Battle for the Hindu Kush Chapter 4: Cassander's View, an alexander fanfic

Title: "Battle for the Hindu Kush"

Author: Baliansword

Rating: T for Teen

Chapter: 4 of 9, "Cassander's View"

Pairings: Alexander / Hephaestion

Summary: Following the movie, what happens during and after the infamous battle for the Hindu Kush, with extra history hopefully thrown in. It shall present four different views, or angles, of this battle. It will end with Alexander's decision to return home.

Warnings: Mild language, sexual content, and violent battle scenes.

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone that has reviewed. I appreciate all of your comments, etc. I know I am terrible about replying to them, but please know, you are all great influences on my work.

Dedication: HavenRain, who is a fan.

H/N: This takes place during the battle for the Hindu Kush. If you are following the movie, it is the battle with the elephants.

Cassander's View of the Battle (but not a PoV)

The elephant lords had no effect on him. Instead of panicking he held tightly to the reins of his horse as it tried to jump back. In fact, he was just mad enough to smirk when he saw a man trampled by one of these beasts. There was something amazing about seeing them. Yet, this feeling did not last long. Within moments, he drew his sword, and forcefully jerked his horse to the right. He did not care if the animal disliked the unfolding events. It still needed to obey him.

"Ptolemy," Cassander called out, and Ptolemy managed to get his horse to side next to Cassander. Cassander then pointed with the tip of his sword to Alexander and shouted something else to Ptolemy. With the thundering steps of the elephants, as well as the combined screams, Ptolemy was unable to hear him. Cassander jerked his horse away from Ptolemy's before the two collided with one another and then shouted out again.

"He will need us," Cassander screamed. Finally it seemed that Ptolemy understood what he was saying. He too then jerked his horse to the side and they made their way through the scourges of men, friend and foe alike. Cassander did a well enough job slaughtering those that he came across. His silver blade glinted in the light as it swooped down from the skies upon those below him. It was not silver for long though. It ended up being a crimson color, dark blood staining it, and Cassander would never clean it. He had piles of swords from these battles that still had blood caked on them.

Men fell to his sword one by one as he pushed his horse forward in the battle. He glanced up in one moment and had lost sight of Alexander. By the gods, that damned horse of his was foolish. It would do anything the king told it. Cassander cursed, then went back to slitting the throat of a man that dare approach him. When he glanced back he caught a glance of Hephaestion's plume. No doubt he too was after the king. It was the only thing Cassander had ever found Hephaestion good for in battle. He would lead you to Alexander.

There was a sudden crashing of trees. This was enough to grab Cassander's attention. He looked up suddenly and kicked his horse in just enough time to get it out of the way of an elephant. He made sure, however, on the way by to slide his blade over the knee of the beast. The blade was luckily sharp enough to cut through the animal's thick skin. There was a howling from the beast as it began to collapse. It was then that Macedonian soldiers began to lunge at the thing. They looked like vultures attacking a fresh kill as they swarmed it. Cassander jerked his horse around once more, looking still for Alexander, and once again did not see him. He needed to protect his king, for without the king, he knew well enough that the empire would fall.

Again, he found Hephaestion, and made in that direction. His horse jumped though, startled by some far off sound, and Cassander collided with a tree. Cursing, he kicked the horse, then once more put it in the right direction. The horse managed to speed forward this time, too fast even. Cassander pulled firmly on the reins as an elephant stampeded through the trees. Cassander watched it, pushing the horse forward, trying to stake it with his sword. He was unable to do so though. He watched at the beast thundered by, and let out a startled cry when the next event unfolded. The elephant whipped its trunk out, and in doing so, knocked down the horse and the man that were rushing by it. Hephaestion fell to the ground, and Cassander knew there was no way that he could have survived such a blow.

Cassander charged forth on his horse, sword in hand, and slammed it to the hilt at the animals back leg. Again, there seemed to be Macedonians that came from nowhere. They crawled upon the beast, and even killed those riding it. Cassander continued to surge forward, but not in time to stop Alexander from being foolish. The king was already on the ground by the time he and Ptolemy, accompanied by a few other men, were able to surround him. Cassander leapt from upon his horse, and stayed fighting near Alexander, until the enemy called their retreat. Cassander dropped his arms to his side, weak from the battle, and sunk to his knees. He remained there for a moment, until he saw Bucephalus.

