Title: "The First Campaign"
Author: BalianswordChapter: 5, "The Battle"
A/N: Again, thanks for the support. Enjoy, this chapter takes place from where chapter four left off really.
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Alexander took his men straight into the three hundred Thebans. Those on horses were the first to encounter the real problems. The Thebans showed no mercy and had no problems cutting the legs right out from under the horses. The Thebans on horses would also fight with those upon horses. It was not easy to kill those beneath you when you were being attacked from above as well.
At first he had no time to see what others were doing. He had time only to try to cut down those that approached to closely to Bucephalus. The first man to put so much as a scratch on his horse would be skinned alive. Yet Bucephalus fought just as well as Alexander. He even reared up and struck two men in front of him as they raised their swords.
Alexander held Bucephalus' mane as the horse did this. It still caused him to loose his balance. In doing so he dropped his sword. The only way to get it would be to get off. So that is what the prince did. He slid from Bucephalus and grabbed the hilt of the sword in his hand. Just as he was standing the light caught the silver of a curved blade that was flying through the air at him. Alexander raised his own sword just in time, the two blades crashed together with a clang, and Alexander finished rising.
Only then did he manage to get a glimpse at the carnage around him. Men were being cut as they fell to the ground. A man screamed as his stomach was cut through as if it were just butter. His guts spilled from his body before he hit the ground. Alexander knew that he was now fighting for his life. He pulled his sword back, as did his Theban opponent, and took a step back. Then, he raised the blade and charged forward. The suddenness of his attack caught the Theban off guard and Alexander was able to swing the blade in such a motion that it cut the man across the neck.
Blood sprayed at the main artery was cut. The spray hit Alexander in the face, creating a line of crimson across his face. Alexander watched the man fall. He knew that many others would meet their death like this. It did not matter though, as long as it was not he or Hephaestion. He froze at the thought. For the first time he had a minute to think. Where was Hephaestion?
Before he could look he was again attacked. This time the battle lasted a little longer. He even had to step back a few more paces as the attacker advanced. Alexander glanced behind him as he stepped on the hand of a man already long dead. There was a decorative dagger in the sand just next to the dead hand. Alexander slammed his sword against his attackers and then suddenly dropped to the ground. He wrapped his hand around the dagger.
Thinking he had fallen his attacker came nearer. But Alexander was only tricking him. Cassander had done this more than enough times to him to know that it would work. He suddenly leapt up, with the dagger firm in his grasp, and punched the Theban hard in the shoulder. The blade in his hand slid deep into the muscle of the shoulder and the man cried out as blood poured from the wound. Alexander then pulled his sword back and swung it wildly. The man's head flew from his shoulder and Alexander let out a scream.
Many said that he had the rage of his father. But when Cassander looked over and saw this he knew that they were wrong. He was far worse than his father could ever be. Cassander went on with his own fight, having no more time to think about it. But he could see that the numbers of the Thebans were falling.
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Hephaestion tried to pull his horse back before the blade struck the animal in the front left leg. The horse screamed out in pain and made a sudden turn. The blade was still stuck though, and in turning the horse managed only to fracture the bone. Hephaestion continued to hold the reins in one hand and his sword in the other as the horse fell to the ground, landing hard on its side. In landing on its side Hephaestion's left leg was pinned beneath the sand. Had it not been for the sand and the body beneath him he knew that his leg would be broken.
Hephaestion tried to pull at his leg as the horse continued to thrash. It cried out in pain as blood poured from his leg. Hephaestion heard the screams of other horses and of men all around him. As he pulled at his leg again he wished that the noise would cease. The horse tried to get up, and as it tried to raise itself Hephaestion bent his knee and pulled himself back before the horse hit the ground again. Still clutching the sword the general pushed himself off of the ground.
He tried to place weight back on his leg but it burned. He glanced down, seeing the red angry flesh. Nothing was broken but he knew that there would be a large bruise by the end of this battle that would last for weeks. But he did not have time to find a way to place more weight on his leg. A Theban who had already lost his sword immediately knocked him down.
