Hello all,

It has been a long time since I *published* a longer fic, but now my lazy Muses have awakened. Shattered Memories will be a long tale with many complications both for Alexander and Hephaestion. The intrigue is inspired by Jun's two excellent novel length chapter tales about Bagoas and Hephaestion that are based on the drabble challenge prompts. Those words and sentences are most useful for inspiration and headlines for a longer fic.

Shattered Memories is set before the battle of Issus, when Alexander is taken seriously ill. In this, he wanders away and is missing for a long time. Hephaestion will have a very hard time both with searching for his Dear One and also to handle the Army and the battle preparations. It is not easy with a missing King when he is ad odds with all of Persia and - almost - all of the World!

I will try to update every other week now when my Muses are back.

All the best wishes, Read and enjoy,

/ NorthernLight

Shattered Memories

Tarsus, 333 BC

Wrong Time, Wrong Place

The auburn haired General looked his very best when he took the stand. He readied himself to speak to the other Generals. His hair shone like polished copper, his eyes were as blue as the clear summer skies or the stormy autumn Oceans, his features were stern but kind at the same time. His uniform, armour and cloak were immaculate, polished so that they shone like a silvery full moon. One might have assumed that everyone would have listened with the greatest attention to such a man, and that no one would look down upon him with contempt or slight.

He discretely cleared his throat.

"Gentlemen. These are serious times. We are at odds with the Persian Empire. We are at odds with all of Asia. There is severe discord in our Homeland. We seem to be at odds with the whole World! "

The other Generals listened with the greatest attention. They let him finish his sentences. Then all Hell broke loose. A veritable hurricane of evil whisperers, malicious bellowing and raucous roaring was unleashed in the tent. Several impertinent but important questions were posed.

"And - what are YOU to do about it?"

"What are WE supposed to do?"

"How is HE? When will HE be able to appear before us - to LEAD us once more?"

The last question was the crucial one. It was not very easy to answer. The auburn haired General had to think it carefully over.

"King Alexander's health is still precarious. He is making a slow recovery from his illness. The Healers are with him, They are doing a great work - but - my Gentlemen, I cannot say when our King will be back in Command again. Now I must take my farewells for this time. I have to go to attend to Him once more. "

Hephaestion turned his back to them. He wished that he had been able to sprout eyes in his neck, and also that he might produce an extra pair of hands ready to ward off any prospective assaults.

His faithful Guards Stefanos and Alexios watchfully covered his back and shielded and protected him on his return to the King's tent.

Enemies

When he walked away he heard the Evil Whispers from all around. He was used to them by now. Still, they were hurting him, now even more when his Dear One was in this precarious state.

"That man! Someone ought to take care of him - permanently!"

Craterus! His strongest and very worst detractor and adversary.

"I am entitled to the High Command. My Father was King Philip's first General. "

Philotas! Always vain and lusting for more power than he deserved.

"No. The High Command should be mine! My Father is Regent at home. I am entitled to hold the same position here in Camp!"

Cassander! Old Antipatros was reliable and good as gold. The same could not be said about his nortoriously envious and treacherous son.

"Calm yourselves, my Gentlemen. We must wait and see what happens. If King Alexander recovers he will see for himself what a fine mess this Hephaestion has created. If not..."

The following silence was even more ominous than the more outspoken slanders and whispers.

Eumenes! The sly and devious one. He was perhaps even more dangerous than the stronger and more prominent Generals.

The Secretary of State was a veritable and venomous snake!

Friends

The Beautiful Golden One did not look his very best these days.

Alexander rested uneasy in his Royal bed. It was not very Royal, more like a simple army cot, but it was broad and spacious. His attendants had done their very best to make him comfortable. He was covered by a midnight blue blanket adorned with sixteen golden ray stars. It was lighter than his usual one because his body was burning up from a dangerous fever. He was scalding hot. Still he shivered from ague and cold. Even the tepid breezes from the river were enough to make him feel freezing. He had been ailing for well over two weeks now and there were no signs of recovery whatsoever.

Hephaestion sat down at his bedside. He took the trembling hand and talked to him.

He was not sure that Alexander would be able to hear or understand him at all. Still, he told him all that had ocurred. He poured out all his inner thoughts and worries, as if the severely ailing friend actually would be able to hear him and do something about it.

