Chapter 4

Dear Master Aristotle;

"Different men seek after happiness in different ways and by different means, and so made for themselves different modes of life and forms of government." It is a fact that there are different forms of government with different values, but is this statement really precise? I am not trying to challenge you or anything, but I feel that there is more to it.

For example, the Persians have their unique life style, and consequently, the form of their government is very different from ours. However, can we say that it is truly based on their free choice, and they would choose the same form even if they were given other options? What I mean by 'they' here is not the high officials of the Persian courts who form the government, but the common people who live in it.

Aren't they being satisfied and happy simply because they have not been exposed to any other means? Or have they merely resigned themselves and are trying to make the best of it, because they do not have any other choices? Isn't freedom the ultimate means that all human seek?

I am questioning this, because I suspect that Alexander might have proven it when he liberated Ephesus. For most of the common people, I do not think it really matters who the ruler, and what the government is as long as they can live in peace, and the changes do not interrupt their daily lives too drastically.

However, isn't it also true that the flames of yearning for the freedom never die down deep in our heart, and are waiting for an opportunity to flare up? After finding Alexander had defeated the Persians at Granicos, the people of Ephesus stoned the pro-Persian Syrpax and his family to death, and warmly welcomed Alexander to their city instead.

The worshipper of yesterday turned into the enemy of today in just one night. It is almost chilling to see how quickly people's minds can change. I wonder if those who surrendered to Alexander would stay loyal to him no matter what happens, or if they would be loyal to him only while Alexander is the ruler of the world.

I believe it all depends on the reason why they follow Alexander. If they were following him because they feared him, then they might go against him, but if they were following him because they loved him, they would stay with him till the end. And so far, I see Alexander mostly gaining love from both his army and the people whom he had conquered. He has this charismatic effect on people that makes them want to be a part of his kingdom.

Although the campaign after Granicos was successful and Ionian cities surrendered to Alexander with little resistance, Alexander surprised us again with his bold decision to abandon his fleet after the siege of Miletus. Once again, those veteran officers protested against, but Alexander reasoned with them.

First of all, he stressed that he does not wish to put his navy in danger knowing that they would receive substantial damage due to the disadvantage in size. We had only 160 ships against 400 of the Persians. Secondly, he argued that it is possible to immobilize the Persian navy by capturing the port cities, as we did at the siege of Miletus.

However, I think the true reason behind it was that Alexander was not quite confident with battle at sea. The advantage of the Macedonian army lies in its speed, but our navy was not there yet. It is still unfamiliar territory for Alexander. Therefore, for the time being, he decided to cut off the weakness, and to concentrate on the strength.

It was an unconventional and risky decision, but as Nearchus had proven, Alexander was convinced that if we captured the ports, then we could paralyze the force of the navy. Without the harbors to return to, those naval fleets are nothing but birds with clipped wings. As if the gods had approved his plan, most of the port cities surrendered to Alexander without a fight.

One of the most interesting encounters among those surrenders was a lady, Ada of Caria, the former queen of Halicarnassus, and the owner of the fortress of Alinde. She must have surrendered to Alexander wishing that the Macedonians would defeat Memnon of Rhodes and Orontobates to gain control over the city of Halicarnassus. After all, I could imagine her bitterness against her government, since she had driven from her throne by her own relatives.

She was small and charming, yet at the same time, she was strong and determined. When I saw her offering peace to Alexander by looking straight into his eyes without the slightest flinch, I could sense an instant attraction to each other pass between Alexander and Ada. No, Master Aristotle, not that kind of attraction I am talking about. She is a little too old for Alexander for that.

But the attraction that is more fundamental and tender, like the love between a mother and a son. It is an undeniable fact that Alexander loves his mother, yet their love seems to have a hidden calculation behind it. Maybe it is the nature of the royal family, but I always felt sorry for Alexander for not being able to trust his parents totally.

I felt the same resentment from King Philip as well; he could not dismiss the idea that Alexander would be the biggest threat to his throne. Thus, their relationship often ended up as a competition rather than love. On the other hand, despite Queen Olympias loving Alexander to death, she cannot hide her ambition to become the person behind the throne; the person who is in total control of the kingdom.

That is the reason why she hates me. She hates me not because she believes that I am the one who is preventing Alexander from marrying, as most of the generals of Alexander's army believe, but because I am the threat to her power. I doubt if Queen Olympias ever can love Alexander's wife even if the marriage of Alexander and his heir is what she wishes. What a lonely and desolate life it is.

Although Ada of Caria is as intelligent and as ambitious as the Queen, she is everything that Queen Olympias is not; she is warm, sincere, and open. She also has a great sense of humor. It is so pleasant to be around her. It seems that Alexander finally found a cradle of his soul, and Ada found her son whom she can be truly proud of. They are perfect matches.

The Macedonians struggled, and Memnon and Orontobates escaped, but we were successful in capturing the city of Halicarnassus as Ada wished. The city was destroyed and burned down to the ground except for the Mausoleum. After the battle was over, and the army had settled and recouped, Ada took Alexander and me by the arms, and guided us into the beautiful building, which stood in the rubble like a phoenix that was reborn from its own ashes.

A pair of stone lions guarded the stairs, and gorgeous bas-reliefs of gods and goddesses decorated impressive tall marble walls. A pyramid shaped roof was placed over the numerous slender columns, and a chariot sat on the flat top of the roof with images of Mausolus and his wife Artemisia. Both Alexander and I were lost words at the magnificent sight. Looking up at the images of the two rulers of the city, Ada took both of our hands and squeezed them hard before telling us a story.

"Mausolus and Artemisia were a brother and a sister. They had grown up together, and lived together all their lives. Although the marriage was the traditional arrangement, they truly loved each other. When her dearest husband died, heartbroken Artemisia decided to build the most exquisite tomb for her lover and brother. She too died not even two years after he left her behind."

I fought very hard not to cry. I could not help thinking of Alexander and myself, like Mausolus and Artemisia, we had grown up together, and we have not loved anybody else but each other all our lives. It was so heart breaking to even imagine life without Alexander. If Alexander were ever die before me, I would build a tomb as beautiful as this to honor him and show the world how much I loved him, and wish to be as lucky as Artemisia so that I could soon follow him.

As if she saw what was going through my mind, she took Alexander's and my hands in between her soft palms. I looked down at our joined hands, and then looked up at Alexander. When I met with Alexander's moist eyes, I could not hold my tears back any longer, as I saw that Alexander was feeling the same grief and love. Ada's soft voice continued.

"You two are just like Mausolus and Artemisia who were so deeply in love with each other. I suspect that you too cannot survive long without the other half. You are true love meant to be together."

With our hands joined by the witness of Ada, and standing in front of the symbol of the eternal love, Alexander kissed me on the lips. Ada smiled at us and nodded. Her soft voice is still ringing in my ears.

"You just pledged your love for each other. Congratulations my sons, you are now officially married in my witness."

That was the biggest difference between Ada and Alexander's mother. Ada not only understood what love is, but she also highly valued it. Master Aristotle, being able to share the dream with your greatest lover is delight, but being blessed and accepted in our love by a mother is indescribable bliss, and Ada made it all possible.

Your Humble Student,

Hephaistion