The word spread quickly through the camp: "Alexander had no interest at all in seeing Darius's wife, the most beautiful woman in the world."

On the morning after the Battle of Issus, however, Alexander agreed to meet the captured royal family of Persia. He took Hephaestion and Cleitus along.

The queen Sisygambis, senior member of the family, came before Hephaestion.

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"Noble Alexander," she implored him, eyes brimming with unshed tears. Hephaestion bit his tongue.

She reached out as though to touch Hephaestion, then seemed to compose herself, probably fearing retribution. "Noble Alexander, I come to plead for the lives of my family."

Hephaestion looked to Alexander.

By this point, snickers and murmurs had broken out among Alexander's men who watched from outside the tent.

She trembled, fearing that they were mocking her cause. As she continued to plead before Hephaestion, the laughter grew stronger.

One of her attendants started to correct her.

Taking pity on her, Alexander stepped forward.

As always, Hephaestion was dressed like a king, for Alexander spoiled him.

Sisygambis's eyes widened at the realization of her error. Yet, with a kind smile, he assured her: "You were not mistaken, Mother; this man too is Alexander."

It was surprising that this did not happen more often, for Alexander and Hephaestion tended to dress the same and walk very closely together.

He smiled at Hephaestion, who smiled in turn. It was not just that the king treated Hephaestion as an equal, trusting and respecting him, but rather that they were two halves of the same soul, as Aristotle had observed. Alexander often thought that, in fact, Hephaestion was the better half.

The assembled crowd chuckled, drawing Alexander back to the Sisygambis and her family.

Parmenion, however, pulled Alexander aside.

"Alexander, I've known you since you were born. I supported you at your father's death. At the very least, for Zeus's sake and out of respect for the council that chose you king, give us a Macedonian heir," he implored the king.

***

Alexander attempted to capture Tyre the next year, but his initial attempt failed. It took him seven months of blockading and besieging the city before he was able to build a causeway and breach the city's fortifications. These months were gruesome and bloody for his men, who were assailed constantly by the Tyrians. Four hundred of his men perished, and Alexander was greatly grieved and enraged. When he finally breached the city's defences, he destroyed it. He spared those who sought sanctuary in the temple and took the men as soldiers, but showed no mercy for the rest.

Alexander had grown to rely on Hephaestion's diplomatic skill and tactical genius. He was his closest friend, confidant and strategist. So great was his trust in Hephaestion's judgement that he turned to Hephaestion and invited him to nominate any man he wished to rule Tyre after they left. Hephaestion tested this trust by nominating a poor man - a good and wise man named Ballonymus - and the men looked on with awe as Alexander accepted the decision unquestioningly. Not only did Alexander make Ballonymus, also known as Abdalonymus, the king of Tyre, but he entrusted his fleet to Hephaestion.

After the massacre of Tyre, the cities en route to Egypt immediately surrendered. Only Gaza resisted, with heavy fortifications that required another siege. Hephaestion skirted the coast and headed for Gaza while Alexander led the army overland. Once again, Alexander made several attempts before breaching the stronghold, and the men of military age joined his army.

Whenever a diplomatic mission was needed, Alexander sent Hephaestion, and communicated through written correspondence. On this occasion, too, he wrote to Hephaestion about his command of the fleet. Hephaestion wrote back, informing the king that the Athenian Aristion had approached him and tried to persuade him to effect a reconcilliation between Alexander and the Athenian politician Demosthenes. Demosthenes had been an enemy of King Philip. No one other than Hephaestion could have persuaded Alexander to even consider an accommodation. But Hephaestion argued that if he didn't, the revolt of Agis would spread to Athens and the Athenian allies, endangering Macedonia.

When he advanced on Egypt, the Egyptians saw him as a liberator from the oppressive Persian rule. Alexander's heart swelled when they pronounced him the divine son of Amun, issuing his face to be depicted on their currency. There he founded another city in his name, Alexandria-by-Egypt.

***

Alexander had marched into Assyria once again, this time embroiled in the battle of Gaugamela. His plan was to kill Darius, without which he knew the Persians could not make a single move.

