About the DVD: I read the news in several Alexander groups and they all say the same thing. I believe there is also an article with the whole interview Oliver stone gave on some TV show explaining why he is cutting scene's and such. I find it strange because Oliver stone doesn't seem like the guy to cut scene's because someone doesn't like it.
And yes Shioban I have msn, you can find my e-mail address in my profile I believe. If not say so in a review or something and I will give it to you. And yeah, I love LOTR!
Thank you for your lovely reviews.
Chapter 15: The Chain
Meanwhile at the market, the now four year old, Uraeus was having the time of his life, pointing at all kinds of things and people.
Sometimes they were recognized, even though they were Persian clothes and had no guards with them, and they were offered gifts but Eudora insisted in paying knowing how much time and work was necessary to make it all. She also conversed in Persian, which she had learned in the year since they lived here. They loved her all the more for it and wouldn't expect any payment.
Something caught Ureaus eye and he pulled on Eudora's skirt to get her attention,
"Look, Mother! Look!" she joined her bouncing son and stared in the shop and recognized a wooden replica of Alexander's sword. Knowing his father forbade him to play with his word she smiled,
"Can I have it mother, please?" looking around not really liking this neighbourhood for some reason but not able to deny her son she nodded,
"Alright, I will buy it for you for your birthday next month. But you will get it then and not before. Alright?" pouting slightly but still happy with the gift Ureaus nodded,
"Thank you mother." She smiled back looking behind her frowning before entering the shop. She quickly conversed with the shopkeeper talking about the price but she noticed he seemed preoccupied and nervous and asked,
"Is something wrong?" The man just shook his head rapping the wooden sword but a quick eye movement on his part made Eudora push her son to the side and ducked. She bumped into someone else who quickly grabbed her, making it unable for her to move.
"Mother!" she saw her son kicking at a man who had grabbed him hard by his arms, "Let me go, you monster." She looked around seeing an artefact and kicked it hard, making it wobble until it tipped and fell hard on the man's head who fell down releasing her son. She yelled,
"Run Uraeus Run!" the boy looked at his mother shaking his head not wanting to leave her, the man behind her ordered someone else,
"Grab the kid."
"Go Uraeus quickly." Seeing the new man, he did as he was told and ran out of the shop looking back once seeing his mother struggle before she was hit on the head and falling down hard.
Uraeus ran as fast as his little legs could, falling down now and then losing his chain his mother gave him; an heirloom she had told him. He ran through many streets and alleys passing many people until he saw the palace. Tired and out of breath he ran the last part passing the palace guard who stood at attention when they saw him.
He passed some soldiers and picked up the time from them, instantly knowing that his father was in his war-room at his hour. Forgetting protocol he ran passed the guards barely managing to open the big wooden doors and bursting in the room
Instantly all eyes of everyone present where on him, some looked happy to see him, some annoyed at the intrusion.
Alexander, angry at his son's audacity and lack of restrain, he yelled,
"Uraeus, leave at once! This is a closed counsel, not a playground. Where is your mother, she should keep a better eye on you!" in fact Alexander felt embarrassed at the lack of discipline his son showed in front of his generals and companions and he sat down sighing heavily. Suddenly a hand fell down hard on his shoulder getting his attention,
"Alexander, look!" he looked up to see his son sway and fall through his legs.
"Uraeus!" forgetting he was angry and embarrassed he showed his chair back and ran to his son, cape billowing behind him. Holding his son up checking him over noticing huge bruised in the form of fingerprints on his son's arms.
