Chapter 8:Bad News – Happy News
Months passed and Alexander, Hephaistion and his wife enjoyed the nice weather and each others. The war with some of the Greek cities was still on but The King seemed to manage without Alexander and his troop, which suited them just fine.
Alexander laid down on the grass, eyes closed enjoying the sun. Near him sat Ptolemy and Hephaistion both reading a book, sipping some wine now and then. He could hear some grunts now and then knowing Nearchus and Leonatus were still wrestling each other. After hearing a loud 'whoop' and a shout of victory, Alexander sat up and looked in the direction from which it came with a big smile knowing Eudora had beaten Cassander at archery again. Cassander grumbled a little bit but bowed picking a flower and presenting it to her. Eudora blushed a little but excepted with a smile and a hard punch on his shoulder before running of towards Alexander and dropping down beside him.
"Uh, how can you read at a time like this?" she asked in general eating a piece of apple they brought, when no one answered she winked at Alexander before grabbing Hephaistion's book and running off giggling,
"Hey! Give it back." Yelled Hephaistion affronted,
"If you want it come and get it" she yelled back teasing him, not wanting to be outdone by a girl he ran after her. They ran for some time, disappearing from view, before Hephaistion caught up with her. They both stumbled to the ground, Hephaistion ending up on top of Eudora, who was panting and laughing at the same time.
"Now, give me my book."
"No." she giggled squirming under his weight, suddenly it dawned on him and he began tickling her, she laughed and laughed begging for mercy.
"Stop… Stop, I give up…. I give up!" and she dropped the book, gasping for air. Instead of grabbing the book Hephaistion just stared at her. A slight change in his eyes was all the warning she got as he suddenly kissed her. They kissed until the need for air became too great and they gasped out loud, suddenly a voice interrupted their moment,
"Your not having any fun without me, are you?" they both sighed as they recognized Alexander's voice. Alexander got down and kissed Hephaistion as his hand moved down Eudora's body. Things soon got heated up and what happened then is between them and the birds.
The next day a messenger came with a letter for Eudora, when she read it she dropped everything and quickly began packing a bag with clothes and asked a page to fetch her some bread, cheese and some wine and to pack it for a long journey. The page looked at her strangely and she knew Alexander would soon know. After she received her package and dressed in trousers, she left towards the stables.
When she was finished she prepped her horse but before she could mount it she was stopped by Alexander and Hephaistion.
"Where are you going?"
" Just get of my way, Alexander."
"We found your letter" as Hephaistion uttered those words she stiffened especially when he began reading it,
Memnon, Leader of The Rebels. To Eudora, daughter of Cephalus, Hail!
I write you to inform you that your father failed in destroying us, instead we destroyed his town and it's citizens. We have captured your father, to retrieve information but like any myrmidon, they would rather die then reveal their mission.
If you want to see your father again, then I advise you to come and come alone. You will tell us who the last descended of Achilles is and whose bloodline it is you are trying to protect. If not, your father's life will be forfeited.
I await your arrival in one week after receiving this letter.
Eudora sighed,
"I have to go."
"Yes, And we are coming with you." Said Hephaistion,
"What? No! It's you that he wants Alexander it defies all reason should you come."
"What should I do? Let you go alone, let you be tortured and probably killed? No, Eudora, I am coming along. Beside I do not think this Memnon would expect you to take me along, now would he?"
"No." answered Eudora in a small voice,
"And he does not know I am Achilles last descended, does he?" Eudora sighed saying,
"No." Alexander smiled knowing he won her over and hugged her close,
"Besides Cephalus is my family too…"
"Thank you." Whispered Eudora and they parted, turning towards Hephaistion who had his and Alexander's horse ready. Behind him Alexander's troop stood ready as well and Eudora bowed in thanks.
After almost a week riding without stopping, they reached Eudora's former city, now burned to the ground. They looked around in shock, getting more angry by the minutes as they passed numerous dead bodies. Alexander made some hand movement an his companions split up, making their way in city, silent as the night, killing rebel soldiers as they went. Alexander and Eudora rode side my side making their way to her father's mansion. Suddenly soldiers came from every direction, followed by Alexander's companions and a fight ensued. Soon, they defeated the soldiers and made their way towards the mansion when they heard someone laughing.
Looking up Eudora recognized the man and said,
"Memnon!"
"My lady, you are still as beautiful as the day I first met you. I see you brought company." He said in a loud voice descending some stairs as he looked Alexander up and down,
"Ah, this must be the husband, no? You should have married me when I asked you, my dear, instead of that" and he spat in Alexander's direction, who got so angry, he flew towards Memnon, but was held back by his friends. Memnon ascended again and when he came to the top, he made a hand gesture and one of his soldiers came forth carrying a bloody man,
"Father!" Cephalus raised his head at his daughters voice and looked shocked to see her there,
"Eudora?" Father and daughter just stared at each others before getting interrupted my Memnon's voice
"How touching!" and he grabbed Cephalus by the hair lifting his head violently, holding a knife at his throat,
"Now tell what I want to hear girl, or the old man croaks it."
"Don't tell him Eudora, don't" yelled Cephalus, the knife cutting his skin
"Shut up old man!"
"Don't tell him Eudora! It is your duty to protect the bloodline, don't tell…." But he never got to finish that sentence because Memnon had cut his throat,
"He always did talk to much." Alexander and his companions shocked at such a dishonourable act as Eudora screamed,
"Noooooooo! You bastard!" And she ran up the stairs, her sword raised, Alexander wanted to follow her but suddenly he and his companions were surrounded by new soldiers.
They fought for some time but won. Alexander made his way up the stairs to find Memnon dead, his body almost unrecognizable, and Eudora sobbing over her fathers body.
Alexander escorted his wife away from the body as Hephaistion and his companions build a pyre fit for a king and by night fall they all surrounded the pyre and looked on as Eudora placed two coins on each of her father's eyes, kissing him and taking the torch from Alexander's hand and setting the pyre alight then descending the wooden ladder they made.
Eudora stared at the flames as it turned her father's body to ashes, remaining in the same spot until there was nothing left. At the end only Alexander and Hephaistion remained, standing close to her. When they touched her shoulder, she came back to reality, turning quickly and running a few meters before dropping to the ground and puking. Alexander came closer rubbing her back as Hephaistion held her hair both whispering words of comfort. Soon, she stopped retching and put sand over it before sitting upright.
"I never got the change to tell him." Said Eudora after a long silence,
"Tell him what?"
"That I succeeded."
"Succeeded?"
"In preserving Achilles royal bloodline" she remained silent, letting the words sink in, Alexander brows were furrowed as he was thinking, looking her up and down before gasping,
"You mean? You are with child?" and when she nodded Alexander have an undignified 'whoop' and hugged her close, kissing every inch of her face,
"How far along?" asked Hephaistion after he too hugged her close,
"About three months, it won't be long before I start showing."
Alexander was so happy, he told every single one of his companions personally when they came to camp. They celebrated long into the night.
And soon all of Macedonia was filled with joy and happiness, glad Prince Alexander would soon have an heir.