Seven days later Ptolemy, Seleucus and Perdiccas were out hunting. It was such a fine morning. They headed away from Pella, towards some woods on the east of the city, where they knew the hunting was good.
As they cantered up to the top of a hill they saw two riders in the distance, and smiled to themselves, hurrying down to greet them.
Seeing them approach the two riders reined in their horses, then they threw their hands up in greeting.
"Ptolemy. I might have known you'd be back at Pella by now, and with these two rogues. Seleucus. Perdiccas." The older of the two riders greeted them, reaching to touch as they joined them. He could have been Cleitus' brother, except this man had more grey in his dark hair, and always swore his mother only ever slept with his father.
"It's good to see you, Hyrtacus," Ptolemy grinned. Then he turned to the other man. "You don't get any prettier with age, do you, Acamas?"
Acamas laughed, revealing several teeth were missing at the front of his mouth. "Have you looked in the mirror lately, Ptolemy?" he retorted.
"So Parmenion is here at last?" Perdiccas asked. "Where is he?"
Hyrtacus nodded back the way they had just come. "Some distance back, but he should be here by tomorrow morning. He sent us on to tell Alexander." He reached out to hold Ptolemy's chiton, to get his attention. "Have you seen Niobe? She was ready to give birth when I left. Do I have a son or daughter?"
"I don't know," Ptolemy answered, wishing he did. He'd been a guest at the wedding, many years ago. Niobe always spoiled him when he called to visit, but he'd been neglectful since his return from exile.
Hyrtacus pulled a face, showing his disappointment, then pushed his horse forward. Ptolemy and the others went with him.
"Were you going hunting?" asked Acamus.
Seleucus looked at the javelin in his hand, as if he had forgotten how it got there. "We thought we would, until you two came along," he said.
Acamus brought his horse up alongside Hyrtacus'. "Fine thing, isn't it? We hurry back from the Hellespont, fastest pace, stopping for nothing, while these three, act like lords."
Hyrtacus winked at Acamas. "I know Alexander too. In a couple of days, we'll be able to idle away our days and go hunting when we like."
"How's Parmenion?" Ptolemy asked, as innocently as possible.
"You mean how did he take the assassination of Attalus? Is that what you're asking?" Hyrtacus steered his horse around a rabbit hole, then looked to Ptolemy. "The man Alexander sent was apparently proficient at his job. Attalus died quickly, then Parmenion spoke to Attalus' men and convinced them that Alexander would be a king worth following. We've marched back here quickly, but we suspect that Alexander will want to leave Pella soon enough."
"He has battles to fight," agreed Perdiccas.
"He's young. Greece must be wondering what he's made of," Hyrtacus said. "What happened to Attalus' nephew? I was wondering what the fates had in store for him. Attalus would have been hoping to gain the throne with him."
"He's dead," Ptolemy replied.
Hyrtacus shook his head. "I guess it had to be done. It's always the way when a new king takes power. How is Eurydice?"
"Dead too. Olympias was responsible, not Alexander," Ptolemy informed him.
"I think Alexander would have let them all live…even the boy. He has not killed all who threaten him, and this boy was just a babe in arms," Perdiccas added.
"She's an evil bitch," Acamus stated, spitting at the ground. "She'll rule if we're not careful. She's the one Alexander should see off."
"There's no chance of that," Perdiccas said, then looked to Ptolemy and Seleucus. "Alexander hasn't been near her since. Everyone at Pella seems to know it. She's sent for him, tried to see him, but he won't have it."
Hyrtacus laughed. "What's got in to Alexander? Hasn't he always listened to the counsel of his mother? Didn't you three get exiled because of her meddling?"
"Hephaistion," Ptolemy replied.
"Hephaistion?" Hyrtacus screwed his face up in puzzlement.
"Alexander's lover," Ptolemy informed him, though the words did not seem right, he felt guilty speaking of Hephaistion in that way. A part of him liked the influence he had on Alexander; he liked the difference he had made to Alexander. "Alexander is in love," he said, adding, "I think Hephaistion is good for him too".
