Title: "Leaders of Macedonia"
Author: BalianswordChapter: 8, "The Second Battle"
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Here is the next chapter I promised. Have a wonderful day!
0
0
0
Alexander looked over his shoulder as Bucephalus pawed at the ground. The sun was shining down and as Hephaestion had predicted, it was hot. It was a benefit to the Illyrians to be in the Central Valley where the hot air seemed to be trapped as if slowly cooking a swine on a spit. Yet at the same time, the men had courage, and would not back down. As he glanced over his shoulder he heard the pounding of those coming around to meet them. The Illyrians had a lesser force yet due to the heat and their positioning, and perhaps a night of rest, they were eager to fight again. As the Illyrians cried out, the Macedonians cried out, and Alexander smiled slightly.
Defeat them.
That was his only goal at the moment. They must beat the Illyrians so that when the Thebans came they would not have to fight on two sides. Bucephalus moved without even meaning to, moving forward, nostrils flaring as he crept closer. Before long he let the stallion charge forward. The sheer power of the horse beneath him was enough to give him a thrill. As he broke through the first line of the Illyrians they all tried to aim their spears to hit the mighty black horse. Instead, they mainly met Alexander's blade.
Hephaestion brought his men around the left, curving greatly, so that soon they wrapped around the back ranks of the Illyrian army. As he wrapped around from the left Cassander brought his forces around the right. Ptolemy brought his men directly behind Alexander. Craterus took his men to the left center, and Philotas took his troops to the right center. With the Illyrians enclosed on all sides, even though they were not outnumbered, they did not dare try to retreat. Had they it would not have helped in the slightest. They were surrounded, with no way out.
Alexander continued to raid through the men until he reached the other side, coming face to face with Hephaestion and Cassander. Both generals took a place on each of his sides on their mounts. Hephaestion worked harder to keep his horse from moving. Despite Alexander's pleads, Hephaestion had taken his helmet off first thing, swearing he could see better without it on. The three watched for a moment as their men cut through the Illyrians. It would go down in history as an easy fight, but rest assured, the Macedonians did have to fight.
As the fight thickened, Alexander broke again into the fight. Hephaestion pulled to the left, keeping near, but making sure to keep his mind on the Illyrians closest to him. It proved not to help though. As Aleda raised up in the air, striking at those closest to him, Hephaestion heard the sound of a pole slamming into the stallion's chest. The horse let out a scream as it jerked back, and in doing so, Hephaestion fell to the ground. As he hit the now sandier dirt he rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself up as Aleda fell back. Grabbing his sword he braced himself to keep himself safe from impending attacks.
Alexander meanwhile had dismounted and grabbed the collar of one of his men. He pulled the younger boy back and forced his sword against the Illyrian's. He shoved hard, forcing the man back. As the Illyrian lost his footing Alexander lunged forward, his blade sliding easily into the man's gut. He swiftly pulled the blade out and swung the blade in a wide arch as men approached from behind. Two men fell as he cut through their bowels, blood splattering the ground, and across his face. Reaching up he wiped the blood away.
Cassander punched the man, causing him to fall to the ground. Pain shot through his knuckles for a moment but he tried to ignore this. Instead he turned and glanced around. Heaving, breathless and burning from heat, he surveyed who was left standing. The battle they thought would take an hour only took a mere few minutes. He tossed his sword down then sat, wiping blood away from his face and arms, checking to see if any of the blood was his own.
Hephaestion lay where he was, then pushed the dead body off of him. He pulled his dagger out as he shoved the man off of him. Then he glanced down at the cut on his stomach. Silently he pushed away his chiton and examined the cut. It was deep, yet not as deep as the cut on his shoulder had been. Reaching down he pressed the wound. Blood slowly began to pool at the sides and slide down his stomach. However, since it was nothing to complain about at the moment, he simply took a breath then stood up.
"Rest for a moment," Alexander was telling the men, "then get ready to battle the Thebans."
Hephaestion wasn't paying attention though. Instead he looked at his horse, which was now standing, thrashing a bit since the shaft of wood was still in its chest. He put a hand over the horse's nose then with his other checked the wound. It was not as bad as he'd thought. There was nothing punctured except for flesh. The pain was good, but it was not fatal. Hephaestion grabbed the shaft and pulled it out, and the horse bit at him, but he understood at least why. After the shaft of wood was gone, he mounted the horse, and held tightly to his reins. He walked favoring his front left side. However, he was still as eager as ever to run into battle. He was just like Alexander.
0
0
0
He put his hand over his lower stomach, pressed, and then glanced down at his palm. There wasn't much blood, but the blood was beginning to soak into his chiton, and he knew that it was his. Glancing up, he watched as the next group of forces charged towards them. Alexander had planned for them to do this and had planned not to move. As they approached Hephaestion glanced down once more at the blood running down Aleda's leg. It was wrong to try to ride him but there was little else he could do.
Alexander glanced back at Cassander, then Hephaestion. Hephaestion still held his hand over his stomach. He removed it, placing it instead on his sword, which he readied. Hephaestion caught his eye, and Alexander wanted to ride over to him. Yet he knew that he could not. To assure him that he was fine Hephaestion nodded. He then let his steed take a step forward. As the battle started, he tried not to think of Hephaestion. However, it was harder than it sounded.
0
0
0
He still held his sword raised, shaking slightly. He felt a hand touch his forearm and only then, as the hand pushed, did he lower his blade. He then turned, to face Hephaestion. They both looked about the same. Each was bloodied and cut, sand in their own wounds or sticking to blood, unease in their eyes.
"Its over," Hephaestion assured him. He then reached out and touched his cheek. There was a small cut on the left cheek. Hephaestion wiped Alexander's hair away from it, as well as some sand and dirt. He then withdrew his hand, knowing they were still in the public eye.
"You won."
"No,'' Alexander said as he looked around for a moment. "We won."
0
0
0
A/N: Yes, this is a short chapter. However, it sets everything rather clear for the next chapter which I will have up tomorrow. Hope everyone is enjoying. I love feedback so drop me a review (not hate mail) if you have time.
