Title: Even If It Were Hate
Chapter 3
When Hephaistion was climbing up the mountain with Cassander, Alexander was in the woods with Philotas searching for a wild boar. After a long and patient tracking along the brook, they finally encountered a beast that was drinking water at the small pool by the stream.
Alexander crept up to the boar while closing the distance in between. A branch snapped behind him, and the startled beast charged at him. Alexander did not have time to think. He instinctively threw a spear at the beast aiming in between the eyes.
The wild boar hit the ground, and flipped over a couple of times before drawing the last breath. It was a clean kill. It was then, Alexander heard a whistling noise behind him. He tilted his head in alarm, and gasped when he felt a burning sensation on his jaw.
"What did you do that for?"
Alexander yelled at Philotas, and grabbed him by the chiton at his throat.
"I wanted to make sure that he was dead."
"It was not necessary! He was already dead!" Alexander spat out.
"I am sorry."
The flat tone of the voice and defiant eyes told Alexander otherwise. Philotas was not sorry a bit for nearly hurting Alexander. Instead, it seemed that he wanted so badly to have his arrow also in presence on the dead boar.
It told Alexander that Philotas was the kind of person who did anything that was to his advantage. He could not be trusted completely. Alexander felt his body tighten up with discomfort. He had seen the dark and merciless side of his friend.
oooOooo
"Class, when I call your names, you will come up and present your project, and explain the four attributes of your chosen object."
A wave of excitement traveled through the class. It was always fun to see other people's presentation. Besides, they were all eager to show what they had accomplished.
"First, group is Harpalus and Perdiccas. What is your object?"
"Our object is this ring."
Harpalus put his hand in the air to show a ring on his finger.
"The matter is agate we found at the river bank, the form is oval, the moving cause is the lapidary who cuts and polishes the stone, and the final cause is to be worn as an adornment."
Perdiccas explained enthusiastically. He sounded as if he was just happy to be a part of it.
"Well done."
Seeing the flushed face of Harpalus, Aristotle hoped that he would not get too carried away chasing wealth. Too much attachment to material goods and an obsession with wealth would destroy life.
"Next, Nearchus and Ptolemy."
"Our object is white mulberry. The matter is also white mulberry, the form is a cluster of little fruits, the moving cause is a hand, and the final cause is to be eaten like this.'
With this, Nearchus popped a berry into his mouth receiving cheerful laughter and applause from the audience.
"This is an example of the simplest and the easiest way of living. Also an example of less is better."
"Yeah, and you are the master of doing nothing."
Ptolemy's added comments drew more laughter and jeering. Aristotle narrowed his eyes. Although this young man acted nonchalantly, he understood more profoundly than others had thought of him.
"Cassander and Hephaistion."
"Our object is juniper tree. We could not bring the tree, so Hephaistion draw a picture of it."
Hephaistion showed his drawing to the class, and explained.
"The matter is juniper berry, the form is vertical trunk with horizontal branches, the moving cause is bird who eats the fruit and discards the seed on the ground, and the final cause is to become a tree."
"Very interesting, wouldn't you say? Nearchus and Ptolemy, Cassander and Hephaistion, both teams chose a berry as the matter, but the final causes are totally different. Yesterday, we learned that the matter could be different depending on the final cause, but today, we learned that the final cause could be different depending on the moving cause. What do you think it means, Hephaistion?"
"I think it means that there is more than one choice, and each choice brings a different outcome."
"Exactly. Life is a series of choices. The outcome differs based on what you choose, so you should choose wisely. And remember, there is often more than one right choice."
Aristotle also noticed the drawing of the bird nestled in hands. It must have been Cassander's hands since Hephaistion was sketching. Being amazed with the gentle gesture from an unexpected person, the master smiled warmly at Cassander. Embarrassed Cassander puffed and looked away while blushing slightly.
"Finally, Alexander and Philotas."
Aristotle called the names of the last group while suppressing the chuckles. He was still amused by Cassander. It was wonderful to be young.
The place was filled with mouth-watering aroma as Alexander and Philotas brought a large pot. They set it on the stone table.
"As you can see and smell, our object is wild boar stew that Alexander and I killed yesterday."
Alexander glared at Philotas, but instead of protesting, he started to explain.
"The matter is wild boar, the form is strips in the liquid, the moving force is human who killed and cooked, and the final cause is to be eaten. Let's have lunch!"
With everybody's cheer, the class was naturally dismissed. Aristotle did not miss the burn mark under Alexander's jaw line when Alexander tilted his head back to greet the cheers.
It was obvious that the feather of an arrow caused the mark, and Aristotle was concerned about Philotas. It proved that the son of the General was too greedy for his own fame. He was afraid that Philotas might cause a trouble for Alexander some day.
