This new multi part story deals with the tumultuous beginning of Alexander's reign. He has to deal with dangerous enemies gathering in all foru cardinal signs. At the same time Hephaestion finds out the hard way that it is not a rose garden to be the King's dearest friend and closest companion.
All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,
NorthernLight
TEMPLATE:
Title: FIC: Hazards Of Friendship (1 / WIP)
Author: NorthernLight Email address:
Category: Love / Friendship / Adventure story. Alternate History.
Pairing: Alexander&Hephaestion Date: December 2005.
Feedback: Yes, all kinds, on or off list, as you please.
Archive: Yes, if you like, but please tell me. Archvated in the ATG Slash&Fanfic Groups.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. For entertainment only. Not for gain - my work is for my deep interest in Alexander and Hephaestion, their time and adventures.
Rating: R
Beta: Denise. Many thanks for good discussions and suggestions.
Summary: In the beginning of his reign Alexander finds himself at odds with many people in all the four cardinal points. It calls for all his cunning and intuition to subdue them before starting his campaign against the Persian Empire. At the same time Hephaestion realizes that it's not a rose garden being the King's Right Hand and closest companion.
Historical note: The threats to Macedon from all four cardinal signs and the solution of the Thessalian problem are both authentic. Alexander had many enemies not only in Persia.
Warnings: This is AU, very close to but not "real" history. Slash, violence, hard fighting, angst and intrigues. Envious people with insulting behavior.
Dedication: To Juu. Written on behalf of your fic challenge about Hephaestion and his constant trouble with the envious generals.
Aigai 336 BC
"The King is dead! Long live the King!"
Hephaestion had always managed to stay calm and thoughtful, whatever happened. This moment of horror deprived him of his calculating reason, replacing it with God Sent Intuition. His Beautiful Golden One lay on the hard ground of the Arena, embracing his dying Father in shock and tears, trying in vain to bring him back to Life. All the blood was rushing from a grievous wound no one could survive. One struggling breath, one more, then nothing...King Philip was no more.
All Hephaestion wanted was to throw himself on the ground to embrace and comfort his friend. Fate made him act otherwise. With a swift leap he grasped the golden laurel wreath from Philip's brow and placed it firmly on Alexander's head, lifting him from the former King's blood drenched body with Ptolemy's help. His friend was in a state of total shock, stricken by grief and terror. His eyes were blank and he would have fallen if they hadn't held him upright between them. Hephaestion pressed his hand, giving all his own strength and composure to his friend, feeling a golden wave of new hope glowing around them. Alexander looked gratefully upon Hephaestion, drawing power from their friendship. He felt his confidence return in the midst of chaos. This moment of horror had given him what he ardently longed for but in a most grievous manner. He was filled with sorrow for the tragedy that had brought him the Crown of Macedon. The responsibilities of Kingship overwhelmed him, weighing heavily upon his strong shoulders. Filled with all new assurance he knew that he could manage every challenge and hardship with his True Steadfast Friend at his side. Now all the people crowded in the arena cheered him, their voices carrying him to the heights of the ultimate power. It was a long day of grief and turmoil - a long night of friendly solace. Alexander felt he couldn't have been able to come through it without Hephaestion giving him comfort and understanding.
Pella 336 BC
Change of Station
Hephaestion sat behind his enormous writing table, turning scrolls and documents over, looking at the beautiful intarsia in the strong oak wood. He brought up a stylus and started writing. His office was filled with fine furniture and beautiful paintings and he had a whole staff of scribes and slaves to do his bidding. His situation had changed all too soon. One day he was the Crown Prince's very best friend, then over night the King's Right Hand. He was in charge of all the logistics of Macedon's Mighty army, had his own cavalry regiment and complete access to the King day and night. He knew all the details of Alexander's plans, the Invasion of Persia, the defense of the Homeland and all plots and intrigues.
He looked longingly through the window. The Keep at the Second Hill from the Royal Castle beckoned warmly at him. He thought about his father Amyntor and his kind mother, wanting to be with them in the security of their remote dwelling. How fared all his kind animals now? The kittens, the puppies, the birds and squirrels. It was a long time since he visited there. They were being well cared for by kind servants but he missed their innocent devotion and company. Only one had he been able to keep with him, his faithful watch dog Pollux. He was a big Molossian hunting dog, much like Alexander's Peritas, but more ill tempered and completely devoted to his Master. He was with him now, sitting beside him, big enough to look over the rim of the writing table. The clever animal watched all his Master's correspondence with great interest. One could almost think he was able to read from the fine and closely written scrolls.
