Hello all,
Here comes my Christmas story for Alexander's Army. It was so well timed that my tale Hazards Of The Healer arrived at winter and the cold and hard Illyrian Midwinter just this week before Christmas. Nature is cruel and hard, but there is friendship and festivities, too. I plan on two or three parts of this Christmas Special,
Wishing you all a Merry Yuletide and hopefully good reading,
/ NorthernLight
Illyrian Midwinter.
A Remote Mountainside in Illyria, 338 BC
Equine Friends
Alexander was merrily playing with Ptolema and her puppies. He threw snow balls and they eagerly ran after the cold white globes, catching them and bringing them back to him. Hephaestion sat on a fallen log, warmly wrapped into his bear fur cloak. He looked at the merry spectacle with a smile on his beautiful face. He liked dogs, too, but he missed his cats and kittens dearly. He wanted very badly that perhaps a stray cat should arrive to their remote neighbourhood, needing care and comfort from him.
"Slurp" Slurp. SLURP!"
He was violently nudged and assaulted by someone with a soft and wet muzzle. This someone eagerly explored his auburn hair mane and his bear fur cloak. He looked up, forming his hand into a formidable fist to forcibly ward off his assaulter.
When he saw the nature of this assaulter he quickly changed his mind and opened the fist.
It was a little mare foal, just a few months old. She was dappled and had the most beautiful silvery gray colour. Her mane was in true silver.
She was the sweetest little horse Hephaestion had ever seen. He embraced her and let her cover his face with eager wet slurps and kisses.
"Oh, you are such a little Dear One, "he told her. "Where do you come from? And, where is your Mother? You are too young to be out on your own! There are grave dangers in this forest!"
The little horse nodded with understanding in her mild brown eyes. Then she continued to nudge and slurp at him. He gently stroke her and embraced her.
Then there was a clattering of hooves in the snow.
"Nousi"NOUSI!" You are a very BAD little horse!, "Hippolyta called out. "You may NOT run away from us is this manner. You could be eaten by the bad and hungry wolf pack!"
She came wrapped up in a warming wolf fur cloak, riding on a fine gray dappled mare, who was looking very like the lovely little mare foal. It must be the proud Mother to the foal. She neighed in an outrage and came at Hephaestion, forcibly nudging him so violently that he fell off the log and almost drowned in a huge cold snow drift. Then she bit the little foal in her silvery mane and dragged her away.
"Nausikka! Now you are a BAD horse!, "Hippolyta told the Mother mare. "Hephaestion is a good friend to us. You may not push him in such a rude manner!"
She got off the mare and offered a hand to Hephaestion. As he took it he realized that the Amazon was very strong. She managed to lift him up from the snow drift and then she thoroughly felt him for injuries.
"Oh, you are fine, I hope, "she stated. "I must apologize for my horses. Little Nousi is much too sociable for her own good - and Nausikka tries to teach her some manners. It is not very easy...I see that you like horses, your Castor is a very fine horse boy! But - I can see that you like other animals, too. "
"Yes", Hephaestion answered her. At home I had a whole family of cats and kittens. I miss them very much, indeed."
"Cats, you say. "Hippolyta mused to herself for a while. "I will see what I can do. I am sure you will be able to handle whatever I come up with!"
Hephaestion looked at his new friend. Hippolyta was good and reliable, one could almost think that she was a man!
The Mother mare had now finished chastising her little foal. Nousi went under her Mother and nudged at her nipples. There was strong mare milk to have and the foal eagerly drank it until she was satisfied.
Alexander came to them together with the dogs who were merrily yapping to greet their visitor. They were familiar to Hippolyta and she gently stroke them all as they licked at her hands.
"Hello, Hippolyta, "he politely greeted the proud Amazon. "You have very fine horses, I must commend you for them - and the little mare foal has an excellent, eh, taste in her choice of friends. "
Hephaestion blushed. The little horse once more came up to him. She continued her nudging and slurping. He gently stroke her until her Mother mare adamantly nudged her away.
"My gentlemen, I did not come here just for my foal to assault you, "Hippolyta said. "The Midwinter Festivities are soon at hand. I want to invite you and your horses to my horse farm to celebrate tomorrow afternoon. There will be a Midwinter Meal, Midwinter ham and Midwinter Must and special treats for all horses. I hope that you will come! Amanda and her dogs will be there, too. I always invite her for the Midwinter Festivities. "
Alexander bowed politely.
