The Athenian delegation arrived the following afternoon.
Scouts had been sent out to judge the distance to Pella, so that they could warn Philip and he could be ready for them. Now the whole court assembled in the great hall, soldiers stood at attention outside, as the Athenians arrived.
Of all of his guests, they were the ones that Philip was most eager to impress.
Alexander stood next to Cleopatra. Despite his father's words, that he should take a major part, he felt as if he was an afterthought. Cleopatra too, when she should have been at her father's side, had been hardly noticed.
Philip stood with Eurydice, who held her son close to her. The Royal Guard stood behind them, Hephaistion next to Pausanias.
Cleopatra took Alexander's hand. "It's all real isn't it?" she said.
Alexander looked down at his sister, her hand was trembling. "He will love you, Cleopatra. Who could not?"
"I don't love him, Alexander. I hardly know him."
The Athenians were arriving, stepping into the great hall and over to Philip, who held his arms out and greeted them warmly, turning to introduce Eurydice, taking the baby from her and holding him up proudly.
"Father loves you, Alexander," Cleopatra assured him. "All this is just for show. He will call us forward, soon enough." Cleopatra looked for a distraction. "Look. That tall, grey-bearded Athenian has already noticed Hephaistion. Father had one night with him, but has left him alone since. Did you know that he was General Amyntor's son? Do you remember General Amyntor? He was always fun, he used to lift me high and swing me around….Alexander?"
Philip was leading the Athenians to the dining hall. After calling up Antipater and Cleitus, introducing them, he was moving to the feast.
"I am an embarrassment to him," Alexander murmured, squeezing Cleopatra's hand and following the court.
OOXXOO
They cantered up the hill, down a narrow path, then reined their horses in to look up at the buildings, high on a rock, by a river, with woodland beyond.
"Mieza," said Alexander, looking to Hephaistion, then he looked past him to Hippodamus, Pheidias and Leochares from the Vanguard. He nodded to them.
"The morning after next then," declared Leochares, wheeling his horse around and heading off.
Pheidias grinned and Hippodamus whooped for joy as they followed Leochares, pushing their horses into a race.
Alexander grinned, then looked at Hephaistion, once more. He was obviously wondering where Alexander's guard had gone.
"Leochares' brother owns an estate not far from here. They have gone to visit him. I did not want our time together taken up in idle conversation with them, although they are all good men and pleasant company.
Hephaistion turned to watch them go, when he looked back he was smiling. "I thought that we would never get here. I thought your father had changed his mind."
It had taken seven days before they could get free. After the Athenians, Thebes had sent a delegation, then Corinth and Rhodes. The time to the wedding was growing shorter and Philip had pretended to have forgotten his promise. Only when an ambassador from Corinth had asked about Alexander being confirmed as heir, did Philip tell him he could go.
Hephaistion was only too relieved. Each night when he returned to his room, he would find gifts and favours from the ambassadors who hoped he would have some free time to spend with them. He had returned them all with a servant, saying he would be too busy.
He and Alexander had hardly had any time to talk. Alexander would not come to his room and Hephaistion said he would not be comfortable in Alexander's. They had arranged to ride out early one morning, but Pausanias had caught Hephaistion dressing and insisted he was needed to guard the king's quarters, even though there were enough guards on duty already.
Now they had three days of freedom, and it felt good.
Hephaistion followed as Alexander pushed Bucephalus forward, and rode towards his old school. He looked up at the rock. Alexander had said it had been built between two caves, but he had never imagined it to look like this. The vegetation was lush and green, all was peaceful, the river meandering by.
A skinny old man appeared from one of the buildings. Then hurried down some steps to greet them, turning to call someone, and a small, plump lady stepped forward.
"That's Thespis and his wife Meda," Alexander said. "They have always been here. Thespis looks after the place and Meda cooks the best dinners."
Thespis ran forward waving his arms, Meda wiped her hands on her dress. "Alexander!" Thespis cried, practically dancing with joy to see him. Meda was crying now.
Alexander jumped down from Bucephalus, letting the horse go as he went forward to embrace first Thespis and then Meda.
"Oh, you've grown, you've grown," cried Meda, then touched her hand to Alexander's face. "And so handsome, but you were always a handsome child," she crooned.
"You haven't changed a bit," replied Alexander. "I'm here to spend a couple of nights, if it's no trouble."
Thespis looked to Meda and laughed. "Everything is the same," he said. He looked over at Hephaistion, who had dismounted and was holding onto his horse. "You've brought someone with you?"
