I must apologize for this very long delay in Hazards - but I've been on vacation and without access to the PC I need to sumbmit stories to the FFnet.

Chapter ten left us with another cliffhanger. Alexander and the Macedonians won the Battle of Pelium but the King has been seriously wounded and is lying unconscious in the arms of his True Steadfast Friend. Hephaestion must once more worry about the reckless behaviour of his Beautiful Golden One, and the precarious state of his health. They are lucky to have their Divine Helpers, and of course Doctor Philip and the Miracle Remedies.

All the best wishes/NorthernLight

TEMPLATE:

Title: FIC: Hazards Of Friendship ( 11 / WIP)

Author: NorthernLight

Category: Love/Friendship/Adventure story. Alternate History.

Pairing: Alexander&Hephaestion

Date: July 2006. Feedback: Yes, all kinds, on or off list, as you please.

Archive: Yes, if you like, but please tell me. Archivated at the Alexander's Army and ATG Slash&Fanfic Yahoo Groups.

Disclaimer: I don't own them. For entertainment only. 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 interesting discussions and suggestions, and also for helping me to improve on language and formatting. You truly make my stories a far better read.

Summary: In the beginning of his reign Alexander made some hard campaigns towards warlike neighbors in the East, South and West. He liberated the city of Pelium from the Illyrians. Some rumor said that he was severely wounded, dead or missing in action. Perhaps Demosthenes made it up, perhaps there was some truth in it.

History note: The battle of Pelium, and Alexander's ingenious war ruse to deceive the Illyrians are well documented in the sources.

Warnings: This is AR, very close to but not "real" history. Violence, hard fighting, angst and intrigues. Serious trauma to major character.

Dedication: To Juu. Written on behalf of your fic challenge about Hephaestion and his constant trouble with the envious generals.

Find the fic: I've uploaded parts 1-10 as an RTF-file to the Alexander's Army Yahoo Group.

Hazards Of Friendship, Part 11

Pelium. 335 BC

Protecting The Friend

Hephaestion always wanted to protect his Beautiful Golden One from the dangers of the World. It was a most trying charge, but so very dear to him. Helping out, planning, handling logistics and diplomacy, he simply loved being there for Alexander and his Macedonians, seeing to their safety and welfare.

Now, at the blood drenched plains of Pelium, below the scattered city walls, this promising career threatened to come to an abrupt and sorrowful end. His Beautiful Golden One lay limp and lifeless in his arms, his blood flowing freely from a horrible head wound, his face white as chalk and he was barely breathing. None of Hephaestion's crude field ministrations had been helpful to staunch the crimson stream of life giving blood leaving his friend and staining his golden hair. Hephaestion heard someone crying and sobbing uncontrollably, at long last realizing those sorrowful sounds were coming from himself. Strong hands came to rest upon his shoulders. He looked up through a mist of tears. Cleitus and Craterus stood reassuringly at his sides. The old General tried to comfort him:

"Calm yourself down, Hephaestion. See, here comes the good doctor. He will surely know what to do. "

Protecting The King

Stefanos knew of no other life than guarding and protecting his two Lords. It was no easy task, since they led such dangerous lives. It was unseemly that the King of Macedon and his closest friend and adviser should expose themselves so recklessly to all kinds of enmities and violence. The faithful guard knew all about the true state of the King's health. He was feeling very worried for his Valiant Warrior King before the battle of Pelium.

Sadly all his fears came to be true - even worse than in his very worst imagination. King Alexander was assaulted by two Warlike Twins, fighting like merciless machines. He saw them home in on the King and rode at them, trying to avert their deadly assault. They were too fast and strong for him. He was cruelly beaten by their cudgels and fell from his mare Sapphire. Wave after wave of sickening dizziness overcame him. He was unable to rise and saw with impotent rage how the King was beaten by a cruel cudgel on his still stiff and tender neck. Right after that he was hit by a merciless stone on his helmet. It was almost crushed into two parts as the King went down, falling from Bucephalus into a blood drenched heap of slain Illyrians.

