Hello all,
Here comes a fast update. In this we meet Amanda again. She has made a long journey far away from her sheltered Illyrian life, finding her own place in Alexander's Army. At the disatnt shores of the Jaxartes her gift of True Dreaming warns her of a dreadful danger threatening her beloved King Alexander. At the same time Hephaestion has a similar dream.
All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,
// NorthernLight
Title: FIC: Perils Beyond The Jaxartes ( 2 / 9 )
Author: NorthernLight
Email address: aur_
Category: Love/Friendship/Adventure and action story.
Pairings: Alexander&Hephaestion
Date: Winter 2010
Feedback: Yes, all kinds, on and off line, preferably *nice* :) .
Archive: Yes, but please tell me first.
Beta: Denise. Many thanks for interesting discussions and suggestions, also for improving my English. You sure make my stories a far better read.
Disclaimer: I, the author do not own them. For entertainment only, and for my deep and long time interest in Alexander and Hephaestion and Ancient times.
Summary: In 329 BC Alexander has to do some very hard campaigning against many hostile people. After the successful taking of the Seven Cities Alexander finds himself on the border of Scythia. He cannot resist the temptation to invade this extremely hostile country.
Warnings: Angst. Merciless desert. Nightmare coming true.
Perils Beyond The Jaxartes, Part II
At The Shore Of The Jaxartes, 328 BC
New Life
Once she lived all alone in an Illyrian woodland grotto. No more. Now she lived amongst multitudes of people.
Once, the only place she knew about was her own Illyrian woods and mountains. Now, she had seen many of the wonders of the world. Macedon, Egypt and Persia had shown her all their glory and dangers.
Once she feared and hated all men. No more. Now, she followed a whole army of them. She lived in a household together with three brave men who were able to protect her from all Evil. Cleitus, Stefanos and Alexios were her very best friends and roommates. She even had three little boys of her very own. They were the joy and hope of her life.
Once she recognized no authority but her own common sense and sound judgment. Now, she was the most faithful subject of the Great King. Alexander was her Ruler and Master. She lived to serve and obey him, and to protect him and his dearest friend from all danger.
It was a very hard commitment.
Soon, it would become even harder.
The Healer's Nightmare
// Amanda stood waiting for the Macedonian Army to return victoriously from battle. She had been standing like that many times before, waiting to take care of the wounded. All had always been well with her Dear Ones. Some bruises, lacerations, fevers, pains, aches and cramps. Nothing that she could not handle. Her skills of Healing had been substantial even way back in Illyria. Now, with a whole army to practice on, they had become even more formidable. On the road she had met with many other skilled Healers and doctors, learning from them. They, too, had learned several useful things from her.
The big river Jaxartes swirled before her eyes. Its muddy waters had the colour of dark red blood. She knew that this came from the red dust of the desert sands. Even so it made her feel uneasy, even scared.
The Macedonians had unleashed a river of blood over all of Persia, Bactria and Sogdiana. What if they themselves were to drown in it?
Now the Macedonian Army returned from their tough desert campaign. They were apparently victorious, there was no sight of the impertinent Scythian Riders anywhere. They were also strangely silent. The straw filled rafts were set into the river. The Macedonians embarked on them, paddling themselves back to her side of the shore.
She saw the Royal Raft being carefully paddled in the middle of them all, well protected and supervised. Hephaestion was sitting on it with Stefanos and Alexios at his side and Cleitus and Nearchos at the helm. They looked safe and sound. All her Dear Ones were safe, all but one.
Where was King Alexander?
The Royal Raft came near to the shore. Servants pulled it ashore with great care. Now Amanda saw why all were so very silent and careful .
There was a litter in the middle of the Royal Raft. Someone was resting heavily on it, covered by a Royal red golden rimmed blanket.
It was King Alexander. He was pale like a corpse, his frame was so very thin that it looked as if there was nothing at all under the blanket. She could not see if he was breathing at all.
It looked as if he was no longer amongst the living! //
Amanda woke up, screaming and in a cold sweat. She sat up in bed, trembling from sheer dismay. Three tiny figures immediately crept into her lap.
"Mother, what is it?, "they asked. "Did you have a Bad Dream again?"
"Yes. We must tell King Alexander to take great care of himself! He is in grave danger!"
Cleitus came to her, sitting down at her side on the furs of her bed. He put his arm around her, trying to comfort her.
"My dear, what is it? You usually sleep so heavily that not even our Royal Banquets can wake you up!"