"Yes, of course we will come. Many thanks, Hippolyta."
Now Bucephalus and Castor came up to Hippolyta. They neighed and reared up in a merrily manner. Then they bowed politely, too and nudged her. Bucephalus butted her most violently, making her fall into a huge snow drift.
"Strange, One could almost assume that they understand that you invite them, too, "Alexander said as he helped Hippolyta up on her feet.
"Of course they understand me, "Hippolyta said. "Horses are always more clever than you men! Well, I have to go home now. You are all most welcome to me tomorrow. "
She swiftly rode away on the slippery wintry road. Her wolf fur cloak stood like a silvery halo around her and the big and little horse ran very fast in the snow and ice. Soon they were gone.
Alexander and Hephaestion looked for them.
"Rumble. Rumble. RUMBLE. "
A loud din was heard from the wintry road. Alexander warily grabbed for Hephaestion and hid the both of them under the rim of some snow covered spruces. He held on to Hephaestion for dear life, feeling for his sword and knife if he needed to defend himself and his Dear One.
Hephaestion shared the concern of Alexander. He knew that his Golden One did not frighten easily so he was very worried for them both.
What if there were Enemies searching for them?
Warm, calm and protecting hands were put on their trembling shoulders.
"My dear friends, who is now hiding in the bushes?" , Amanda teasingly asked them.
"But, but, what is this horrible rumbling sound?, "Alexander asked her.
"Oh, it is just the food cart with supply deliveries to Hippolyta, "Amanda prudently told him. "She must have ordered some extra treats now when you are invited, too."
Now they saw a huge cart filled with hay, barley, apples and several sacs with all kinds of deliciously smelling food. It was driven by a friendly farmer and two big horses pulled it forward through all the snow and ice.
"We sure are in for quite a feast, "Alexander commented.
Feline Friends
It was the morning after now. Hephaestion sat down once more, resting on a stone. He missed the little dear horse but he hoped to meet her on the Midwinter Festivities in the afternoon. He had enjoyed himself playing with Alexander and the dogs in all the snow drifts. Now they were gone into the forest, merrily chasing after some squirrels and bullfinches in the thickets.
"Meow. Meeow. MEEEEOWWWW"
There was a strange sound. The meowing was all right, but it did not sound like any kitten Hephaestion ever had been familiar with. Then there came five most peculiar kittens, merrily playing around him. They were much larger and more sturdy than ordinary kittens and they all had very thick light golden brown fur, with small dark brown spots and stripes. On their ears were black tufts and their eyes were green and glowing. Their tails were not long, no, they all had just small stubs instead of tails. All those stubs were merrily wagging as they crept up into his lap.
"Well, well, who are you, you lovely little kittens?", he asked them. "You are most welcome here to play with me!"
"We are no kittens at all, "they suddenly meowed to him. "We are the fearsome LYNX, don't you see that! But you need not fear us. We like you a LOT!"
"Oh, you are talking kittens, just like the ones I have at home!", Hephaestion happily stated.
He then played with them all, stroked them and watched them run and jump all over the snow drifts. They jumped up and down into his lap and butted him with their furry heads. Hephaestion just loved them and he wished that they could stay with him forever. Their fur was thick and warm but not silken and soft like on his house cats. No, it was rough and hard, almost like the bristles on a wild boar. He saw that they had very long and sharp claws, most unusual for kittens.
"Oh my! You must pull in those claws, or else you might cause me an injury!, "he adamantly told them.
They heeded him and withdrew the claws. Then they continued playing with him and amongst themselves, running and roaring almost like little lions. Hephaestion laughed and smiled, having a very good time with his new friends.
"Roooarrrr. RRRROOOAAARRRR!"
Two huge cats, looking like two lionesses jumped at him.
It was Mother Lynx and another, even bigger Lynx!
He held up his hands and called out to them.
"No, NO! Don't you attack me! I like your children, they are the sweetest kittens I have ever seen!"
"Yes, Mother. Let him be. We like him a lot, "the kittens meowed to Hephaestion's defense.
The two Mother Lynx calmed down and they, too started to gently butt at Hephaestion, playing at his feet. Then there was a sorrowful meowing coming from the spruces. A smaller lynx cub came towards him. She was dragging one of her hind paws behind. It had been carefully bound and splinted with fine bandages.
These were not ordinary wild animals, then.
