Chapter 2
Dear Master Aristotle;
How is your life in Athens? I am certain that you are enjoying your new Lyceum. I feel so fortunate that I was given an opportunity to study under you. You have opened my inner eyes more than once, and I truly understood when Alexander said that he received life from his father, but you had taught him to live well, and I agree with him.
"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor." I will keep these words as a guiding light throughout the journey of my life. And I know that it would be the same for Alexander.
Meeting with Diogenes was one thing, but seeing an oracle in Delphi was another. Alexander wanted to hear the prophecy before leaving for the expedition in Asia, so we detoured to Delphi. Ptolemy told him that he would not be able to see Pythia, since it was not the season, but you know Alexander. He does not accept no for an answer.
Delphi is a beautiful and serene place. Especially the view of twin cliffs is gorgeous. They glow red when they catch the setting sun, and one might think that you are standing right at a place somewhere in mount Olympus. It is really a suitable place to be called the navel of the world. But something about the place is eerie. Maybe it is because the slain Python sleeps there. I don't know if it was only I who noticed, but I did not like the smell in the air at all. It was almost nauseating.
As Ptolemy warned Alexander, the priest politely refused Alexander's request to see the Pythia. Yet, Alexander went into the temple, and dragged out the Pythia. She shouted in disbelief, "Alexander, you are invincible!" I am not sure if that was actually the message from Apollo, or it was a direct reaction toward Alexander's outrageous act, but Alexander was just happy hearing it nevertheless.
He announced to the whole army what the oracle said, and told them that it means that nobody could stop him, and he would defeat the Persians to conquer the world. Ptolemy and I looked at each other and grinned, but the rest of the army was satisfied with Alexander's explanations, and most amazingly, the spirit of the army rose to its highest ever. I could see the eagerness on everybody's faces to fight and take on the Persians.
So, we finally crossed the Hellespont. Surprisingly, it was not very wide. As a matter of fact, we could see the other side through the faint fog that was cast over the channel. The other side did not look any different from this side though. I saw the same color of the soil, and the same kind of vegetations spread over the land. Yet, crossing it was significant, as Xerxes crossed it to the north to invade Greece, we crossed it to the south to invade Asia. Alexander did not waste the time to build bridges as Xerxes did, but he used Athenian naval ships instead.
Do you remember the time when you told us about the story of how Xerxes built the bridge to cross the Hellespont? We all laughed very hard hearing that Xerxes was so angry that he ordered his officers to whip the Aegean Sea when his first bridge failed in the storm. The image of his high ranking officers raising whips high in the air, and splashing the water aimlessly all around them sounded so silly and ridiculous. How can you punish nature? It sounded almost like a tantrum coming from a three-year-old child.
But I saw Alexander's smile fade quickly when you said, "Oh, but Xerxes was serious." At that moment, I think Alexander realized the danger in falling into the trap of the dark hole created by absolute power. It easily can corrupt the truth, and could make the most ridiculous act seem acceptable and serious. And that was not how Alexander wished to be. What makes Alexander so special is that he can see the genuine truth behind.
When we came close to the shore, Alexander threw a spear to the beach, which stuck and stood up in the sand. Then he jumped off the ship, and waded to the shore. I followed right behind him. When he reclaimed his spear, he raised it high in the air, and shouted. "The whole of Asia would be won by the spear!"
He was beautiful, so full of confidence and determination. In the bright spring sun, he shone like the God Ares himself. It was such a satisfying feeling to be a part of the army led by this young glorious leader. It also was one of those moments for us to proud to be a Macedonian.
I could not sleep that night. Not because I was too excited to be in the land of Asia, well it was that too a bit, but because of what Alexander told me. He asked me to do the ceremony with him to honor Achilles and Patroclus at their tombs in Troy. Do you know what it means, master Aristotle? He was going to let everybody in the army know what we are.
Our friends from Mieza already know or at least they suspect about our relationship, but it is a different story if the whole army were to know it. I was not afraid for myself. I couldn't care less what people think of me. But I was afraid for Alexander. Will the army accept a leader who openly expresses a rather unconventional and unacceptable love in public? They are not all Macedonians. To tell the truth, I was scared to death. What if some of the Greek soldiers expressed disgust? I did not wish our relationship to become an obstacle for Alexander to accomplish the dream.
The morning came too soon, and I could feel my stomach churning. We methodically spread oil over our naked bodies by helping with each other's back. I hated myself being so weak, because I could not help my hands trembling. Alexander noticed this immediately, and cupped my face, then spoke in a very calm voice, "While we do this, just look at me Hephaistion, nothing else, but only me." And he smiled at me as if that was all I needed to hear to be assured.
The sun was just rising behind him, and his golden mane shone like a halo around him. At that moment, my worry left my mind. I would do whatever my god wanted me to do. There were no more hesitations. We started our race at the open field with Alexander's yell. As he told me, I just watched my god run almost flying in front of me. And I forgot everything; there were just my god and I. We cut through the wind, and filled our lungs with the rich air pervaded with the sweet smell of the Aegean Sea.
We ran up on the slope to the half way point of the hill, and circled it around. The sights of the deep blue ocean and the bright blue sky dominated our vision, and my soul became empty as if the gods had purified it. It was such satisfying and ecstatic feeling. We finished our race in front of the tombs. Alexander laid a wreath on Achilles' tombs, and I on Patroclus'. And then the ceremony was over. Alexander took Achilles' shield and raised it high in the air. Everybody roared.
Hearing the cheers of the whole army, I understood that I had worried over nothing. Everybody saw what I saw in Alexander, a god and a hero. And now, they were celebrating the rebirth of the myth. They were looking at Alexander full of admiration and respect. They cherished their young king who gave them the hope and the purpose to live and fight.
A chill ran down my spine, when I noticed the same admiration was directed toward me as well from most of the soldiers mixed with profound jealousy from some of the officers. At that moment, I perfectly understood where I stood in Alexander's army. I was not a part of them any longer. I became a part of the god, Alexander, an absolute power. I knew then that my life in the army would not be an easy one. It would be lonely and more than likely be filled with bitterness and solitude, but I was more than willing to take it in exchange for the love of Alexander and our dream. Alexander and I, we would live the myth together.
Master Aristotle, do you believe in fate? If Alexander were Achilles, and I Patroclus, then will it be my fate to die before Alexander? I am not afraid to die, especially if it means to protect Alexander and to save his life, I would throw my life away for that a thousand times. What I worry about is Alexander without me. Nobody would understand him as I do, and he would no longer have a protector of his soul. When it happens, master Aristotle, would you be the guiding light to Alexander's soul?
Your Humble Student,
Hephaistion