Alexander signalled Hephaistion forward. "Come and meet Thespis and Meda. This is my friend Hephaistion. He is General Amyntor's son, and would have come to Mieza if his father had not been so set on him going to Methone."
"Joy to you," greeted Hephaistion.
Meda held her right hand to her heart. "So handsome," she cried. "And a friend of the prince." She turned back to Alexander. "We heard what happened. Seleucus and Perdiccas stopped here on their way home. They said they had been exiled, and I cried to think of you all alone at Pella, Alexander…and now you have a new friend…and so handsome, with the bluest eyes too."
"Perhaps they would like a drink after their journey, Meda," suggested Thespis, winking at Alexander. "Go get something cool, while we see to the horses."
Meda hesitated for a moment, as if she were thinking the two guests would disappear if she turned away from them. Then she nodded and hurried up the steps.
"She doesn't change," sighed Thespis, "but she is a good wife to me, and never tires of things to say."
Alexander grinned at Hephaistion.
"What do you do at the palace, Hephaistion?" asked Thespis.
"A guard…a Royal Bodyguard," replied Hephaistion.
Thespis turned to study Hephaistion, more than he had already. He wondered if he was Philip's boy, but then he would not likely be here with Alexander. Curious, he looked at Alexander and saw the love in his eyes when he gazed on Hephaistion, but he did not seem to fully realise he loved the boy just yet. He smiled and shook his head, wishing he were young once more, he would try to give Alexander a run for his money.
He then looked at Hephaistion. Those hypnotic blue eyes held love, but there was confusion and pain there too. But love would come, Thespis was sure of it. Alexander always inspired love, and it was about time he took a step further and fell in love. If Hephaistion had issues to resolve, then that was good. Let Alexander work for what he wanted.
They released the horses into two separate paddocks, watching them while they settled, with Thespis bringing Alexander up to date on the lives of the people around Mieza. Meda appeared and called them in. Thespis led the way, up the steps, into a small courtyard, then through a low doorway to the kitchen.
"Is it alright that you eat in here, Alexander?" Meda asked. "Just it will seem so empty in the dining room you used to eat in."
"This will be good," replied Alexander. "Although I would like to eat in there tonight."
Meda nodded. "I have some bread and cheese for you now, with some wine…and there are some apples. I hope that is enough for you. There will be meat later, I will make a stew, your favourite, rabbit stew."
"Let them eat, Meda," groaned Thespis. "How can they eat when you keep on at them?"
Meda flushed, then said she would go and prepare their rooms. Thespis followed her. He wanted to tell her what he had seen in Alexander's eyes. Their boy was in love, finally in love, and he wanted to make sure they did everything they could to help him win Hephaistion's heart.
OOXXOO
Alexander smiled, it was good to see the two of them again, though he somehow regretted letting his guard go. Perhaps Thespis and Meda would prove as much of an interruption. He looked down at the food. "Let's eat," he said, sitting down at the bench, watching while Hephaistion sat opposite him and took some bread. "My father has left you alone?" he asked.
Hephaistion picked up his cup of wine and drank, then put it down. "Since he apologised, and told me we could not continue meeting, he has been nothing but polite. Pausanias has goaded me about it every day, he says that I must have done something to displease the king." Using a knife, he scooped some soft cheese onto the bread. "I regret getting myself into that situation," he said, looking at Alexander.
"I have my own regrets," replied Alexander. "We can all make bad decisions. I should never have offered myself as a husband to Pixodarus' daughter."
Unexpectedly, Hephaistion laughed. "No, you shouldn't have."
If anybody else had said that to him, Alexander knew he would have reacted badly. His pride had been hurt by his error of judgement, his oldest friends exiled and the relationship with his father was now awkward and unsure. Yet, here was Hephaistion, saying what others would not dare to say - the truth. He found himself laughing with him, all the concerns he had washing away, because of this man before him.
When the laughter died, love was what remained. Alexander suddenly realised his feelings towards Hephaistion.
He felt breathless. He had never been in love before and had no idea how to proceed. He would rather face overwhelming odds in battle, those he knew how to conquer, but not love. It was all too fast, Alexander realised that from the first he had loved Hephaistion. He was a gift from the gods.
OOXXOO
Hephaistion ate the bread and cheese, then watched over the rim of his wine cup as Alexander ate. How he concentrated on his food, like a starving man, but not eating enough to keep a small bird alive.