This drew him looks from both Perdiccas and Seleucus. They both grinned at him and nodded their heads. "We think the same," Seleucus said. "We just didn't know how to tell you."
"He lets us have time with Alexander. I feel sorry for him when he leaves the banquet early each night, to give us that time. Alexander wants him to stay, you can tell. Caletor adores him, Hippodamus seeks him out, Antipater thinks well of him and the men who served in the Royal Bodyguard all changed their opinion. So, why are we holding back our friendship? He's not going anywhere, and I for one would hate to see him go. Alexander is changed for the better, sure of himself because Hephaistion is there to assure him," Perdiccas said.
Hyrtacus threw back his head and laughed. "Since when did you start making speeches, Perdiccas? Where is this Hephaistion? I would love to meet him."
OOXXOO
They rode in to Pella, Hyrtacus stopping at his home first, to discover, that after three daughters, he finally had a son. A handsome boy who had been given the name Thestor.
After kissing Niobe, and telling her he would return soon, he re-mounted his horse and headed up to the palace. Acamus went to the barracks, he was to arrange quarters for the returning army.
Alexander was with Hephaistion, in a room used for banquets, where not so many guests would be invited. They were kissing, but soon parted as Ptolemy came in to the room.
Ptolemy felt awkward at breaking such an intimate moment between the two. He looked on Hephaistion, not feeling any disapproval. He smiled, but Hephaistion had looked away. Ptolemy remembered the reason for the interruption. "Look who is here," he said, as Hyrtacus walked in with Seleucus and Perdiccas following.
"Hyrtacus!" Alexander stepped forward and embraced the man. "Where is Parmenion?"
"He'll be here tomorrow morning," Hyrtacus informed him.
"And he is well?"
"Very well." Hyrtacus reached in to a pouch attached to his belt. "I have a letter from him."
Alexander took the letter. "I had no idea if he was returning. I thought I would have heard something before now."
Hyrtacus pulled a face. "He was quieter than usual, but you have his allegiance, Alexander. He was delighted, though, when Philotas arrived. I think it meant a lot to him." Hyrtacus looked about the room, his eyes fixed on Hephaistion, but he said nothing.
Hephaistion feeling Hrytacus' eyes on him, looked to Alexander. "I'll leave you to talk," he said. "I know you have to meet with Antipater soon."
Alexander nodded, knowing there was no point trying to persuade him to stay. He watched him leave, then opened the letter.
OOXXOOHephaistion made his way through the palace, heading out of it. As he came in to the main entrance, four men appeared and blocked his way.
"Are you alone, Hephaistion?"
He turned to see Olympias walking towards him. Beautiful but deadly, she smiled serenely at him. "You are always alone…when you are not with my son. That is a dangerous way to exist. Don't you think so?"
Hephaistion looked to the men, stepping back from them, but they made no move towards him.
"They won't attack without my orders," Olympias soothed, walking in a slow circle around Hephaistion, appraising him. "You are handsome."
"What do you want?" Hephaistion asked, glancing back to the way he had just come, hoping to see somebody…anybody. Nobody came.
Olympias stepped forward, intoxicating Hephaistion with her perfume. She reached up to caress his face, moving close to him, whispering to him. "We are just talking, Hephaistion. If anybody came here, what would they see? Just the two of us, passing the time of day." She smiled and walked away, then turned back to him.
"I want you gone from here, Hephaistion. That is what I want. Do you think that I have waited all of these years to have you take him from me? At the moment when all I planned for can come to fruition? Do you?"
Hephaistion went to step forward, but one of the guard went to draw his sword, warning him to keep still.
"I won't leave him," he said, his voice strong and certain. "I won't leave him to somebody like you."
Olympias groaned with rage, stepping forward. "Alexander is my son. What are you to him? A cheap whore! A nobody! You think you know him? You think you love him? You are nobody to him. He would choose me, over you, any time, Hephaistion."
A servant appeared, and hurried through an open door, anxious not to appear curious.
