Hephaistion found a servant only to willing to show him to his new rooms. He swung open the double doors to reveal a room almost as grand as Philip's had been. That was all he had to judge it on, never having ever been to Alexander's quarters.
The servant went to light a lamp, as it was now early evening, but Hephaistion thanked him and said that he could see to himself for now. The servant bowed and closed the doors as he left.
Hephaistion hesitated, looking around at the paintings on the wall, the furnishings. There was a balcony ahead of him, then a door to the left and a door to the right. Dining couches and tables, but no bed in this room. He stepped forward, then paused, looking down. Marble floors. Like Philip's room.
He walked over to the balcony, looking down onto a courtyard. A servant appeared there, carrying an urn on her hip. Hephaistion stepped back, not wishing to be seen by her. He looked back into the room, wondering if Alexander's rooms were the same.
He found the bathroom, and then the bedroom but did not spend long in either. He came back to the first room and finding a chair he sat and waited.
OOXXOO
Alexander had done with the organisation of the games. In truth, nothing much needed to be done. The games would be held at Pella's arena. It was a larger venue, but that was a good thing, as more people would be in attendance.
He had not wanted anything changed, he wanted them to be as his father had planned, except for the procession of the gods. They would be sacrificed to, prayed to.
The games had not been the only thing on his mind. He had something else to organise, and had interrupted Empedocles monologue to speak to servants and arrange things.
When the meeting was done, when Empedocles finally realised that he should cut short his words, Alexander went to find Theopompus, and was not surprised to find that, although his other friends had claimed their money, Hephaistion had not.
Alexander took the money for him, weighing it in his hand as he headed to the rooms next to his own. He smiled as he opened the door, then saw Hephaistion, standing to attention as he came in.
"It's dark in here," Alexander observed. "You should ask the servants to light the lamps. Do you like your rooms?" He stepped forward , placing the money on a table by the door.
"This room is as large as the dormitory at Methone. Thirty of us could sleep in here," Hephaistion replied, coming over to Alexander and embracing him.
Alexander smiled. "You will get used to it." He held tightly to Hephaistion, then pulled back and sought his lips, kissing him, wanting him.
"Are your rooms the same?" Hephaistion asked, breaking the kiss.
"Perhaps they are not so grand," Alexander admitted, brushing Hephaistion's hair back from his face, kissing his neck. "This room was always reserved for visiting ambassadors my father wanted to impress."
"What if they need it now?"
Alexander laughed. "I don't think that Pella will be seeing any ambassadors for a while, Hephaistion. Come, let's light some lamps and you will see how comfortable it can be."
"I need to fetch my things from the Royal Guards barracks," Hephaistion said.
"Haven't the servants brought them here already?" Alexander asked, sounding surprised. He watched as Hephaistion looked about the room, felt his body tense against him. Then smiled as Hephaistion tried to assure him he was happy where he was.
"I will get used to it, Alexander. Your rooms are just next door? Could we not go there tonight?"
"I want to be with you, in your rooms tonight, Hephaistion," Alexander whispered, intoxicated by the sight, the nearness of his love. He kissed him again. "Take me to your bed, Hephaistion."
Hephaistion sighed. Accepting. He took Alexander's hand and went to lead him to the bedroom.
Alexander did not move, but grinned over at Hephaistion, pulling him back. "That is not your bedroom."
Hephaistion looked towards the door, then back to Alexander. Despite the darkness of the room, Alexander could see the puzzled expression on his face. "It is the only room with a bed in it," he replied.
Alexander stepped forward, kissing Hephaistion's lips. "But that isn't your bed. Come with me, Hephaistion."
Alexander led the way, scooping up the money, knowing that Hephaistion thought, at first, that he was being taken to Alexander's bed, to be told that he would share it like their bed at Aegae. As Alexander walked past his rooms, he turned and smiled to see the confusion on Hephaistion's face.
"Where are the your guards?" Hephaistion asked.
"Further down the hallway," Alexander replied. "They do not need to stand outside my rooms to guard me." He turned to Hephaistion, reaching his hand up to caress his face. "And I have you with me."
Turning left and going down a short flight of steps, Alexander led the way along a hallway to a door at the end, like at Aegae. He hesitated at the door. "This is where your bed is, Hephaistion."
