TEMPLATE:
Title: FIC: I, Too Am Alexander ( 4 / 7 )
Author: NorthernLight
Category: Love/Friendship/Adventure story. Alternate History.
Pairing: Alexander & Hephaestion.
Date: September 2005.
Feedback: Yes, all kinds, on or off list.
Archive: Yes, if you like, but please tell me. Archivated in the ATG Slash&Fanfic Yahoo Groups.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Not for gain - my work is for my deep interest in Alexander and Hephaestion, their time and adventures.
Rating: R Beta: Denise. Many thanks for good discussions and suggestions.
Summary : After resting in Maracanda Alexander takes his army further into the East. They come to the Paradise of Nysa and decide to have a feast under the starlit sky. It turns into drunken revelry and orgiastic pleasure. With everyone senseless from heavy drinking Alexander is kidnapped by a band of cunning mountain bandits. Hephaestion has a hard awakening, finding his Beautiful Golden One cruelly stolen away from him, taken into captivity to an unknown and inaccessible place. Meeting strong opposition from all his detractors he has to unite the whole army for a bold rescue party. He will have to call upon all his strength and diplomacy for this impossible mission.
Warnings: This is AR, very close to but not "real" history. Angst, intrigue, quarrels and adversities.
Historical notes: The Rock of Chorienes is a real place, being besieged by Alexander and his army on his way to India. Alexander was of course never imprisoned there. In the movie the famous scene where Hephaestion is mistaken for King Alexander comes in Babylon, after Gaugamela, with the Princess Stateira making the mistake. In "real" history this happens after the Battle of Issos and it is Old Queen Sisygambis, King Darius' Mother, who makes the mistaken Prostration before Hephaestion instead of King Alexander.
Dedication: To Denise. Thanks to your excellent and positive fic challenge about Alexander being kidnapped and Hephaestion taking over the army for a daring and dangerous rescue operation.
I, Too Am Alexander, Part IV
"Not even when they were feasting and were drowsy with drink did the enemy venture to attack them - being just as terrified by their uproarious reveling and yelling as if what they had heard was the Macedonian battle-crying. "
Quintus Curtius
Author's Note: This old Roman was right of course, when writing his real history of Alexander. My story is AR and anything can happen...
Nysa 327 BC
Futile Search
"Alexander! Alexander! Where are you? "
Hephaestion was looking everywhere, against all hope. Alexander might have wandered away and stumbled upon something in the rough terrain. Perhaps he lay hurt and lonely someplace else. It wasn't probable. Hephaestion knew very well that his friend couldn't have walked far away, being completely senseless from all his drinking - and Alexander never stumbled or fell, however drunk he became. He searched the bushes and the woods thoroughly all around the old oak tree. Nature's beauty escaped his otherwise keen senses and all the wonderful wild ivy came in his way, making him stumble all the time. Alexander was nowhere to be found.
Peritas and Pollux came to him, heads hanging, tails between their legs. Alexander's and his own watchful dogs had been seduced by the pleasurable partying of last night and gone chasing after some beautiful bitches in heat. He sternly reproached them:
"You two! Where were you when Alexander needed you? Help me now! Find the King for me! "
They ran off, searching all the wood as best as they were able to - but sadly nothing, no one was found. The two faithful dogs returned to their master, sorrowfully wailing. Beside himself with worry he returned to the old oak, trying to shake the guards awake. It was impossible. Stefanos and Alexios were far from their usual vigilance. They didn't respond to his cries of anger and worry, were just lying there completely senseless, their heads lolling to and fro. They seemed to have been drugged. Hephaestion raised his head. Now he saw the blood stained parchment wafting from the old oak stem, nailed into the venerable tree with a sharp dagger. In alarm he pulled out the dagger and rolled out the parchment, reading with difficulty in the bleak dawn. It was written in poor Greek, with awkward letters and spelling. The message was clear and cruel:
"We have your precious King and Commander and have taken him to an inaccessible place. You will get him back if you place ten big coffers filled with gold and precious jewels for us at the glen with the clear springs, deep into the woods of Nysa. You will then withdraw your troops at a far distance from here, never more to harass our people. In three days time Sikandar will be returned to you. "
It was signed: Defenders of the Oppressed, in big, sharp letters, written down in someone's blood.
