"Are you going to ask why?" Alexander questioned Hephaistion straight away. He saw the look of resentment and anger building in Hephaistion's mind; he couldn't take watching it from afar any longer.
"What right do I have to question you?" Hephaistion asked him, trying to contain his tears as Alexander blocked him with his arms against the wall.
"Shouldn't you be with your wife?" Hephaistion said bitterly, as Alexander tried to look him in the eye.
"And watch you avoid me?" Alexander cried, resting his hand against the wall, "I cannot take that"
"Yet you can take her as a wife… and what will they all say now? Those conspirators? Whose congratulatory remarks to your face are really the lies that you despise?"
"I am trying to make peace with them" Alexander said softly, "What else can I do?"
"You could tell them the truth, Alexander" Hephaistion looked at him, his sorrowful eyes drifted over his face briefly,
"The truth, Hephaistion? Alexander paused for a minute, "They all ready know our truths"
"They know nothing" Hephaistion bickered, "You're allowing them to walk on you, your willingness to please …. It will damage you"
"Hephaistion…." Alexander put his hand on Hephaistion's shoulder, "This conversation, it cannot happen here, can't this wait?"
"Wait until tomorrow when they've plotted your death? Or wait till your drink perishes your thirst?" Hephaistion glanced down at the wine goblet Alexander was holding precariously in his right hand,
"Why do you doubt me, Hephaistion? I marry this woman to protect us…"
"You marry this woman to protect Babylon, to protect Macedon… you marry for no other reason"
"For you" Alexander retorted fiercely, "All my actions are for you"
"Then I shall think of you making love to her has your first action and cry my tears elsewhere" Hephaistion choked and left Alexander standing there, knowing that morning to come would prove Alexander's reign in jeopardy, as well as his life.