Author: Baliansword
Chapter: 12, "Love is Unkind"
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She sat, easing the tension from his back. So often she had done this but only now did she truly feel knots beneath his skin. Miskaelah wondered what he was thinking as he lay there. Incense burned around then and at times when the wind blew the scent towards her, her eyes would often water. For a few more moments she was silent, as was he. Then she boldly leaned closer to him.
"What is wrong," she asked. He merely turned his head. His cheek was still on the pillow but at least now she could see part of his face. She pulled a lock of hair away from the cheek she could see and then leaned closer. She pressed a soft kiss against his flesh. She wondered terribly what he was thinking. She wondered why he did not speak to her. Yet as she removed her lips she heard him draw in a breath, and knew that soon he would speak his mind to her, as he eventually always did.
"How many days has it been since he came to your bed," he asked as she continued to smooth oils over his back. Her fingers were experts, touching him in every place that made this thighs burn, made him tremble almost though he held still. She meant not what she did, she just did it, and perhaps that was why he loved her. She replied, saying that not for a few days now, and he then breathed out what she could not recognize as relief. Before continuing he shifted again so that she could no longer see his face. "Love is unkind to us all. It is unfair, which is why I badly wanted you not to feel it."
"Its not that bad," she replied. At this he turned onto his back. He stared up at her for a moment, longing for her, yet knowing that now he could not have her. Miskaelah glanced down at him and smiled softly. "Hephaestion is happy in his nights without me, and that is fine. I believe it is you that have the problem sharing Alexander with others, especially Hephaestion."
Bagoas paused before speaking. "No, I have no problem letting him go where he chooses to roam. I only wish the best for you though."
"Trust me," Miskaelah whispered, "all will be well."
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Hephaestion's PoVPerhaps I worry too much about the glances that I get in this room. Cassander's eyes wander to mine and a few times now I've actually smiled and such. I worry that Alexander shall know and something shall come between us. It is true, that I've always known about his affairs with others, and I have always been fine with such. At least, I have always acted as such. When he told me, the first time, something changed even though I tried not to let it. No matter what I do I find myself looking at him differently when he is around others. Perhaps it is jealousy, yet it may be something else as well, something that I do not even know how to put into words.
For the day Alexander is done with his orders and the like. I watch as he rises and gives Cassander a quick hug. It becomes one of those times when I wonder if that is a hug of friendship or perhaps of something more. I'm not sure and I will not question this too much yet I still wonder. For when Cassander hugs me now it is different, no longer are we simply friends, we've become something more. It seems here in Persia everyone has become more than just a mere friend. It is I that remain though, when all are gone, and I am the one that smiles at Alexander. He is a great leader, that I shall always give him. He is a wonder. He still is the man that I love, no matter how many others there have been, but truly they are not that many. Just a few, and Miskaelah. Yet I do not think that Alexander would mind her in the least. He wants a son for me.
"Why do you smile so," Alexander asks me as he sits down. I just continue to look at him and try to contain my boyish emotions. After a moment he laughs though and leans back in his chair. He drinks from his cup but clearly is thinking of something. I just watch him. How beautiful he is. "You and I need to get out of here."
His words surprise me. I do not know where they've come from. Yet I like the idea at least, the idea that we could just get up and leave Persia. Alexander has always been restless and he always shall be. Some would say that such a characteristic is not a great one, however, I believe that it is just another part of Alexander that makes him as he is. It makes him great. Just like every other little part of him. Alexander looks over at me, drawing me away from these thoughts, and again I just stare at him in wonder. How long has it been since we have kissed last?
"There really is nothing here for you to do," he continues. "Everything that must be done others can do without your supervision."
"And it will have to be redone upon our return," I say with a laugh. He just glances over at me. It is he that then stands and moves closer to me. He stands before me and cranes his neck so that he can lean down and kiss me. I've missed him, even though there has not been a day that I've not seen him. This touch, the one that I long for, it has changed. No longer is he the only one that has touched he in the ways that he now does. Yet, at the same time, he is the only one that truly touches me. He is the only one that knows me for what I am, not for just a body. He is the one that I love.
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A/N: I've updated! The updates will be coming quicker now because I'm almost out of school for the summer, which means more school, but I'll have more time to update and so forth. Sorry to keep everyone waiting so long. I've got this planned out though so it shouldn't take too long to finish up. Thanks for your continued reading and support.