Remorse And Encouragement
Hephaestion looked at the ominous parchment in utter disbelief. How could this have happened? His Alexander had been stolen away from him in the midst of his army, with all his guards around him. He hurried to sound the alarm, only to find all their men lying senseless in a drunken heap on the beautiful meadow. In the bleak dawn the beauty of the place only seemed to mock him. The wild ivy fluttered with an ice cold mountain wind and the many colored flowers made him feel dizzy with their clouds of sweet smelling fragrances. No one was awake, no one sober enough to be of assistance in this dire need. He ran around, trying to shake the generals and soldiers awake. No one responded to his ardent pleas. It was as if they had been given some strong sleeping potion or soporific poison. What if they never were to wake up?
He ran around for a long time, working hard to rise the Macedonian army. When the sun had risen far above the horizon glaring down at him with merciless heat he was completely out of breath and his arms and legs trembled from fatigue and futile efforts. He simply couldn't go on any longer. His legs gave way under him and he slumped down on a moss covered boulder, letting his head fall between his legs. Hot tears of anxiety and desperation begun falling from his eyes, down his cheeks and between his tense fingers. The wild ivy was coiling like shackles around his feet, reminding him all the more of his impossible mission. Hephaestion felt like he was the only one sober on all Earth - and his inner demons made him wish he too were dead drunk.
Two strong hands grasped his tensed and troubled shoulders, giving him gentle caresses and a soothing massage.
"My beautiful general, what are you doing away from the King? I saw you both, having such a good time under the old oak tree. It's a wonder it still stands straight. "
General Cleitus, in a teasing mood as usual. Hephaestion smashed his fingers, roaring:
"Let go of me, you old scoundrel! We are in serious trouble. Alexander has been kidnapped - and I have no idea how we will find him and get him back!"
The old general asked, while scratching his head:
"Kidnapped? What do you mean by that? We're in the midst of a whole army - and he has his own vigilant guards! "
"Not now. They are dead drunk and I cannot wake them up. It seems you and I are the only ones awake and ready - and we must act immediately. Take a look at this!"
General Cleitus read the ominous message with great difficulty, squinting and red eyed from far too much strong wine.
"What does this insanity mean? They cannot have taken him away from us!"
"I cannot find him anywhere. I left him sleeping under the old oak when I went for a swim in the cold creek, thinking the guards would be enough to keep him secure. He didn't want to come with me. Damn me and my indulgence. I should have dragged him away with me. Then this disaster would never have occurred. !"
He once more slumped down on the mossy boulder and held his head into his hands, crying out in utter desolation:
"Oh, my Alexander. Whatever shall we do without you?"
General Cleitus grabbed his right shoulder and dragged him up on his feet once more.
"Stop moping around like a love sick maiden. You are the most intelligent and resourceful of all the King's generals. Now show it to me! Let's have some action! "
Sobering Up
They started at once, fetching buckets with cold water from the creek, running around dousing all the sleeping carousers. At first it didn't help at all and Hephaestion almost gave in to despair once more.
"Oh no. They have been poisoned by our enemies! However could I let this disaster strike us? I have always seen to everything. I arranged all the festivities. We were having such a good time...and then this!"
"Dont you worry so much. They are not poisoned, only dead drunk. Someone must have given us all the wine untempered. That's why it's so difficult to wake them up. We are lucky that you are always sober and I'm always drunk. Together we'll get the job done!"