"Who did this?" demanded Alexander,
"I did know who he was father, he just grabbed me…" whispered Uraeus still slightly out of breath,
"When did this happen?" asked Hephaistion who was standing nearby,
"The market…" Alexander's eyes widened,
"Where is your mother?" Uraeus started crying which alarmed Alexander even more then before because Uraeus almost never cried,
"Where?" demanded Alexander shaking his son slightly,
"They took her, the men took her… I tried to help father, I tried… Mother told me to run…" sobbed Uraeus, silence followed the confession until someone started yelling orders. Alexander's recognized Ptolemy's voice and he felt grateful,
"Assemble the royal guard! Sound the alarm! The Queen has been kidnapped! Search the city, search every home, do not stop until she is found!" a wave of 'Yes Sir's' followed and everyone left,
"We will find her my King!" Alexander just nodded holding his sobbing son close, anger filling his being knowing who was behind all of this. He held his son until he fell asleep exhausted, and put him to bed, leaving him with his wet-nurse and four royal guards before setting of himself feeling grateful his son was safe and prayed his wife was as well.
Eudora woke with a groan, her head hurting like hell, remembering what happened she quickly sat upright immediately regretting it because she became dizzy. She fell on the flour retching violently, when she was done she felt soft hands guide her upright and place her on a chair. She opened her eyes, squinting at the bright light. When her eyes became accustomed to the light she looked around and noticed she was in a tent and indeed sat on a chair which sat next to a table and a bed.
Her eyes fell on the young girl who helped her and she smiled in thanks, grabbing her head and rubbing the bump, trying to figure out where she was. The girl gave her something to drink and she accepted grateful and thanked her in Persian. The girl looked shocked for a moment but nodded before leaving again.
Eudora looked around again hoping her son escaped. She stood up and walked towards the exit of her tent but was blocked by two guards who ordered her back inside. She sighed but did as she was told, knowing for sure she was a prisoner now. She sat down and waited for something to happen. She did not have to wait long when she heard the soldiers snap at attention and the girl came back holding the tent flap open bowing very deeply and announcing the man who came in.
"Lord Bessus." Eudora recognized the name as the man who eluded and resisted her husband. The man gestured the girl away with a hand wave.
"Queen Eudora…. You are indeed most beautiful as the rumours say. It seems hardly fair that Alexander should own so much wouldn't you say?"
"He doesn't own me… Nobody does…." Said Eudora without getting up,
"Really? I heard otherwise, does he not keep you from fighting? A passion of yours I heard, seems to me like he at least controls you…" said Bessus with a mocking smile,
"How do you…..." began Eudora,
"I have my ways…" answered Bessus. Eudora said nothing as he stepped closer. He took her face in his hands caressing before she tried to bite his fingers making him laugh,
"Seems he didn't quite tame you yet. I look forward to it…" This got Eudora mad and she got up slapping him in the face, making the chair tip and fall. The guard heard the noise and came in, but Bessus gestured him away. "High tempered. I look forward to it indeed!"
"Why are you keeping me here?" asked Eudora through clenched teeth,
"Why do you think? You are Alexander's most precious possession. You in exchange for the crown seems fitting don't you agree?"
"He'll never agree to it. He knows I would rather die." Said Eudora hotly,
"Maybe later….. but for now I think I will keep you around. I heard you are quite skilled in singing and dancing, you can entertain us while we wait for Alexander to submit…." Bessus left laughing,
"He'll never submit! Never!" yelled Eudora angrily, turning around she tipped the table and smashed a vase. She turned around about to smash something else when she came face to face with the frightened servant girl. Knowing she was the reason the girl was scared she put down the artefact and sat back down sighing. She watched the girl bustle around, preparing the table for a meal,
"What is your name?" Eudora asked the girl after a long silence, the girl seemed uncertain for a moment; "I can't call you girl, now can I?"
"My name is Bustan my lady."
"Bustan huh? Seems fitting…." Muttered Eudora,
"My lady?"
"It means Flower doesn't it? You seem as sweet like flower, that's why…"
"Oh!" and the girl blushed not having expecting 'the Barbarian Queen' to be so friendly, catching her train of though Eudora said,
"Not what you expected huh?" the girl looked confused for a moment but caught on and shook her head, "I don't blame you, you are as much as a prisoner as I am. One day you'll be free Bustan, I promise you that. One day…." And she trailed of as Bustan quickly left with tears in her eyes at Eudora's kind words.
