Alexander had assembled everyone in their large meeting tent. They sat around the large wooden table in the center, discussing their upcoming march. Most of the finer points had been worked out, so Alexander merely wanted to touch on the highlights again.

"Nearchus, you are taking the fleet and sailing up the coast to Susa. Hephaestion, you are taking the bulk of the army and the baggage train with you on the southern route along the coast. It should be a relatively easy route and you should have no problem with provisions for everyone. Craterus, you are with me. We will be going to Pasargadae and Persepolis with a smaller group of men to attend to business there. It seems we have satraps that either assume I am dead or that I will never return. I have to fix that." He looked around the room and smiled at his trusted generals. "We will all meet up in Susa after that. I have plans for us. We will rest there, and I hope our time there will be rewarding to all." He paused, taking on a more serious note. "Gentlemen, it has been a long and difficult road we have traveled. My wish is to make it up to you somehow. You have my gratitude for sticking with me for so long. Your sacrifice is duly noted. If there are no other questions, you are dismissed. Craterus, remain behind please. I need to discuss a few things with you."

The rest of the men filed out of the tent. Each had a list of things they needed to get done before they struck out for Susa. Nearchus sidled up to Hephaestion and grinned at him.

"Hey, Hephaestion…" he made kissing noises at him and puckered his lips.

Everyone laughed.

Hephaestion smirked at him. "Go sit on a sarissa, Nearchus!"

That drew more laughter from all, and a pouting look from Nearchus. "I'll take that as a 'no' then."

Hephaestion rolled his eyes. He would never live this down. "Okay, gentlemen, we have much to do. I suppose we had better get to it."

They split up and went their separate ways. There were many preparations to be made.

Hephaestion had spent the better part of the afternoon finalizing his plans and double checking his figures. The majority of them would be his responsibility. It did not I intimidate him at all, but he wanted to be quite sure he was ready and that there were no surprises in store. It had been a long and stressful day. He poured himself a cup of wine, nibbled on some of his favorite honey cakes, and thought about his talk with Alexander. His comments seemed to have been well received, and Alexander had agreed with his assessment of him. Hephaestion did not say it, but he worried about Alexander a lot. Alexander depended on him, whether he realized it or not. If something were to happen to him…it made him shudder to think about it.

As he sat lost in thought, Alexander breezed into the tent and flopped down on the bed, something he had gotten into a habit of doing. He appeared to be tired, but in good spirits.

"I take it you are pleased with how things went, Alexander?"

Alexander rolled on his side and propped his head up on his hand. "Yes, Hephaestion. Everyone seemed happy to be going to Susa and spending some time there. I did not reveal all of my plans yet. I am saving some of it for when we are all settled in there. I want to reward them all for their hard work and sacrifice. You especially, my love. I owe you a great debt."

Hephaestion waved his hand in dismissal. "You owe me nothing, Alexander. All that I do for you, I do willingly and by my own choice. I would gladly follow you into the depths of Hades if you asked me to."

Alexander sighed. "Hephaestion, promise me something."

"What would that be?"

"Promise me that you will never leave me. Not ever."

Hephaestion didn't really know what to say. "Alexander…" he began.

Alexander interrupted him. "Hephaestion, it is quite clear to me that you are the one that holds me together. You are the one that grounds me and keeps me from making a fool of myself. You keep me from doing stupid, impulsive things…" he blushed slightly, "at least most of the time." He sat up on side of the bed, toying with Hephaestion's pillow. "I honestly do not think I could do any of this without you. I am not sure I would want to."

"Alexander, I do not know what to say…"

Alexander got up and walked to where Hephaestion sat at his desk and knelt down beside him, taking his hands in his own. "Promise me. Tell me you will never leave me."

Hephaestion closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He weighed his answer carefully. He looked down into dark, pleading eyes and knew that what Alexander spoke was truth. Whether he wanted it or not, the responsibility of being Alexander's alter ego was his. It was humbling, flattering, and frightening all at once.

"Alexander, I cannot promise you that."

Alexander looked stunned. "But, Phai…"

"Wait, let me explain that." Hephaestion paused briefly. "I cannot promise you that I will never leave you because I do not know what the future holds. I could fall in battle, I could fall ill and die, one never knows. I have no control of those things. It is for the gods to decide."

Alexander silently waited for him to continue.

"I will make you this promise, though. I promise you that I will never leave you voluntarily. Never. I will never turn my back on you and walk away, no matter what happens. I would sooner cut off my own right arm than leave you. You should know that by now. I will do everything in my power to stay by your side, always, and I promise to always love you and give you whatever you need of me. These things I promise you with all of my heart."

Alexander nodded solemnly. "And I promise you this, Hephaestion. I have said it before, and I will say it again. If you should ever die, for any reason, I will follow you. I have no wish to continue if you are not with me."

Hephaestion shook his head. "Do not say that, Alexander! There are so many who depend on you, who need you to guide them. I am but one man."

"Yes, but you are the one man who is the world to me. I have never loved anyone but you. Remember what Aristotle said? 'One soul in two bodies'? That is us. I cannot live without the other half of my soul. So, you can never leave me. That is an order." He smiled weakly at that.

"Alexander, I promise that if I ever leave you, it will be against my own will, and I will wait for you in the house of death however long it takes until you join me."

Alexander smiled, satisfied with that answer. He stood, pulling Hephaestion to his feet. "Come, then, enough talk of death! We have much food to eat and much wine to drink. Let us go and celebrate life."

They went to go and dine with the rest of the men, all of them rejoicing in being alive.

Neither of them knew just how prophetic their conversation had been.

That is a story for another day.