Many thanks for kind reviews. Things are now looking really dark for Hephaestion - but Hope, Love and Friendship must always prevail. I will be back next week with next part - and also the update on Hazards Of Friendship.
All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,
/NorthernLight
Disaster at Persian Gate Part II
TEMPLATE:
Title: FIC: Title: Disaster At The Persian Gate. (2/6)
Author: NorthernLight
Category: Love/Friendship/Adventure and action story. Alternate History.
Pairing: Alexander&Hephaestion
Date: December 2004
Feedback: Yes, all kinds, preferably "nice".
Archive:Please tell me. At the ATG Slash&Fanfic Yahoo Groups.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. For entertainment only...hopefully.
Summary: The conquest of Persian Gate was difficult for Alexander and the Macedonians. In this alternate history even worse...
Warnings: Angst. Violence. Claustrophobic imprisonment with suffering and torture.
Disaster At The Persian Gate. Part II
Suffering.
His memory was long lost but it seemed he had always been suffering endless miseries and indignities in this awesome dark and damp dungeon. His head hurt himawfully. On his first awakening on the hard, rugged stone floor he thought for some reason that the sickening and awfully pounding headache depended on him drinking too much wine the evening before. He got a short glimpse from a gorgeous party with rows of fried boars, heaps of succulent vegetables and enormous bowls and cups full of strong untempered rich red wine. Then he felt the big, aching bump on his poor head and understood. He was too dizzy to sit up and couldn't even move. When he tried to turn on his side he got violently sick and had to stay put in the clammy moss and mold on the craggy, cold stone floor. It was so cold his teeth were rattling and if he could have seen in that Stygian darkness he would have shuddered even more at the icicles hanging from the roof and the frozen streams decorating the walls.
A great boom harassed his tender ears and hurt his head even more. Then a flood of orange red light filled up his dismal cave, interrupted by an enormous black shadow. His eyes got sore from this sudden enlightenment and he was unable to see anything more.
"So, you are alive, my "friend". I'm so happy. Now we're going to have a little conversation..."
He was dragged up from the floor and propped up against the ice cold wall.
"What are your friend's intentions? How many men did he bring on the goat path? Do you really think your paltry little army would prevail against the might of Carduzes and Ariobarzanes?"
His head was filled of a foggy, painful mist. He didn't know a thing of his tormentor's questions and didn't recognize the names. All he knew was that he ought to remain silent even had he known. A violent boxing hit his right ear, another his left. His poor head rang from the hurting and he passed into merciful oblivion.
A stream of nasty smelling slops flooded over him. He woke up to another questioning, accompanied of the most unmerciful beating when he refused to answer. No parts of his body was left alone and he got completely covered with nasty, painful bruises and awfully tender swelling bumps. His eyes were so sore and swollen that he couldn't clearly see his tormentor, only a blurred nightmarish vision of a cyclopean giant with hands like morning-stars and arms like cudgels.
"You are certainly of no use for me. I ought to fight together with my comrades instead of doing this. Have you gone dumb? Answer me now - or you shall suffer the worst kind of torment and indignity!"
He found his voice. His throat felt sore and hurt him terribly but he managed to cry out defiantly:
"No. Do your worst to me, giant! I will never betray my comrades!"
"I hoped you would be so stubborn. This will bring far more pleasure to me than to yourself."
Brutally he was forced down, flat on his stomach on the cold, craggy stone floor. His face was dipped into a puddle of foul smelling water and he felt every sharp stone against his hurting body. Then he was straddled by an enormous weight and almost immediately penetrated by something hot, thumbing and awfully big. The pain was searing, almost unendurable and he gave up a loud cry as tears of shame and pain ran down his cheeks. He tried to slip into merciful unconsciousness but the pain was to awful for that.
After an eternity of suffering his tormentor left him with a cruel laughter.
"Now you see what calamity your great friend has brought upon you. Only Death himself will free you of my Cave of Pain. "
At last he succumbed to pain and weakness. A cold flood of darkness welled all over him and the merciful coolness soothed all his bruises and suffering. A golden sun warmed him. He was dressed in a leather hunting suit, sitting on an eager chestnut stallion, knowing it's name was Castor. Beautiful birches full of golden leaves spread out before him, interrupted by orange glowing maples and fiery red bushes. The air was pure and clear and the sky an azure blue, almost without clouds. A pounding of hoofs, then his Dear Golden One came riding out of the forest, as usual on his black stallion. This magnificent animal was of such fiery temper he was the only one allowed upon it's mighty back. They rode together, hunted together, got some fine wild boars.
Since the weather was so warm and pleasant they decided to stay and have supper in the forest. His Golden One did the most excellent cooking, having brought some fragrant herbs for the seasoning. The meat was so fine and succulent, combined with the rich red wine he always brought with him. When the luxurious meal was over they felt very drowsy, sitting under a broad birch stem in a warm heap of soft spread golden leafs. His Golden One put his muscular arms around him and embraced him tenderly. The wonderful warmth of his powerful arms and whole body engulfed him completely and he succumbed to the most delicious feelings of both pleasure and pain...
He woke up to the same dreary darkness and coldness. The wonderful warmth was gone together with the powerful embrace of his Golden One. His sore body lay in a puddle of blood and dirt, shivering of weakness and nasty chills. The stench in the cave was overwhelming and he got violently sick once again. His poor head hurt from the spasms of retching. Realizing the total hopelessness of his situation he at last allowed himself crying out in despair and total grief until he lapsed into unconsciousness once again.
A Golden Sun with sixteen radiant rays warmed his tormented body and put a merciful end to his shivering. A Portal opened in the midst of the Sun and his Golden One came to him, took him in his arms, told him words of love and comfort until the Wonderful Light was everywhere around them...
End of Part II.