Alexander had finally found Darius and the army was now traveling again. Since they'd left, Bagoas' life had been very different. It was far more difficult for him to keep himself as the 'perfect' eunuch in all these sometimes very dirty camps and his life was not what it had been in the palace at Babylon.
Bagoas didn't complain, after all he was with Alexander and that was what mattered most. He had gone out in the morning to search for some special flowers to decorate the king's tent and while wandering about he chatted with some of Persian women he knew. He had tried to learn more about Hephaistion but it was always the same tale. Bagoas tried to make himself see reality. Hephaistion didn't even bother to glance at him when they were in the same room. He did not even acknowledge the eunuch as a threat. He was completely invisible to the tall young man. Hephaistion was very skilled at making Bagoas feel so absolutely insignificant, silently reminding him that he was not worth the great general's attention let alone the kings serious attention. Some time later, defeated, he returned and the guards allowed him to enter Alexander's tent to place the flowers and prepare the king's bath as he always did. Hephaistion had been away for 3 days and would not return for two more. The eunuch pushed his gloomy thoughts aside and focused on his joy at having the king to himself.
Suddenly he heard laughter coming from outside. Alexander's laugh, followed by Hephaistion's. Without really thinking, but out of instinct, he went to hide in a corner. From there he watched Hephaistion, who was in filthy armor and even filthier clothes, throw his arms around Alexander and pull him into a fierce embrace.
" You are dirty Hephaistion. By the gods you didn't even bother to take a bath before seeing me?"
"Well, I guess that I just couldn't wait, my king."
" You are incredible. Done with your mission in three days! Ugh! Let me loose you pigs son! I never thought you could come back before the weeks end."
"What can I say? I am the best." The dirty general boasted letting go of Alexander and moving straight for the wine cabinet.
" And modest." Laughed Alexander.
Hephaistion returned with two cups of mixed wine, handed one off to Alexander and kissed him. " I have missed you." He said quite seriously. His voice husky with desire.
"Go take a bath first, Hephaistion. I am flattered by your urgency but you truly do stink."
" What? I'm hurt Alexander! What you are smelling is fresh air of the forest!"
Alexander laughed as Hephaistion continued to kiss his lover sliding lower and attacking Alexander's neck. Alexander moaned enjoying the sensation of Hephaistion's teeth nipping at his neck.
"Come on Alexander, be adventurous, be wild." Said Hephaistion as he began to slip his free hand into Alexander's chiton.
"You are too naughty my friend." Scolded Alexander but he let his lover's adventurous hand continue its roving.
Bagoas watched them in shock. He found Hephaistion's attitude course, also very possessive and very masculine. The general was a filthy mess and Alexander didn't seem to mind. The king even seemed to enjoy the little play. As he looked on, Hephaistion pushed the king backwards, down onto the bed and stretched himself out on the top of him. Bagoas was appalled by Hephaistion's predatory and extremely crude seduction. This was nothing like the 'art' he displayed in the king's bed.
Alexander tried to take off Hephaistion's armor with a now awakened and growing passion. Finally, thought Bagoas, the king was taking control of the situation. After all Hephaistion was assuredly forgetting who he was to the king. A general a servant. But, in fact Bagoas was forgetting that between these two men, this was not about being king and general and that here, in the king's tent, the code they had to respect in public because of their ranks did not exist.
Alexander was becoming hungrier for Hephaistion's muscular body and continued to grab at his lovers armor trying to unbuckle it. As Bagoas watched Hephaistion suddenly stopped his king's advances, blocking Alexander by holding his wrists over his head.
"No, no, no Alexander. We are going to take this slowly. I think I want to make you beg for more."
" Really?" asked Alexander challenging Hephaistion orders.
" Are you doubting me? I do not think that you are in a position to do so." He taunted.
Alexander didn't answer so Hephaistion stood up.
"What?" said Alexander, surprised. "You are not leaving I hope? He sounded surprised and upset.
Hephaistion began to unbuckle his chest plate, then after dropping his belt to the floor he pulled something from behind his back and answered. "See, you are already begging." He grinned wickedly displaying the hidden item.
" A rope?" asked Alexander incredulously. "Are you planning to tie me up?"
Hephaistion nodded in agreement. Alexander smiled as he offered his two hands to be tied up. "Been planning it for two days now."
Slightly disappointed Hephaistion lowered the rope for a moment. "You'd show me no resistance...Come, Great King Alexander, what would your people think if they knew you can be made to surrender so easily?" asked Hephaistion, still teasing him as undressed the rest of the way and headed back to the bed.
Once there he secured his kings wrists to the bed post and leaned back to admire his handiwork. Alexander bent his head upwards to kiss Hephaistion but the man stepped away again. "Well my king, it's not quite the Gordian knot but it should do."
"Hephaistion!" Alexander pleaded. He watched as the general swaggered, naked back to the table and began to sip at his wine. "Get over here."
Never one to disobey an order Hephaistion moved slowly back to the bed and sat down on the edge. He sipped his wine and with his free hand trailed his fingernails lightly up and down his fettered kings exposed thighs. He smiled as Alexander squirmed and his skin erupted in goose bumps. The king groaned and arched upwards when the taunting fingers moved higher and to the inside of his thigh. Hephaistion stared with hungry and self satisfied glee at the look of ecstasy and desire that flashed across the prone man's face. Finally, his wine finished, he set the cup aside and began to remove Alexander's chiton.