Cleitus' valuable gift
The door was violently flung open. General Cleitus came inside the fine office with great strides. He was followed by two tall and strong men in armor and the red cloaks of the King's Guards. One of them had short, curly jet black hair, brown eyes and determined features, the other looked more gentle with long, silken dark brown hair and mild, violet eyes. Hephaestion asked curiously, rising from the writing table:
"Cleitus! Why this hasty intrusion? Is something amiss?"
"No, nothing worse than usual! I come to you with an important message from Alexander. He wants you to have the best possible protection! Here I bring Stefanos and Alexios. They are amongst the best of our faithful guards. I have educated them myself. They will do anything for you. Put them to good use. "
The two strong men took one step forward and knelt before Hephaestion.
"My Lord. We are at your service. Just tell us what you want to have done" Hephaestion put his hands on their strong shoulders, knowing them at once.
"You may rise. I know you from the King's service. You are not like our ordinary soldiers. Where do you come from?"
The dark and determined man answered:
"We have grown up as neighbors here at Pella. I am the youngest son of a cloth merchant and I can both design and make the finest clothing- but fighting with all kinds of weapons and my bare hands is what I do best. My friend Alexios here is the second son of a pharmacist, getting tired of picking and mixing herbs together and turning to the military life. He is very adept in medicines and poultices and acquainted with every known poison and some unknown ones too. He can protect and cure us from almost anything -or use his knowledge for other things. "
Hephaestion shuddered at the last implication and hoped that he would never have to stoop to such methods.
"That sounds like interesting and adequate merits to me. Stay here and l will instruct you on your duties. Cleitus, I am thankful for your considerations."
Yes, considerate as it was towards him, Hephaestion didn't feel completely happy with this valuable gift. The two strong men were both kind, discrete and highly educated - but - they never let him out of sight. He wanted his privacy - but he knew that things will never more be as they were.
Insulting remark
Eumenes came into his office. He was walking on tiptoe, his lank red hair on ends, his face red with indignation and he was violently waving a scroll in his hand.
"What have you done? I am outraged!"
"At what, Secretary? "
Hephaestion was already used to the Secretary's angry outbursts at him He calmly raised his eyebrows with patience and indulgence.
"You have given this scroll to the wrong courier! It's supposed to go to the Athenians, not to the Corinthians!"
"Let us have a look at it."
He took the offending scroll and gave it a close scrutiny.
"No. It says it is to the Athenian envoy living in the house of Demarades of Corinth! I don't make any mistakes with the King's important correspondence. Now get it back to the courier and let me go on with my work in peace! I'm busy preparing for the King's very first War Council. "
The Secretary dropped off, gnashing his teeth in futile anger. Hephaestion proceeded with his work, collecting maps and scrolls in a tidy bundle, bringing them with him to the important meeting.
War Council
"We are at odds with the South!"
"We are at odds with the North!"
"We are at odds with the East!"
"We are at odds with the West!"
The situation was precarious. Macedon was threatened from all the four cardinal signs. The Thessalians and all the rest of Greece with them, the Thracians and their Scythian allies, the Illyrians, the Triballians and all the savage tribes in the cold and dangerous North, all were gathering their forces, planning on attacking Macedon. They were reckoning to succeed, the time being ripe, Macedon now at its weakest for many years with a new, inexperienced and very young King. Alexander asked the generals:
"Well, my gentlemen. Where do we begin?"
