Hello all,

Amanda and her new neighbours settle into new routines now when they know each other. There are difficulties but also joy and coming prosperity. Amanda has the Second Sight and that is both a comfort and a curse.

All the best wishes, read and enjoy!

/ NorthernLight

Warnings: In this entry we will see why they call our Northern Realms The Brandy Belt!

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Hazards Of The Healer, Chapter Ten

One Day

Amanda heard screaming and yelling from the grotto nearby. She had heard it before and she instantly clasped her hands over her ears. Ptolema and her puppies did the same.

Then she saw Castor and Bucephalus run away from the grotto. An angry voice called out loud. It carried far away all over the mountainside.

"Damn! Damn! DAMN! I can't stand this anymore. There is so much I want, so much that I need - and being cooped here in this grotto for ever and ever simply is not IT! "

Then a fist slammed into the stone wall. There was more screaming and yelling, interrupted by a calming voice.

"Alexander! Enough is enough. Look now, you have hurt your hand, it is bleeding very badly. You brought us here, now you must endure the consequences of your actions. This is not such a bad place. We are lucky to have a roof over our heads, food on our table and a friendly neighbour who takes good care or us and our horses - and we are together, that is the most important thing of all!"

Amanda decided that it was "enough is enougt" for her, too. She took down a clay jar filled with strong raspberry wine from a stone shelf. Then sheunstoppered it and added a generous amount of poppy juice. She put on the stopper once more, added a woollen bandage and walked with a decisive stride towards the neighbouring grotto. Her dogs followed, merrily barking and wagging their tails. They liked it when Amanda took care of difficult patients. They were even of good help to her.

Animals can see and feel what truly bothers someone and they always act truthfully.

Amanda stopped her fast stride when she came near the grotto. She now advanced with a careful and prudent walk, one step at the time. Ptolema and the puppies sneaked after, with their bellies dragging onto the ground, as if prowling on some very dangerous prey.

They stayed and looked into the grotto, fearing what they might find.

Their new neighbours were calm once more. The Golden Haired young man sat on their makeshift bed of furs. His shoulders were shaking from anger and frustration and there were actually tears in his eyes. His auburn maned friend sat at his side gently holding on to him. He gave him a warming and friendly hug and Amanda could actually see an orange glow emanating from him, surrounding both friends. It seeped into the Golden One, making him calmer and feeling better.

Amanda waited for a while. Then she entered the grotto, stamping the stone floor with her small feet.

"Alexander, I could not avoid hearing. You are scaring all my peaceful surroundings to hell!, "she adamantly stated. "Even Father Moose and his wives have run away - and your poor horses have abandoned you. We cannot have this any longer! You must calm down and be satisfied with things as they are for now!"

She held the clay jar to him and unstoppered it.

"Here! Drink this. It will make you feel better, and make things calmer and easier for us all around you."

Alexander sniffed and felt the enticing aromas of raspberry and very strong liquor spread all over the grotto. It was much stronger than anything he had ever tasted at the Court in Pella.

He could not resist the strong drink. Immediately he took the jar and put it to his lips. He drank and he drank and he drank... feeling that it filled him with warmth, calmness and confidence.

Hephaestion tried to stop him.

"Alexander! Enough is enough. This is strong stuff, you know, "he prudently told his friend.

Amanda gently ushered him away.

"No, for now he can have as much as he likes ! Usually I just administer a small amount of this *medicine* but this is an emergency!"

The *medicine* was most useful. Alexander soon had difficulties to sit straight on the fur bed and his eyelids drooped. His breathing became slow and calm and he leaned backwards towards the stone wall. Hephaestion and Amanda gently put him to bed and wrapped the furs around him. Amanda sat herself down at his bedside. She put her small hand on his brow.

"My dear Golden One, "she told him, "you must not worry. For now you are desperate and forlorn, an Exile from your country and family - but One Day you will become the greatest King and Warrior history has ever seen. You will march far into the East and see and conquer faraway countries and people. Many years from now they will talk about you still and remember your exploits. "

Alexander fell asleep with a smile on his lips. He could see the images she conveyed. To him they were even more splendid and glorious. Amanda cleanedhis injured and bleeding hand with cold mountain water before wrapping it with the woolen bandage. Then she rose and left the place at his side toHephaestion.

"And you, my very special friend, "she said to him, "you are his anchor of sanity, his hold to reason and reality. Without you he will be totally forlorn - so you will have to take good care of yourself - for your and his sake!"

Hephaestion nodded silently, well aware of this truth.

She left the friends resting together wrapped into the wolf and bear furs. When she went outdoors she looked up to the star lit sky. She saw the red star of War and discord rise in the east. It looked at the much bigger brightly sparkling star of Love in the west as for calm and comfort. Both stars mixed their red and blue white light, becoming complete together.

The horses returned, nodding thankfully towards her. She went to her own grotto, sitting down with her dogs. They wagged their tails and tried to comfort her.

Amanda was worried, very worried.

She had seen the Future - and it held more than she had told her new Golden friend.

There was a beautiful City surrounded by seven rainbow coloured walls. It was autumn, chilly with flaming orange and yellow leaves on the strange eastern trees. In a Palace there was a finely adorned room with furniture made from dark wood and fabrics in deep emerald and turquoise green. One man lay still and cold in a bed. Another embraced him, shaking from inconsolable grief and mourning. The sounds of his crying was a horror to hear. His tears washed over his friend as a crystal clear river of endless sorrow.

The two men were Alexander and Hephaestion, many years from now.

Amanda would do her very best to avert this dreadful Vision!

TBC

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