At the theatre that evening Alexander could not help but look to where Hephaistion sat with Perdiccas, a row in front, a little to the right. He was distracted from the play but he knew it well and Thettalus' performance was faultless. He was more enchanted by the way Hephaistion's hair shone in the evening light, the way he watched the story unfold, apparently lost in it.
Alexander looked to Thettalus as he declared the love of Achilles for Patroclus and then he gazed back at Hephaistion, who was looking down, and thought he saw tears glisten in the lapis eyes. He felt alarm as he realised that melancholy still held Hephaistion in it's grip and resolved to talk to him when he could, to find out what troubled him, he wanted to know everything.
Ptolemy, who sat on Alexander's right leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Perdiccas says Hephaistion is not seeking love."
Alexander shrugged and feigned disinterest, knowing that Perdiccas was a shrewd judge of character and not wishing to appear a fool if his feelings were known and then he was rejected.
"Perhaps Achilles had a challenge to win the love of his Patroclus," Ptolemy said, laughing softly. "but I have never seen you so distracted, you normally hang on every word that Thettalus says".
"He spoke today."
"Should we throw a banquet to celebrate?" grinned Ptolemy, then his face grew serious and he lowered his voice even further. "Loving a Spartan is not a wise thing to do, Alexander."
"A Spartan of Leonidas' blood," Alexander replied.
Ptolemy nodded. "So that is how you plan to have him accepted, if you take him."
Alexander looked over to Hephaistion, in time to see him leaving, making his way from the theatre. "It has not happened, it might not. There is no point in worrying about anything until you are faced with the reality of a situation."
"Oh but I know you," sighed Ptolemy, "once you set your mind to something it generally happens".
"But love is new to me, Ptolemy, I am lost for how to win."
OOXXOO
Hephaistion made his way back to the palace alone, the guards ignoring him as he made his way inside, walking along the hallways and climbing the stairs to his room.
As he arrived he went over to the chest and lifted the lid to reach for the dagger, holding it in his hand to watch the metal glow in the soft light of a lamp a servant had lit earlier. He slid the blade in to his belt, adjusting the red chalmys to hide it then left the room, making his way to Alexander's rooms. Perdiccas had guided him to them earlier that evening as they went to meet Alexander and make their way down to the theatre.
As Alexander was not there the guards had moved away and he easily found his way inside, happy to find no servants waiting for their king, guessing they would not expect him yet. He looked around and went over to a table where there was writing material and placing the dagger on the table he sat down and proceeded to write. He then wrapped the parchment around the dagger and placed the parcel upon the table before leaving the room, unseen.
OOXXOO
After congratulating Thettalus on a fine performance, Alexander excused himself from the drinking and gambling that had been planned and went to his rooms.
He leaned against the wooden door a moment and looked around, then stepped over to the bed just as a servant arrived to ask if he required anything. Alexander shook his head and dismissed the man. He unclipped the gold brooch that held his chlamys in place and let the woollen cloak fall upon the bed. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, then stretched a little, kicking off his boots and thinking he might read a little before he slept.
He looked to the table and saw the package upon it and he frowned as he wondered what it was, then stepped over to it. He felt the weight of it at first and carefully opened it to discover the gold dagger, then he saw the letter written on the parchment.
Alexander
I know now that you will be a great king, not the tyrant I was told you were. I was sent to kill you so that Sparta might regain it's past glories. It is not something I can do. I wish you nothing but the best, I wish you victory in Persia.
Hephaistion
Taking the dagger, placing it in his own belt Alexander hurried from his room, calling for his guard to follow, to where he had been told that Hephaistion was lodging. He opened the door his mind full of questions he wanted the answers to. Hephaistion would have to be arrested, held to gain those answers, to find out who else was involved in the plot to murder him.
As he stepped in to the room he saw Hephaistion by the window, leaning against the wall. He turned and Alexander could saw the small bottle he held in his hand.
"What have you done?" he asked, striding forward and taking the bottle with no resistance.
The lapis eyes stared at him and Hephaistion sighed deeply, then began to slide down the wall.
Alexander went to lift him calling to the guard to help him. Two men came forward and lifted Hephaistion to his feet, holding him upright.
"I took hemlock," Hephaistion said, his voice barely a whisper. "I am done with this world, Alexander".
Alexander turned to a soldier who stood in the doorway. Fetch salt and a jug of water, get a servant to heat wine and get some mustard flowers. Be quick!" He turned his attention back to Hephaistion. "Don't let him lie down, hold him up," he ordered.
He grasped Hephaistion's chin and looked in to the lapis eyes, which blinked as though they were struggling to see him clearly. He was aware his hand shook, he had been so angry and now all he felt was concern that the man before him might die. He turned the bottle, tilting it to find some of the contents still remained, dropped on to the floor. Hephaistion had not drunk all of the poison but possibly enough. Socrates had died of hemlock poisoning, quickly they said, and he wondered how potent the poison had been, if it were the same. He should have called for a physician, he sent another guard to fetch one.
"You're no tyrant, Alexander...they all said you were a tyrant." Hephaistion looked down at his legs, he appeared to try to move them then he looked to Alexander. "The poison is working its magic, I deserve this death."