Craterus suggested, very sure of himself:
"We must march immediately at the West! The Illyrians and Triballians have always been our most dangerous enemies. "
Old Antipatros, with strong support from Cassander, calmly recommended:
"My King, we don't need to march anywhere. Macedon is well armed. They don't dare attack us. We can calmly proceed with our preparations for the Persian conquest. "
Hephaestion then quietly remarked:
"My King, I have news from the South. The Thessalians plan on attacking us at the first opportunity. We must discourage them without too much bloodletting. We really need them and their excellent horsemen! "
He was sitting very close to the King and Alexander now smiled reassuringly at him
"You are right as always. Let's discuss the best ways to achieve it. "
The King put his hand upon his strong right shoulder in confirmation. The other generals silently and enviously gnashed their teeth. Discussions were long, heated and complicated, going on long after sunset, with only a short break for a frugal evening meal with well watered wine. They didn't come to any conclusions. No one knew how to defeat the Thessalians without too much bloodletting. They didn't even know how to get there themselves unmolested. Mount Ossa stood in their way, its passes of Tempe and Callipeuke strongly held and impossible to march through undetected. No one had actually gotten through there for many years. The meeting had to be adjourned and the King told them with determination:
"Well, my gentlemen. Here is a hard nut to crack. We must sleep on this serious matter - but with first light tomorrow, I expect you to have found a good solution! "
Mounting solution
Hephaestion sat restlessly in his luxurious chambers, turning his maps and documents this way and that. The war council had been upsetting, creating more problems than it solved. His eyes were getting weary in the dim light of the oil lamp. Pollux sat beside him, his head resting in his knee. The faithful dog understood those maps were of utmost importance for his dear Master and he watched them intently - until his eyes closed and he started to snore. Hephaestion heard the soothing sound and got weary of the tiresome maps. He looked at his comfortable bed with its turquoise green quilt but he didn't feel like sleeping there. Knowing that his Beautiful Golden One must be equally restless he donned his blue summer cloak and went over to the King's sleeping chamber together with his watchdog. The guards Stefanos and Alexios stood outside his door, watchful as ever. They followed him, always three steps after. He mused for himself:
"Do those fellows never sleep? "
The King's own guards stood outside and knowingly let him inside. Stefanos and Alexios went with him. Then he felt it was far too much of a good thing and told them with determination:
"Now I can manage on my own! You may rest yourselves here in the antechamber. The King and I will look after each other. "
He looked at a comfortable couch with a knowing smile...
Alexander was not asleep. He sat brooding over maps spread out over the inlaid oaken wood table, Peritas sleeping at his feet. The night lamp was burning, its bright flickering flame shining upon his beautiful golden hair, making it shine with its own wonderful light. He looked so young, beautiful and vulnerable. Hephaestion wanted to give all his strength and comfort to him. He softly thread behind the King and lovingly put his hands upon his broad shoulders. The muscles were tense, hard as stone, cold in the summer heat. He begun to gently knead and fondle them, trying in vain to make his friend more relaxed. Alexander looked at him over one tense and troubled shoulder, his beautiful gray eyes filled with unrest:
"Oh. There you are, my dear friend. I surely hoped you would come to me - but there won't be any pleasure for us tonight, just hard work and troubled thoughts. Since no one was able to figure out the Thessalian trouble for me I'll have to stay up until I solve it all by myself! "
Alexander gave up a sigh filled with despair and leaned backwards, resting his aching head on the chest of his friend and let him cradle his tense shoulders in his loving hands. Hephaestion saw all that glorious hair like a golden shower, smelling fresh and clean from the chamomile and rosemary in the King's usual evening bath. That wonderful sight and fragrance almost made him let go of his usual calm and calculated reason and give in to the passion he constantly felt for his Beautiful Golden One. He had to force himself back to reason and give Alexander what he needed the most.
"No, Alexander. You are not at all by yourself tonight. I'll stay up with you. I don't have the brilliant Military Genius of you and Craterus' but I'll surely give this trouble my very best thoughts."
For a very long time they brooded over the maps, until the flame of the night lamp burned lower, needing to be filled up with more oil. Peritas and Pollux curled up on the soft grass green rug on the floor, snoring softly and peacefully. The faithful dogs were mercifully oblivious of their both Masters' wartime troubles. Hephaestion desperately imagined Mount Ossa, saw the steep slopes before his inner eye. The passes were impossible to breach. The Thessalians would route them at first sight. He then imagined riding along the sea shore, and now he saw the mountain slope towards the sea. It was not very steep at all. With some kind of help it might even be possible for a whole army to climb - but how?
A bolt of Enlightenment suddenly presented itself in his mind. He saw himself in his tender youth, his favorite lamb being stuck on a mountain shelf, impossible to reach. His father Amynthor ordering the smith to hammer some iron pegs into the sheer cliff, going up and up until they were able to save the poor animal. He could almost feel the soft little lamb once again, thankfully wriggling and bleating all over his shoulder.
"Alexander! I think I have found a way to subdue the Thessalians without danger and bloodletting! We don't need to risk the passes of Tempe and Callipeuke. We can forge ourselves quite another way from the sea shore." "What do you mean? There are no passes from the sea into Thessaly! "
Hephaestion explained his plan with the iron pegs, telling of the lamb and its miraculous saving. Alexander took it to his heart, then to his clear and calculating mind.