"Oh gods," Cassander said as he approached the stallion. He again fell to his knees and began to pet the poor thing. His hand stroked the stallion's neck, and the animal continued to blink. He thrashed about for a moment, as if making a move to stand, but Cassander knew that he would not get up. Even Bucephalus seemed to know. Cassander sat by his side for a moment, and the horse struggled once more as Alexander was raised up on the Shield of Achilles. Cassander lifted his head in time to see Alexander, and he tried not to frown. How could he be the one to tell the king that this horse would not rise again?

Alexander passed by, and when he was out of sight, Cassander stood. He looked down at the horse once more. A large dark eye stared up at him, pleading with him for help. Cassander tore a piece of his chiton and tossed it over the poor thing's eye. He then raised his arm, and when he brought it down, the horse cried out for a final time. Cassander withdrew his blade, then took a few steps back. He tried to remember that he had to put the thing out of its misery. He'd done nothing more than that.

He did not know things could have gotten worse, not until he saw Hephaestion's steed. The horse was dead, its neck broken. Cassander wiped his eyes, not sure if he should continue forward. He did though, and what he saw, hurt him even more. Hephaestion had streaks of tears, blood, dirt, and sweat running down his perfect cheeks. It seemed that he too was about to give up, yet, Cassander knew that he had seen Alexander. Immediately Cassander turned, and grabbed a medic by the forearm.

"You," Cassander said. "Come with me."

You cannot die, Cassander yelled at him in his mind. He dropped down beside Hephaestion and stared at the gaping wound upon his thigh. He almost laughed. Hephaestion's pride and his glory, those thighs, and now one was mangled. Hephaestion blinked, pain obviously blinding him, and finally seemed to recognize Cassander. The medic was already cleaning up the wound in order to see what he would have to do. Cassander glanced down at Hephaestion.

"Hephaestion," he whispered, but Hephaestion did not seem to hear him. He blinked though, a few more times. He was making a wheezing sound as he drew in his breaths.

I could have sword you were dead, Cassander thought as he reached out and took Hephaestion's hand. He then joked about having to save him once more. Suddenly, he felt as if he was going to cry, and did not know why. He'd known Hephaestion for years, and never had considered himself to be his friend. Yet now, cerulean eyes stared up at him, pleading for help in their silence. Hephaestion was not an animal. He was not going to let him down so quickly. Please, Ares, give us just him. Alexander needs him. I…I need him.

For the first time Hephaestion seemed to understand that he was injured. He looked up, as if to see his wounds. Cassander pushed him down gently though. He did not need to see it. Even the physician was having trouble stomaching this mess. Cassander glanced to the medic, and then back to Hephaestion. What comfort could he give him? He'd never had to comfort another in all of his life. Could he start now?

"Close your eyes," he said quietly. It was all that he could do to reassure Hephaestion. Yet, at the same time, he could not stand looking at him. It was driving him crazy. "You'll be up again before you know it."

This did not seem to help though. Hephaestion seemed to be conflicted. Cassander could not bear to look at him. Finally, a tear began to escape him. He reached up quickly and wiped it away. He hoped that Hephaestion did not see it. He kept his eyes on the medic for a moment.

"Alexander," Hephaestion whispered through his pain.

"He will be fine," Cassander assured him, and this he believed. "Just rest now Hephaestion. Rest, for he will want you well. Please, close your eyes."

Hephaestion finally closed his eyes and Cassander let out a choked sob. He then hit the medic with a glare that could have killed. He knew that the man would never mention it. Cassander continued to cling to Hephaestion's hand. He had to. He could not let him go.

Please, he prayed to any gods that were listening. His entire life he has followed his heart, followed this king, even though perhaps at times he did not want to. He did not choose this life, despite what you may think. He did not want it. He only wanted Alexander, only that, so do not let him down here. He is your messenger. I know this, for I have seen such. He is Alexander's reason, his other half. Please, please oh gods above, do not let him die here. Do not give up your faith in them. Please, I beg of you.

A/N: Thanks again for all of the previous reviews. They are appreciated. Next chapter shall be up soon.