"Yes, but I had this terrible dream. It must be a Bad Omen for King Alexander's new Campaign. "
She told her little family all about the nightmare as they sat together, covered in a heap of warming furs. Cleitus and the boys shuddered. No one could go back to sleep after her chilling account.
They decided to tell King Alexander all about it first in the morning.
The Best Friend's Nightmare
Hephaestion woke up trembling and covered in cold sweat. He was still locked inside his own nightmare.
// An enormous, glaringly hot orange red sun seared him with its merciless rays, pouring down from a sky devoid of shadowing clouds. He sat in a dune of red hot sand with his Beautiful Golden One resting in his lap. Alexander was burning up from fever, white from loss of blood, and his body was racked with cramps and unendurable pain. Hephaestion wanted to cry, but his eyes were totally dry and sore from the merciless light. The sun was a giant, glaring orange red orb, soaring over his head, threatening to burn them all to cinders. A pack of hungry vultures gathered around them, coming nearer all the time. They crooned anticipatively.....//
A cool hand gently stroked his brow.
"What is it, my friend?, "Alexander worriedly asked. "You cried out in your sleep and you have been moaning and tossing around for a long time, waking me up. "
His Beautiful Golden One was sitting at his side in the sweet smelling cedar wood bed they shared in the Royal Tent. He immediately embraced Alexander, wanting to be reassure himself that all was well.
"I had such a horrible dream, "Hephaestion stuttered, his teeth clattering from a chilled fright. "
"Tell me at once! You seldom dream. It must be important!"
Hephaestion reluctantly told him all about the horrors in his desert dream. Alexander listened intently.
"This is a serious matter. We will have to beware of sand and deserts, but we must not let it scare us. We have to continue our march. The Wonders at the End of the World awaits us! We must tell Aristander first in the morning. He will know what to make of it. "
Alexander then embraced his True Steadfast Friend and calmed him down in the best of all ways. Hephaestion found rest and comfort in Alexander's arms. There was always a glorious golden glow emanating from him, enough for all and everyone. Hephaestion felt how his teeth stopped clattering, the chills left his body, and he let himself be calmed and reassured by his Dear One. They rested together in Alexander's blissful warmth.
Still, he remembered how Alexander had been burning up from the fever in his nightmare.
Hephaestion shuddered once more. Alexander held him and lulled him into sleep with kind and reassuring sounds.
When Amanda and Cleitus came to them first in the morning, telling about Amanda's True Dream, Hephaestion was chilled by fear once more.
Even Alexander was fearful, but he had to hide it deep inside. He held a firm belief in all signs and omens. This dual nightmare that had been told to him by his best friend and one of his best Healers could mean no good.
Bad Omens
Old Aristander was surprised when King Alexander ordered him to make an immediate sacrifice taking the signs for the upcoming Scythian Campaign. When he heard about Amanda's and Hephaestion's True Dreams he knew that the sacrifice was necessary.
Now he looked at the entrails of the sacrificial sheep with great dismay. The animal had been fine and healthy when it was led to his Altar. Then, it had struggled in desperation, pitifully bleating. This was a bad sign all of its own. Then, its vitals looked so horrible that Aristander had never seen anything so ominous. They were black, swollen and bloated. It was a wonder that the poor sheep could have stayed alive at all!
King Alexander and his Companions were standing nearby. They could see the Bad Omens all for themselves. Still, he had to tell them.
"King Alexander, the Signs are against you. If you venture on this Scythian Campaign a grave danger is waiting for you. "
"Is this danger affecting my whole army, or is it just for my person?. "Alexander asked his venerable Seer.
"King Alexander, if you cross the Jaxartes and take on the Scythian Nation it will be the worst for your own person!"
Alexander became silent, thinking it over for himself.
Three Bad Omens in one morning. It was too much to bear even for the greatest Conqueror of all.
Audacious Challenge
Alexander and Hephaestion were riding along the shores of the Jaxartes, silently pondering the Bad Omens and their future course. The day was very warm . Steaming hot breezes blew from the desert nearby and made the Sea of Grass at the other side of the broad river wave to and fro. Over there, waited the Scythian Nation. Those brave and fierce Riders were feared by all. Their raids had always plagued the borders of Persia. There was not much to be done about them. Whole armies had perished chasing them on the Sea of Grass and into the merciless desert.