Bagoas could not believe his eyes. Nor could he bring himself to move. Frozen in place by his shock he watched them. Hephaistion was again in control and Alexander seemed to enjoy it immensely. Then Hephaistion set himself completely on the top of his king, ready to penetrate him. Bagoas' heart jumped, surely, Hephaistion would not top his king. It was an impossible scenario. His mind was spinning and he was ready to bolt from his hiding place. The king was tied up and was about to be raped. The terrified eunuch's Persian sensibilities refused to process the scene before him. Finally he was brought back to reality when he heard Alexander pleading.
" Please Hephaistion, now, do it now, I can't wait anymore, I want you inside me. Gods above Hephaistion!"
The king was begging to be taken. This was a shock to Bagoas who had always pictured something far different about Hephaistion as Alexander's lover. Finding it impossible to watch anymore he closed his kohl darkened eyes and cringed as he listened to Alexander moan and beg for more.
Finally sated, Alexander spoke and his words made Bagoas' heart break. As the stricken eunuch listened, the king, his voice hoarse from moaning, said "I love you my Patroclus, my Hephaistion, my only beloved."
Hephaistion untied his king and rested his head on Alexander's sweat slick chest. He kissed the soft blond hairs there and exhausted they both fell asleep.
Bagoas ran from the tent, still in shock.
Alexander was awake and staring at a still slumbering Hephaistion. As he studied his lovers peaceful face the king was also playing with Hephaistion's long hair and weaving thin plaits in it. Hephaistion finally woke up.
" What are you doing Alexander?" he asked his voice deep and gravely with sleep.
" Doing? I am doing plaits, Love."
Hephaistion laughed a deep and resonant laugh. A laugh born of infinite love and understanding. "Thank you my Alexander. I'm sure that I am very pretty now..." he said with sarcasm but gently so.
" Well Hephaistion, I must admit, you actually are." Alexander responded sounding far too serious for Hephaistion's well being.
" I think this time, we really do need to take a bath come."
" Hephaistion?" asked Alexander
" Yes?"
" I have something to ask you? Something not really easy to talk about." He said a little nervously.
" You can tell me anything, you know that." Said Hephaistion with a warm and reassuring voice.
" It's about Bagoas..." he began
" Oh." answered Hephaistion, a little annoyed and nervous as well. «What about your Persian pet Alexander?»
" I know quite well what every Macedonian in this camp thinks about him in my bed...except you. You the one closest to my heart yet..."
"What do you want to know?"
Alexander sighed. Why did Hephaistion always make things so difficult? He wondered. He hated being made to again beg.
"Well, your not… jealous? I don't know. What do you feel? Betrayed? Angry? Hurt. You could. You would be well within your rights. I'm torn with this myself. I care about him, even love him, he is sweet and ..."
Hephaistion looked at him. His heart thumped wildly, he wondered where this was all leading.
"Jealous? No. He is nothing to me really, he is not a threat Alexander…or is he?" he asked his lover seriously, squinting a bit as he studied Alexander's face.
"No, you are the only one I love with my entire being. I will die for you Hephaistion."
"Thank you, but if you don't mind, please stay alive." He paused reached out and stroking Alexander's lightly stubble covered cheek he went on. " from you are your assurance that 'I' am the only one you name as your Patroclus. And always be honest with me; should you start to love him or someone else more than me, promise Alexander to tell me the moment you are aware of it. Tell me and I will step aside."
"I would never be able to love someone more than you."
Hephaistion kissed Alexander's cheek.
" All that matters to me - is to be the first in your heart as you are in mine. What happens with others just happens, but you can't ever let it be more than what we share. Our love…Our love is divine, Alexander..." Alexander nodded in agreement and kissed Hephaistion lightly on the lips. "What we share with others, Alexander, is only human weakness; as long as we are honest with each other, I have nothing to fear."
He drew Alexander toward himself and again kissed him seeking out his tongue and relishing in his familiar taste. It was a soft and sensual kiss, not at all like the hurried passion of the past evening. Hephaistion poured his love into the kiss and prayed to the gods that Alexander would feel it.
Alexander held him tightly. He so loved this man, and what they talked about was very important because he had learned a short time ago that Hephaistion had very discretely begun taking another man to his bed when he was away for long periods of time. They'd never spoken about it. But Alexander wondered and worried about it quite a lot. Hephaistion was right, their love was divine, and if he compared it to his feelings for Bagoas it was so entirely different.
Lost, as he was, in his thoughts Alexander watched Hephaistion stand up. He laughed to himself at the ridiculous hair style he'd saddled Hephaistion with while the man was still asleep. Hephaistion paused and took Alexander's hand and kissed it
"I love you Alexander, and I will die for you, and only for you, and the fact that you are my king does not matter in that choice. Be sure of this, you could be a slave and my feelings would be the same."
Alexander smiled. "I know," he answered simply and happily. «I know.»
Bagoas kept what he'd witnessed between his beloved king and Hephaistion a secret, although a disturbing secret. Disturbing because it was about Alexander and Hephaistion's love, a love where there was no king and general; no rank to respect. Just a pure love between two men no matter who they were or who was king and who was not. Bagoas knew in his heart that no matter what, Alexander would always be the king for him and no matter what, he would always be the eunuch.
tbc
