Alexander still seemed to exist half in a trance world, but seemed content enough as he held Hephaistion. He seemed to shake it off as they neared the temple grounds.
They walked through a large hippo style hall with its hundreds of sky reaching lotus headed columns until they reached a small, dark room in the midst of the temple. Day light fought its way into the dusky interior where it mingled with scented shadows. The air in the temple seemed to integrate their fears and dissolve them in the quiet candlelight. The glint of gold dazzled their eyes once they became accustomed to the darkness. Peering out at them, from their high pedestals of marble were the great animal headed gods of Egypt, Isis, Osiris, Anubis, Thoth and Horus. With strange eyes in their odd faces these gods bore down upon them, their gazes telling of ancient secrets even when the world was young. Alexander, who had been in the most sacred precincts of a temple before wasn't as nervous as the others, but he too seemed awed. They were in the presence of the oldest magic on earth. Ptolemy, Nearkhos and most of the Royal Guard having been with Alexander in Egypt was familiar with the sight before their eyes, but the others, who had not gone to Siwah simply stared open mouthed at the golden gods and their strange half animal, half human form.
"Lay him on the altar," Setapas instructed as he disappeared into a door behind the great lapis blue stone. The lapis altar gleamed dully from the light of the many braziers and candles. Setapas came out quickly, three older priests followed, one so ancient, Bagoas was sure the man must have been alive in the days of the founding of the Persian Empire. The priests were dressed in bold leopard skins and the linen kilts of their homeland. Their bare shaven heads shone like onyx in the faint light.
The most antique of the priests anointed Hephaistion with precious oils from a small flask and set four jars about him. The jars appeared heavy and glinted with gold. They were decorated with the pictorial Egyptian glyphs that covered the surface of the entire temple. They arranged the jars just so, two at Hephaistion's head the other two at his feet.
Nearkhos and several of the others muttered questions about the contents of the jars and what they would be used for.
"Canonic jars," Bagoas told them, he remembered all that Setapas had told him and explained it. "They hold the mortal remains of the great god Osiris. It is through Osiris that Hephaistion can be restored to life." Bagoas held his breath thinking of Hephaistion's wounds which were so much deeper, thrusting at the very life of him. He had also not been revived as quickly as he, Bagoas had who had been brought back to life within a few minutes after being struck down. He grew quiet as Setapas and the other priests began to chant.
Suddenly a brilliant illumination rose outward from the heart of the altar and enveloped the still figure of Hephaistion. That singular glow enfolded him so completely that he seemed to disappear. A tall, slender, figure rose from the illuminated midst. She seemed to float outward from the mist, as though it had given birth to her. Her steps light, almost ethereal barely skimmed the marble floor her jeweled sandals tapped faintly upon. Her bejeweled hands lightly gliding along the air above Hephaistion, drawing upon it waves of motion that from that source grew brighter still and seemed to hum. Her voice raised up in a chant was that of the Universe itself, soundless, effortless, ageless yet holding every rhythm and heartbeat in its cadence and the soft, melodic alto.
The woman became the movement, the pulse of a million, million hearts as her form dissolved into a brighter light. The light moved from the altar until it surrounded Hephaistion completely. Then the woman formed again from the emanation and moved toward Alexander, her arms embraced him, engulfing him in a blaze of luminous energy that the others shielded their faces from. A single heartbeat filled their ears, it grew on, it's rhythmic beating invading and filling every space of each person present. It became their breath and filled and expanded countless molecules with energy.
For a moment there was nothing but the heartbeat, that singular, loud presence that conjoined all those present into one. Its universal radiance beat down upon them and they sank to the floor, stunned.
For the length of several breaths no one spoke, the air was still electric with the energy of healing then one of the old priests burst into tears and gestured with his hands toward the air. "Isis came, our sacred Lady herself, she came to us." His stunned face then turned toward the altar and he sank down with a great cry. Standing next to it was Alexander, his face, his hair transfigured in a blazing halo of fiery light. As he walked down from the altar the very air seemed to crackle around them, and the priests cried out and threw themselves before him, crying out that Osiris again walked upon the earth.
