THE IVORY EROS - CHAPTER 2

NOTES: An absolutely massive thank you to all of you who have given such speedy and generous reviews, I really wasn't sure what you'd make of this! Hope you all enjoy the next bit!

"Well?"

"Y-yes, my King… physically, he – he seems – seems in good health…" Glaucias' hands were trembling visibly as he examined Hephaestion; after two days imprisonment and as yet no formal pardon, it was not surprising. At least Alexander was too distracted to question why the man had not already been tied to a cross.

The room which had only an hour ago smelled of death now buzzed with life. Windows had been thrown open, incense burned. While officers and court officials clustered into the room as the news spread, singing praises to the gods, demanding explanations or simply gaping stupidly as they denied what their own eyes saw, Bagoas focused only on Hephaestion's needs, the better to serve Alexander's. Later, withdrawn into his own room he could ponder the shock, study his own muddled and conflicting responses to this unearthly miracle. For now he organised the swarm of servants, ordering fresh linen, wine, cloths, hot water and cleansing oils. Two of Hephaestion's pages had burst into the room moments before, the elder, Admetus, looking as though he was about to pass out, the younger, Hylas, who had been sitting for hours on the floor outside Hephaestion's rooms and quietly weeping, would have thrown himself bodily onto his commander if Bagoas hadn't gently restrained him. The eunuch took both of them in hand with a tone of command any soldier would have envied, sent one to fetch fresh garments for Hephaestion, sent the other to do the same for Alexander. Then he ordered one of the servants to draw a bath. Hephaestion might not be strong enough to take one, but Alexander would want one soon enough and Bagoas doubted he would be leaving Hephaestion's rooms for some time.

"Alexander," Perdiccas was demanding, "what in Hades just happened?"

"…Alex-ander…?" Bagoas' gaze snapped up as the Grand Vizier spoke for the first time in a voice so thin and raw it was barely audible.

"Yes, love, I'm here, I'm here," Alexander soothed, tightening his already suffocating embrace. Slowly Hephaestion turned his head and looked at him.

"I simply cannot understand it, my King…" fluttered the physician, "in nothing I have seen or read… perhaps a very deep trance, a coma… a catatonia…"

"Catatonia my arse!" barked Leonatus with great tact. Alexander scowled at him, but Bagoas sensed no malice in it; though he and the other Generals would rather have died than own it, they were governed by their superstitions and this surely supernatural, possibly divine deliverance had frightened them. "We've all seen enough corpses in our time and he was one! He was dead, by Zeus, stone cold dead!"

"…dead…?" echoed Hephaestion, turning with that same slowness towards Leonatus.

"Its all right, my love," Alexander cooed like a nursemaid to her infant, pressing a kiss to Hephaestion's damp brow, "you're back with us now… Leonatus, will you please shut up!" Alexander's anger, brief but brilliant, vanished once more as Bagoas approached to offer him a scented cloth. He felt, rather than saw, Alexander's grateful smile; his eyes had been fixed for some moments on Hephaestion and his heart, which had slowed after the initial shock, had begun to beat fast once again. As Hephaestion's dark eyes settled upon his, a cold shiver ran down the Persian's body. Hardly knowing what possessed him, he reached out a hand and placed it briefly upon Hephaestion's arm, making sure the man was looking at him when he spoke.

"My King," Bagoas began, leaning forward ostensibly to whisper to Alexander, but still not breaking eye contact with the invalid, "perhaps the Physician could be allowed to examine Hephaestion in privacy? We must consider Hephaestion's dignity, as Grand Vizier…" He saw the pale lips mouthing the name he had pronounced with such emphasis and nodded fractionally to him.

"You're quite right, Bagoas, and as thoughtful as always," Alexander declared, "leave, all of you! I will tell you what I know when I am certain Hephaestion is well enough to be left alone. Go! A moment, Bagoas," he added as the others began to depart, "fetch some hot water and oil, I'll tend to – "

"All you need is waiting on the dresser, my King," Bagoas answered softly, "I will be outside should you need me."

"Bless you, Bagoas!" Alexander suddenly leaned forward, still supporting Hephaestion in one arm, and kissed Bagoas' cheek. Hephaestion looked from one to the other with those haunted eyes, then looked down again with a frown.