The little one came up to him and crept into his lap. She meowed in a kind and comforting manner. He gently stroke her.
"Oh, you are such a little Dear One, "he told her. "I wish that I could keep you!"
"You may, at least for a while, "Hippolyta stated as she came forward from behind the spruces.
This time she rode a black and fierce little stallion. He snorted and butted at the big lynxes. They hissed at him.
"No! Behave yourselves!, "Hippolyta told them all. "They are all wild animals, Hephaestion. Lola and Layla have chosen to live with me, and you may take care of little Lyllia as long as she recovers from her foot injury. It seems that she and all my lynx friends like you!"
The little black stallion now came up to Castor and Bucephalus. He was just half their size, but still he challenged them. All three ran around, butting and kicking in a violent manner. Then Hippolyta called out.
"Caroly! Behave yourself! Castor and Bucephalus are our friends, too. You may not injure them!"
Hephaestion laughed.
"They are in no danger from him, rather they might injure him. Castor and Bucephalus! Behave yourselves! You may not take on one who is smaller than you!"
All horses heeded him and stood warily watching.
"Be not so sure of that, Hephaestion! There is more to Caroly than meets the eye, "Hippolyta told him. "He is very brave and he has a fierce temper."
"Then it is for the best that they become friends, "Hephaestion stated, as the clever diplomat he would later turn into.
Hippolyta went away once more, after renewing her invitation for the Midwinter Festivities. All the lynx went with her. Little Lyllia remained, snugly resting in Hephaestion's lap. He was most satisfied as he patted her furry head and listened to her satisfied purring. It was the very best Midwinter gift that had ever been bestowed to him.
Midwinter Festivities At Hippolyta's Horse Farm, Preludes
Alexander and Hephaestion had dressed to look their very finest in their fine woolen red and blue tunics. They had golden chains around their necks. Alexander's was adorned with flaming red rubies, Hephaestion's was adorned with calm violet blue amethysts. They had brushed their hair until it shone and sparkled. Alexander had helped Hephaestion to braid his glossy auburn hair mane into a thick, shining braid.
Now they donned their fur cloaks and went out. Amanda waited with Ptolema and the puppies. Hephaestion held on to little Lyllia as she hissed at the dog pack. He took a deep breath as he saw Amanda. She had gone through a formidable transformation. Her golden blond hair was braided into six fine braids, held together with small silver bells. She had a white fur cloak and under it they saw a flaming red tunic. On her feet were soft doe skin boots. Around her neck sparkled a golden chain with glowing green emeralds.
"Oh, Amanda, you look very fine today, "Alexander told her. "How come you have such a necklace? It looks like it might belong to some Royalty."
"Many thanks, Alexander. I do not know about the necklace. It was given to me by a couple who came here some years ago. The woman had a child and I helped her out with it. Afterwards I had this as a reward, "she explained.
Alexander now remembered a Court scandal, a young noble running away to marry his Dear One, a girl without a dowry and not appreciated by his parents.
/ "Hmmmmm. So now I know that Lysander and Alicia are well and happily living together, "he mused to himself. /
Alexander called out to Bucephalus and Castor. The proud stallions came up to them, well groomed and shining, their manes finely braided. They all smuggled with their Midwinter Gifts that had to be a secret. Hephaestion lifted Amanda, holding her in his lap as he rode on Castor. Little Lyllia rested securely inside his bear fur cloak. Amanda rested as securely in his strong arms.
She found that he was a most reliable person, even if he was a man!
They rode through the wintry forest. The sun was standing low in the western horizon. It was still golden yellow but the skies had turned into crimson and rose colours, adorned with the weak golden rays of the winter sun. The snow lay heavy on the spruces, firs and all other trees. The hoar frost shone like silver and pearls and diamonds. All landscape was held in an iron grip by the winter's cold.
Amanda pointed the road through the forest. It was not far away.
Soon a comfortable red timbered farm house appeared before them. It was surrounded by meadows and a very big, well timbered stable. All the horses were outdoors, running around and coming up to the guests. They were well over forty and all neighed in a friendly manner.
A warming fire blazed inside. Hippolyta appeared on the porch step.
"Welcome, welcome, my dear guests, "she beckoned to them."Now the Midwinter Festivities are on! Come into my house. Leave all your troubles behind and bring only joy and merriment inside!"
They entered, feeling great anticipation.
TBC