Hello all,

This is intended as a surprise for my dear net friend A Lis. It is a What If / AR tale that should have been written a long time ago.

Good friends ought to share everything. Hephaestion is brave and curious enough to share Alexander's Spartan upbringing for a day. Master Leonidas' harsh ministrations don't agree with him. Now he is very ill and fighting for his very life. Alexander reads his beloved Iliad to comfort them. Then he wishes upon a star. The results are quite unexpected.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

TEMPLATE:

Title: FIC: Saving Patroclos ( 2 / 2 )

Author: NorthernLight

Category: Love / Friendship / Adventure story. Alternate history.

Pairing: Alexander & Hephaestion

Date: Summer 2010.

Feedback: Yes, all kinds, on or off list, as you please.

Archive: Yes, if you like, but please tell me.

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: PG

Beta: Denise. Many thanks for good discussions and suggestions, and also for helping me to improve on language and formatting. You truly make my stories a far better read!

Summary: Alexander reads his beloved Iliad to comfort himself and Hephaestion. He wishes upon a star. Anything can happen then.

Warnings: None. This is AR, very close to but not "real" history. This never happened even if one might wish that it actually did!

Author's note: Of course I do not know the correct years for the Siege of Troy. I have chosen a year a thousand years before my tale, hoping that it comes reasonably close.

Saving Patroclos, Part Two

The Siege Of Troy, 1348 BC

Achilles Receives Unexpected Visitors

The great warrior Achilles was sulking in his tent. He was angry with all the world. He was especially angry with Agamemnon. The high and mighty King had stolen his greatest prize from him. Achilles missed the beautiful Briseis. She was the loveliest of women and he was most upset when he had to give her up to the possessive King and his lecherous lusts.

There was one Achilles missed even more. His dear friend Patroclos had been absent from him all day. He wondered where he was. His calm and order always made him feel better. His gentle play on the lyre and his beautiful singing had always been helpful with alleviating his black and sulking moods.

Achilles had not seen that his finely polished armour was missing. He did not hear the alarm and din from the battle either. He was too busy with his sulking.

He threw himself face down on his hard and simple army cot, putting his muscular arm over his head. His golden hair fell like a curtain over the knotted pillow. One leg was on the floor, one on the bed. He was sprawled in a pose of rest, but ready for action, even if he was not conscious about it himself.

A true Warrior is always vigilant.

There was a persistant and stubborn pull at his chiton. He kicked, as if to rid himself from an angry gnat. Then there was an angry outcry.

Achilles looked up in astonishment. He saw two small boys, perhaps the age of seven or eight. One had beautiful golden hair, the other a shining auburn mane. They looked like the Sun and Moon together, two not quite ordinary beings. The golden one set his determined gray eyes on him, the auburn one calmly watched him with loving and beautiful blue eyes.

"Great Achilles, you must stop sulking at once!, "The Golden Boy told him. "Your friend Patroclos needs you. He is fighting for his very life against Hector right now!"

Achilles jumped up from his bed and leaped outside the tent. Now he clearly heard the alarm from the battleground.

"Hector", some voices called out loud in admiration and acclamation. "Patroclos", others cried out, those with more alarm and despair.

Achilles swiftly fetched his spare armour since his ordinary one strangely had gone missing. He clasped the corselet around himself and the boys brought his greaves, his shield, sword and spear. Then they all went to the chariot. The driver came up with a magnificent team of black stallions, reining them to the chariot.

"It was not a moment too late, "he told Achilles.

The Trojan War

Strangely the driver did not seem to notice the small boys jumping up with Achilles on the chariot. Off they went from the long and crowded sea shore. The battle field was a raging turmoil. Achaeans and Trojans fought against each other with fierce determination. The Trojan War had been going on for ten long years now and the valiant warriors on both sides were sick and tired of heroic deeds and fighting. The Achaeans wanted to go home to their city states and islands. The Trojans wanted to live in peace and prosperity in their glorious city . Paris and Helen wanted a happy marriage with no more quarrels and fighting all around them.

Achilles saw with great alarm that his friend Patroclos was fighting the mighty Hector, dressed up in his own armour. The splendid golden armour was not helping him a bit. He was losing his ground, his arm was weak and faltering and he was covered with many profusely bleeding wounds.

So this was the reason that Achilles' armour had gone missing. His dear friend was wearing it, fighting in his place, when he had been ignominiously and cowardly sulking in his tent. Achilles was suddenly filled with a rage even greater than the one possessing him when Agamemnon stole Briseis from him. He brandished his spear and leaped at Hector. Patroclos rallied and together they fought against the mighty warrior.

Hector was a very big and strong man, the Trojan's most skilled and magnificent warrior. Even he could not prevail against Achilles and Patroclos as they became complete together. Soon he was seriously wounded and he stumbled and fell to the ground. Achilles stood over him, ready to pierce him with his mighty spear.