He also worried for Alexander. It was a regal choice to sacrifice the life of others for the prosperity of his people. However, there was a fine line between war and slaughter, and if Alexander ever made a mistake to cross the line, then he would become a mere tyrant, not a heroic conqueror. Maybe he would choose the golden mean as the next topic of discussion.
oooOooo
The tragedy happened in the early spring of their last year in Mieza while Alexander was absent from school. He was requested by the King to go to Athens as an ambassador. At that time, King Philip was trying to unite the force of Greece in order to prepare for the expedition to Persia.
All of a sudden, Hephaistion was called back home by the message of his father's illness. His father had been injured at the last battle, but he had looked almost recovered, and was doing well last time Hephaistion visited home. So, it was a great surprise for Hephaistion to receive such news from his mother explaining his father's condition had taken a turn for the worse.
Hephaistion ran his horse hard without slowing down despite the sun having already set, and the darkness settling in. He could hardly see the road before him, but he did not care. He prayed to the gods all the way. His heart beat so hard that he could hear the thumping sounds in his ears. He had to adjust his grip of the rein repeatedly since he was losing its hold because of the sweats on his palms.
After it seemed to be taking forever, Hephaistion finally arrived at his home. As soon as he handed his horse over to the groom, he rushed into the house.
"Father!"
Hephaistion froze to the spot as he saw his mother waiting for him at the entrance of the house. He instantly understood that he was too late. His mother's pale face with eyes full of tears told him everything.
"Go on and pay him respect."
Hephaistion entered his father's chamber. He still could not believe that his father was gone even seeing the lifeless body in front of his eyes. He imagined that his father would open his eyes and smile at him any moment. It was not until he took his father's hand in his and felt the stiffness of the decease that his father's death became real.
Pressing his father's hand against his forehead while holding it with both his hands, Hephaistion wept silently. He did not know how long had passed before his mother's voice brought him back.
"Hephaistion, this is for you. Your father had been writing a letter to you every year on your birthday. This is the last one he wrote, and the rest are in this chest."
She handed him a scroll and a small chest.
"Why had he never given them to me?"
"Because he did not need to."
With this, his mother put her hands on his shoulders and squeezed them tightly before leaving him alone again. Hephaistion opened the scroll.
My Dear Son,
I am sorry that you had to read this. Because, I know that when you read this, I can no longer talk to you in person.
I wanted to say so many things, but it is funny that when I tried to put them in writing, everything I said seemed to be insignificant and not enough. So, I will say just one thing.
No matter what happens, believe in yourself.
Life will not be so easy for you if you would like to be Patroclus to Alexander's Achilles. Do not be surprised. I know what you and Alexander have been dreaming. Many people would be jealous of you, and would not see the real you, not only because of what you are to Alexander, but also because of your beauty. Beauty for a woman is a treasure, but beauty for a man is a challenge.
Try to consider it as a gift from a god instead, not as a curse. Learn to use it to your advantage to make you stronger. As Alexander can make the impossible possible with his passion, you have the power to turn a disadvantage into an advantage with determination and self-control. Remember that you are the only one who could be the match to Alexander. Only you two together can make invincible visible.
Do not weep for me my son. My life was a joy with two precious gifts from a god; you and your mother. The only regret I have is that I have not had a chance to fight with you side by side at the battlefield as I had promised you.
My son, be strong, and carry out your faith. I'll be always in your blood.
Forever,
Father
Hephaistion wiped his tears and promised himself. He would live a life that would make his father proud. He also understood that this was the life of the soldier; to live with death by his side, and to be prepared for bereavement.
King Philip provided a glorious funeral pyre for his fallen General. All his friends from Mieza were there; even master Aristotle attended the funeral. Yet, Hephaistion felt so lonely. The only person he wanted to be with was missing. Alexander was still in Athens.
The flame enveloped his father's body, and the blaze shot up in the morning sky. The white smoke climbed up so high until it faded into the thin clouds. Hephaistion still felt that it was not real but he was dreaming.
The smell of death that was the mixture of burning cedar and flesh spilled over the ground, and it gradually crept up to cover the nostrils. All of a sudden the death became real and Hephaistion shuddered.
At that moment, he felt Cassander move closer to him and stand right behind him. Hephaistion was grateful for Cassander who was close enough to him to repel anybody who tried to embrace him, everybody had avoided being too close to Cassander, yet far enough to give him the space to keep sanity.
Hephaistion was on the verge of breaking down, and he could not hold it if he had felt the warmth of a human body against him. He could not do that just yet, not in front of his mother. He had to be strong for her. After all, he was now the head of the house. Hephaistion looked up. The orange glow seemed to burn the sky in eternity.
TBC