Hephaestion had led the advance army from Egypt to the Euphrates river. On the opposite bank were Darius' men, holding ground while Hephaestion and the men worked to bridge the river. The Persian victory seemed imminent. But it was on those banks that Hephaestion used his skill in diplomacy to win the battle. He conversed with the Persian commander, Mazaeus, explaining that Alexander was a good and just man, unlike the oppressive Persian rulers. He would surely make Mazaeus one of his governors, Hephaestion promised, confident that he could persuade Alexander when the time came. Mazaeus was swayed, Hephaestion's words ringing true, and defected. It was this prearranged award that Hephaestion promised which prompted the reinstatement, and Gaugamela was theirs.

They were outnumbered, but Alexander had a bold strategy. Parmenion held Darius on the left with his son, Philotas. Antigonus took the centre phalanx. Pardiccas, Leonnatus, Nearchus and Polyparchon attempted to pin them on their sarissas in the centre, at which point the Persian cavalry followed Alexander out to the right - just as expected. Cassander broke off and stretched their left, so that a hole opened in the Persian forces. Alexander and his cavalry, along with Ptolemy and Hephaestion, then struck through the gap - just as planned. He and Hephaestion fought side by side as always.

***

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"Hephaestion, go," Alexander yelled. Here at Guagamela, Alexander had made Hephaestion commander of the bodyguards.

Darius, realizing that his men were deserting him, fled the field just as he'd done at the battle of Issus.

Seeing this, Alexander ordered his men to chase the retreating Persians.

Philotas cried out to the king in the thick of the conflict.

"Alexander! My father's lost! They've overrun the flanks, they're into the baggage trains!"

"Parmenion's crumbling," Hephaestion added.

"Alexander," Ptolemy implored the king, "if you chase him you risk losing your army here!"

The men thought this pursuit senseless; victory was already theirs.

But Alexander was swift to reply: "And if we capture him we gain an empire!"

He would not let Darius evade him again.

"You can run 'til the ends of the earth, you coward," he yelled after the disgraced king. "But you'll never run far enough!"

To Arbela the king chased him. But Darius escaped over the mountains.

The men were invigorated by the victory, and the atmosphere in the camps was rife with light-hearted jabs and parries.

"What do the Persian troops have in common with Hephaestion," Craterus jeered drunklely. "Alexander sarissa's them both!"

The men cackled.

Meanwhile, in Alexander's tent, Alexander treated and wrapped Hephaestion's injuries with great care. Hephaestion had been wounded in the arm by a spear.

"Achilles bandaged the arm of his Patroclus just like this when he was wounded by an arrow," Alexander murmured. He soothed Hephaestion's winces with tender whispers of reassurance.

"I know the vase," Hephaestion hissed. "Made by the great painter Sosias."

Alexander kissed over the bandaged wound, and all around it.

***

Hephaestion approached Alexander that night. Knowing well his footsteps, Alexander did not need to turn to know it was him.

"I've come to believe the fear of death drives all men, Hephaestion," Alexander mused as they walked through the camp. The firelight bathed their faces in a golden glow. "This we didn't learn as schoolboys. It is the cause of all our misfortunes."

Along their way, they encountered the mighty Craterus, who assured Alexander the men were ready to carry out his will.

When they were alone again, Hephaestion mulled aloud, "I've always believed, Alexander, but...this seems so much bigger than us."

Alexander smirked softly.

"Did Patroclus doubt Achilles when they stood side by side at the siege of Troy," he marvelled.

Hephaestion chuckled.

"Patroclus died first..."

The men arrived at Alexander's tent and Alexander, turning to his companion, smiled fondly. Firelight glimmered among the tents like stars in the cobalt darkness.

"If you do... if you were to fall, Hephaestion, even if Macedonia were to lose a king...I will avenge you, and follow you down to the house of death." The promise was fierce in his fiery eyes.

Hephaestion gazed back at him solemnly, eyes burning with ardour.

"I would do the same."

Passion and hunger burned raw in Hephaestion's heart at the king's smouldering look. His gaze lowered almost bashfully, then lifted again, directed pointedly at the tent behind them. The question, though unspoken, was clear.

Alexander followed his gaze before turning back to meet Hephaestion's imploring eyes.

"On the eve of battle, it's hardest to be alone," he posited.

"Yeah..." Hephaestion whispered, lowering his head in understanding. "Then perhaps... Perhaps, this is farewell...my Alexander."

"Fear not, Hephaestion." Alexander drew him close, relishing his familiar scent. "We are at the beginning."

Drawing back, Alexander smoothed Hephaestion's hair, his hand sliding around to cup the nape of his neck.

When he pulled away, Hephaestion sighed gently. He retreated in disappointment, heart swollen with love and longing.