Alexander was informed that Hephaistion had survived the night as he was about to leave Aegae, he nodded his understanding and jumped up onto Bucephalus, pushing the stallion into a canter. He felt the need to escape his emotions to see Hephaistion as the assassin, not the potential lover that Aphrodite must have offered him. He had wanted to go again to Hephaistion's room, to see for himself that he would recover, to feel the lapis eyes gaze on him once more. He gave a cry and pushed Bucephalus to a gallop, not caring if his companions followed or not. Only when Aegae was long from sight did he rein the stallion in, though he had no care to join in any conversation or to follow in the hunt of a deer that broke cover from the wood.
Olympias was waiting on the palace steps when he returned, servants having told her of her sons imminent arrival, no doubt. She looked every inch the Queen, her head held proudly, hands folded across each other, held against her slender waist as her white gown caught the breeze and danced around her. Anitpater and Cleitus stood beside her, a little distant from her, and they whispered amongst themselves, Antipater's hands moving as he talked, finger pointing to places unseen.
Dismounting Bucephalus, Alexander embraced his mother, who held her hand up to his face, gazing into his eyes as if she might see all. Alexander quickly averted his eyes and stepped over to his generals, greeting them.
"I was relieved to hear you were unharmed," Antipater said as he held Alexander like a father might greet a son.
Alexander clutched at the general's long chiton, needing the comfort, taking as much as he could before it would seem too much.
"We have one of the Spartans," Cleitus informed him, stepping forward to warmly welcome his King. "The one called Diomache was left to make his own way when the horse he was riding went lame".
Alexander absorbed the information and was about to ask about Laterides and Charilus when Antipater explained further.
"They were in such a hurry to leave that a servant of the house became suspicious, especially when they made no effort to go to the palace to inform anyone of their departure. The servant ran to the palace as they were packing their things and we were able to get soldiers to the port and to halt any ships from leaving. We then went on the hunt for them and discovered they had left by the southern gate, so we gave chase." Antipater paused for breath which gave Cleitus a chance to speak.
"I have questioned Diomache and he pleads his innocence, saying that Hephaistion alone would have thought of this plan to kill you." As Cleitus went to say more, Olympias stepped over to her son, taking his arm.
"The Gods, in their wisdom, let the plot be discovered. Give a slow execution to the assassins, Alexander, to show all what happens to those who would murder kings."
"Or perhaps I should put a wreath on their heads and praise them," Alexander said, biting his lip only after the words were spoken.
Olympias released his arm and turned, walking up the low steps at the entrance to the palace. "You must learn, Alexander," she chided, shaking her head and calling to her servants to follow.
"Did you bring the Spartan back from Aegae?" Cleitus asked, distracted by Olympias and looking proudly at the son of Philip.
"I will if he lives," Alexander said, taking a different route than his mother as he went into the palace.
Craterus, Ptolemy, Seleucus and Perdiccas hurried after him, looking to the other to find something to say, not knowing how to lighten Alexander's mood.
XXOOXX
As Hephaistion's strength slowly returned, more guards were posted to watch over him, curious Macedonian eyes watching the failed assassin as he picked at his food, slept and paced the room.
His stomach ached and the room would spin when he first stood and sometimes he wished Alexander had not found him in time and on other days he was grateful for his life. The sadness that had haunted him seemed to be taken away by the wind that blew through the olive trees which grew outside of the window. He would hold out his hand and feel the heat of the sun and the air swirl around him, lifting itself up to his face so he felt as if life was flowing back into him.
His dreams showed him he was not yet meant for Hades, not for a little while. He knew when he was well enough he would face trial. He was guilty of accepting the dagger and the task, so though he felt life he also felt death close by.
Lost in his thoughts he passed the days, allowed to leave his room to sit in the empty rooms of Aegae, the guards ever vigilant though he gave no thought to running. He knew he had no strength to fight and he had nowhere to go.
When the physician was content with his progress arrangements were made to take him to Pella.
Hephaistion fastened the patched cloak around his shoulders, just as the guards came with chains and locked cuffs upon his wrists and ankles, the chains welded to them limiting his movement, so he had to walk at a shuffle and could not raise his arms. In this way he was taken outside and placed into a chariot, a guard stepping up behind him. Hephaistion looked over to the olive trees, leaves lifting in the breeze, to the sun rising in the sky and the hills that surrounded Aegae with longing and thought it ironic that, when he had come back to life, soon it would be taken from him.
Soldiers and cavalry began to march and Hephaistion found himself on the road to Pella.