"I mean Alexander no harm."
"Then leave," Olympias spat. She drew a deep breath, calming herself, then came close to Hephaistion again. This time reaching up to entwine a lock of his hair around her finger. "I see why you captivate my son," she said. "I see how a man like you could benefit by offering himself…to my son." She released his hair. "But I want you gone from here. Leave now. If you know what's best for you." She smiled sweetly, nodding to her guards, who dispersed as quickly as they had appeared.
OOXXOO
Hephaistion watched her go. He hesitated before moving, then stepped outside, leaning against the palace walls while he got his thoughts in order.
She was deadly. For a moment he thought he would be killed. Easily dispatched, like Eurydice, like her children. He was outnumbered, and as she had rightly pointed out, he was alone. What should he do? Go running to Alexander and tell him of the warning? And what would Alexander do then?
Despite it all, Hephaistion chose to ignore the threat. He had been warned, but it only meant he should take more care. Pausanias had threatened him, and that all came to nothing.
As if drawn by the same reaction, as when Pausanias attacked him, he went down to the stables, seeking the solitude. Needing time to think, though this time he was determined not to run away.
He remembered how safe it had felt to come here the first time. He had just wanted to go then, but was too concerned for what Philip might do. The wound in his side had hurt him, his thoughts had been in turmoil.
A couple of grooms were sweeping the floor. One offered to fetch the his horse, but Hephaistion refused.
He went to his mare, patting her, talking to her, then smiled as he remembered his first conversation with Alexander. He had been talking to Bucephalus. This was where they had met.
He moved over to the black stallion, consciously standing where Alexander had been. Reliving the moment. He had sought a place to hide, where he could think and tend to the wound given him by Pausanias. He had thought things could not get worse, when Alexander appeared, just as he had decided to run, to take his horse and go somewhere….anywhere, perhaps with Lysias. Alexander's kindness and concern had made him stay. He had not thought it would lead to love.
"Here is where the King's whore is hiding."
Hephaistion turned to see a large man, coming towards him, a dagger in his hand. Two other men followed him, one with a javelin, the other with a sword. They were Olympias' men.
OOXXOO
There was another way out. He turned back, to see it blocked by a man almost as large as the first. Looking at the large man, who had spoken, Hephaistion saw the grooms hurrying from the stables.
"I have no argument with you," Hephaistion said.
The large man pointed his dagger at him, and laughed. "We have a job to do. We aren't going to kill you, but you'll wish that you were dead." He stepped forward.
Outnumbered, the only option available to Hephaistion was flight. His best chance lay in getting past the man guarding the other door. He turned and ran, hoping to use his speed, to dodge past or knock over the man, so he could make his escape.
He almost made it, but the three men were ready for him, they ran with him, grabbing at his chiton, pulling him round. He fought against them, they used their fists to try to subdue him. When he still kept fighting, the large man, grabbed his hair and smashed the right side of his head in to the brick wall. Hephaistion slid against the wall, but he felt a hand against his throat, lifting him. His hair was held again, his head knocked against the stone, once more. They held him pinned against the wall.
Hephaistion was stunned. The large man pulled him forward. Hephaistion fell to his knees, two of the men grabbed his arms and held them out at each side. Hephaistion blinked to try to clear his vision, seeing the man with the javelin looking around, but then turning to laugh at him. "Like a lamb to the slaughter," he said, the words rang in Hephaistion's head.
The large man had not let go of his hair. He pulled Hephaistion's head back, holding the dagger to his face. "I wonder what Alexander will think of my handiwork? Do you think he will care for you so much when your face is scarred, your nose split."
"Do as she said, take his eyes," urged the man to Hephaistion's right.
"Cut out his tongue first, or his screams will be heard," urged the man to the left.
Hephaistion struggled against them, but he could not think clearly. The moment he gained any chance to move, his legs abandoned him and would not stand.
