Chapter 4
Babylon
He was aware of people around him he ached everyway and he was hot so hot he thought he was back in the desert.
Somebody was dapping his forehead he opened his eyes and recognised that person as Bagoas then he heard a woman screaming at him "Wait just three more months Alexander please." Then she was gone
That woman was his wife Roxanne and she was with child his successor.
Someone was saying something to him they wanted to know who would he choose to be his successor while the child was waiting to be born.
He turned his head painfully slow to look at the Hephaistion, Yes the empire will go to Hephaistion then he remembered that Hephaistion was gone.
He turned away "To the strongest." he managed to say but it came out barely a whisper
"Please Alexander you must tell us who it will be."
He open and closed his mouth but no sound came out
"Look he trying to say something." said somebody
The room feel silent and somebody moved in close their ear next to his mouth.
"To the strongest." he whispered and closed his eyes
The person moved away "He said to the strongest." they yelled so that his voice could be heard all away around the room.
Then room went into an uproar only a figure dressed in white moved silently and unnoticed through the crowd.
Alexander saw the figure and smiled as he drew back his hood. Gone had the scars from his forehead and check and
His skin the sun bronzed colour that he had lost when he got sick, his blue eyes that had been dulled with suffering now took on a brighter hue and his brown hair was pulled back just like it was on their first night together in Babylon.
His Hephaistion had come home and kept the promise they had made when they were just boys.
Alexander took of the amber and gold ring that Hephaistion had given him as a wedding present and held it out to him. As Hephaistion moved towards the bed the people he passed shivered and rubbed themselves warm looking puzzled at the sudden change in temperature.
He came to stand next to Ptolemy, who had taken the ring thinking it was for him to look after,
As Ptolemy turned away he went straight through Hephaistion he shivered and looked back over his shoulder the hurried back to join the rest.
Hephaistion held out his hand Alexander noticed that the hand was scarred with a dagger line; he lifted up his own scarred hand and grabbed Hephaistion's hand it was cold but real then there was a rush of cold air then all the pain and suffering had vanished only the scar, love and warmth remained.