Hello all,

As the Battle of Gaugamela continues Alexander has to make difficult choices in his ever consuming pursuit of Empire. What is most important, Friendship or Empire?

Warnings: Detailed descriptions of Hephaestion's arrow wouud and medical procedures.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

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The Blood Red Moon Of Battle

Part Four

The Plains Of Gauagamela, 331 BC

Escape From Empire

Darius had been determined to meet the Macedonian upstart on the battlefield and show him who was the true High King of Persia. Now once more he found himself trembling in in his chariot and running away from Alexander and the Battle with maximum speed. Darius simply could not take up the fight with his Formidable Foe. This Golden Enemy was the worst horror he had ever faced. The very sight of Alexander and his brave and reckless Macedonians filled him with such fear that all he wanted was to run as far away from them as possible. He had forgotten all his devious plans. He had not even seen the Archer's shooting at King Alexander and his Companions.

From this day Darius was no longer in command of his Empire. He had forgotten his people, his great Army and all his regal duties. An all consuming fear commanded him and all that he wanted was to escape from it!

Persia would soon have a new High King.

Pursuit Of Empire

Alexander once more saw Darius flee in cowardice from the battle field. Now Victory was his and the Persian Empire would soon fall into his eager grasp. He just had to chase Darius and take him captive The Warrior King had not seen the danger averted by his True Steadfast Friend and the sinister Arrow from the Archer that now was firmly lodged into Hephaestion's left arm. He was completely concentrated on the Battle and his great Victory. when he rode after Darius, screaming loudly at him, telling him to turn back and face his Enemies as a Man and King.

Bucephalus was also eager for Victory. The giant black stallion ran fast as lightning with his Rider on his back. He had seen the cowardly man in his chariot. The four horses pulling the golden adorned vehicle were much braver than their Master. They did not want to run away, they wanted to stay and fight. One of them was a cloud black mare and she exuded the most compelling aromas.

Bucephalus wanted to get to know her, he even wanted to court her!

King Alexander and his war stallion was as one in their swift, reckless and violent pursuit of Empire.

Escape From Agony

Pain! Hephaestion had never before been in such pain. He was consumed by red hot agony. The blood red dust from the battle field surrounded him like a cloud of choking mist. He could not see anything but red dust. He could feel nothing but red, raw pain. His arm was on fire. It burned from the hand and fingers all the way up to his ear and head. He tried to look for Darius and his chariot but he could see nothing but the cloud of red dust. He was feeling faint, hot and cold at the same time as he rode at Alexander's side. He managed to stay on Castor's back by sheer will power alone. He would have lost consciousness long ago if he had not been so determined to remain at Alexander's side, protecting him from his own recklessness. He could feel the King's Golden Aura surround him, giving him strength and protection.

At long last even that was not enough. The choking red mist engulfed him, surrounding him with a cloud of red hot agony. All his world was dimming, darkening and turning black as night.

Then the ground suddenly came towards him.

Hephaestion fell from his horse, and he met the ground with a hard and crashing sound. The air was forced from his lungs and after that he was engulfed by a merciful unconsciousness.

Vital Choices

Alexander suddenly felt all his strength and determination leave him. He wondered why. He had never been so eager to achieve something asthis day. He cast a quick glance at his side. Hephaestion should be there, helping him with his ardent pursuit of Empire. Alexander was filled with ice cold fear at the sight that met his eyes.

His True Steadfast Friend was no longer at his side. He had fallen from his faithful auburn war stallion. Castor stood and nudged at his Dear Rider, snorting and neighing in sorrow and alarm. Hephaestion lay unmoving on the ground, covered with red battle field dust.

Alexander instantly forgot all his wishes for Victory and Empire. He managed to stop Bucephalus' fast canter and then he leaped from the black stallion. Cleitus, Stefanos and Alexios were instantly at his side. They all went to Hephaestion. Alexander picked him up from the ground and held him in his arms. He was breathing slowly, in agony. The reason for his unconsciousness was obvious. A long, cruel Persian Arrow was firmly lodged in his left forearm. Alexander knew that these arrows often were dipped in deathly viper poisons and that a wound inflicted by such an arrow could often mean grim death, even when the wound was not fatal on its own.

Alexander produced his dagger and managed to prod and coax the cruel arrow away from Hephaestion's arm. He realized that the situation was even more serious than he thought when his friend did not react at all during the procedure. There was no scream, no hard breathing, just a sigh from relief as the arrow came out together with a stream of red blood mixed with an uncanny foul smelling black ichor.

"Alexander! You came for me. I knew that you would not leave me alone with all this agony! It feels much better now."

Hephaestion thanked him for his care and concern. He opened his blue eyes for a short while and watched his Golden One, then he closed them again returning into unconsciousness. His head fell towards the side and his glossy auburn mane was soiled by the red dust of the battelfield. His beautiful face had a deathly pallor, he almost looked like a corpse.

"Of course I came for you, I MUST always have you at my side. Now I must take the poison away from your wound, or else it will never heal properly, "The King stated.

He then proceeded to suck the poison from the wound. At first the blood tasted so foul and venomous that it made him gag. At long last the blood came clear and clean. Alexander then produced a small clay bottle.

It was Queen Olympias' Magical Healing Ointment. The bottle had its own purple glow that managed to outshine the uncanny red mist and dust from the battlefield. When Alexander opened it a strong fragrance of camphor and Healing herbs formed an invigorating cloud and all who smelled it were given new strength and courage. He held it under the nostrils of his friend. Hephaestion now breathed more easily and the colour had returned to his cheeks.

Alexander generously anointed the gruesome wound and wrapped a shred from his Royal red cloak around Hephaestion's arm. Then he embraced him and kissed his fevered brow.

"Now you must rest from this Battle, my Dear One. I will send you back to Camp with Stefanos and Alexios and I will be at your side when I have found and taken care of Darius once and for all!"

Hephaestion nodded, hearing his friend even in his unconscious state. Then the faithful Guards lifted him up on Castor's back. The brave war stallion now was calm as a lamb and only wanted to carry his Dear Rider safely back to Camp.

Now a Messenger arrived. He was on a dappled horse that panted and almost choked from his exertions. His frontlegs actually buckled under him when he came up to King Alexander. The Messenger was out of breath, too but he managed to convey his dire tidings to his King.

"King Alexander, I come from the General Parmenion. He is badly off at the Left Wing - and the Persians have attacked our Base Camp. You must turn back with reinforcements, or else all will be lost!"

The young King saw that the Messenger told the Truth, and that it was even worse than he said. He was eager for his pursuit of Empire, but it would have to wait for now.

"I will come with reinforcements at once, "he told the Messenger. "Darius is a coward and I will take him captive when I have defeated all of his Army!" Then he ordered Stefanos and Alexios, "Take Hephaestion back to Camp at once and tell Amanda and Doctor Phlip to tend to him. Time is of the essence. I hope that my First Aid is sufficient, but this is a severe wound and he needs all the help and care that he can get!"

The young King embraced his friend once more. It was very difficult to leave him, but he must go on with his Kingly duties. He leaped up on Bucephalus and rallied his forces with a commanding shout.

The Persians would not steal his Victory away! They would not manage to kill his friend, either!

Alexander knew that Hephaestion was in good and secure hands. The Faithful Guards would do their very best to take him back to the good Doctor and the King's Healer, and in their skilled care Alexander hoped that he would soon recover.

Still he knew that the Persian Archers' arrows were some of the most poisonous and dangerous weapons of the known world.

TBC

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