"Yes, you are right as always. Whatever gave you such creative imagination? I didn't know you were so resourceful in military matters. This can truly work. The Thessalians will get the surprise of their lives! I can hardly wait until I see the look on their faces when we come marching where no army ever marched before!"
Hephaestion felt the tense shoulders suddenly relax under his hands. Then Alexander leaped from his chair and took him in his arms, giving him an almost crushing embrace.
"You have solved it for me! I'm so glad, I really needed this!"
He forcibly lifted his friend off his feet and carried him to the broad royal bed. The sheets were white and soft, the quilt red with gold stitches. Some fine furs were hanging from the side, not being needed in the summer heat. Hephaestion soon found himself resting upon soft feather pillows, being subjected to hard but loving strokes of tenderness. His Beautiful Golden One was all over him, his hands trembling from subdued heat, his young and strong body ardently longing for him. Hephaestion sighed expectantly:
"I never thought you would understand, my dear one."
"Of course I understand...I'm so glad all our brooding is over. This is such a wonderful night and I surely know something far better than watching old maps and scrolls. "
Soon they were coming together, engaged in eagerly awaited lovemaking. For a long time they enjoyed each other's company and the release brought them wonderful relaxation from their constant troubles.
The guards were sitting together at the comfortable couch, sinking down into its soft purple cushions, feeling improperly relaxed. Alexios had put his strong arm around his companion and was pulling him closer to his side, gently rubbing his shoulder.
"Don't do this to me! You know I cannot resist.. Whatever has gotten into you? We're supposed to guard the King and his General! "
"The General Hephaestion told us to rest - and we are at the safest place in Macedon. The King's own guards are guarding us!"
They stretched out on the couch, soon embracing each other. They had not been able to get any time for themselves since King Philip's untimely murder, and they had been longing for this for several days...
A loud scream from the King's chamber suddenly tore them apart. Stefanos asked worriedly:
"Whatever was that? The King was in a very bad mood this evening. Did the General displease him so badly?"
Alexios knowingly told him:
"No, my dear friend. Didn't you hear - that was a scream of pleasure, not of pain!"
Envious inebriation
"He is usurping my superior generalship! "
"He is usurping my excellent handling of the King's correspondence!"
"He is usurping the better knowledge of my father and myself! "
Craterus, Eumenes and Cassandros sat drinking together, sharing a late evening meal. They were arguing over their mutual resentment.
"That Man! We are all sick and tired of Hephaestion. Who could have known he would get all this power over the King and all his business - and with such amazing speed!"
They took another cup of untempered wine, and then came to the most important issue.
"We must find a solution to the Thessalian trouble. Then the King will restore us to our proper positions!"
They engaged in endless discussions, leading into nowhere. The taking of several more cups of untempered wine didn't make their military minds more brilliant, only drove them deeper and deeper into envious inebriation. When they were staggering back to their own rooms long past midnight they still hadn't come up with any solution to the Thessalian trouble...
Envious shadows
Hephaestion returned from the King's bedchamber, followed by his faithful guards and watchdog. He was staggering from side to side all over the corridor, completely exhausted by all the wonderful lovemaking, feeling so very good and relaxed, eagerly looking forward to the Thessalian campaign. The King had told him to get some proper rest. They were all off to get some sleep in their own beds before daylight, having another long, hard day coming up with difficult decisions and careful planning.
Three shadows came staggering from the other direction, seeming hopelessly drunk. They saw Hephaestion coming from the King's chamber, looking most confident and satisfied indeed. Cassander was totally reckless from heavy drinking and disappointment. In that state he couldn't stop his envious thoughts to leap from his poisonous tongue.
"Just look upon him! There comes the King's Pretty Boy! That little whore. See how he struts and prances about. He's good in the bedchamber - but he doesn't know how to march unmolested into Thessaly more than anyone else here!"
The other two nodded with consent. Craterus agreed:
"He cannot lead an army to victory. His days of power will soon be over when the King sees he doesn't fit into our hard military life!"
Eumenes said sneeringly:
"He cannot even send scrolls and messages to the proper places!"