When he hid the ground he let out an oof as the air in his lungs was pushed out of him. Hephaestion also had let go of the sword that was in his hand. The impact had caused his hand to loose its grip. Hephaestion kneed the man that had knocked him down and grabbed him by both shoulders. He threw the man from him, but as the man fell to his right he grabbed a handful of Hephaestion's hair in his fist.
Hephaestion felt his head jerk as the man pulled him. The general then felt a fist hit him hard on the cheek. Hephaestion could fight this way though. It was not that hard. He took an elbow and jammed it into the Theban's neck. The Theban gasped but before he could breathe in again Hephaestion repeated the motion. He then grabbed a bloodied sword from the ground and took it in his hands. With a quick motion he sunk the blade into the man's stomach.
The Theban tried to grab the sword, but as Hephaestion stood he forced the blade further into his chest. Whether or not he was alive when he walked away Hephaestion did not know. It did not matter though. He reached down and took one of the curved Theban blades that lay on the ground. It would be easier to wield this weapon in this battle.
Hephaestion then put himself in the center of a large fight already taking place. A group of Boeotians was attacking two men from Philip's army. The two were fighting but Hephaestion knew that they had no chance. Hephaestion swung the curved blade wide and stuck a man in the back. He fell screaming to the ground, the scream alerting those around him. A few others turned and raised their own arms and came at Hephaestion.
There was not time to be scared though. Hephaestion just sliced through another Boeotian. But before he knew it there was a Theban behind him with a dagger. As the man before him attacked, the one behind care around and slid the sharpened blade over Hephaestion's already injured thigh. Hephaestion brought his elbow up in time to hit the Theban in the jaw. It caused him to fall but he was quickly scrambling back to his feet.
The Boeotian before him was able to knock the blade from Hephaestion with a steady thrust. The clanging was loud, but the impact caused Hephaestion to drop the blade. At the same time the Theban was up, with a handful of sand. As Hephaestion began to turn to face the other the Theban threw the sand directly into his eyes. Hephaestion could only step back and swipe wildly at his eyes. As he did he tripped on a body and fell back.
Hephaestion continued to wipe at his eyes but it seemed he was only making it worse. It burned. His leg burned but in a different way. But he heard the Theban with the sword approaching. Hephaestion knew that he needed to get out of the way before the blade caught him. He looked up and used a hand to block the sun from his eyes. He was waiting for the Theban to raise the sword before he tried to move, but he was beginning to see that there was nowhere else to go.
Just as the Theban raised the blade over his head the sound of a deep horn could be heard. Hephaestion, his hand still blocking the sun, watched as the Theban stopped. For a second their eyes met, the sea with the mountain soil, and the Theban then lowered his sword. He then turned on his heel and began to flee with those around him. Hephaestion turned his head, the sun still blinding his already watering eyes, and watched as the retreat began. The Thebans had lowered their blades but as they ran they still had to face the blades of the Companions.
Hephaestion tried to sit fully up, but it hurt terribly. Nevertheless he looked down at his leg. Already he could see a dark purple surrounding the cut on his leg. The cut was rather deep, the skin torn far apart, and was bleeding heavily. Hephaestion went to put his hand on it but as he raised his hand sand fell into the wound. The warm sand made the wound burn even more. In fact, it burned until Hephaestion's head fell back with the rest of his body.
He lay back, his back against the body of a dead man from Philip's army, and put a hand up to shield his eyes. The pain was gripping at him though and he had to grit his teeth and cry out. He could hear his heartbeat it seemed. He felt himself growing weak then. Suddenly his hand fell even though he had not willed it to and he began to slip into darkness. His eyes slowly closed before he could do anything about it. He lay amongst a group of the dead, and for someone passing by, he looked like he could be one of them.
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Alexander continued his search. The dead were vast and there were many wounded. Already he watched as men were helping the injured onto carts that would take them back to camp. Philip planned to take his men further and beat down the remaining forces. Yet he had sent word to Alexander, telling him to stay at camp, and watch the wounded. He would send for him if needed, so the Companions should still be ready.
