The sun rose over the beautiful palace to which both boys were lying. Alexander kissed the top of Hephaistion's head, before standing up. He walked over to where his bedroom door would usually stand and sighed. He was expecting his mother any time shortly to discuss why his father was so cruel, why she couldn't stop him, why Alexander had to prove them all wrong. Alexander knew however why his father was so brutal. His father had always told Alexander that men are forced to make decisions in their lives, regardless if they want too. He just wished, as the shadows started to creep up the hallway, what decisions Alexander could make alone.
"Alexander" Olympius said with shock, running over to him. He looked at her briefly for retracting his glance.
"Oh my beautiful boy… look what he did to you" Olympius eyes were sparkling with tears as she hugged Alexander, Alexander returned her embrace lightly.
"You still haven't forgiven me yet, Alexander?" she asked him, her eyes drifted over his face again, he could feel his swollen cheeks reddening, it was embarrassing, being nearly a man and having a mother suddenly smother you in affection.
"There's nothing to forgive" he said hastily, hoping that this would be enough.
"I see your door is broken down, have a bad night?" she asked him accusingly,
"I didn't break my own door" Alexander hotly replied, "I have a visitor with me…" he turned slightly to look at Hephaistion who was still sleeping.
His mother tried to look but he turned around and blocked her view.
" Please mother don't be invasive" he protested, but she insisted. Her eyes saw him, the tanned naked boy, with his brown locks strangling around his face, his bare bottom glistening in the morning light.
" Oh my…" she began, but Alexander grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the door. He pushed her up against the wall, glaring at her. Looking her up and down like she was a threat.
" Alexander… I"
"You will not speak a word of this, you understand?" his eyes were menacing, Olympius tried to look away but he held her gaze.
"Alexander you're so foolish. What would Philip do if he saw him in your chambers!"
"That is my concern and mine alone" Alexander hissed, "I have spent too long afraid. Your timing is late, you are risking my life every time you leave" he paused briefly, "I defend you mother, and I don't know what I do it for sometimes"
Olympius slapped Alexander then; he retracted a little, tears immediately springing to his face.
" I am your mother Alexander, you will not treat me like you treat a slave!" she looked at Hephaistion, Alexander's swollen jaw dropped slightly,
" He's far from a slave. You're the slave! Staying here, making me stay here! Do you know what he did to me! Do you know how many of his council men have seen my naked flesh! Do you know this suffer, this torment … this wretched feeling" he slapped his chest hard, almost barbarian like, his deep brown eyes filled with rage and frustration.
"Oh Alexander…" she cooed, but he battered her hands away.
"No, No more of that" he hissed, "What use is your hands on me, mother? You don't care! You don't worry!"
"Alexander stay calm!" she insisted, but he grabbed the vase beside them on the small coffee table and threw it against the wall.
' Do you see how much this breaks me apart?" Alexander cried, Olympius drew him closer with the touch of her hand for a moment,
"Why? Why do you lie to me? Why do you both continue to lie?" he rebutted, batting her hands away.
"You have such strength, Alexander" she sighed, "You are a true beauty… a true marvel"
" I don't want to hear it any longer!" he walked into his chambers, " I love my father, but he is wronged me" he outstretched his hands to Olympius' face, gripping the skin of her cheek, " I love you… I love you like sun" he wailed, "but can't you see mother that I am no longer a boy… Hephaistion is my companion, he is my friend"
"He will soon be gone if Philip sees this" Olympius warned, "If you care enough about him you will tell him to leave"
Alexander smiled despairingly, "If I asked you to leave, would you?"
Olympius stared at him blankly, "You are putting your life in danger, Alexander. When will you learn? It isn't time" she hissed, like one of charmed snakes, Alexander sighed,
"There is a meeting downstairs. All the great men, your fathers men, they are discussing Philips wedding. They think you are weak, Alexander. You're going to Philip ruin your pride? You have such great strength… use it, use it and defeat him" she smiled, "Go to them tonight Alexander, Go and tell them"
" I have told you before my feelings for Hephaistion will never change. What use it to go to them? What use it to pretend I have an interest in foreign affairs? My life exists as Alexander in Macedon. I shouldn't have to sell up my soul…"
"You're a born leader Alexander. You are meant to rule. If you go and celebrate with them they will see you're not weak as they expect. Then you will see beyond your vision the true deception of your fathers friends" her eyes gleamed, " He has not many in this world. It is your chance to use this"
Alexander stared in awe at his mother,
" You want me to plan my fathers murder?"
"No" Olympius smiled, " I just want you to show them what a fine man you've become"
Alexander almost choked,
'You can't be serious? Now that I have been molested by my father, I am worthy of a title befitting a King?"
his mother laughed then, " You were worthy of this role long before Philip saw it"
Alexander just stared at her, overcome by numbness and also relief. He could dine with them, He could shove it in their faces. Why he had all ready the chosen the person he wanted to be with, so what use was it to hide from the world any longer?
" Go, get dressed, eat" she insisted, " Then go downstairs and enjoy the party…. You have been away for too long"
Alexander nodded and watched his mother glide down the hallway. Yet again, for another time in Alexander's life was his mothers' action the reasons for his decisions. It was also the growing lust for power and acceptance that drove Alexander to that party, which would lead to the cataclysmic events yet to come.