Even Bagoas stared in awe at the man he had known for so many years. This was not his Alexander, but the god himself. He prostrated himself his heart beating fearfully as he watched his King come closer.
"Bagoas get up," he felt Alexander's arms draw him upright. "Don't bow to me." Quietly Alexander pulled each of those present to their feet. Ptolemy and Bagoas' eyes met, but not a word was spoken as they watched the transfigured King. Bagoas knew then that what Setapas had said had come to pass Alexander was now immortal. He watched the other men in the room as the King; 'no' he corrected himself, as the god touched them.
Alexander sank down before the golden statute of Isis and raised his hands in prayer. The others followed his manner. Their voices, a sea of rising and falling tide of adoration filled the dark chamber and it seemed again alight but this time with a gentle, rosy glow. Time had no place any longer and only the love of Isis reigned embracing them all with a warm, gentle presence.
For himself as he watched his King and the others present Ptolemy knew he would worship the Egyptian goddess for the rest of his life. He had seen many strange and wondrous things in his years, but nothing like this. He eyes and thoughts turned toward Alexander, whose still form was wrapped in that transfiguring embrace. He could guess now what the oracle had told Alexander at Siwah and was awed by it. He knew he was in the presence of the divine.
Then from the darkest corner of the room came the pale incandesce of candlelight lambent on human skin. Alexander hastened to his feet and stood unmoving as Hephaistion walked from the shadows toward him. All were stunned they remembered the stillness of Hephaistion and his great, terrible wounds and the unchecked gushes of his bright red blood that lay back on the ruined grass of the hanging gardens. The man walking toward them now bore no such wounds his flesh was smooth like polished marble and firm without tear or cut. His color was rosy and fresh, his eyes clear and blue like a summer morning. His step firm, not waving as one with a wound or illness, he was whole again, but more than new. A gentle glow was suffused about him as well. Not nearly as brilliant as that around Alexander, but softer yet strong. And the air about him hummed with the vibrancy of life.
"Where is she?" Hephaistion's voice was soft, as he looked toward the great altar stone his blue eyes hopeful.
Setapas knowing whom he sought smiled as he exchanged looks with the other priests, "She has gone."
"She spoke to me, her voice was beautiful. It took me far away from here, from the pain, from my fear. That beautiful lady, her name, I hear it but cannot recall…" Hephaistion's face was tranquil bearing still the memory of gift from the goddess' hands.
"She is Isis, Queen of Heaven." Setapas answered him as he rose.
"Will I see her again?" Hephaistion asked.
"Perhaps, if it is Isis' will." Setapas watched the King, who seemed spellbound by the miracle of the walking, breathing Hephaistion.
"Hephaistion?" The wonder in Alexander's voice drew the deep blue eyes toward him. Hephaistion cried out and rushed toward him clinging to Alexander tightly. Alexander pulled him into his arms with a great cry of joy. At first he held him, tightly, rocking him in his arms whispering into his long, soft hair. Then his hands came alive and flew over Hephaistion's face and form, reacquainting them. His tears flowed unchecked down his face, he was on fire still it was as though the goddess herself had touched him with her radiance and it lay kindled deep within, renewing Alexander, bringing him back to himself. He would not separate himself from Hephaistion even when the priests came to take Hephaistion to the sacred lake for the ritual bath. Alexander stood by him, his safeguard. Then with his own hands he took the sacred food the priests set before him and fed Hephaistion wine, bread and fruit. The other priests offered Alexander a great cup of wine to bless and they handed it around to the others to partake in.
Setapas studied the enraptured Alexander he was still in communion with the goddess. He turned and spoke to Setapas and it was slowly as though in a waking dream. "She has spoken to me before, Setapas. At Siwah only then I did not know who she was and the gift she would offer." Setapas only smiled and bowed low. He more than anyone present save the god himself knew of those gifts. The other priests also bowed before the presence of the god and offered their submission.
To be continued….