Hello all,

Shattered Memories is back after a very long delay. The snow leopards at the Hindu Kush came in between, Craterus is in for a very dangerous surprise in this entry. I must warn for some rather explicit violence - but, IMO, it is justifiable.

All the best wishes, Read and enjoy,

/ NorthernLight

Shattered Memories, Part 13, Conclusion

Tarsus, 333 BC

Anguished Switch

Amanda was feeling very worried these days. She did not know where Cleitus and the Guards were and she missed her family and all the men in her life. They were out on an important mission. Hephaestion needed his Golden One and all Army needed to have King Alexander back. There were sinister rumours about King Darius marching against them with an army of one million men, a formidable force and a Formidable Foe.

Amanda was very afraid of what the future might bring. She had seen much in her dreams, but it was all a mix of weapons, violence and a blood red haze all over her troubled mind. Strangely, all the dreams finished with two lovely twin babies smiling and joyfully kicking about in her lap.

Thais had tried to cheer her up. She had given her a beautiful rose colored dress and himation. Amanda liked it and she had it on every day, even now when she was out picking medicinal herbs in a basket. Little baby Cleitus was with her, crawling in the fragrant grass, eagerly trying to pick flowers and herbs to help his mother.

Sometimes he even picked the right ones.

Alluring Switch

Craterus was also feeling very worried these days. He had heard the dire news that High King Darius was marching against them with an army of one million men. The Macedonians were well organized and fierce warriors but he was not sure if they were up to defeating such an overwhelming enemy. He had also thought that things would become very easy for him with Hephaestion away from Camp.

Instead all his worries had become worse. All missed Hephaestion when he was gone. All praised him for his courage and stability, also for his excellent ability to create order out of chaos.

Craterus did not possess that very special ability. He was a good General and organizer, but he lacked the magic touch that made all things turn smoothly around when Hephaestion was in charge.

Sometimes even HE missed Hephaestion.

Now he was wandering around Camp. seeing to all the things that needed to be taken care of. Despite all his worries and pressing assignments he sorely needed some time for himself, some relaxation and diversion from all his worries. The meadows at the side of Camp beckoned to him. He liked the fragrant flowers and their lush green beauty, even if he did not admit this weakness even to himself.

There was a most alluring fair hareid woman all alone on the meadow. She was dressed in a beautiful rose coloured dress and himation and she picked flowers and herbs in a big basket.

The dress with its tempting rose colour signalled that she was one of the Camp followers, one of the hetairas who would be glad to keep him company for a while.

Craterus decided to act at once. He went behind the alluring woman and put his arms around her slender waist. Then he moved his hands upwards, cupping her bosom. He found that she was strangely hard and sinewy, not at all like the hetairas he usually favoured. Her breasts were small and bouncing, as if they were strongly protesting against his handling of them.

The beautiful woman wriggled in his grasp, starting to scream out loud for help. There was also suddenly a baby howling in sheer outrage at his feet. The little one seemed most determined to defend his Mother.

Craterus started to realize that he had made a terrible mistake.

Dangerous Surprise

Amanda was having such a good time picking flowers and herbs in the meadows away from Camp. It was her favourite assignment. She loved Mother Nature and her blessings, especially the medicinal flowers and herbs that helped her in her Healing work. Little baby Cleituswas with her and he was most helpful. Amanda though that he was a most clever child, big and bouncing and learning more for every day. She had told him much about her Healing herbs and matters and he prudently listened to his doting mother.

Sometimes Amanda even thought that he remembered what she had told him.

Suddenly a dark cloud fell over her. Two enormous arms were put around her and then two hot and eager, big hands grasped her breasts, cupping them in an ignominious manner. A hot breath puffed at the nape of her neck.

Amanda could not believe her senses. All Camp knew that she was a skilled Healer, also that she was General Cleitus' woman. No one, NO ONE would dare to assault her.

She turned her head and saw straight into the face of General Craterus. Then she started to scream for help. She did certainly not intend to meekly submit to this outrage. Camp was a dangerous place and she always brought her sturdy frying pan with her. Now she grasped for it and managed to wriggle out of the eager grasp of the giant General.

"You! YOU! You big brute! How do you dare to try to do this to me!, "she screamed at him in a violent rage. "I will NOT become your whore, not now, not ever!"

Amanda jumped and put her agile feet and legs to work so that she was able to overcome her much bigger and taller adversary. Then she raised her hands and let her frying pan dance a merry jig on the head of the giant General. Craterus felt as if the sky had fallen upon him. He fell to the ground as a clubbed oxen. Amanda continued to batter him with her frying pan, screaming her outrage at him.

