Chapter 2: Lion Hunting
The following day he told his parents he agreed to a wedding, both his parents were pleased with his discussion and started planning. It turned out a great distraction for Alexander's parents for they forgot they were angry with each other and planned his wedding together, discussing who he should marry, when and were.
Alexander sighed as he left another meeting with his parents, not able to stand any more discussions about food of all things. He left the palace and had to shield his eyes with a hand because the sun shone brightly and he had been cooped up inside for hours.
Hearing shouts coming from near the stables, he headed that way. Coming round the corner he saw most of his friends talking and laughing, then he heard cursing and then someone rode away on one of the horses.
"What's going on here?" asked Alexander making them all jump up. They all turned and Alexander could see Cassander lying down on the ground with a startled look on his face while the others were trying to stifle their laughter.
"Well?" he asked again, curiosity getting the better of him. Ptolemy stepped up and explained while Nearchus helped Cassander up, who dusted himself of pretending he wasn't just on the ground.
"Well, it's like this. We arrived here about a half hour ago waiting for you to get out of your meeting when suddenly a girl appeared. She truly was a vision Alexander, you should have seen her. She had the body of a goddess, I tell you, a beautiful one at that…." Ptolemy trailed of and Alexander raised an eyebrow in disbelieve. Ptolemy continued when Leonatus jabbed him in the side,
"Um…. Anyway, Cassander made a bet he would get a kiss and date for this evening and we excepted. But apparently the girl had other idea's and hit Cassander with her fist before taking of on a horse." Alexander couldn't hide his smile and laughed when he saw Cassander's new bruise on his face. Soon they all joined in and when the laughter subsided Alexander asked,
"Are we ready for the hunt then?"
"Yes, I took the liberty of bringing your sword, bow and arrows." Said Hephaistion, gesturing to a ready Bucephalus. Alexander silently thanked him with a smile and a hand on his shoulder, before walking to his horse and mounting it. All of Alexander's friends did the same, all armed in the same way for they were going to hunt lions.
After a few hours of chasing the Lion, Alexander and his friends finally cornered the beast in a small forest near the river. They all went a separate way though close enough so they could hear each other in case anything should happen.
Alexander slid down a little a little mountain of sand, silently creeping towards some bushes who he thought had moved not a second ago. Almost on tiptoes, he silently creped forward, the only sound were the river and his laboured breathing.
Suddenly he heard twig snap behind him followed by a frightened shout made by Hephaistion,
"Alexander! Watch out!" Alexander turned as if in slow motion and came face to face with the lion they had been hunting. The beast had his teeth bared and when the beast jumped towards him he knew this was it. Vaguely he could hear someone yelling and he closed his eyes.
But then he heard a quick swishing sound and the lion fell on him unmoving, Alexander fell down due to the Lion's weight and wondered what has happened. He surely should be dead now. Suddenly the lion was ripped of him and hands felt their way all over his body, accompanied by a frightened voice.
"Alexander? Alexander! Are you hurt? Talk to me, please. Alexander! " he looked towards the owner of the hands and came face to face with a worried Hephaistion. He cleared his throat and said,
"I'm fine… I'm fine…" Hephaistion have a desperate and relieved cry hugging Alexander close, "Thank you Hephaistion…" continued Alexander after awhile. Not understanding what he meant Hephaistion moved back a little so he could look in Alexander's face.
"Thank you for what? I didn't do anything."
"You didn't kill the lion?" asked Alexander,
"No." answered Hephaistion,
"Then who?" wondered Alexander as he and Hephaistion stood upright, they both looked around and saw his friends running towards them, then suddenly they heard a horse and they all looked towards the sound.
"It's that girl again…" yelled Ptolemy. And indeed on the horse was the same girl that had hit Cassander a few hours ago and in her hand was a bow. Alexander looked up and saw the same green eyes he saw only a year ago but this time she wasn't covered up and wore trousers and her hair was as black as night and in a bundle tied together with shawl. They looked between the girl and the dead lion and realised,
"She saved you…" whispered Hephaistion before turning back towards the girl. She lowered the bow and bowed to Alexander before taking of again. Leaving them all wondering to who she was.