Title: "The First Campaign"

Author: Baliansword

Chapter: 4, "Preparing the Companions"

A/N: Thanks for reviewing, for those that have. For those that are reading thank you too! Here is the beginning of the battle that some are looking forward too.

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Alexander looked that the men that stood around him. All were dressed in their best armor. It was hard to look at them now. Alexander knew that not all of these men would come back. That would be impossible, or so teachers had always told him. It was hard, for he knew each and every one of these men. He knew their names, their families perhaps, and even their dreams of life. How could he look at each and every one of these men, and assure them that things would be fine? How could he send some of them out to meet their deaths?

His eyes then caught the sight of Hephaestion in the crowd. He stood farther back with Cassander and Ptolemy. Cassander had the same cocky arrogance that he always had. Alexander doubted that he feared this battle in the least. Even Ptolemy seemed to be ready to face the battle, whether or not he would meet his death. As Alexander looked at all of the men he noticed that even Hephaestion was hiding his true feelings.

He stood, looking as fearless as those did around him. He even glanced over at Cassander as the two of them shared a private joke. Alexander gazed around the rest of the men for a moment. Then he cleared this throat and began to speak. He'd not planned it, for he knew that preparing the words would not be fair to those that he spoke to. The words just seemed to flow from over his tongue.

"Today," Alexander said so that all could hear, "we face battle. Many of you have never seen a battle that was not staged in an arena. I myself have never been in a battle like the one that we face today. I look into your eyes, and I see no fear. Either you have none or you hide it well."

He glanced at Hephaestion. Without realizing he had done so the beauty glanced down at the ground. He then looked up, meeting Alexander's gaze with his cerulean eyes. He tilted his head and lightly bit his lower lip. This was meant for only Alexander, it was Hephaestion telling him with only his eyes that he worried for him. Alexander only could manage a soft grin before he turned back to his speech.

"Show your enemy no fear and we will be undefeatable. We will make these Boeotians turn and run in our presence," he said. There was a sudden uproar from the men. Alexander even heard Cassander's distinct whistle. Alexander knew that this was enough. They didn't need fancy words. These men only needed a leader that they could believe in. Alexander would be this leader. He would ride with them, fight with them, and if the Fates willed it he would die with them.

Alexander stepped down from the slightly elevated platform he had been on. He then walked over to the groom that was holding Bucephalus. He mounted the horse, holding the reins tight in his hand, and then pulled the stallion around to face his men. Cassander picked up his helmet, which distinguished him as a general, and put it on. So did the rest of the commanders that would be helping lead the Companions. Alexander only had eyes for one general though.

Hephaestion mounted his own horse, holding the reins looser in his hands. He was still trying to keep his worry hidden from the rest of the world. He wasn't worried for himself though, he was worried for Alexander. He always had been worried for him. Now, after knowing that perhaps he and Alexander could be as he wanted them to be, he was no less worried about him. He was in fact more worried.

Alexander turned Bucephalus and set out with his group of men. There was only enough room from their area for one legion to leave at a time. Alexander turned before he was out of view and gave a series of hand signals. Cassander would lead his men out next and take the right. He then gave the order for Hephaestion to take his men to the left. The last thing Alexander did was tell the left and right generals to decide where to put the men that would follow them. Hephaestion glanced over his shoulder at the lesser commanders that were under his guard.

Cassander gave a series of signals to his men before he began to ride out. Hephaestion waited for a moment and thought about which men and legion he would place where. He looked not only at the commander as Cassander had. He looked at the foot soldiers. Upon looking at the men in one legion he decided they would be the left, for a few of the soldiers in the front line favored their right in the military games Alexander's tutor had set for them. Then he decided upon a left, and then upon a middle group which would be directly behind him. Only after this elaborate planning did he begin out.

By the time he moved his regiment to the left of Alexander's there was already a battle going on in the flattened battlefield. Hephaestion glanced behind him to make sure that his men were in place, and those behind them. He then turned and looked over to where Alexander was. He sat upon Bucephalus, freely letting the stead pace back and forth as Alexander looked at the ranks. When everyone was in place he turned Bucephalus to face the field and ordered him to stand still.

Hephaestion looked out at the field, his blue eyes taking ever scene that he could in. The August sun glared down upon the field, and the shining armor that Hephaestion could see seemed to sparkle. Even the blood glimmered in this light he feared. It was strange to him that even in a time of war there was something that he could call beautiful. His own horse, upon hearing a loud crashing of a chariot, took a few steps forward. Many of the horses began to move at the sudden sound. They were virgins to battles just like most of the men.

"Easy," Hephaestion said as he leaned forward and put a hand on his stallion's neck. The horse was hot even though he had not yet done much. Hephaestion patted him softly, calming the horse, and whispered the same word into his ears. The horse twitched his ears back, listening to his master, and began to still. When Hephaestion leaned back the horse moved no more.

Alexander let Bucephalus prance in place though. The stallion seemed to have come from Hades himself at this time. If fire could have come from his nose it would have. His nostrils flared as he breathed heavily, anxious to charge into the battle. In many senses his was just like the man that sat upon him.

Alexander did not mind the movement though. He was concentrating upon what his father's battalion was doing. They seemed to be fighting hard, but the Boeotians had not yet given up. They had shifted their ranks but still were prepared to fight Philip and all of Macedonia if that were what it would take. Alexander tightened his grip on Bucephalus' reins and the horse began to still. He still made much noise though, blowing hot air out of his nostrils while he pawed at the ground.

The prince continued to stare at the battle. He knew that taking his men into the battle just now would do nothing. A moment would come, and when it did, they would charge. He waited for only a few more minutes until he saw it. Philip's men had begun to make a breach in the opposing phalanx but they would not be able to hold it for long. Yet the opportunity was enough for Alexander. He watched as a group of three hundred Thebans broke away from the phalanx and began to fight with Philip's men, of which there were only about a hundred and fifty, if that.

"Listen," Alexander cried out as he brought Bucephalus out of the line. He looked to his commanders, who had also brought their horses out of the line. Cassander's horse was just as eager as Bucephalus, but when Alexander glanced at Hephaestion, he had to smile. His horse was just as calm as Hephaestion appeared to be.

"Cassander," Alexander called out and instantly everyone was listening. Even the horses quieted. "Take your men around the right where there is already a path. Hephaestion, take the left. We will wrap around, I taking the front."

Both commanders nodded and turned to give orders to their men. It did not take long though before Alexander knew they were ready. He took his sword and raised it in the air. Then, with the slight movement of his wrist, he ordered everyone forward. He let go of Bucephalus' reins and let the stallion burst into a full gallop. As he ran out, his men following, he glanced over to his left for just a moment. In that moment he saw Hephaestion looking back at him as well.