Author: Rothalion
Title: The Sweet Core of Love
Summery: I suppose this is an orig. historical fan fic. Not movie driven, not book driven just a random what if. A/H go to visit Hephaistion's parents. Alexander will be meeting them for the first time.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: History owns them. I do not think that I'm stepping on any toes here as far as plot or character. Not to my knowledge anyway.
Reviews: Please! I love all advice!
Lunch was pleasant. Too pleasant for Alexander and it took until midway through the huge meal for the prince to begin to relax. He was tense and wary of the door opening and closing as servants came and went. The nervous part of his nature was waiting for the arguments and brawls too break out. All the while he marveled at that change in Hephaistion's mood. His friend was happy and playful. Completely at ease. Alexander watched as the boy he grown to love talked constantly telling stories about Mieza and scooped food from nearby platters and bowls with both hands, repeatedly piling the delicious choices onto both his plate and Alexander's.
"Hephaistion please." Alexander said quietly as his plate was refilled with a meat pudding garnished with sweet berries that Hephaistion had expounded on and on about. Claiming that it had been sent by the gods themselves. "I've had more than my fill. Please, I do not eat this much in a week."
"That's right Alexander. You do not; but you should! There is no Leonidas here checking up on you and starving you. Eat! Isn't that right Mother? Growing boys need food and lots of it to become strong men. Eat Alexander I will not have you starve in 'my' home! Although, my Alexander, there are times I think you'd have me starve in yours. We are on a holiday after all. Eat."
"My word, they starve you my dear boy?" Hephaistion's mother added with the concern of a parent thick in her tone. "And the king's son at that! Have you ever heard of such foolishness father? You eat up Alexander. Come now have some more fish." That said she heaped the remaining bare spot on his plate with fish steaks and the young prince could only sigh and pray to the gods that his stomach would not burst under this culinary onslaught.
As the meal continued Alexander listened as Hephaistion and his father discussed the coming harvest and which mares to breed with which stallions. He was amazed at the amount of knowledge his friend possessed where the large orchard and horse breeding farms were concerned. He knew the major studs and the healthiest mares, he knew which fields yielded the best wheat and oats and which orchards bore the sweetest fruit. He knew how many slaves and how long it would take to harvest the crops and get them to market. It was an amazing wealth of information and he discussed it with his father as if he had been doing so since birth. Amyntor noticed Alexander's awe and spoke.
"Ah, you are surprised at my son's vast knowledge of our estate. I have always included him in my business, how else does one train a son to take up after his father passes. He has ridden with me since he could sit a horse. Remember the little gelding you used to ride? What a good and stout little mount he was. Only tossed you one time."
Hephaistion smiled at the memory. "Yes, Father but that is because a troublesome groom set a burr under my blanket."
"Still boy he unseated you. A man must rule his mount."
They laughed and then as the servants, much to Alexander's relief, began to clear the table, Hephaistion spoke his voice now serious.
"Mother, Elma, how is she doing. She seemed so frail."
"Hephaistion," his mother took her son's hand in hers and with a sad smile pushed a stray bit of hair back behind his ear. "Elma does not have very much longer my sweetheart. She is just so old now and with every day she slows down a little bit more. Since we told her of your visit she had a spark of life that brought us such joy, but I fear that now, now that she has seen you again and can be relieved of your health and happiness, that she will pass before you leave to return to Pella. I am so sorry, Hephaistion."
Alexander watched the play of emotions on his friend's face. The sadness that he read there broke his heart. It worried him as well. The two of them were so close, what would Hephaistion do if they lost each other? While Hephaistion had seen him cry many times, he had never seen Hephaistion cry. Now, worriedly, he watched as slow tears slipped down his beloved friend's cheeks. He stood and without giving the action a second thought took Hephaistion in his arms and pulled his head against his chest. He spoke to the stricken youth with such gentleness that Hephaistion's mother was also now brought to tears. Amyntor stood and rounding the table stood behind the entwined boys and placed soothing a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Mother, let us leave them to their grief. Our son is in good hands with our Alexander." He stepped to her and draped his strong arm around her shoulder and escorted her from the room.
