Second chapter 10

Alexander arrived at Pella very worried. The messenger had told him that Hephaistion was waiting for him at Mieza, and to come as soon as possible that it was an emergency. The messenger added that his friend appeared to be very angry. While he was riding he had his ideas about what have might happened.

As soon as he got down from Bucephalus, Hephaistion exited with Anaxagoras to "welcome" his lover still holding his knife to the teachers throat. Alexander didn't have time to make a step before Hephaistion began to yell.

"How could you go to see and talk to my father!"

Alexander stayed calm and glaring at Anaxagoras said. "So he told you!"

"No, my cousin told me! I met him in the city, he said my father was furious that I dared to send my prince and lover to make him change his mind! That I was pathetic!" Hephaistion was screaming now.

"Hephaistion I…" began Alexander before being interrupted .

"You insulted me Alexander when you dared to use who you were..." this time it was Alexander to yelled back.

"I didn't insult you! I went there as your lover not as the prince, your cousin must have forgotten to tell you that!"

"Whatever it is! the result is the same."

Alexander crossed his arms. "And who is at fault but you?"

"What?"

"Yes! Why didn't you tell me what happened between you and your father instead of keeping it a secret! To tell it to your teacher instead of me! Do you think I was pleased to learn that you told to a stranger and not me!"

"You are changing the subject Alexander! It's not about this!"

"It's exactly about this! He told me you thought I had enough problems with my family to not add yours! It's me who felt insulted Hephaistion!"

Alexander came closer to Hephaistion and he spoke softer. "No matter if I have trouble with my own life, if you are hurt, or in pain, I want to know Hephaistion! I love you and my love is useless if I can't share your pain and be there for you when you are hurt! I wanted to help you, It maybe that it wasn't smart not telling you! But don't blame me because you have done the same."

Now Alexander was close to Hephaistion and he held him tightly.

"I love you, my Hephaistion never keep me away from what is happening in your life again."

"I'm sorry." Whispered Hephaistion as he held his lover.

Anaxagoras was still behind them and very relieved that it all seemed to be resolved.

But few minutes later, Hephaistion turned back to him and with his cold blue eyes told him. "You betrayed me! Never talk to me again."

"Hephaistion." Alexander pleaded in protest.

The old Alexander wasn't surprised. Hephaistion disliked being betrayed, he always gave his trust with carefulness and when his pride was hurt, the man could be stubborn and cruel. He said nothing to win back Hephaistion because what mattered to him, was that the young Alexander had found a way to be forgiven and arguing again could risk loosing everything that was just fixed.

While Hephaistion and Alexander made up and talked about what had happened and how to deal with it the older Alexander felt very alone. Hephaistion was mad at him and that reminded him the time after his infamous words toward the general. Now he knew it was impossible to speak truthfully to him about who he was. Hephaistion would never listen. He felt so alone. He missed his Hephaistion and felt frustrated. What he needed was advice from his Hephaistion to guide him. Nothing it seemed could resolve his problem. He was lost and exhausted. He went to the dining room and found few bottles of wine and, distraught, he begun to drink endlessly. Wine eased the pain, eased his tormented soul, make him blank.

A few hours later, Alexander and Hephaistion went to the dining room because they were hungry. Alexander had tried to convince Hephaistion to forgive Anaxagoras but didn't insist when he realized Hephaistion needed time. What they saw when they entered the room scared them. Their teacher was drinking like a pig and could barely stand up on his feet.

Alexander saw the two young boys and pointed his cup towards them. "To my Hephaistion, who I dearly love, to the love of my life! I will never stop loving you my Patroclus"

Hephaistion and Alexander looked at each other confused at what their new teacher had just said. They came closer to him as Alexander continued, and he tried to move toward them as well.

"Oh, my Hephaistion, I can't live without you! Why did you die so soon when we still have so much to do, you promised to grow old with me."

Alexander caught his teacher as he was about to fall on the floor unconscious.

"He is so drunk, he is delirious." Said Hephaistion who didn't know what to think of Anaxagoras' words.

"Help me to bring him to his bed?" asked Alexander. Once in the room, they undressed their teacher. Hephaistion was worried and his anger slipped away.

"By the gods, Hephaistion, look at the wound he has in his waist, it's ugly."

Hephaistion had a bad shivered. "I don't think it is good for him to drink like he does. He is pale and this wound is…"

"It looks like he is trying to kill himself." said Alexander sadly.

"Do you think he has fever?" asked Hephaistion worriedly.

Alexander put his hand on Alexander's forehead and at the contact he felt badly.

"No it doesn't look like he has." He replied and he quickly put his hand off.

"Good! I'm going to see if I can find some medicine for him in Aristotle's room because he looks so pale and I don't like that."

Alexander nodded as he sat near the bed where his teacher was lying.

A few minutes passed and Anaxagoras seemed to awaken. Alexander smiled at him. "Hephaistion is going to be back soon with some herbs"

"Alexander listen to me! I know the future. I know what will happens to Hephaistion and to you!"

"You are drunk, stay calm."

"Go take a look at my right hip! I m you!"

"What?"

"Please"

Alexander obeyed mostly to not upset his teacher more than he already was. He looked at the right hip.

"By the gods, it's impossible"

"I am you! Believe me and if this is not enough I can tell you more about you!"

Alexander looked at the man, stared into his gray eyes, but his mind still told him that it was all impossible.

"The gods sent me back in time..." and he started to tell his tale to a very confused young prince.

tbc