It was hard work getting the whole army sober and on their feet and it took them all day long. In the evening all were sitting under the trees drinking cold water and herbal infusions. Many wild rumors were already running rampant and soon one serious question was on every man's lips:
"Where is King Alexander?"
Friendly Intelligence
Hephaestion and Cleitus had gathered all the Nyseans and were holding a stern interrogation. The poor villagers were so scared no one dared to tell them anything at all. At long last a young girl came forward, trembling and crying.
"You must not punish us, my Lord. They came, threatening to annihilate our whole city when you had marched along towards India if we didn't do as they commanded. They gave us sacks with strong poison, but we didn't administer it to you. "Sob" You have behaved decently towards us, not like other conquerors, neither harassed nor molested us. We didn't want to harm you so we just served all the wine untempered! Strange thing you didn't notice it. You just drank...and drank...and drank... "
Hephaestion listened to her tale with rising anger, at last making a determined request:
"Just who are they? And - no harm done! My...the King has been stolen away from us! I cannot think of anything more adverse!"
The young girl blanched and trembled.
"It was Ohrlasz the Scythian and Chorienes the Paraetacian, my Lord. They must have taken King Alexander to the Rock of Chorienes. "Sob" You'll never get him back from there. The fort is impregnable, only one way up and the mountain impossible to climb!"
She trembled and sobbed, falling on her knees before Hephaestion. He got up and gently lifted her to her feet.
"Don't be afraid, little one. If you have told us the truth I'll see to it that you get richly rewarded. Your name?"
"Alyssa, my Lord. "
Dark Reproach
Ohrlasz! Hephaestion shuddered at the very mentioning of the Scythian warlord. He had caused the Macedonians endless troubles in the past, at the Danube and at the Jaxartes. Alexander had almost been taken away from his True Steadfast Friend at both occasions. The horrible memories brought about visions of his Beautiful Golden One, in his arms, in his lap, seriously damaged and severely ill, only his Good Fortune bringing him back to life. Where was Alexander now? How did he fare at the mercy of his most dangerous enemy ? Would he even survive long enough to be rescued? Hephaestion felt himself burdened down by endless reproach. He was always thorough and vigilant in his constant care for Alexander, their friends and the Macedonian army. Why had he let his guard down and let himself be deceived by the false friendliness of the Nyseans? Now Alexander might be suffering horrible torments at the hands of his most cunning and cruel enemy - and all this because of an inexcusable moment of inattention. He didn't want that fate even for his worst detractors!
Struggle For Power
The War Council was collected with all Alexander's generals sitting around an oval table in the King's tent. Hephaestion was sitting at one end with Ptolemy and Cleitus at his side. At the other end Craterus, Cassander and Eumenes sat glaring at him. He looked back at them, trying to be as calm as possible.
"We are in serious trouble. King Alexander has been abducted and we have some outrageous demands about a King's ransom and withdrawal of our whole army. We must make some swift decisions about our next path of action. "
He read the parchment aloud to them, outrageous demands and all. Then he told them what young Alyssa had revealed. They all turned white at the thought of Ohrlasz and past horrors. Craterus asked him with a sneer:
"How could this abduction have been possible? You were inseparable, walking away to the old oak. I thought you were more reliable than that! "
Hephaestion gave him a look filled with reproach and sorrow:
"Don't make things worse. I know I should have been more watchful, seeing to the wine not being tampered with, staying with the King myself, watching the Nyseans more closely. Now matters are as they stand and we must do our best to right our many mistakes. "
Cassander yelled at him:
"Our mistakes...? You are the one to blame! If the King hadn't succumbed so willingly to your seductive tricks he would still be with us now! "
Hephaestion looked at him with cold contempt:
"I didn't hear that, my "friend". Let's return to our agenda!"