Alexander thought not about that though. He thought only about Hephaestion. He could find him nowhere and no one was able to tell him where they had seen him last. Alexander stopped when he saw Cassander, who was searching for something too it seemed, or someone. He held a sword in his hand and raised it, the blade pointing down. He only glanced up when he saw Alexander.
The prince looked down at the last remaining thrashing horse. He recognized the stallion immediately. It was Hephaestion's bay stead. It was on its side thrashing, its leg clearly broken beyond repair. Even if it could be repaired they did not have the necessary supplies or time to bother with the men that would need tending to. Alexander watched as Cassander firmly drove the blade into side of the horse's head. The horse immediately stopped moving.
Alexander immediately began to look around. How far could Hephaestion have gotten without his horse? He felt tears coming to his eyes as he began looking again for Hephaestion. The screams of the men around him only made things worse. Alexander stepped carefully over the bodies of many Thebans but still could not see Hephaestion, yet he would not keep looking. He knew he was somewhere. Perhaps he had already begun taking his men back to the camp. That sounded like something Phae would do. But why had Alexander not seen him, or for the matter why had no one else?
As Alexander stepped over another body the sun reflected on a blade. The light blinded Alexander and he misplaced his foot and fell to the ground. He raised a hand and then stood, looking for where the shining light was coming. As he looked around he saw a blade sticking out of the ground. The bright silver hilt was making the reflection. The prince began to search around the blade, and then saw something.
He began to run when he saw the strands of brown hair. He knew that it was Hephaestion's. But he also knew that there was a vast amount of bodies in the far off area. Alexander ran, leaping over bodies even, until he reached the pile of dead bodies. As he stumbled over a Theban body and into the pile he confirmed that it was his Hephaestion.
Hephaestion lay against a dead Macedonian, his eyes closed but tears streaming his face. Alexander fell down next to him and pulled his head onto his lap. He put a hand over his neck and felt a heartbeat. He was alive! Alexander looked over his body, seeing the beating that it had taken. First he saw the bruise on his cheek and the cut, which could have been made by a Theban ring. They wore rings to battle thinking they could punch an enemy and wound them badly. It obviously worked, Alexander admitted.
He then saw his left leg. There was a deep wound caused by a sharp blade on his thigh. The flesh around the cut was already a dark menacing purple. The rest of his thigh was bruised as well, a dark blue hue, and in some areas it was a gross green color. His lower leg seemed to be lightly bruised as well. But his thigh was clearly the worst of the wounds. Examining the rest of his body he saw a cut on Hephaestion's right arm, high above his elbow. It had stopped bleeding though and was nothing that could not be easily healed.
Alexander put a hand on Hephaestion's shoulder and shook him yet he did not awaken. He didn't even moan. Alexander sat, just staring and not knowing what to do, until he heard the sound of another approaching. He looked up and recognized the boy as a page. The boy clearly was amazed at the carnage of the battle. He just looked at the prince, as confused as everyone else.
"Get a medic," Alexander ordered harshly.
"Sir," the boy began. He was going to tell Alexander that the medics were busy. They had been trying to work with the wounded men on the field. Yet the heat had been a problem and they had mostly gone back to the camp. The few that remained were dealing with others and did not want to be disturbed. Alexander knew this but did not care. He knew Hephaestion needed help, and now. He also knew how hard it would be to try to move him across the field of dead bodies that surrounded them.
"Get a medic," Alexander yelled this time. "Tell them Prince Alexander requested it and if they don't come I will have their head!"
"A medic," the boy repeated.
"Yes, the first one you see," Alexander shouted. He watched as the page ran off as fast as he could. He hoped the boy would be quick about it. His wits were gone from his head like so many other young pages that knew not what to do now. Some had lost masters and would definitely be lost for the rest of the day. But that did not concern him. He only looked back down at Hephaestion.
He kissed Hephaestion's forehead, not caring if anyone saw. He did not even do it because he loved him. He did it because he hoped that it would cause him to awaken. It may pull him from his sleep. But it did not. Hephaestion remained lifeless in his arms. After some time the boy returned with a medic though. The old man was clearly not happy about the long venture he had to take, but because Alexander had threatened his life, he managed to get there quickly.