"Hold him still," ordered the large man. He pulled on Hephaistion's hair, turning him to face him. "I hope you took a good look at Alexander this morning. When I have blinded you, and made you dumb, I'll destroy that pretty face of yours," he turned to laugh with the other men. He smiled. "When I have done with your face, I will cut through the tendons in your arms. How will you do anything? How will you live? How will Alexander stand to look at you?" He placed his hand on Hephaistion's chin.
"No!" Fear made Hephaistion make one final effort to get away. He pulled back from the large man, twisting his body, kicking out at the men who held him. Pushing against one, he got free of the other, but he was grabbed again. Beaten back. The large man took a firmer hold of his hair, brought the dagger up again. He could not move.
"You always were a man who liked to talk, rather than fight, Ephialtes."
It was Ptolemy. Hephaistion was still held firmly, but he managed to see Ptolemy, Seleucus, Perdiccas and five palace guards standing before them. Two of the guards had the man with the javelin, only now it had been taken from him.
"We were just having a little fun," laughed Ephialtes, releasing Hephaistion. "We wouldn't have cut him. We were just joking with him."
"Drop your weapons," Ptolemy ordered, his tone like ice.
Hephaistion saw the dagger drop from Ephialtes hand. One of the guards stepped forward to collect the weapons. Seleucus came to him and helped him to his feet, guiding him to sit on a wooden chest. He heard Ptolemy order the guards to hold the men. Seleucus sat by him, his arm around his waist. Hephaistion looked down, blood was dripping on to his chiton. He put a hand up to his nose.
Ptolemy crouched down in front of him. "No, Hephaistion, your head is bleeding."
Hephaistion moved his hand up to his head, touching it gently, then wincing at the pain it caused. When he brought his hand back, in front of him, it was red with blood.
"Thank you for your help," he said, looking at Ptolemy, too dazed to move his head around.
"We saw them come in to the stables, and knew they were up to no good," Perdiccas said.
Hephaistion saw Ptolemy nod his head in agreement.
"Does he need a surgeon?" Perdiccas asked, crouching down at Ptolemy's side.
"No surgeon," replied Hephaistion. "Don't tell Alexander, either. Not that his mother…"
"That she tried to maim you?" Ptolemy shook his head. "And what do I do with the men who attacked you?"
Hephaistion was finding it hard to think. "Let them go. It's only me that they are after, and it is not long before we leave Pella."
One of the guards came back to report that the men were secure. He looked over at Hephaistion.
"Say nothing of this for the moment," Ptolemy ordered.
"You can't be thinking of releasing them," cried Seleucus. "They will kill him next time. No delay. He has no friends who will protect him…."
"He has Alexander," Perdiccas pointed out.
"But he wants it kept quiet from Alexander. If I were in his position I would kick up such a stink that Alexander would execute the guards and punish Olympias…. somehow," Seleucus said.
"Like Pausanias. Wanting revenge for what Attalus did, because he once slept with the king?" Ptolemy asked.
They looked down at Hephaistion. "They did not cut off my ears," he said, "I can hear every word."
Ptolemy laughed. "And just what do you intend to say to Alexander when he asks how you got injured?"
"That I fell from my horse."
Ptolemy crouched by him again. "We should get you to your rooms, get you cleaned up. Can you stand?"
Hephaistion struggled up, but his legs were still not eager to hold him upright. Perdiccas and Seleucus stood each side to support him. Ptolemy led the way, up the steps, then in to the palace and along the cool hallways.
"Head for my rooms," Seleucus suggested. "We need to stop the bleeding, my rooms are closer."
It was not far. They brought Hephaistion in to the room and sat him on a couch. Perdiccas fetched a clean linen towel, folded it and placed it on Hephaistion's head, encouraging him to hold it in place.
Ptolemy went to fetch water and Seleucus and Perdiccas went with him. Hephaistion could hear them talking over something, a somewhat heated debate. They came back. Ptolemy placed the bowl down on the floor. Then lifted Hephaistion's chin up and shook his head.
"I think it's a foolhardy and brave thing to try to protect Alexander from his mother. But we have a problem with your story, Hephaistion. If you fell from your horse, then how do you explain the handprint on your neck?"