He opened the door onto a small room well-lit by lamps. Again, it was like the room at Aegae with two dining couches and a table, set with food and wine. A large bed was at the other end, with linen sheets, a fur rug was at the bottom of it. There was a writing desk, a chest and a small table there too.
Hephaistion looked back at Alexander and then stepped into the room. The walls were white, the far wall had a painting on it. "Achilles and Patroclus," Hephaistion murmured, looking at it as he walked by it to a small balcony.
"You can see over to the mountains from here," Alexander said, walking behind Hephaistion and wrapping his arms around him, placing his chin on Hephaistion's shoulder.
"Thank you, Alexander," Hephaistion said, putting his hands on Alexander's. "The other rooms were too grand….this is perfect."
"It's the smallest of the guest rooms, that's why the others did not pick it, but I thought you would like it…..for the time we are here."
Hephaistion turned in Alexander's arms and kissed him.
Alexander grinned. "And I hear you are good in a fight. Best I keep you happy then. Or perhaps I should enter you in the games, the wrestling begins tomorrow."
"You heard about Cassander?"
"This is Pella," Alexander replied. "I would like to have seen it."
"It wasn't much of a fight," Hephaistion admitted.
"What did you do? Show me."
Hephaistion looked into Alexander's eyes, then smiled and reached for his arm. As he went to twist it, Alexander grabbed him round the waist and put out his foot to trip him backwards. Hephaistion suspected Alexander might seek to win the fight and was ready for a counter-attack. Laughing, he moved his hand to Alexander's shoulder, so as he fell back he brought Alexander with him, then he twisted his body to sit astride him and reached for his hands, holding them above Alexander's head.
"Like I said, it wasn't much of a fight," grinned Hephaistion. "But you are too much like temptation now. I claim you as my prize." He stared for a moment as Alexander gazed in to his eyes saying nothing. Then he released Alexander's hands, to feel Alexander instantly reaching for him, caressing him, needing him too.
Alexander ripped Hephaistion's chiton, in his eagerness to touch, groaning in desire as Hephaistion leaned over him, finding his lips, then lay alongside him, wrapping his legs around him, pulling him close. He pulled at Hephaistion's undergarments, ripping them.
Hephaistion thrust against Alexander, as he now held Hephaistion's arms above his head and bit his neck, enjoying the rough love. Hephaistion brought his thighs up to Alexander's waist, using them to push Alexander over. Alexander laughed and released Hephaistion's hands, moving to his waist to push back, but Hephaistion had the advantage now, he rolled Alexander on to his stomach and pinned him to the floor.
Alexander groaned as Hephaistion moved his body over his, arching his back as much as he could as Hephaistion bit his back, kissed him, ran his lips against him. He parted his legs in invitation, then felt Hephaistion move his weight off him, his hand encouraging him to move on to his side. Hephaistion sought his lips, kissing him hard, his hands exploring, pulling at his clothing.
Alexander laughed. They should move to the bed, but here, on the floor, the urgent need for release, it was so good.
He ripped the remains of Hephaistion's chiton from his body, ensuring that the undergarments followed, then removed his own, while all the time, writhing against Hephaistion, who bit his neck, gripped his waist, then explored, caressed and gripped again.
He had offered himself to Hephaistion, but the offer had not been taken up. He glanced up at the table, laden with food, there would be oil there, but to reach for it would mean moving away from Hephaistion, and he could not do that.
Hephaistion's hands ran up to his shoulders, then he lay on his back and parted his legs, in invitation.
"You are too beautiful," Alexander groaned, moving between the parted legs, biting and licking at Hephaistion's chest. He moved his groin against Hephaistion's, making Hephaistion gasp and arch his back, lifting his legs on to Alexander's shoulders, his hands reaching for Alexander's, staring up at him, begging for release.
Alexander spat onto his fingers, then bathed his erection as best he could before pushing against Hephaistion. He meant to be careful. Tentative. But his desire was too great, however, any guilt he might have felt was washed away as Hephaistion pushed down, reached for him, held him close and moved his body.
They came together, walked through Elysian Fields together, for a moment, held each other tightly as their bodies felt the delights, the ecstasy of orgasm, then they looked in to each other's eyes, laughing at how good it had been.