Alexander held another opinion. He was not afraid of anyone, not even the most fierce, cunning and elusive enemies. His Armies had always been undefeated. The Seven Cities had fallen to the Macedonians. Alexander's ingenious strategies and tactics had surprised all enemies. Even during the very worst of circumstances he had always found a way to conquer and be victorious.
All of a sudden, the King and his General saw an ominous orange yellow cloud rising from the horizon Then, they heard the thunder of many hooves. The Sea of Grass suddenly parted, coming alive with Riders. It was the Scythians. They rode on their fast and sturdy little horses, galloping all around on their side of the river. The ground was shaking from the vehement galloping of the many horses. The tremors were felt even on the other side of the River. The Scythian Riders were well armed with scimitars and curved bows. They had leather armour and helmets and they were richly adorned with gold and jewels that glittered, blinding and dazzling the eyes of the beholders.
Their Leader had no helmet. His flaming red hair was flowing freely, resembling flickering flames in the hot desert breeze. He was adorned with more gold than all the others, and a necklace of glittering green emeralds glared on his broad muscular chest. Alexander and Hephaestion knew that they matched the Leader's eyes. They were green and glaring, too. They knew him well. It was Ohrlasz, the Scythian!
The enormous Scythian Leader now advanced near the shores of the Jaxartes. He called out an audacious challenge.
"Alexander. You defeated me and wounded me grievously at the Danube. Now I am back. This Sea of Grass is my own homeland. Here, you will not be able to defeat us again. The whole Scythian Nation stands against you!"
His harsh metallic voice boomed over the river. He was heard by all. The Macedonians recognized him well. Many of them had met the fierce red haired Scyth at the Danube. All others had heard about him. He had almost defeated Alexander, sending the King and his valiant war horse Bucephalus tumbling down into the swirling blue green waves of that distant river. All had thought that King Alexander was gone for good. Only thanks to the General Hephaestion and his indomitable will to find his Golden One, was he still amongst them.
Now this Nemesis was back to harass them once more.
The Macedonians shuddered. They were chilled by this menace, even in the heat or the eastern sun. Alexander did not show any fear.
"Load the catapults immediately, "Alexander ordered. "Take aim straight at the red headed one! I will not have him threaten us anymore!"
The catapults were standing on the river shore, well prepared for any enemy advancement. They were instantly loaded and one was fired. A bolt begun its deadly flight against Ohrlasz. At first it lounged straight towards the red headed leader. Than, in the final moment it struck the man closest at his side straight into his chest. He was a fierce yellow haired warrior, well armed and protected by a thick leather armour studded with gold and gems. It was to no avail against the merciless catapult bolt. It struck clean, killing him at the spot. He fell from his horse, clutching at his chest, screaming in agony as blood and air streamed in gushes from the grievous wound. Ohrlasz jumped off his bay horse and embraced him as he breathed his last in his arms.
It was Hochta, Ohrlasz's Second In Command and one of his dearest friends. When he went limp in the red headed Leader's arms, Ohrlasz shook his fist towards Alexander and Hephaestion and called out, his harsh voice filled with grief and agony.
"Revenge! I will have my revenge on you for this, and for all your other transgressions against mine and all other peoples. "
Then, he beckoned to one of the Scythians at his side. Suddenly, there was a double curved bow in his hands with a sharp and deadly arrow ready to be unleashed. Ohrlasz pulled the string and took careful aim. The arrow swiftly flew over the river. It flew so fast that no target could avoid its deathly aim.
One was faster, though,. Hephaestion leaped in front of Alexander, taking the arrow straight into his chest. He gasped and clutched at it before he lost his breath and collapsed in Alexander's arms. Alexander looked at him, numb from shock and grief. Then, he heard Ohrlasz's harsh and metallic voice, taunting him once more.
"Alexander, now you, too have lost a very dear friend. If you dare meet me on the Sea Of Grass you will lose even more. You and yours will never come out of it alive!"
He shook his gauntleted fist towards the Macedonians before he and his army of Scythian Riders dissapeared in a cloud of red dust. He held the limp and lifeless body in his arms, letting Hochta ride with him on a final journey into the Sea of Grass.
Alexander remained, holding tight on to Hephaestion. His friend was resting limp in his arms. His head hung backwards and he was not breathing at all.
A call of grief and dismay went through the Macedonian Army as they saw the King holding on to his General. Hephaestion must be very seriously hurt.
Was he even alive?
TBC
My apologies for the cliffhanger. The update is ready and will be posted next weekend, hopefully on Saturday.