Hephaistion put his fingers to his neck, as if he might feel the bruising.
"Alexander should know," urged Ptolemy.
"I don't ever want to lie to him," whispered Hephaistion. "But this is his mother. Eurydice…his father….it all weighs heavily on him."
"I think that Alexander can cope with anything….with you by his side. We were just coming to find you, to tell you as much. We haven't been particularly welcoming," Ptolemy said.
"We were too harsh….I was harsh," Perdiccas said.
"Tell Alexander you fell from your horse, if you want to. Have Olympias' men released, Hephaistion. We will protect you," pledged Seleucus.
"So you would lie to Alexander, Seleucus?" joked Ptolemy, to lighten the mood. "He was our friend, before he ever was the king….and you would lie to him?" He turned to see Hephaistion smile, then nodded to Seleucus who took two paces back and then hurried from the room.
Hephaistion looked at Ptolemy.
"Let's get you cleaned up."
Perdiccas handed Ptolemy another linen cloth, then Ptolemy stood and had Hephaistion remove the now bloody cloth from his head. Putting the clean cloth in the water, he began to bathe Hephaistion's head, working in silence. He inspected the cut as soon as he had wiped away the blood. "I do not think you will need it stitching. It looks as if it will heal on its own, as soon as we can stop the bleeding. Perdiccas, I need another cloth.
"It's not that Seleucus has an abundance of towels," grumbled, Perdiccas, going to fetch one.
"How are you feeling?" Ptolemy asked.
"The world has just about stopped spinning. Has Seleucus gone for Alexander?"
"You can't hide it from him. Apart from your injuries, too many people witnessed it. The grooms will talk of it, even if the guard keep silent. Somehow or other it would get back to him." Ptolemy dropped the cloth in the bowl, the water turned red. He took another cloth from Perdiccas, folding it over then urged Hephaistion to hold it in place, once more. Then he wrung out the water and began to clean Hephaistion's face. "Your chiton is ruined."
Hephaistion looked down and sighed. "It is one I wore at Methone. The last one I had from that time."
"Do you miss those days?" asked Perdiccas, sitting alongside Hephaistion.
Hephaistion laughed gently. "I miss the quiet. This is the second time I have been attacked at Pella. After the first, I told myself it would not happen again. But for what I have found….what I have….it is worth it. Though, I sometimes wish he was a goatherd."
Ptolemy and Perdiccas grinned at the idea of Alexander herding goats, glancing at each other. They had totally misjudged the man.
Hephaistion moved back a little on the couch, he winced as he did so.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?"
"Just bruised. What will Alexander do?"
Ptolemy reached to unclip Hephaistion's chiton, ignoring Hephaistion's protest to leave it be. "You mean to his mother's guard? I would say they are dead men. He plans to leave here in a few days, he will not leave Olympias with any means of doing harm. Antipater will have enough to think of. As for Olympias, he has not seen her since Eurydice. Has he?"
Hephaistion shook his head, then groaned.
"Hephaistion. You took a good beating," Ptolemy said, running his hand across the bruised ribs.
The door opened, and Alexander stormed in, followed by Seleucus. He said nothing, just went to Hephaistion's side, assessing the injuries, lifting the pad to inspect the cut.
"I am alright, Alexander," Hephaistion assured him.
Alexander ignored him, turning to Ptolemy. "Did they mean to kill him?"
"If they had, they would have had the job done before we could get there," Ptolemy replied. "They meant to maim him, but he obviously fought hard."
"My mother's guard. How many?"
"Four," Perdiccas answered. "Areilycus, Leonteus, Panthous and Chalcon."
Alexander nodded, then crouched down in front of Hephaistion. "And you? How are you?"
"I am not hurt so badly," smiled Hephaistion. "Thanks to Ptolemy, Seleucus and Perdiccas."
"You held them off. Fought well." said Seleucus.
"I should have been more careful." Hephaistion reached for Alexander's hand. "I did not mean to bring this on you, I am sorry for it."
