Drabble – Disaster
It was a disaster in the making. You could feel it, taste it and see it. And there was only one person Alexander could think of that could slow it down and eventually stop it.
"Find Hephaestion."
Alexander looked up to the skies through the curtains of rain. By Hades, does it ever stop raining here, he asked himself? There was nothing that wasn't wet, moldy or soaked in his entire army, including himself.
He had heard the men praying to any god who would listen to please stop the rain for a while. But he wasn't sure if that was any better. When the rain stopped the mugginess ensnared everyone, making it had to breath. Soon everyone was praying for rain again to cool things off.
It was a vicious circle that seemed to have no end.
They had been in the thick of it for over a week now and tempers were at an all time high. Patience was a virtue nowhere to be seen.
Alexander looked again at the muddy disaster in front of him. Ruts from the carts were getting deeper in the small stream. It normally would have been an easy crossing but the rain had soaked the ground on either side of the stream. The ground refused to soak up anymore of the water and everything was getting stuck. No one was safe, not man or beast.
He heard Hephaestion ride up to him and turned to look his way.
His hair was plastered to his head, water falling in waves from the ends of his hair. He was completely wet, from head to toe. His clothes stuck to his skin and outlined his entire body.
Alexander missed the first words Hephaestion spoke because he was to caught up in the view before him. He wondered how he could still be so completely enthralling even in this ridiculous weather. When he finally made his way to Hephaestion mouth, he realized he was speaking.
"What a mess."
"Aye, and it is only going to get worse. Any ideas?"
Hephaestion silently looked the situation over and then nodded. "I have a couple of ideas."
Calling for help, Hephaestion began to cut down trees near the stream and made a makeshift bridge wide enough for all of the carts. It took a while but soon the line of stalled carts was crossing the stream. Camp was set up not far from the stream and the rain finally ceased for a while.
Alexander was in his tent in a damp clean loincloth when Hephaestion came in. He was covered in mud and stopped just inside the doorway.
"I just wanted to tell you that everyone is on this side of the stream now."
"Come on in."
"I'm a mess, I'll come back after I clean up."
"I order you to stay." Alexander said, "You are a disaster, but this is one I can handle myself."
A clean loincloth was finally placed around Hephaestion's slender hips…
…only much, much later.