"You! You are the cause of all trouble and dissent here around. All that backtalking and intrigue against Hephaestion! You ought to be ashamed of yourself!, "she chastised the giant General. "And now you cannot keep yourself in proper order. Why in Earth's name would you want to assault the King's Healer?"

Craterus did not find the words to explain himself. He succumbed to her violent beating, feeling his senses go numb and his conscience leave him. When he passed out he silently thought:

/ "It was that damned rose coloured dress of hers that set me off. No decent woman ever goes dressed like that, and certainly not the King's Healer! " /

Little baby Cleitus helped his mother. He pummeled the attacker with his tiny fists and he even sank his new milk teeth into his calf.

Little baby Cleitus was as strong as his father. Everyone knew it. When he grew older everyone would also realize that he was as clever as his mother.

Joyful Surprise

Now there was a cheering sound all over Camp. King Alexander and the General Hephaestion came riding in from the plains of Tarsus, followed by Cleitus and the Guards. King Alexander looked completely restored to his usual and formidable self, dressed in shining armourand a royal red cloak. His golden hair glowed like a halo around his head. His gray eyes were filled with vitality and shine and he held the reins of Bucephalus, in total control of the giant black war stallion.

That was of course only as it seemed. Bucephalus was the one in charge, allowing his dear Rider to have his ways with him.

All the soldiers and camp followers cheered. People started to pick fragrant flowers and throw like a colorful cascade over the King and his faithful followers. Then the Companions and Generals came, they too cheering. All was well now when the King had returned from his long and strange absence.

They missed one of their faithful friends in the cheering crowd around them.

Amanda was not there !

Then they heard screaming and angry yelling from one of the meadows. They quickly rode over to the wrathful sound.

They came upon a most upsetting sight.

The General Craterus lay prone on the ground, his face in a tuft of bitterly fragrant wormwood. Amanda was jumping up and down, violently pummeling him with her frying pan. Little Baby Cleitus was also pummeling him with his tiny fists, when he did not bite into his heels and calves with his sharp, all new milk teeth.

At first they could not recognize the Royal Healer. She was finely adorned in a rose coloured dress and himation, now somewhatdishevelled.

"Amanda! What on Earth's name are you doing to General Craterus?, "Alexander asked her with great curiosity. "And - who ever made that rose coloured dress for you? It is most becoming - but you simply do not look like your usual self!"

The Royal Healer stopped her pummeling and looked up at her King, assuming a respectful but defying stance.

"Oh, King Alexander! You are back, at long last, and Hephaestion and all my men with you! I am so happy to see you all, "she answered him with great joy. "This horrible big brute tried to have his way with me out here in the meadow, interrupting my important work with collecting Healing herbs. I just gave him what he deserved."

Now General Cleitus grasped General Craterus, lifted him from the ground and shook him violently.

"Craterus! What on Earth's name made you assault MY woman in this manner?"

The giant General regained consciousness, looking at the illustrious company surrounding him.

"Cleitus! You are back, and the fortunately the King is with you. Even HE is back, "he stated with some regret as he saw Hephaestion. "I sure did not mean to assault your woman or the King's Healer - but what can a man do when she goes dressed like that! I mistook her for ahetaira. "

"Thais gave me this lovely dress to cheer me up, "Amanda adamantly stated. "I intend to wear it again. I think that I like it - even if it has gotten me some unwanted attraction."

She gave the giant General a determined look. Craterus blushed and scraped his big feet together.

"My apologies, Healer. I will not repeat this terrible mistake, "he adamantly told her. "If you were not such a skilled Healer I would be proud to have you in my Company. You are quite a fighter. Not many could take on an opponent much bigger than herself with such results."

Now little baby Cleitus wanted attention. He rose on his sturdy little legs and took some stumbling steps towards his father.

"Daddy!, "he adamantly said.

The General Cleitus proudly picked him up and gave him a big hug.

"My dear son, you are a most precocious child, "he said. "Not many take their first steps and say their first words at the same time!"

Then he warmly embraced Amanda. He had a loving family, a good King and all the Macedonian Army around him.

Now all things were set right again.

It was a day filled with joyful surprises- and an evening filled with celebration and a most sumptuous Royal Banquet. For a while they all managed to forget all their worries.

Distantly, from fhe far East High King Darius and the Persian Army advanced against them all.

Right Time, Right Place

The Plains Of Issus, 333 BC

Once there was a great and famous battle at the plains of Issus. Two Kings met with their armies. One was the High King of Persia, the other the King of Macedon.

It was the right time and the right place for this tremendous fight.

When the battle was over the King of Macedon had won a great victory. He would soon become High King of Persia, too.

The End