He had studied Alexander for the past seven days. His duties were easier to bear when Alexander was near. He had watched him talk to the ambassadors, listened to his words and wanted nothing more than to go to his side, just to be by him.
He wished that Alexander was not a prince, that he was the same as Lysias, that they were on equal terms. Their friendship now would always reflect badly on him. Pausanias had been the first, saying that he had failed with the king and now he looked to the prince. They would not be saying it if Alexander were just a soldier.
He had thought about not coming to Mieza. For what people might say to him, think of him. He had it in his mind to refuse, but he had always been curious, and it was a chance to get away, to breathe air not tainted with intrigue and suspicion.
"How did you survive it all? Your life at Pella," Hephaistion asked out loud. He had been told about Olympias, by the servants, who knew more of the fights she had with Philip, of the way that Alexander was torn between the two of them.
Alexander looked up. "I have not survived it yet, Hephaistion. I always thought I would inherit this kingdom from my father…" He shrugged and put down the bread he had been holding. "There have been times when we have been so close. At Chaeronea, for example."
"I was there," said Hephaistion. "I followed you in on the cavalry charge, against the Sacred Band."
Alexander grinned. "I wish I had known. I wish we had known each other then."
"I got caught up in the battle, you were pushing forward. I only caught a brief glimpse of you, then after the battle was won Calamis had to go forward to see Philip, while we tended to our wounded."
"The gods have brought us together, at last, Hephaistion," Alexander replied, earnestly, placing his hand over Hephaistion's.
Hephaistion felt himself go tense, then reminded himself that this was not Philip, that the son was nothing like his father when it came to desire.
Alexander smiled. "Let me show you around."
OOXXOO
The tour of Mieza did not take long. A cave where Aristotle would teach when the weather did not permit lessons outside, a dormitory, a guest room, the stables, a store room, Aristotle's private quarters and Alexander's room.
However, Alexander filled each place with his memories, bringing moments in time back to the present. Hephaistion felt as if he knew the boys, who were now men. He spoke of Aristotle, mimicking his teaching style, making Hephaistion laugh at some of the comments he would make.
Alexander saved his room until last, happy to see it once again, Thespis and Meda had kept it well-aired.
"Some nights I would go into the dormitory, when the lamps had been turned out. We would talk into the night, determined to stay up to see the dawn. I always woke up in my own bed, Thespis would have found me and carried me back."
Hephaistion looked about the room, then looked back to see Alexander staring at him. "What is it?" he asked, wiping at his face, thinking he might have dirt on it.
"Nothing," Alexander replied, turning away to take great interest in the desk he used to write at. He was wondering what Hephaistion would do if he went to kiss him. If only his father had not made a move; he did not wish to appear like him. "Come on, I'll show you around outside."
Hephaistion followed Alexander out into the bright sunlight. He was regretting his father's decision to send him to Methone. What had it got him? He could fight, he could lead men and plan a battle, but he had been left to educate himself, late at night when others were sleeping. There was nobody to debate with, unless it was the best weapon to use or the best utilisation of cavalry. Alexander had also been given weapons training, but his mind had also been opened to so many things.
Alexander seemed to catch his thoughts. "I write to Aristotle," he said, "I will tell him about you, Hephaistion. Then why don't you write to him?"
Hephaistion smiled and shook his head. "Why would he want to write to me?"
"If you have a thirst for knowledge, he quenches it. He would welcome it, Hephaistion, and no doubt end up regretting you were not in his classes. He is a kind man. He gave me a copy of The Iliad when I left here, a better copy than I had before."
"Give me your armour to put on my shoulders. The Trojans might suppose I was you. Hold back, and give the Acheans' sons a breather, for breathing spells in war are very few. Then, with a shout, fresh men might easily turn tired men from the ships toward the city. So, like a fool he begged; for it would be an evil death and doom for himself he asked," Hephaistion quoted.
"Patroclus," Alexander whispered, knowing the quotation to be the words of Patroclus. "You know it?"
Hephaistion smiled. "I can't quote all of it, but I took a copy of it with me to Methone. Lysias used to…." He hesitated, a look of pain crossing his face.
Alexander wanted to wrap Hephaistion in his arms, but he knew it would be inappropriate, so he fought the feeling and won. "He did not deserve you," he said.
Hephaistion frowned, then bit his lip, his blue eyes looking into Alexander's grey. "It's in the past," he said, then turned and walked towards the river.
He watched Hephaistion walk away, wondering how soon he could forget Lysias. Eros had done his job well, hope burned in Alexander's heart.