After a time Hephaistion calmed and wiping the tears from his eyes stood up. He looked at Alexander with a mix of surprise and pride. His friend had shocked him when he had moved and embraced him. He was so used to hiding their feelings for one another that he had expected no comfort from Alexander until they were alone.
"Thank you Alexander. Thank you. Come, I am tired now. I know that the day is young but…I desire a nap. My room is always cool and breezy this time of year and we will sleep well."
Alexander followed in silence. He'd expected to have a separate room. The worry over that had actually dampened his mood when they'd planned this trip. He hated every night that he had to sleep away from Hephaistion and the two stole as many nights together as they could.
"Here we are. Please," he noted Alexander's hesitancy. "Alexander, my parents are not your parents. I have told them 'all' about us. They love you. They love us. Now relax and come in."
Alexander followed Hephaistion into the bright and airy room. Through the large window he could see the vast rolling hills of the orchards and vineyards. The sun was slipping down and just as Hephaistion had promised a cool and comfortable breeze sifted into the space and the room was remarkably comfortable. As he stared out of the window he heard Hephaistion slipping out of his Chiton. Turning he watched the sad young man slip into his bed.
"Alexander?"
The prince followed suit, shed his clothes and joined his friend on the soft linen sheets. He was shocked when Hephaistion pulled him into a fierce embrace. He was squeezed so hard that he could not catch a breath.
"Don't you ever leave me Alexander!" He demanded. " I would be lost. Just Lost! I could not bear it!"
"Phai, I…Phai…" He pulled away trying to catch a breath. "Hephaistion, I will never leave you my love. Never. Now rest a bit. Rest and tell me of this wonderful woman that is your dear Elma."
Hephaistion shuddered and rolled onto his back. He pulled the light covers up over their bodies and began to speak in a soft voice so full of love and reverence that Alexander felt the sting of tears behind his eyes.
"She, Elma was my nanny. She, as much as my mother, raised me. You see my mother is a bit well different. She always took part in the estate. Riding out with my father. Leaving at sun up and returning at dusk. He loves her so much he always wanted her at his side. Especially when he returned from the war. Alexander, my mother ran the place whenever my father was away. She is an amazingly strong woman. Yet not cruel or manipulating like…well…like my Queen, your mother. I'm sorry." He looked at Alexander for a response and received a knowing smile.
"I understand Hephaistion. Trust me, I understand." He replied with a knowing smile.
"Elma, well she took care of me. She was already old when some servants found her wandering up the road toward the house. She told them that she had business with my father and persuaded them to allow her entry. Her business she'd said was to care for the son of Amyntor. I was only days old. The gods must have sent Alexander she was a wonderful nanny and I love her so much. I have missed her greatly. Until I went to Pella a day never passed that I was not in her embrace. I wish that she could live forever so that I might always have her comfort."
"No one lives forever my love. The gods take us all in good time. She is tired and the sleep of death will let her be at peace and finally rest."
"No, Alexander, no. It may be that I am selfish I know but…if she can die then who else? You, my father, my mother. I can't bear it. Especially to loose you!" He rolled onto his side and locked his eyes on Alexander's. "I cannot lose you!"
Alexander embraced him. "You'll not lose me Phai. Not ever. Not even in death. We 'are' bound. But Your Elma, my love, she has lived a full and happy life. She has raised her son and watched him grow into a beautiful, strong young man. She knows that you have me now and that I will 'always' be there for you. Hephaistion let her go to her rest. Let her be at peace. If her spirit senses your need to hold her here she will not go quietly. Phai, let her go. If you love her let her go."
Hephaistion shuddered and sighed. "I know Alexander. It is just so hard. I've never lost anyone I truly cared for. It's hard."
"I know." Yet he didn't. "Now sleep while I hold you and it will all seem better when you've rested."
He felt Hephaistion relax in his arms and he studied his beloved's face. He had not lost any one he truly loved yet either. Death was a common enough occurrence but it had steered clear of his close family members and friends so far. How, he wondered, would he react. What would he do if Hephaistion was ever taken from him or his father or mother? The thought was unimaginable, especially the thought of Hephaistion dying. He closed his eyes and prayed for sleep to take him and send the horror of such loss from his mind.