Alexander tentatively caressed the left side of Hephaistion's face, his thumb tracing the outline of the bruises appearing there. "I have had to deal with this all of my life, Hephaistion." He smiled gently. "But for her to do this to you…" He stood up and moved away from Hephaistion, moving a hand through his hair as he thought of what to do. Finally, he looked to Ptolemy. "The men are under guard?" he asked.
Ptolemy nodded.
"Then let's go see them to Hades," Alexander said. "Seleucus. Perdiccas. Stay here and take care of Hephaistion, if you will. Do not let him sleep. Send a servant for a surgeon, to check him. Ptolemy and I will return when we are done. He gazed on Hephaistion for a long moment and then was gone.
Silence filled the room. Seleucus came to Hephaistion's side, moving the bowl away. "You didn't say anything, to stop him."
Hephaistion closed his eyes. His head ached, his body was complaining at the beating it had taken. Opening his eyes, he looked at Seleucus. "Ptolemy is right. Olympias must be controlled. I think that she was capable of having Philip killed; she definitely had Eurydice and her children murdered. Somebody capable of that…if they are not stopped, who knows what they will do.
"She was always jealous of the time we spent with Alexander," said Perdiccas, sitting down by Hephaistion. "We would always make our excuses and leave, whenever she found us at play, with Alexander…when we were boys," he added. "I still feel like making excuses now, when she is near."
"She must have been delighted when we were exiled," Seleucus remarked.
"What? And have Alexander here, with Philip. Alone? I don't think so," laughed Perdiccas
"He wasn't alone for long," said Seleucus, smiling at Hephaistion. He put a hand on Hephaistion's shoulder and stood up. "Lie back on the couch, Hephaistion. But do not sleep. I'll fetch a cup of water for you, while Perdiccas gets a servant to fetch a surgeon."
Perdiccas stood up. "How come I am everybody's slave today?" he grumbled, but went to find a servant anyway.
Hephaistion lay back on the couch. The pillows supporting him, felt good, and he could have easily slept. He still held the folded towel in place.
Seleucus returned with the water, and handed him the cup, then sat at the end of the couch, watching him. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Just sore and bruised. My head aches," Hephaistion replied, then smiled. "But it might have been much worse, if you had not saved me."
Seleucus nodded. Perdiccas returned, and poured a cup of wine for himself, Seleucus refused one. "The surgeon will not be long," he said.
"I don't need a surgeon," Hephaistion replied.
"Orders of the king," smiled Seleucus. "Let's hope he is not of the eager kind, who will stitch you for a scratch."
"King's orders; King's surgeon," replied Perdiccas. He looked at Hephaistion. "Had you not thought that something like this might happen?" he asked.
Hephaistion shrugged his shoulders. "I had no choice either way. I would not leave Alexander. Not now. Not since I realised how much I cared. I used to think that I had everything. I thought myself happy at Methone. When I came to Pella, and Philip told me I would stay, I thought it was the end of my world, but Alexander offered friendship…"
"And then love," Seleucus said, finishing Hephaistion's sentence with the words he was not going to say. He opened his mouth to ask a question but then the surgeon came in to the room.
Hephaistion sat up on the couch, allowing the examination to take place. The towel pad was removed, the bleeding had stopped,
The surgeon, Philip, had Hephaistion stand, and then inspected the bruising, pressing on the ribs. Giving a wry smile, when Hephaistion gasped, knowing he had been trying to hide the pain.
"Just rest is needed," he said. "No ribs are cracked or broken. They are just badly bruised, and the head wound will heal without any intervention from myself.
"Thank you." Hephaistion smiled with relief, not wishing to have the surgeon stitch anything. He clipped his chiton back in to place, so that it would hide the bruising.
Perdiccas went to pour Hephaistion a cup of wine, but Philip stopped him, ordering just water for the remainder of the day, and for Hephaistion not to sleep until it grew dark. With that advice, he left them.
