The Battle of Gaugamela

by VenusJay

The pounding of spears against shield mimic the beating of hearts as they stare down the enemy. Alexander will take down Darius and conquer Asia with Hephaestion by his side. But at what cost?

It was beautiful. The expanse of sand that stretch for an eternity before gently kissing the horizon. The sky, today, an intoxicating azure blue and a light chill to the air. Alexander had watched the sun trail into the heavens that morning, leaving the red hue of blood in its wake. His mind struggled to determine if it should be an omen of good will from the gods or a warning they ought to heed. He had been restless through the night, thinking; always thinking. For too long they had been considering strategies and tactics and he was eager to see them in action.

In his early morning excitement stood outside Hephaestion's tent, deliberating as to whether he ought to rouse him from his sleep. He contented himself to sit on the ground outside, chatting amicably to those who had also risen early as they passed him by with weapons and armour in their hands. They were all in good spirits to see him so battle ready and though he didn't know it, it entertained them to see him just as eager outside the tent of one of their generals.

"Alexander?"

The King started a little when he heard his name but it was so sweetly spoken that he knew who it must be.

"Hephaestion," he embraced him as he stood in the entrance of his tent. "I didn't want to disturb your sleep but there is much to discuss."

They spoke of various plans as they walked through the camp, many times pausing to speak with their soldiers. Hephaestion had the same glow in his eyes when Alexander spoke of the red sun and expressed that in his dreams that night he had watched it rise with Alexander before it moved across the sky and cast its shadow onto the funeral pyre of Darius. The young King stared at him in wonder and thanked the gods for sending them such a vision. Concluding that it must be the reason he had been so restless, it explained to him why Hephaestion had slept so deeply. He wondered perhaps if they may have shared the vision had he allowed him to stay in his bed.

"We shall have to return," Alexander said after quite some time. "We must ready ourselves and the men, I intend to be waiting for Darius come midday sun."

Hephaestion simply nodded, having thought the same.