Alexander finds himself subjected to tragedy as Grim Fate punishes him for setting glory and conquest before the safety of his True Steadfast Friend. This is a very sad and horrible chapter - but one must bear in mind that things are not always as they appear.Next chapter will be somewhat brighter. You know the old saying, "After many tirals and tribulations..."
All the best wishes and hopefully good reading
/NorthernLight
TEMPLATE:
Title: FIC: Title: Disaster At The Persian Gate. (3/6)
Author: NorthernLight
Category: Love/Friendship/Adventure and action story. Alternate History.
Pairing: Alexander&Hephaestion
Date: December 2004 Feedback: Yes, all kinds, preferably "nice".
Archive: Yes, but please tell me. At the ATG Slash&Fanfic Yahoo Groups.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. This is for my deep interest in Alexander and Hephaestion. their time and age.
Summary: The conquest of Persian Gate was difficult for Alexander and the Macedonians. In this alternate history even worse...
Warnings: Angst. Violence. Death, suffering and torture. Claustrophobic imprisonment. Severe grief. Sexual encounters. Horrible weather in some parts. Barbarous funeral practices. '
Disaster at Persian Gate Part III
Madness. Stefanos knew King Alexander always brought it with him - but mostly to be used for good purposes. One must be more than a little mad to be able to plan and succeed with his many great achievements. Now, seeing his dearest friend, unconscious, maybe even dead, snatched away before his very eyes brought on the total madness of grief and bereavement. Alexander screamed wildly for his friend, stamped the ground and ordered them all with tears in his beautiful gray eyes:
"We MUST find him, at all cost! Search for the hidden path! "
Desperately he clawed at the hard uninviting cliff wall. It didn't give in, not even for him... Now Parmenion and Krateros came to him and gently patted his shoulders from both sides.
"Alexander. We've had great news. Our ambush is a complete success. The Persian army down there has no idea we are here. We must grasp this advantage now! Soon their scouts will find us out and then it's all too late! And - you must lead us. It will mean certain victory. "
"We cannot take the time searching for your friend now. We must come back here later looking for him. "
Alexander sat down on a cold, rugged stone covered with wet blue green thick moss. He held his head in his hands, desperately moaning and crying. Stefanos came and held his hands comforting on his broad shoulders, trying to give him strength and resolution.
"My Lord, they are right - but - whatever shall we do. We cannot leave my lord Hephaestion in the claws of this horrible brute. "
Alexander sprung to his feet, filled with new resolution. His eyes glowed of it and he put his hand confidently on his sword belt.
"No, we cannot. But - I must take Persian Gate immediately! Stefanos! You must help me. Those friendly goatherds must surely know of the secret path to Carduzes lair. Go find them, then you and Kleitos must go together with a handful of good climbers to find out where my friend has been taken. I'll be with you as fast as I can. "
Alexander took Persian Gate with the most brutal resolution. The Macedonian army fell upon the Persian commander Ariobarzanes and his hapless soldiers as a total, nasty and unwelcome surprise with their fearsome King in total command of his cruel war machine. His own men didn't recognize him. High spirits turned into bitter hatred, careful planning into raging madness and outstanding fighting skills into savage cruelty. He fought madly in front of his army and continued stabbing and brandishing his sword into hapless Persian soldiers long after they had succumbed totally to the devastating surprise attack.
At last he sat down in the midst of a heap of bloodied bodies, mostly hacked to unrecognizable pieces. Ariobarzanes came to him, together with all his commanding officers. They were stained with blood and mud from the disastrous battle and fell trembling to their knees.
"Mercy, King Alexander. We surrender completely. Spare us and our beautiful Persepolis. The city with all it's treasure will give you a most warm welcome. "
"Yes. I accept your surrender. Prepare a grand reception in the Palace - and - don't forget the wine!"
He ordered Krateros and Parmenion to see to the surrendering army and capture the city of Persepolis.
"Wait for me at the Palace. Now I have more pressing matters I must attend to!"
He gave himself no time for rest after the hard battle, only gulped down some mouthfuls of strong untempered wine together with a morsel of bread and meat standing in the middle of the mess on the battlefield. Now Stefanos approached him carefully.
"My Lord. We have found the secret path to Carduzes lair - but the goatherds say it is a long and hard ride. More than three days, and it is almost impossible to take!"
"Nothing is impossible for me, especially when it concerns rescuing my dearest friend! Kleitos, bring our catapults and all the men we can spare. We shall not leave stone upon stone of this villain's lair! "
They had a long and hard ride on almost unreachable and extremely rough mountain paths. The horses had to thread carefully but mighty Bucephalos lead them in front, neighing reassuringly to his comrades. It was hard work dragging the catapults along in the hard weather. Wet snow mixed with cold rain gushed down upon them in a harsh mountain storm.
The search lasted for three almost unendurable days. If not for the iron will of their King they should have turned back after only a few hours. A big castle that seemed to have grown out of the craggy stones all by itself rose before them. It seemed impossible to take or besiege but Alexander rode bravely to the big stone door and beat upon it with his spear.