"My prince," the medic said as he came to his knees amongst the body as well. He looked at Hephaestion and thought the same thing that the page had told him. The general looked rather dead. But the medic knew better when he saw more blood slide from the cut on the man's leg and drip to the sand. "We must get him back to camp. This wound must be closed."
"How," asked Alexander, his mind thinking but with no results. He glanced around. The bodies all around them seemed endless. Even though Hephaestion appeared lithe, he was mostly muscle, and carrying him would be hard. It was hard enough for a single man to get over the bodies.
The medic had an answer though. He pressed his hand down against the bleeding thigh. At first there was no response. The medic had only to push a little harder. Then Hephaestion's leg twitched and he began to awaken. He thrashed at Alexander as he awoke, not knowing who held him. As his eyes opened he calmed, knowing it was only Alexander, but his eyes were still blurred and burned with sand.
"Water," Alexander said as he turned to the page. The page gladly handed him his own medium sized leather water container. Alexander uncapped the thing and then looked back at Hephaestion. "Open your eyes."
Hephaestion did as he was told. It burned though. Yet he did not see the water as it began to fall into his eyes. As soon as it did he felt like he was drowning. Alexander poured enough water upon his face it seemed to give the entire army a drink. Hephaestion coughed as Alexander wiped some of the water away from his face. Alexander then put the water to his lips and told him to drink. Hephaestion did even though he didn't feel like it. It soothed his dry throat though so he did not complain.
"He must get up," the medic said as he stood.
"Hephaestion," Alexander softly spoke, knowing by the general's grimace that he had a headache. "I'm going to help you up alright? We have to get you where a cart can get you back to camp."
"Is it bad," Hephaestion asked as he raised his head and looked down at his leg. Alexander put a hand on his forehead. Just as he had thought, he already was becoming feverish.
"No," the medic assured him as Alexander began to pull Hephaestion up with him. "Just a bad cut. You will need some stitches but it's not bad. You have faired better than many. See the dead around you?"
Alexander made sure that Hephaestion leaned against him. He put one arm around Hephaestion's waist to steady him. The other he used to cling to Hephaestion's upper arm. Alexander then put one of Hephaestion's arms over his shoulder. Even standing seemed to wear Hephaestion out and with the first step he took blood squirted from his thigh. The blood shot out in front of him about a foot before it hit the sand.
"Don't stand on it," the medic said. "Use only the other leg. Here, here, let me help you. They never train this part do they?"
Alexander ignored the medic as he mumbled. He was only concerned with getting Hephaestion back to the camp. As they trudged through the bodies Hephaestion moaned every time his leg hit something. He tried not to, but even Hephaestion could feel pain. When he moaned Alexander gritted his teeth, knowing that he could do nothing to soothe the pain. If he could he would take it from him and inflict the wound upon himself.
"Alexander," Cassander called out when they were neared to the rest. He walked quickly over, relieving the medic of his struggle, and held Hephaestion on the other side. He had no soothing words, but instead had jabs. "I told you we should have left him. How does it feel Hephaestion? Hurt much?"
"Just get me a cart," Alexander ordered.
"Already coming."
The cart pulled up and Alexander carefully sat Hephaestion down. Hephaestion was clearly spent. He was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open. His leg also continued to slowly bleed. Cassander and Alexander pulled him further back into the cart. Alexander then ordered the medic to get in as well. As soon as the medic was in the cart was off. Alexander watched with Cassander for a moment.
"Be careful Alexander," Cassander warned. "Come may begin to think that you care too much for one general."
Alexander glanced over at Cassander. The man only raised an eyebrow as if he knew everything and walked away with a simple shrug. Alexander looked back to the cart and waited for the page to bring him Bucephalus. He did not care if others knew. It did not even enter his mind. The only thing he cared about at the moment was Hephaestion. As he leapt upon Bucephalus' back he let the stallion take off in a full run. Cassander only watched as the prince rode off, a smirk plastered upon his face.