"Oh, Alexander, my precious Golden One. Your subjects are driving me just mad! Your Generals are at odds with me and they cannot even cope with each other. They are worse than a pack of bickering he dogs! We have enemies all around us. I think that we are at odds with all the world!"

There was no sign of understanding. His Golden One lay limp and listless, his beautiful fair hair was damp and without its usual glossy shine. His features were emaciated, his cheeks sunken and his face was ashen gray. Hephaestion felt a hot crystal tear trickle down his cheek.

There were more people in the King's tent. The good doctor Philip was sleeping in a wicker chair in a corner. The Healer Amanda was there, her Companion General Cleitus, too, and as always the faithful Guards Stefanos and Alexios. They did the very best to watch over Alexander. Their calm and kind hearted support, care and help made it possible for Hephaestion to go on.

He was thankful to have such good friends at his side, especially during these hard and trying times.

Cause And Effect

Hephaestion leaned over his Golden One, resting his troubled brow on his emaciated chest. Suddenly a weak and trembling hand gently caressed him and playfully felt for his shining auburn tresses.

Alexander was awake! This was the first time in two long weeks!

The Healer Amanda came with a clay bowl brimming with a newly made calming concoction. She gently ushered Hephaestion away.

"Hephaestion. It seems as if he can hear you. All your worried ramblings are troubling him. You must stay calm and sensible and allow him time to rest and heal!"

The auburn haired man reluctantly withdrew from his friend and King as the Healer took his place.

"Alexander! You must drink this potion. It will settle your stomach and bring down your fever.

The golden haired man nodded and thankfully drank the potion when she lifted his head and held it to his lips. Afterwards he closed his eyes and fell into a salutary sleep. Hephaestion found the time to take some bread, milk and broth. Then he fell asleep in a wicker chair at his friend's bedside, totally exhausted from his long vigil and hard work.

When he woke up things were much the same. Alexander was asleep, covered by the dark blue blanket, adorned with gold thread embroideries of the sixteen ray Macedonian Stars. Amanda sat at his bedside, vigilantly watching her King.

"How is he?, Hephaestion worriedly asked her.

"I think that he is better now. He rests calm and easy and he has slept all night long. His stomach has not disturbed him at all, and now I think that the fever is about to break. "

As if to gainsay her optimistic opinions the golden haired man groaned and put a hand on his stomach. It seemd that the strong purges that had been administered to him was still acting on his system. The faithful Guards instantly helped him up and discretely led him behind the bedposts. When he had relieved himself he seemed to regain some of his lost dignity and he straightened himself, holding on to the bedpost. The light was back in his eyes and he seemed to have regained his former strength and vitality, despite his emaciated frame. He spoke reassuringly to himself.

" I need to act! I need to tell them to heed and keep in line! Phai cannot handle all this by himself! "

He set out at a fast pace, looking quite splendid and magnificent. His golden hair rose and cloaked his shoulders like a lion's mane, his gray eyes shone like molten lead and his powerful muscles played under his golden hue. He was like a Force of Nature, formidable and indomitable.

There was just this one problem.

King Alexander was stark naked!

Hephaestion ran up to him with a cloak and sandals.

"Alexander! You cannot go out and address the men like that!"

He managed to stop the King long enough to dress him in a fresh, white chiton, sandals and his Royal Red cloak. Then he followed in his shadow, seeing him walk out to the Camp. All Army cheered at the sight of their King and Commander. He had an encouraging word for all and everyone. They all cheered him and wished him a speedy recovery.

Not all had noticed the King's vigorous march through Camp.

The Generals were still bickering and at each others throats. They sat in the tent of the High Command, bellowing and roaring, almost ready to brandish swords and knives and hack away at each other. A booming and commanding Voice made them stop at once.

"My Gentlemen! We are at odds with Persia, not with each other!"

They looked at him with total awe and amazement. Then Alexander sat down and held a long, well rehearsed speech, assessing the situation in detail, laying out thorough and careful plans and intentions for the upcoming battle against the overwhelming Persian Army that Darius had marching against them. The Generals heeded him completely and at long last they dispersed and went to the assignments that had been given them by the King.

Hephaestion was more amazed than the rest of them since he knew all about the true state of his Golden One.

"He must have listened more carefully to my worried ramblings than I realized, " he mused with great satisfaction. "My Alexander will never cease to amaze me. "

Alexander was well again. Now all would soon be well.