"Carduces! Come out and face me like a man! Give my dear friend back to me!"
The towering giant came out high above them, his baleful eyes glaring at them from a high stone wall.
"Alexander. I would dearly like to, of course against a King's ransom. Unfortunately he didn't survive my most gentle hospitality and ministrations. But - he got a very fine funeral. His bones are resting on the highest Tower of Silence we've ever made."
(The Tower of Silence was an old Asian practice of leaving the dear deceased on a high place or platform, letting noble Birds of Prey devour them. It was considered a most respectful ceremony.)
He pointed on a dismal tower of graying wood. Hungry eagles, falcons and also some scornfully screaming vultures circled around it, somewhat disappointed. All that remained on the platform was a sorrowful heap of cleanly gnawed bones. Alexander and his friends looked in utter horror. They were too late to save Hephaestion. A great sigh of grief and disappointment went through the whole army. Then Alexander straightened his back and commanded in a stern voice, but not far from hot tears of profound grief:
"Carduzes! Come down to me immediately. I must have my revenge - or else I will tear your castle down to the ground!"
"Oh no. I know you have mighty weapons, but my castle is built out off the strongest cliffs. You managed to tear down the walls of Tyre and Gaza but my lair is impossible to take! I'll stay comfortably inside seeing you starving and freezing. In here we have enough food and wine to last us a lifetime..."
Alexander gave orders to make the catapults ready.
"Fire freely! We must tear down those walls!"
Big boulders flew through the air. Their impact made no visible damage to the thick stone walls of Carduzes lair. He stood his ground proudly and defiantly, laughing scornfully at the small but resolute army. Cleitus addressed his King most disrespectfully:
"Alexander. We cannot hope to win this. We must return to the comforts and treasures of Persepolis. We all need warmth and rest!"
Alexander pushed him violently aside. Sullenly he fell upon a stone covered with wet clammy moss.
"No. Away with you. I will not leave my dear friend unavenged and unburied. "
He lifted his right arm and pointed to the cloudy skies, crying out in desperation, tears running down his cheeks blending with the cold rain.
"Zeus Ammon , Father Hight in the Heavens! Help your Son! Give me my revenge!"
A Golden Lightning cleaved the skies. Carduzes mighty lair was reduced to a heap of smoldering gravel and small stones. Hot dust rained over Alexander and his army. He looked around him, very surprised. Then he looked very amazed at his right hand, as if it had been some strange and powerful Secret Weapon.
Carduzes stood in the ruins of his mighty lair, looking perturbed around him, still holding his cruel cudgel.
"Strange luck you've got, Alexander. My lair is lost to me - but you still have lost your dear friend in a most cruel way. Now let us fight to the death so I can save Persia from further cruelties from you and your savage brutes!"
Those who say the battle between Darius and the Carduzean Giant was one of the mightiest in Persian history are wrong. Alexander avenging his dearest friend, wielding his sword in grief and solemn rage was the most awesome sight. The battle raged on for hours, mighty sword against cruel cudgel, both opponents getting sorely wounded several times. They staggered around, their limbs heavy from weariness, harder and harder to gasp after a breath of the cold thin mountain air, their sight dimming in the darkening evening. No one seemed to get the upper hand and the small army were very worried about their young leader.
Suddenly he slipped and stumbled upon a stone covered with slimy moss. He fell to the ground, knocked out of his labored breath, drifting into dangerous unconsciousness. A lightning sharp reflex made him lift his sword in front of him. Carduzes gave up a triumphant roar and lifted his cruel cudgel for the final blow.
A black thunder cloud fell upon him from behind, sharply neighing and brandishing heavy hoofs. He dropped his cudgel and fell forward in a violent uncontrollable leap, impaling himself on Alexander's sword in the process. This Formidable Foe died almost instantaneously, bloody foam steaming out of his mouth. With his dying breath he gasped out:
"I never thought you would be the end of me...but I find comfort in my last moments that you will be without your dearest friend the rest of your lifetime!"
Alexander dragged himself free from the enormous body, thankfully hugging his unexpected savior. His steadfast war stallion, his true and close friend on all his perilous journeys. His little army cheered his valiant victory - but he felt no joy. Nobody saw him cry tears of endless sorrow in the ebony black mane of Bucephalus. It took him forever to recover from his weariness. Nobody was able to give him succor or comfort. His equine friend nuzzled him tenderly, neighed gently to encourage him but nothing could calm his silent grief.
Stefanos took a purple cloth, climbing the dismal Tower of Silence. It was the most sorrowful task in his whole life. On the top of the tower he reverently lifted the heap of sorrowful bones and swept them into the cloth. It was very cold up there and the tears flowing freely down his cheeks froze like a mask of ice on his face. Once again he had failed most miserably to save his Lord. The future seemed to be filled with gloom and endless sorrow, their great victory all in vain...
TBC