Bagoas could not wait to get out of the room, to find a quiet corner in which to be alone to think, to consider, to say a prayer to the One God. He had been used to Hephaestion's indifference; occasionally he was favoured with a look of amusement, impatience or disdain, but never anything more. He doubted he had ever held Hephaestion's gaze for more than the blink of an eye. That stare he had just encountered was one he felt would haunt his dreams for many nights to come. It held sadness, confusion, not a little fear. It also held absolutely no recognition.

Alexander could not bring himself to break contact completely. He held Hephaestion's hand as Glaucias examined and questioned him. "My… head aches," Hephaestion was saying, "my… back and legs hurt… so do my… arms… my throat is sore…"

"I would recommend a small quantity of well watered wine, mixed with honey," Glaucias said with some of his old firmness, avoiding Alexander's gaze but looking at his patient with as much reproach as he dared, "and absolutely no solids until I say so. A light vegetable broth, perhaps… if and when you feel hungry… again, a very small amount only…"

Alexander scowled at him, making a mental note to send for a replacement as soon as he could. Hephaestion had been an idiot to eat against orders, Alexander had been an idiot to leave him; but none of this would have happened if Glaucias had not left him too.

"Beyond that, I recommend plenty of rest – "

"Rest?" Alexander felt Hephaestion tense. "No, I don't want to sleep! Not again!"

"Don't worry, I'll stay with you," Alexander assured him, raising the hand he held to his lips and kissing it fervently. It was only then that the reality of the situation struck him and he found himself unable to raise his head for the waves of emotion surging up through his body. "That will be all for now…" he managed to mumble to the physician before the tears forced their way from his eyes and a sob swelled in his throat. He barely heard the door close before he broke down completely. "Oh gods!" he cried, "oh blessed, merciful, all powerful gods of Olympus…!" He sank down, plunging his head into Hephaestion's lap. "F-forgive my s-stupid weakness…" he choked out as he felt Hephaestion's hand begin to stroke his hair, "but I thought – I – truly Hephaestion, if you only knew how terrible it was… without…"

"Its all right, Alexander," Hephaestion murmured gently, "I think I'm back now… already this feels more real than… than where I was…this is a beautiful room," he continued with a tone of childish wonder, "is it mine?"

Mastering himself, Alexander looked up. "Of course it is, my love. But here, what a fool I'm being…" wiping his eyes, he finally let go of Hephaestion long enough to bring over the bowl of warm water. He gently undressed his lover, wiping his face, chest and arms before drawing back the covers and beginning to wash his belly, thighs and private parts, a small tender smile touching Alexander's lips as a blush visibly suffused Hephaestion's cheeks. "Surely you're not shy of me, all of a sudden?"

"You're the King," Hephaestion said suddenly, as if after much thought, "and I'm the… Grand Vizier…?"

"Well yes, that's true, but after all, who's watching us?"

Hephaestion glanced about them. "No-one that I can see…"

Grinning, Alexander finished washing him then slipped a heavily embroidered, fur lined robe about his shoulders and drew away for just a moment as a servant arrived carrying the honey to mix with the wine. At least Glaucias was being efficient this time. When he returned to his friend's side, Hephaestion had drawn the robe close about himself and was staring down at the decorative gold stitching on one of the cuffs. "It's very beautiful," he said after a long pause, "is it mine too?"

Alexander halted in the middle of pouring wine into a cup. Slowly he turned to look at Hephaestion. "I chose it for you," he said, keeping his voice calm. When Hephaestion didn't answer, Alexander came to sit beside him, placing the wine cup in both his hands. "Drink…it will make you feel better…"

Hephaestion leaned back into his arms. "You're… very beautiful too…and kind… and you smell nice," he observed, as if from the depths of a dream.

"Nice! I feel disgusting! I haven't bathed for two days!"

"Is that how long I was sick for?"

Alexander could put it off no longer. "Hephaestion… how much do you remember?"

Hephaestion stared down into his cup. After a moment he raised it to his lips and sipped, swallowing with obvious discomfort. "I drank some water… strange water… from a cup like this… and then… emptiness. I fought… I fought to hold on… some of it… but… its no use, I can't get it back… Please, I've tried, but you'll have to tell me. Who are you, Alexander? And… who am I?"

TBC