Hephaestion was quite taken aback. He knew very well that not all in the Macedonian Court did approve of his relation to the King - but he didn't realize those three resented him that badly. He had done nothing to deserve such malice, just being there for the King, being a true friend, lover and valuable assistant. His good mood quickly left him and he felt his dark demons taking over. They didn't let him bother with stooping to answer to the outrageous insults. He just leaped forward, violently hitting Cassander right in the face. With satisfaction he saw him falling to the floor, clutching a bleeding nose, moaning in pain. He got up in a hurry and leaped at Hephaestion for revenge, closely followed by Craterus and Eumenes. They were staggering from too much untempered wine and mouthed all their resentment in a very bad manner. Hephaestion felt himself filled up with righteous anger. It helped him to push them all to the ground, giving Eumenes a split lip and Craterus a black eye .
Pollux was running all around them, barking and nibbling at their clothing. The fight was over so quickly the guards didn't need to come to the rescue. Stefanos and Alexios were thankful over it. They hadn't been reckoning with fighting the peers of the realm to protect their General! The three foul mouthed culprits lay slumped in a drunken heap, complaining over Hephaestion's rough treatment. He prudently told them:
"You cannot complain to the King over this. He wouldn't like to hear that you attacked me simultaneously all three - and that I managed to defeat you without help from my guards. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! Macedon is in grave danger. We really must stick together and avoid senseless insults and fighting."
Hephaestion didn't believe his own prudent words. When he turned his back to his detractors and walked away he heard their sinister whispers right behind him. He now knew Alexander's love and friendship had brought him hazards, envy and troubles far beyond his worst imagination. He couldn't tell the King about his troubles. Alexander had all the concerns of the realm on his shoulders - enemies on all sides and the invasion of Persia to plan. He relied on Craterus for his excellent generalship, on Eumenes for his handling of economy and correspondence - and Cassander was the son of Antipatros, Macedon's regent when the King was away on his many campaigns. The tree of them were the very peers of the realm. No, Alexander must not be worried with stories of their nasty behavior.
Sleep avoided him for a long time and he tossed and turned worriedly under the turquoise green quilt. Feeling his right hand throbbing with pain from its red and swollen knuckles didn't make things better. Pollux felt his distress and jumped up to him, sharing his bed and tenderly licked his sore hand. It eased the pain and the soothing care from his faithful dog finally lulled him into sleep.
Second War Council
Right after breakfast the Macedonian war council was resumed. The General Craterus had a black eye, the Secretary Eumenes had a split lip and Cassander a red and swollen nose. Alexander asked with great concern:
"Whatever happened to you? Macedon is in grave danger. You are not supposed to go around picking up fights amongst yourselves!"
They answered, blushing with shame:
"It's not as it seems, my Lord. We fell down the stairs when going from the council last evening. "
Alexander raised his eyebrows.
"Fell down the stairs? All three simultaneously? Well, I'll have to believe you. Let us now proceed to the main question. "
Alexander asked the generals with great anticipation:
"Well, my gentlemen, now that we have slept upon it, can you tell me how we could break into Thessaly? "
Silence filled the room. Eyes were cast down, noses pointed to the oval table, cheeks were blushing. Alexander waited for a very long time, looking expectantly all around the council room.
"What do I hear? Nothing at all, it seems. I'm very disappointed with you! It's our good fortune that at least one of us has found a sound and secure way to get our whole army right into the hearth of Thessaly!"
He folded out the maps all over the oval table once more.
"Hephaestion. Show us how we'll proceed to get around the Penaean passes. "
"Yes, my Lord. The slopes towards the sea are not guarded at all - but they are not too steep for climbing. With help from our good engineers and blacksmiths we'll be able to forge a quite new way into Thessaly. "
He pointed out the intended route at the map. The bruised knuckles made it awkward . Alexander asked him with great concern:
"What have you done with your right hand? It was all right yesterday..."
"It's nothing much, my Lord. I got it pinched in my bedroom door. "
"Pinched it? How strange. You all must learn to be more careful with yourselves. Soon we are off to far worse dangers indeed..."
Hephaestion proceeded with his important presentation. He had solved a very difficult problem and spared them all much danger and effort. It could have been a glorious moment - but it was marred by discretely envious looks and sneering faces. His three chief detractors were the very worst - but there were several more... Bitterly he realized that he would never more be appreciated for his own sake.
Alexander wondered a lot about the true cause of all the injuries. Hephaestion was always calm and attentive. It was most unlike him to go bashing into doors and other things. Could his bruised knuckles perhaps have something to do with the other three injuries? No, it simply was not possible. The peers of the realm must surely be able to behave themselves and not pick up petty fights between themselves. Macedon was in grave danger - and now when they were riding out for battle good cooperation was of the utmost importance.
TBC