"NO! You must spare my husband! Our son and I need him alive!, "a melodious and concerned voice called out from the high and mighty walls of Troy.

It was Andromache, Hector's brave and beautiful wife. She held a lovely dark haired baby boy in her arms. The baby was sorrowfully wailing and he was crying so hard that his tears fell like drops of silver over the bold warriors.

Achilles withheld his spear, feeling his wrath melt like snow in the springtime sun when subjected to such an exhibition of fondness, love and concern. Patroclos leaned against him, on the verge of fainting from blood loss. Achilles embraced his friend and addressed Hector.

"Let us call it a day, "he said to his mighty foe. "I cannot manage without my dear friend and your loving wife and little son cannot manage without you. We will continue this fight another day."

Hector nodded and managed to drag himself up. His chariot and horses came for him and the gates or Troy opened for them. The people cheered and Andromache ran towards him, fondly embracing him. Little Astyanax stopped crying and suddenly said his first word.

"Daddy!, "it was. His proud parents looked at him with astonishment. He had never spoken at all before.

Achilles returned to his tent with Patroclos. There, they had a fond reunion. Achilles called for wine, hot water, salves and bandages. Then he carefully tended to his friend's wounds, anointing them with comfrey and yarrow and bandaging them with fine linen dressings. Afterwards, he gave him a strong drink smelling of wine, yarrow and wormwood.

Little Hephaestion coughed miserably, leaning on Alexander's arm. His head was spinning from all the excitement. He could not understand why the Trojan War had come to his bedchamber at the Keep, and the outcome was not what he expected.

Little Hephaestion liked this outcome far better than the one he knew by heart.

Now Achilles noticed his misery. He came up to him with a jug brimming with strong drink.

"You little Dear One, take a sip from this. It will be helpful against that bad cough of yours,"he tenderly said as he lifted the small boy up to his lap and gave him from the jug.

Hephaestion drank from the jug. At first he coughed even more miserably but then he was quiet. His pale cheeks became rosy and he thankfully embraced the great warrior before going back to Alexander.

"Thank you, Achilles. Now I am feeling much better, "he said.

"Yes, thank you, Achilles, "Alexander echoed. "You have cured my friend. He is very special to me."

"It is I who shall thank you both, "the great warrior answered. "Something tells me that I would not have my Patroclos here at my side had it not been for you two."

Alexander nodded in assent, holding on to Hephaestion. A silvery mist surrounded them. It was filled with glittering stars as it carried them away from Achilles' tent.

Father Zeus smiled high up on Mountain Olympius

The Keep Of Amyntor, 348 BC

A Friend's Recovery

The rosy fingers of dawn reached into Hephaestion's chamber at the Keep. They gently caressed the two small boys sleeping together in the bed, slowly waking them up. Alexander looked into two wonderful blue eyes, feeling warm and secure. Now the fever was gone and they were as lucid and clear as ever.

"Alexander! Why are you here with me? Should you not be at the Palace?, "Hephaestion asked with surprise and astonishment.

"No, they told me that you were very ill, so I just had to be at your side, "Alexander answered.

"I am not ill at all, not now when you are here with me. "

"It seems that you will have to spend some time here at the Keep, Alexander, "the Lord Amyntor stated. "My son needs you for his recovery. You will have to give up your Spartan upbringing for some time. "

"Yes, I can see this, "Alexander answered. "My Spartan upbringing has done me much good, but I sure like it better here with you!"

The Lord Amyntor, the Lady Theano, Cleitus and Master Lernias smiled fondly at the small boys sitting in the bed.

They belonged together, they always would.

Epilogue

The Keep Of Amyntor

A fiery sunset let the walls of the Keep bask in its flaming orange, red and crimson rays. Two small boys sat on a stone bench under a chestnut tree. They were carefully wrapped in a blue woolen cloak, sharing it together. A worn and torn scroll rested in the lap of the golden haired boy. The auburn haired one calmly listened to him reading aloud.

"The Trojan War was now over. The Achaeans won at long last and returned to their cities and islands, satisfied with glory and bounty. When Old Priamos died, Hector and Andromache ruled over the City of Troy in peace and prosperity. Achilles and Patroclos lived with the brave Myrmidons. They fought in many wars together and went for many great adventures, all until they died of old age, resting in each others arms. "

"How strange, Alexander, "Hephaestion stated. "I cannot remember it ending this way the last time we read it."

"No, perhaps someone wished upon a Star for a happier ending. Perhaps he was heard."

Alexander fondly embraced his friend. Hephaestion basked in his glorious golden warmth and the rays of the setting sun, feeling safe and secure with their new and everlasting friendship.

THE END