"Well, it's turned in to quite a day," Seleucus said, leaning back on the couch, now that Hephaistion had chosen to stay sitting up. "To think that we were going hunting, then met Hyrtacus, came back here and then found Olympias' men attacking Hephaistion."
"I didn't think they would attack so soon," Hephaistion said, then bit his lip, he had not intended saying anything. He hoped they would not notice, but Perdiccas picked up on his words.
"Had you had a threat from Olympias?"
Hesitating. Hephaistion gazed up at Perdiccas. "Just before I went to the stables. But I said I would not leave Alexander. So I suppose I brought it on myself. And I did not mean for you to know, and I do not want Alexander to find out. She is his mother, after all.
As he finished speaking, the door opened and Alexander entered, followed by Ptolemy.
Hephaistion stood up. Alexander seemed anxious…agitated. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"The surgeon has been. I'll live," he replied, and smiled.
Alexander nodded. "I need you to come with me," he said.
Seeing the puzzlement on Hephaistion's face, Ptolemy cut in. "The men who attacked you are dead."
"Good riddance," Seleucus remarked.
Alexander stepped up to Hephaistion, placing a hand on his shoulder. "If you need to rest…"
"I'll come with you," Hephaistion replied. He looked to Alexander's companions. "Thank you. I won't forget," he said, before going with Alexander.
OOXXOO
As they walked through the hallways of the palace, Alexander tentatively reached for Hephaistion's hand, taking it, then letting it go. He still seemed agitated.
"Are we going to your mother?" Hephaistion asked.
"Trust me," he replied. "Stay close to her."
He turned down a hallway, where new guards, Alexander's men, were stationed outside a doorway. They saluted their king as Alexander entered unannounced.
Olympias stood, putting down the embroidery she had been working on. She looked surprised to see her son, and signalled for her servants to leave them alone.
Alexander waited for the doors to be shut before he turned on his mother. Going to her, Hephaistion by his side.
"Don't act surprised to see me," he began. "Your guards, your assassins, are dead and here, you see, Hephaistion lives."
Olympias gave a quick glance to Hephaistion, not able to hide her disgust. She noted the blood. Her plan had almost succeeded.
"I gave no orders to kill him," she replied, looking at Alexander. "And you have murdered my guards. They were loyal to me, that is all. Your love for him blinds you. I am the one who loves you, Alexander. Only I. And you never listen to me anymore, because of him."
Alexander grasped her neck. "Does your murderous soul never rest? Do you think me so shallow, that I would have stopped loving Hephaistion, if you had maimed him? Were you so jealous of Eurydice? Did you hate my father so much?"
"I did not order his murder," Olympias was struggling to contain her temper.
Alexander glared at his mother, then released her neck, pushing her away from him. He stepped away from her, going to the balcony. Then he turned back at her.
"You filled my head with your hatred and your lies. You evil woman. Never giving me any peace, even when I was at Mieza, you would write of plots, filled with venom, never leaving me be."
"You are my son," screamed Olympias, going to him. "My avenger, Alexander. My avenger. And now you are king, you turn against me." She pointed at Hephaistion. "You listen to him. A cheap whore. Who only loves you for what you can give him. I love you, Alexander. Only I." She tried to embrace him, but Alexander pushed her away, and went back to Hephaistion.
"What would you have me do?" he asked. "This love you speak of. It is not love. Hephaistion has shown me what it is to be loved. And your cheap words, mean nothing to me.
"Then they should have maimed him. I wish they had succeeded," Olympias spat. "Then we would have seen just how much you loved him."
Alexander pulled the dagger from his belt, turning it he placed it in to Olympias' hand. "Then do the deed yourself. Don't send others to do your work. Here, take it."
Olympias' hand closed on the dagger, she held it as if to strike, but seemed to be fighting a battle, to contain her temper.
"Now is the only chance you'll get," Alexander said. This was enough to goad Olympias in to action. With a cry she lunged for Hephaistion, who held his ground. She would have struck him, but Alexander quickly stepped between them, grabbing her wrist, though not in time to stop the dagger piercing his skin, over his heart. Blood appeared on Alexander's chiton. Olympias screamed and dropped the dagger, falling to her knees at what she had almost done.
