Chapter 4: Now You Know.
Everyone held their breath as the King silently signalled for the fight to begin.
Hephaistion looked on as Alexander remained motionless, hands by his side, head cocked to one side as if listening to his surroundings, no one dared make a sound as one of the fighters stepped closer.
Hephaistion almost yelled 'look-out' as one of he soldiers threw his spear at Alexander and he had not yet moved but Alexander quickly stepped to the side just as the spear reached him, then rolled down taking the spear swinging it around as he stood and hitting one of the soldiers, who was approaching him from the left, in the face leaving a huge wound. He then turned the spear around, under us arm trusting hard jamming the spear in the third mans left leg making him fall down howling out loud. Thinking the first one had no weapons left he turn around to his left to attack the second soldier but moved barely in time, when the first one raised an axe and hit him in the helmet instead. Falling to his knees Alexander gasped holding his head in pain and Hephaistion could see blood trickling down his face. Biting his lip he gasped as he first one raised his axe again, getting ready to strike. He heard his classmates gasp and run down the stairs for a closer look, he had not noticed he himself now stood at the edge of the arena.
When the axe came down, Hephaistion stood transfixed but instead of seeing his beloved die, he saw Alexander duck at the last moment, swinging his sword towards his attacker and cutting of one of his legs. Hephaistion let out the breath he wasn't aware he was holding, he turned towards his classmates and was not shocked when they all looked relieved, Alexander was after all well loved by his classmates. What he did not expect was Cassander's look in his eyes, it has changed somehow, from contempt to growing respect, and at last he understood King Philip's reasoning. A King cannot rule, cannot lead when he does not have the respect of all his troops. Hephaistion just hoped Alexander would survive to become king. Hearing a familiar yelp, he turned back towards the fight.
He saw Alexander breathing hard, left hand outstretched and his right holding his sword. Still blindfolded and now favouring his left leg which was bleeding heavily. He saw Alexander has already taken out his second opponent by severing of his hand and leaving a life threatening wound across his stomach.
Alexander and the fighter he wounded with the spear stood circling each other. The bigger and broader man ran towards Alexander, who had lost his helmet, sword raised high. The loud clang of sword hitting shield was deafening as the big man kept hitting Alexander's shield time and time again until Alexander grew tired and fell to his knees and dropped his shield. The man lowered his sword and hit Alexander in he face with his fist, until he barely moved anymore. The man looked up at his King who nodded and raised his sword again. Hephaistion held his breath, as he saw Queen Olympas standing up looking worried, fearing this might be it, he whispered:
"Get up Alexander, get up. I believe in you."
And as if Alexander heard him, he rolled to his right, standing up coming up behind his attacker , jumped up and put his word in the mans back straight into his hart. A clean death, a soldiers death. Even now Alexander showed consideration for his opponent.
Stumbling a little bit, Alexander stood upright in a battle position waiting for the next attack but when none came he lowered his sword. No one said a word because none could believe it, Alexander had just won his fight, against not one but three fighters. And to top is of he was blindfolded. Movement caught his eye, as he saw King Philip making his way down towards the arena, stopping in front of his son who bowed. Instead of looking proud, he ripped the blindfold of, none to gently, and everyone heard the kings words.
"Now, you know!"
Hephaistion hated the king right then as he looked on as Alexander nodded and the King turned back towards his Generals taking a swing of the ever present wine. No congratulations, no proud words, no nothing. His classmates were already being ushered out by Aristotle, who was complaining how much time he lost because of this. He wish he could see Alexander's eyes but followed his gaze towards his parents, who were already bickering again. Looking around he saw no one paid any mind to Alexander who threw his sword on the floor in anger and left on his horse.
Turning around his heart crying for Alexander, he bumped into Ptolemy who stared in the direction where Alexander had left.
"He needs you." Hephaistion just shook his head and tried to leave.
"He needs you Hephaistion, as much as you need him. He will need the confirmation after all of this…" he waved his hand at the arena and continued "Go to him and tell him want you wanted to tell him for the last six months. Go." And when Hephaistion still did not move he yelled and gave him a push towards the direction Alexander had eft.
"GO!"
And Hephaistion ran.