Chapter eight

The days that followed were real hard for Hephaistion and Alexander.

Alexander became very protective of Hephaistion. He refused to let Hephaistion out of his sight and if he couldn't do it personal then he would get Ptolemy, Perdiccas or Nearchus to do it for him.

Hephaistion hated being watched all the time so he started to slip away to have some alone time.

He would go and explore the run down parts of the palace that nobody seemed interested in.

It was here among the ruins he found a door and behind that door he found a forgotten garden.

It was surrounded by a high wall and it was filled with a variety of exotic planets and flowers as well as several water fountains. He began to feel calm as he walked but more importantly he felt safe from the outside world.

Hephaistion began slipping away more and more even at night to come to the garden.

Alexander was angry when he heard that the other had let Hephaistion go off on his own.

"You are supposed to be watching him!" he barked

"But Alexander he goes before when we even get there." Perdiccas protested

"Well were does he go?" Alexander demanded

The others looked at each other

"Nobody knows." Ptolemy

Alexander had heard enough he waved them away and began to pace wondering what do about Hephaistion.

He had noticed several small changes in Hephaistion change that people won't notice only a lover would, he didn't like being crowded, he would jump at the littlest of noises and at party he would cling on to Alexander like a frightened child, They hadn't been in each others bed for other a week now and it didn't bother Alexander yet.

He decided to follow Hephaistion to see where he went.

Later that night Hephaistion creped out of his room and Alexander followed after him. He followed him to a run down part that he had not seen before.
It was here that he lost Hephaistion; He stopped to have looked all around chewing on his bottom lip.

He was thinking about going back when he heard a door being closed.

It took some time to find the door but when he did he open it genteelly and stepped inside.

He could hear the quiet peaceful sound of water and the smell of flowers and plants; he moved in father and closed the door.

He found Hephaistion asleep curled up under a tree, Alexander knew that Hephaistion had been plagued by nightmare since he had been back and never want to sleep yet here he was looking peaceful. Alexander took off his cloak and draped it over Hephaistion's shoulders the turned to leave.

Hephaistion woke to the sound of the door being closed he looked down and found Alexander's cloak draped over him, he pulled it closer and went back to sleep.

A few days later Alexander went away on a month long mission but before he went he had to say good bye to Hephaistion who had to be left on his own as Alexander was taking the others with him.

Hephaistion was in his room sat at a huge table that was covered in papers and maps. Since he couldn't go on the mission with them he was to stay behind and arrange and organise their supplies.

Alexander lent in for a kiss but Hephaistion pulled away, Alexander gave Hephaistion a puzzled looked then step back.

"We are leaving." he said

"Bye." Hephaistion said without looking up from his work

Alexander turned and headed for the door. He had a suddenly thought and turned back

"I been meaning to ask you something?" he said

"Like what?" Hephaistion replied looking up

"It's about something the Persian General said." Alexander replied

At the mention of the General Hephaistion put up his hand and touched his still bandaged abdomen under the table."

"What about him?" he said trying to keep his voice as normal as possible

"Well… he… he said something that was way out of line and…" he stopped

Hephaistion knew what was going to be asked he wanted to shut out the memories and try forgot about it like it never happened if he lied then it didn't

"And." he prompted

"And I was wondering if it was true," Alexander paused again "If it was true you would tell me right."

Hephaistion smiled it was a nervous smile "And why would you believe someone that did this," he showed him his wrist that had a deep red circle around it where the rope had cut in.

Alexander didn't know what to say so he closed his mouth and bit his lip, Hephaistion continued to speak

"Yes I would tell you if it is were true and since I haven't told you then I haven't told you anything then it is not true."

Alexander noticed that Hephaistion's shoulders were hunched up not a lot but they were.

"Your right," he said "I believe you."

He lent in and caught Hephaistion with a surprise kiss before turning to leaving for a month.

As soon as Alexander had gone Hephaistion's shoulders dropped and he sighed in relief his hand touched the place where Alexander had kissed him. He stood up and went over to the window.

Alexander had just mount Buccephalas, he looked up and held up one hand Hephaistion did the same.
He watched as them turned their horses and go, he watched the until the vanished from the horizon.

He turned back to his work but he couldn't concentrate thoughts and memories travelled through his head.

He stood up swiping everything off the table and on to the floor; he kicked over the chair and pulled over the table before collapsing to the floor in a fit of tears.

He wanted nothing more to tell Alexander the truth but if he lied it didn't happen.