Hephaistion came round to Alexander's side, checking the wound. Concerned. Alexander's eyes were on his mother.
"I love this man. Hephaistion." he said, his voice calm. "If you kill him, then you kill me. For he has given me life, in a way that you never did. He helped me to find myself, to be who I wanted to be, not who you wanted, or my father wanted. Hephaistion. I thank the Gods every day that I found him."
He reached down and picked up the dagger, placing it back in his belt. Then he turned and exited the room. Only Hephaistion looked back at the broken woman, as he left.
OOXXOO
Hephaistion caught up with Alexander, to walk alongside him. He said nothing, there was nothing that he could say. He would wait for Alexander; wait for him to want to speak.
He thought that they would return to Alexander's quarters, but instead Alexander headed for his father's rooms. Left unguarded now. He noticed Alexander hesitate before opening the doors and stepping inside. Alexander turned to Hephaistion then, tears in his eyes.
"I never knew what my father dealt with," he said, walking over to his father's desk, touching it, with reverence. "I loved her, and she blinded me to how great my father was. She blinded him too. I can see that now, why he always accused me of being like her, of acting on her behalf."
He picked up a map of Persia, studied it momentarily, then placed it on the desk, running his hand over it. "On the eve of his death, we were reconciled. I'm glad for that, though how many years were wasted through distrust and doubt?" He sighed. "Now I get the chance to lead," he turned to gaze on Hephaistion. "A part of me is glad for the opportunity; the other part of me wishes my father were still here."
"I wanted to go to Mieza," Hephaistion confessed. "If I had been free to make my own choice, I would have. But my father wanted me to go to Methone and be taught by General Calamis. A promise made, to be kept. When he died, I felt some relief that now I could make my own choices in life, but I miss him the same, Alexander. I think it is the way of things.
Alexander looked about the room, then smiled softly at Hephaistion. "Remember when I came here, to stop my father…"
Hephaistion looked away from Alexander, his face flushing. "I could not say no to him, not when I had agreed to it." He turned back to Alexander. "But I remember how you saved me, and how you found me at the river, and offered friendship."
"I loved you then," Alexander confessed. "But I did not realise it, until we visited Mieza for the first time."
Hephaistion grinned, walking up to Alexander and embracing him. "When you tried to kiss me. You should not have lost your resolve, Alexander. I think that is when I loved you, though."
"I am not afraid to kiss you now," Alexander said, smiling.
"In your father's rooms. With your father's shade more than likely watching us?" Hephaistion teased.
"He knew my feelings. He would give us his blessing," replied Alexander, leaning closer to Hephaistion's lips, but not going any further.
Laughing, Hephaistion gazed in to Alexander's eyes. "You are too sure of yourself by far, these days."
"I am the King."
"King of Macedon," whispered Hephaistion.
"And soon, beyond Macedon," murmured Alexander.
"Persia?" Hephaistion asked, his lips now so close to Alexander's.
"And beyond," Alexander replied, unable to resist any further he claimed Hephaistion's lips, and gave himself to passion.
OOXXOO
EPILOGUE
Parmenion arrived at the palace of Pella, with the army marching behind him. As he climbed the steps, Alexander came to greet him, and before the army, they embraced. Cheers went up, cries of allegiance to Alexander.
Side by side, they climbed the steps then. Parmenion greeted Cleitus and Antipater, then joked with Alexander's companions and looked with interest on Hephaistion, having already heard from Antipater of the strength he had been to Alexander.
Ptolemy, jokingly embraced Hephaistion, who laughed and pulled away, only to be grabbed by Seleucus.
A banquet waited for them. The army was dismissed, to go home and rest for just a few days, before they left.
Alexander went in to the palace with Parmenion, unable to resist a glance in Hephaistion's direction. Smiling as he saw the acceptance of his companions. All was well. They had survived the changes and the promise of a glorious future lay before them.
THE END