At The Palace, two weeks later,
"Where is she?" yelled Alexander,
"We don't know, my king! We combed the city several times and found nothing. Nobody saw or heard anything." Said Leonatus,
"Search it again…" ordered Alexander and Leonatus bowed before leaving again, "And you…" pointed Alexander to a group of men, "… found anything?"
"No my king…" said the leader carefully fearing the king's temper, men have been put down for less, "… nothing but sand and dust…."
"Go further then. Climb mountains if you must!" the man jumped to attention and quickly left, Alexander paced up and down the room fuming with anger.
"Alexander, calm down…"
"I will not calm down, Ptolemy. My wife is out there, she could be hurt or worse killed by that mad man!"
Alexander had received a letter confirming his suspicion that Bessus had taken his wife. Bessus issued demands claiming he would kill Eudora if he didn't give him the throne. This enraged Alexander even further and he was bad tempered and high strung ever since.
"Ptolemy is right Alexander, calm down. You're not thinking strait." Said Nearchus, one of Alexander's other companions,
"You are not helping Eudora this way. Your son is beginning to think you blame him." Added Perdiccas, making Alexander look up in guilt,
"Besides, we all know Eudora can take care of herself. I'm the living prove of that…" muttered Cassander rubbing his face to an old forgotten bruise. Everyone laughed including Alexander, grateful for the distraction his friends have him. He looked across at Hephaistion who smiled slightly before looking away again, he smiled back at his friends thanking them before starting to leave.
Suddenly a guard flew in the room holding a letter.
"My King, we have a lead."
Alexander gestured him and the other soldiers in, hope alight in his eyes,
"Come sit, tell me everything!"
Eudora had endured all kinds of ridicule and chores, in those two weeks, but she took it like a true Queen. Looking as though it didn't bother her at all. She was often ordered to sing and dance at the numerous feasts Bessus gave but she never have him the satisfaction and she kept silent and tight lipped, it didn't matter if they hit her or not, she didn't utter one sound! Wounding Bessus' great pride, thinking he could tame her.
One night, Bustan came and dressed Eudora in very fine clothes, and she knew Bessus had organized a big party again. Bustan, who had become Eudora's friend during her captivity spoke up,
"I wish you would sing my lady, then he would stop hitting you."
"I cannot Bustan."
"I understand my lady, truly, but he seems in rather strange mood today and I fear the worst should you refuse." Confessed Bustan but Eudora kept quiet. She broke the silence when she was dressed and escorted outside,
"You are very kind Bustan, I will not forget it." Looking back in the tent she saw the girl bow, wiping away a stray tear and she smiled to herself. The guards escorted her to the main circle where Bessus and all his high ranking soldiers were busy drinking and enjoying the pleasures of both slave girls and eunuchs, she was placed next to the big bonfire and in front of Bessus,
"Come sing me song!" Eudora just ignored him, she saw him make a hand gesture and she was struck down making the crowd laugh. "Sing!" put still she kept silent and was struck again, harder this time but Bessus made another gesture and the guard left. Eudora stood upright wiping away a stray streak of blood running from her mouth,
"You will not sing despite the humiliation you suffer every time. You are as strong willed as I expected but I think I finally found the solution to my problem…" he clapped his hands and Eudora looked up and saw a servant approach with a small cloth. Not understanding she frowned, Bessus opened the cloth and revealed a small chain, making Eudora gasp involuntarily making Bessus smile evilly,
"I knew this would catch your attention. Your son's chain is it not?" Eudora bit her lip in disbelieve shaking her head,
"Oh, but I think it is… Sing, or we kill your son…" she looked up shocked and he threw the chain at her feet. She picked it up not believing her eyes, this was indeed the chain she gave her son two years ago and he wore it ever since, the last time she saw it was at the market two weeks ago, but she though…
"You though he got away didn't you? He did not and he has been my captive… Do not worry, he has been treated like the prince he is but I fear he might lose his pretty blond head if you do not sing. Understand!" Eudora nodded grabbing the chain hard until she began to bleed, soft music began to play and she began to sing in ancient myrmidon,
If roses are meant to be red
And violets to be blue
Then why isn't my heart meant for you
My hands longing to touch you
But I can barely breathe
Starry eyes that make me melt
Right in front of me.