Alexander threw the bottle to the floor. "You're not going to die, I won't allow it."
The guard returned with the jug and salt. Alexander reached for a cup pouring some water and then adding a good amount of salt.
"Don't," Hephaistion said, knowing what would happen.
He began to struggle against the guard as Alexander approached with the cup, taking his chin once more and forcing it back, lifting the cup to the perfect lips, making him drink. Hephaistion choked at first, then swallowed, then fought against the next mouthful. Ptolemy came in to the room, followed by Perdiccas.
"What's happening?" Ptolemy asked.
"He took hemlock," Alexander explained, saying no more as he concentrated on his task.
Hephaistion began to heave and Perdiccas came over with a bowl, holding it before him, a look of disbelief on his face at what was happening.
"Oh there is more," Alexander said, pulling the dagger from his belt and throwing it on the bed, next to the folded Spartan cloak that lay there. "Hephaistion was to be my assassin."
Hephaistion was sick in the bowl, no sooner was he done than Alexander forced his head back and made him drink again.
"If he took hemlock then he has killed himself," Ptolemy said.
"Remember what Aristotle said? That if you purge the body of poison in time there is a chance?"
"I thought that was a theory," Perdiccas said, frowning as Hephaistion heaved again but holding the bowl before him as he leaned forward and emptied the contents of his stomach.
Again Alexander forced him to drink and again he was sick. Hephaistion fell against the guard, unable to stand.
"Did you get word from someone about this? Did Antipater send a messenger?" Ptolemy asked.
"No," Alexander said, softly, his eyes not leaving Hephaistion's face, now pale, his eyes appearing not to see him. "Hephaistion left a note, then came here to kill himself." He caressed the side of Hephaistion's face. "Put him on the bed but keep him upright."
One guard lifted Hephaistion up in to his arms and stepped to the bed, Perdiccas lifting the pillows to make him comfortable, perhaps not quite believing what he had heard. He reached for the cloak and unfolded it placing it over Hephaistion's legs, looking to the patches upon it.
Hephaistion laughed weakly. "Now you know me for what I am," he said.
As he spoke a servant stepped in to the room holding a tray with the hot wine and a bowl of mustard flowers. He looked around bemused as Alexander took the tray from him, then he offered to take the bowl from Perdiccas.
"It might be needed yet," stated Perddiccas, "fetch another."
The servant hurried off.
Alexander added a good handful of mustard flowers to the cup of wine and sat beside Hephaistion, holding the cup to his lips. Hephaistion drank the wine without protest but Alexander suspected it was because he thought the hemlock was past reversing. He rested his head back on the pillows.
"How many were involved?" he asked Hephaistion.
"Two more in Sparta, Diomache, Laterides and Charilus. They had been told at Delphi, that a son of Leonidas would strike you to the heart."
Alexander stared at Hephaistion, his lips forming words that he did not say, he looked down at the cup as if distracted.
Hephaistion gazed at him, then flinched in sudden pain before beginning to heave again. Perdiccas came forward, holding the bowl though it seemed that just the wine was brought back now.
Alexander watched. Had it been such a short time since he looked to Hephaistion in the theatre and thought he was looking upon his Patroclus? He regretted calling for the guard to follow, that he had not found Hephaistion alone, kept quiet about the plan to kill him. Hephaistion was such a poor assassin, never taking the chances that he had, not using any tricks to earn favour. He looked down to the cloak, his hand straying over the patches sewn upon it, then running along it to see a different shade of red, to find a stain of blood.
"Iphiclus," Hephaistion murmured.
Alexander looked up, Hephaistion was looking at his hand resting over the stain.
The servant returned with a clean bowl and took the full one away, frowning a little at the contents of it. Alexander held the cup of wine to Hephaistion's lips, encouraging him to drink.
"He's going to die," Perdiccas whispered. "I can't believe he would have done you harm, Alexander."
"Best he does," sighed Ptolemy. "Alexander, if he survives he will only face an execution." He held his hand up and took Alexander's wrist. "Let him go."
"Ptolemy. It is for Alexander to decide," Perdiccas said.
"You can't let him live," Ptolemy said, his face showing he realised he had gone too far with his advice. He released Alexander's arm and stepped back.
Alexander glared up at Ptolemy.
"I'll go find the physician," Ptolemy murmured, then left the room.
"He means well...you know he only thinks of what is best for you?" Perdiccas said.
"I know," sighed Alexander. "If Hephaistion survives...if he survives...then I will have him placed in chains and guarded while we discover everything." Then as if remembering some of his guard were still in the room he dismissed them. Hephaistion was in no state to be a danger.
Hephaistion began to heave again though nothing came back. With a look to each other, Alexander and Perdiccas lifted him from the bed and held him upright, trying to urge him to move his legs, to show some sign of improvement, but Hephaistion struggled just to stay on his feet even held as he was.
Craterus came in to the room, adding to the numbers gathered there. "A messenger has arrived with a letter from Antipater, he said he has to see you urgently."
Alexander nodded his understanding. "The physician should be here soon, Perdiccas. Stay and watch, then come and report to me." Perdiccas didn't get the chance to answer as Hephaistion heaved again.