Cassander flew back to his room with the urgency of a little boy with a special secret. He simply couldn't wait to tell his friends what he'd overheard, outside Hephaistion's door when he was finished everyone was shocked. The three men sat in Cassander's room drinking and joking about what Cassander had overheard. They needed little reason to bad mouth Hephaistion and often the snide talk included Alexander as well.
"May be it's a custom his barbaric wife has taught him?" Offered up Cassander after a gulp of wine.
"Our king loves these barbarian's customs but this time at least it's Hephaistion who is paying the price for it!" laughed Crateros as he toasted Cassander. "You know how that whiny fool loves his floor coverings."
"If I were you Crateros, I would be careful. Alexander loves you as well; he just might come and shit on your carpet sometime soon." Cassander warned seriously.
" You think?" asked Crateros now a bit worried and actually wondering if it could occur.
"We must kept our mouths shut about it!" Cautioned Eumenes. "Could bring troubles, what if it's not a custom but some crazy fetish that Alexander's that snobbish Hephaistion enjoy? The man is not right in the head I tell you."
Cassander snorted. "Who Hephaistion? You'd be out of your head too Eumenes if had to deal with Alexander the way he does! Which one of us wouldn't be. I'll even give the poor bastard that."
The three nodded in agreement and wonder then went back to there drinking.
Hephaistion was with his two pages in the city with his two cats. They had an appointment at the doctor, to check if they were healthy and if Antigona's pregnancy was going well. Meanwhile Alexander was bored to death with his papers and decided to go to Hephaistion's and see if the man felt like going for a walk. When he arrived he found an unknown Persian fellow at Hephaistion's door. He seemed upset his face betraying his frustration. He paused and listened as the man argued with the guard.
"I would prefer to give General Amyntor his order myself in case he wants to change something. My master ordered me to insure that he is please with the order."
Alexander joined the bickering men blocking Hephaistion's door.
«What is it?" he asked.
"Oh huh.." stuttered the Persian as he recognize the king. "Majesty, I had to deliver this," he showed the little box he was holding in his hand "tomorrow to General Amyntor but since my master was done with the work ahead of schedule he decided to go to give him today, but he is not there and..." he waved a pudgy hand toward the guard.
"You can give it to me. I will give it to him for you."
"Oh! But I need to check with him, make certain the order was the size he wanted and if he was satisfied by our work."
"The size? What it is? "
"I can't tell you sir." Said the man very embarrassed and a bit afraid. To tell the great king no…he might be killed for it.
"Hephaistion has no secrets with me old man." Alexander said a little upset as he took the box from the now trembling man's hand.
"Please, General Amyntor won't be happy."
"Don't worry, I will explain to him." Alexander opened the box and was in awe, he discovered a golden bracelet with his name engraved on it.
"Oh! Now I understand! I will not tell him but we can verify the size immediately." Said Alexander as he put the bracelet on his wrist.
"It's perfect!" he said happily. The king put the bracelet back into the box and said. "Well since it's a gift I can't give it to Hephaistion, I don't want to disappoint him by spoiling his surprise but since the fit is perfect, you can leave it with the guard, I will kept my mouth shut about it. Your secret is safe." Instructed Alexander.
The Persian jeweler was confused since Hephaistion had told him it was a necklace for his cat but he wisely chose to not say anything. He did not want to upset the king. Bowing, he said thank you and left.
Alexander was very happy and returned back to his work in a wonderfully good mood. Hephaistion had bought him a bracelet, a beautiful one, a priceless one and since his birthday wasn't even soon, he was even more happy just at the thought that his lover had bought him a gift for no special occasion.
Later Hephaistion was back to home and the guard gave him the box without telling anything.
"Oh! He was supposed to bring it tomorrow." Said Hephaistion a little annoyed "I hope it will fit, since he is gone now."
The page brought Alexander out and Hephaistion put the necklace on him. It fit perfectly. The cat seemed very proud of his new treasure and Hephaistion took him in arms and hugged him.
Few minutes later, the other page announced to Hephaistion that the king was there and they hid quickly the kittens.
Alexander couldn't wait to get his gift and soon as he knew Hephaistion was back he decided to go and see him immediately.
He was smiling and he kissed his lover tenderly.
"I missed you" He said coyly. A sheepish smile on his face.
Hephaistion smiled back and Alexander sat looking impatiently at him. Hephaistion knew Alexander was up to something so he asked,
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
Instead of answering Alexander sneezed. Then sneezed again three times in a row. Hephaistion was worried again.
"You are still sneezing! Didn't you go to Glaucas?"
"No, it's passed and I decided to not go." and he sneezed again.
" You have to go Alexander, I m serious!"
" I will, I will."
"Promise?"
" I Promise you, Hephaistion, I will go." Said Alexander
"So, do you have something for me?" Alexander gave up waiting and finally just asked.
"Oh yes!" Hephaistion walked away, opened a drawer and gave a paper to Alexander who was stunned.
"If you can sign that now it would be helpful. That way it will leave with the other mail tomorrow."
Alexander read quickly and signed.
"Thank you." Hephaistion said.
"You are a such tease Hephaistion." Scolded Alexander as he stood up from where he was sat "Anything else, was that it?" he asked with a knowing grin then he sneezed yet again.
"Damn!" Alexander screamed in frustration.
"Do you want some tea to warm you up?" Offered Hephaistion
"No, it's fine." said Alexander "Oh I didn't tell you but I went to Crateros' this evening and he acted very weird."
"How weird?" Hephaistion asked trying to imagine Craterous not seeming weird.
"Well when I went into his room he quickly rolled up his carpet and took it away."
" Was it dirty?"
" No! I asked him if it was said he removed it because the carpet was very beautiful with the lion drawn on it and I liked it a great deal."
" Is that all he said?"
"Well his face went pale, and then I don't, understand why, but he insisted that we go outside."
The evening passed and Alexander couldn't stop sneezing and decided had to go back at his room. Hephaistion wanted him to just rest and he said he would call Glaucas for him and to wait for the doctor at his own room.
Alexander was disappointed, Hephaistion didn't give his bracelet and he was wondering when he would give him. That's when he remembered Hephaistion giving him his ring. He looked at his the ring his dearest possession and frowned. "I found it in Egypt." He remembered Hephaistion telling him and then he realized!
"In Egypt!» He shouted to his empty room. «But that means he bought it years and years before he gave it to me!» Alexander suddenly wasn't so sure anymore if he would have the bracelet this year... Hephaistion apparently wasn't quick about his gift giving.
Finally Glaucas arrived and checked on the king.
"So?" Alexander asked annoyed at the doctors poking and prodding.
"It's not a cold, I think it's an allergy."
"An allergy? To what?" Alexander yelled incredulously.
Glaucas thought about it for a moment the he replied.
"When are you sneezing the most?"
" Whenever I am with Hephaistion."
"Hmm that must be it then."
"What?" said Alexander with outrage. "You are not saying to me that I m allergic to Hephaistion are you?"
"No, of course not. It's probably something he wears may be a new perfume or piece of clothing that you are allergic to... you have to find out and tell him to remove it"
"This is beyond embarrassing and besides, he is wearing the same flagrance that he has worn for years."
"Something has changed for sure Alexander. Because now you are allergic to him to some degree and later you could develop even more serious symptoms."
" By the gods!" said Alexander extremely upset and worried.
TBC