Lost in this world
I even get lost in this song
And when the lights go down
That is where I'll be found.
As soon as she opened her mouth, the entire camp fell silent and watched her every move, even though they did not understand the words, they were enchanted by her voice.
His music's irresistible
Your voice makes my skin crawl
Innocent and pure
I guess you heard it all before
Mr. Inaccessible
Will this ever change
One thing that remains the same
Is you're still a picture in a frame
Lost in this world
I even get lost in this song
And when the lights go down
That is where I'll be found
When she was done, everyone, including the servants started clapping. Eudora opened her eyes, still gripping the chain, tears streaming down her face. Bessus got up and walked to her like a man possessed, grabbed her by the hair and was about to kiss when a trumpet sounded and hundredths of fiery arrows descended from the sky, narrowly missing Eudora and Bessus who were standing close together. Soon, the whole camp was in panic and they all ran around like crazed people while Bessus snapped out of trance, looked around enraged his camp was found and struck Eudora to the ground spitting on her before ordering the retreat.
Eudora slowly got up, her vision swimming before her eyes as she saw soldiers run down from a nearby hill with a battle cry and start a battle with Bessus' soldiers. She dragged herself forward in pain trying to find her son.
She bumped into someone who shook her slightly,
"My lady, you have to get out of here. Your husband's men have come for you!"
"What? How did they even find…" muttered Eudora, "You… you led them here, didn't you…" Bustan said nothing but her eyes spoke volumes, before she could even thank her someone stabbed her from behind making her fall to the ground.
"Bustan, no!"
"I knew the little wench couldn't be trusted…" said the soldiers enraging Eudora who grabbed the dagger and stabbed him in the heart killing him instantly. She fell down on her knees crying,
"Bustan… Hold on…"
"My lady.." her eyes fluttered open, "He does not have your son, he deceived you…"
"Shhhh, Shhhh, keep your strength. I'm going to safe you…"
"You already have…. Eudora…." And she sighed before closing her eyes and dying. Eudora just sat in shock, crying silently. Someone suddenly touched her shoulder and she jumped away yelling,
"Don't touch me…" and fought of the helping hands,
"Eudora, it's me, Hephaistion." Eudora recognized the voice and stopped struggling whispering,
"Hephaistion?"
"Yes, it's me…" and she grabbed him hard sobbing. He just held her tightly stroking her hair and murmuring softly until she fell asleep. He looked around to the destroyed camp feeling grateful they found her even though Bessus escaped.
A few days later Eudora arrived in Babylon and walked strait to the room Alexander used for praying and found him down on his knees, beside him was her son.
She entered the room and the door closed with a loud bang, Alexander turned around hope in his eyes. They stared at each other before they ran towards each other, their capes billowing behind them. They fell into each other's arm hugging each other hard crying softly, Alexander kissed every bruise on Eudora's face muttering,
"Thank you Zeus, Thank you!" a small voice made them turn around,
"Mother!" Eudora fell down on her knees and hugged her son to her,
"Uraeus! How I have missed you. I am so glad you are safe and unharmed!" and she took the chain from her pocket and fastened it around her son's neck, patting it slightly with a smile.
"And I you mother." Alexander fell down beside them and hugged his family close feeling grateful for this miracle.
The song used is 'Lost' by 'Anouk'. Listen to it completely if you can and let me know what you think alright?
Bustan means Flower in the Persian language.