Alexander lowered himself against Hephaistion's body, the urgency had passed but he still craved the touch of his lover. He kissed gently along Hephaistion's collar bone, then along his neck to his lips. A longer, meaningful kiss followed, one that spoke of gratitude, of love, of commitment to each other.
"Is there a reason you are destroying my clothes, Alexander?" Hephaistion whispered, his lips close to Alexander's left ear.
Alexander lifted himself up to see scraps of cloth still caught in Hephaistion's belt. He unfastened it, let it slide to the floor, before lowering himself down on to Hephaistion again. "I was caught up in my desire for you," he replied, trying to sound innocent of any crime.
Hephaistion moved his head to look around the room, seeing that Alexander had left the bag of money on one of the dining couches. He stared at it for a moment, bit his lip, and then looked back at Alexander. "Are you trying to get me to spend the money?"
Alexander grinned. "And how many chitons do you have left?"
Hephaistion looked down at the remnants on the floor, then back to Alexander. "Just one." He smiled. "But if you think I'm taking money from you, Alexander, then you are wrong. I still have my pay from my time as Royal Bodyguard, and I already intended spending that money on a couple of new chitons."
Alexander gently kissed Hephaistion's lips, before he spoke again. "But the others have taken theirs, and they have not earned it, just accepted it. You have earned it Hephaistion, you have been there for me over the past few days, you have given me strength, sorting the guards, advising, listening…..loving me. I have never known love like this before, Hephaistion."
Hephaistion lifted his head to kiss Alexander's lips. "But two hundred drachmn is too much," he argued.
"Seventy-six drachm," smiled Alexander. "There are seventy-six drachmn left. I sent the servants to buy you things. Look in the chest." He lifted himself up, allowing Hephaistion to move back, kissing his groin as he did so.
Alexander stood up as Hephaistion lifted the lid to the chest. There inside were twenty fine chitons, white, blue and black, folded neatly in a row, undergarments too. By their side four chalmys, one black, one blue, one white, one red were folded, fine brooches on the top of them to secure them. A selection of belts lay beside an assortment of sandals and boots, then brushes and combs and a fine mirror.
Alexander ran his hand around Hephaistion's body. "Seeing you, like this, wearing nothing but your cavalry boots. Perhaps this was a mistake. I should have had you walk around naked."
Hephaistion smiled, but shook his head. "This is too much, Alexander."
"Nothing will ever be too much for you, my Hephaistion," Alexander replied, caressing the side of Hephaistion's face.
Hephaistion stared in to the chest, then reached to touch what was there, as if not believing he had so much. He turned back to Alexander. "It will make you happy if I accept, will it not?"
Alexander embraced Hephaistion. "I couldn't be happier than when I am with you."
"Thank you, Alexander," Hephaistion whispered, kissing Alexander's lips, gently. Then looking into his eyes he moved forward to claim another.
Alexander put his hand up to Hephaistion's chest. "We have the night, Hephaistion. I asked the servants to prepare a bath." He led the way to a small bathroom, but with a bath big enough for two. "We will share the same servants….after all….they will never know which room I am sleeping in. If the guards remain further down the hall, then we can come and go to each other's rooms as we please."
"You have it all worked out, don't you?" grinned Hephaistion, following Alexander in to the bath. He went to say something, then hesitated.
"What is it?"
Hephaistion scooped some water up, let it run down his chest. "The games tomorrow. Hippodamus has invited me to sit with him and his family. I would like to."
Alexander studied Hephaistion's face. "I wanted you to be with me. This is because of the others, how they are with you, isn't it?" He reached for Hephaistion, caressing him. "I do not understand why they cannot see what I see, what others, Thespis, Meda, Hippodamus see in you. They have been my friends for so long."
"And that is why," replied Hephaistion. "We both know, that we can relax and enjoy the day more if we spend it apart."
Alexander considered Hephaistion's words, then nodded. "Go be with Hippodamus then, Hephaistion. But there is a banquet in the evening, I want you by my side for that."
Hephaistion smiled. "Thank you for understanding, and I will be with you tomorrow night." He traced a finger down Alexander's neck. "I have marked you here
Alexander put his hand up to his heart. "You have marked me here too. I am yours, Hephaistion."