Eumenes gave him a mean look:
"Ten coffers with gold and precious jewels, you said. We don't have that much! It's more expensive than you think to keep this whole army on its feet. "
Hephaestion told him off:
"The King's ransom is our least trouble. Knowing Ohrlasz I'm more worried about getting the King back alive at all, ransom or not! The Scythian is truly evil and time is of essence! I suggest we put the coffers with some resemblance of treasure at the glen. At the same time I will muster a hand picked troup of our most hardened fighters and best climbers, and then ride hard to the Rock of Chorienes. I've done some dangerous climbing before - and now it is more important than ever that we are successful. "
Cleitus supported him:
"It's the only way to go. Let's prepare ourselves immediately!. "
Craterus and Cassander had some serious objections:
"Hephaestion! Why is it obvious you are the one to be in charge for this rescue operation? We have been forced to climb dangerous rocks too Now it is our turn to get an important command!"
Hephaestion felt his mind being darkened by a black cloud of frustrated anger. No one was able to rescue his Beautiful Golden One, no one but himself! He rose from the table and slammed his fist into it so violently the wood started to shatter.
"Shut up, you two! Time is of the essence and we cannot argue amongst ourselves in this time of dire need! This operation demands both diplomacy and climbing abilities, and it seems I'm the only one in command of both!"
Never before had the High Command seen the beautiful General Hephaestion this furious. His wonderful blue eyes, usually so mild and benevolent were now blazing from a white cold anger, his calm features were blushing from a radiant inner fire and his auburn hair shone like a lion's mane around his broad shoulders. His detractors looked at him in terror, their ruthless demands melting like snow in a warm spring sun. they answered with trembling consent:
"Yes, General Hephaestion. Let's make immediate preparations. "
Now they fully understood why old Queen Sisygambis made the Prostration before Hephaestion, mistaking him for the King. He was the very likeness of Alexander himself, only with more calm and thoughtfulness. His cardinal features was diplomacy and patience - but when those failed him he was able to draw upon resources of overwhelming dark fire and energy. All the generals, even his worst detractors felt reassured that King Alexander's rescue operation was resting in the most capable hands.
Hephaestion marched away to muster his troop, his midnight blue cloak fluttering like an eagle's wings around him. Suddenly he felt a mild little hand grasping a fold of his cloak.
"General Hephaestion! Take me with you. Who knows what harm they might have done to our Alexander. He needs both of us now!"
Bagoas. Always kind and considerate, Alexander's well being the first thing on his mind. In the beginning Hephaestion had seen him as an annoying rival - but with passing time and adversities he had come to understand the finer qualities of Alexander's Little Dear One. The King needed both of them, for many different reasons. Now he halted in the midst of a forceful stride, letting his strong hands rest upon Bagoas' slender shoulders, looking down on his Persian beauty surrounded by that wonderful silken copper red hair.
"Yes. I know that by now, my little one - but during this rescue operation I will face worse dangers than you can ever imagine. Ohrlasz is our worst enemy, a truly Evil man. You were with us beyond the Jaxartes so you well know what he is capable of..."
Bagoas felt a cold hand of foreboding doom grasping his kind heart. He was not brave, neither strong and capable in combat and diplomacy as the General Hephaestion - but he truly loved the King of his Heart and knew he couldn't go on living without him. With faithful determination he gave his answer:
"My General. I've seen the Scythian and his evil deeds. My heart is filled with terror - but my love and friendship for King Alexander is greater that any fear of Evil Men. Please. You must take me with you!"
Hephaestion put his arm around his slender shoulders, gently stroking the silken hair.
"Yes. You may follow me to the Rock of Chorienes. Bring some knives - and also our satchel of healing herbs and ointments. But, please stay out of harm's way when it comes to actual combat. "
The two unusual companions went together to see to the preparations. Horses were collected, armor was overseen, plans were carefully discussed and ten coffers filled with mock treasure were prepared to be taken to the glen deep in the woods of Nysa. Far in the West the Rock of Chorienes stood proud and impregnable as the sun went down in a sea of crimson, glaring like an ominous red eye.
TBC