Stefanos crawled to his aid through the blood stained mud of the battle field, pushing the bodies of the slain aside. An almost unbearable stench of blood, spilled entrails and human waste assaulted his nostrils and made him gag time and again. It seemed like forever, the King lying lifeless, unable to defend himself from the Warlike Twins who were lifting their cruel cudgels to deal the death stroke. The Illyrian enemies were gathering, cheering, and already celebrating their overwhelming victory. Sheer angst and desperation gave him the strength to rise. His mare Sapphire nudged him on and knelt before him to make it easier for him to mount. She was the gentlest of creatures and he expected her to take him out of this dangerous situation, regardless of his own courageous wishes. To his great surprise she made a great leap right towards the Illyrians. He brandished his sword, making them flee before his fierce appearance. At the same time a black shadow struck at the Warlike Twins. It was Bucephalus! In a short time they were down on the ground, writhing in the blood stained mud together with the multitudes of the slain this blood drenched day. Stefanos joined the Companions, fighting in desperation over King Alexander's limp and lifeless body. He fought and killed all the Illyrians around him, fought and killed in a relentless rage, filled with a crimson fire and an indominant will to save and avenge his Valiant Warrior King.

At long last there were no more enemies coming at him. An endless number of Illyrians lay dead at his feet. All the survivors were running away with terrified screams. Stefanos wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it, looking in fear and sorrow at his Dear Lord Hephaestion embracing his Beautiful Golden One in desperate sorrow and bereavement. Tears were flowing freely from his wonderful blue eyes and the comfort given by the Generals Cleitus and Craterus was simply not enough. Stefanos ardently said a prayer to the mightiest of the Olympic Gods

/"Mighty Father Zeus, by all your might and mercy - please preserve King Alexander from all dangers and let him rule us for a long time to come. "/

Stefanos thought he saw a golden ray of lightning encircling King Alexander and the General Hephaestion. He knelt together with all others, waiting for the good doctor to arrive. Something wet and salty was flowing freely down his cheeks. At first he thought it was raining - but soon he realized it was his own tears.

Emergency Aid

Doctor Philip came running towards them, carrying his humble knapsack with all its life saving contents. Two of the King's servants followed him closely by, carrying things from the Royal tent. Peritas and Pollux came running in advance and stopped at their Dear Masters. Both dogs sat down and begun a sorrowful howling at the sad sight. The good doctor took an urgent leap towards the King and his grief stricken friend. After stumbling over the bodies of the slain and slipping in the blood stained mud of the battle field he knelt at their side, asking in a voice breathless from hasty running:

"What happened here? How is the King? Oh, I should have forbidden him more sternly to ride out today!"

Hephaestion was unable to speak, his voice constricted from numb grief. Cleitus informed the good doctor :

"Philip, you know neither you nor anyone else could have made him stay away from battle! Alexander was struck by a cudgel on his neck, and then he was hit by a stone that split his helmet - and almost his head, too. He has been unconscious ever since. "

"I'll see what can be done. He is bleeding so very badly. - and I cannot see if he is even breathing..."

Hephaestion gave up another desperate cry :

"NO, he cannot be taken from me, not now! It is far too soon! "

He saw all the world through a crimson curtain of maddening grief. All his detractors stood leering at him; Craterus, Cassander, Eumenes, all snickering, wanting him to be sent packing and away from the Highest Power. Shooing at them he cried out:

"Leave me alone, all of you! All I want is to take farewell of my Alexander in peace!"

He embraced his Beautiful Golden One with a ferocious grip around his limp and lifeless body, violently shaking him and drenching him in hot tears of numbing grief. Several pairs of determined hands tore him away.

"Hephaestion! Alexander still lives and all this is just upsetting him even more badly. You must stay calm and let doctor Philip do what he can to cure him from this dreadful wound!"

The crimson haze of grief and madness slowly lifted from his troubled mind. He saw Cleitus, Craterus and doctor Philip close by his side, trying to give him some calm and comfort. Reality returned and he realized that shock and sorrow almost had unhinged his otherwise so calm and composed mind. Cassander and Eumenes weren't even there! It was they that had been sent packing. They were now being subjected to the ministrations of Alexander's Dear Mother Olympias! Small comfort in all this terror.

Hephaestion withdrew some inches from his friend, to let doctor Philip examine him. The good doctor put two fingers on Alexander's jugular, and then took a close look at his neck and also at the ugly head wound. After this he declared:

"The King is alive, but not much more. He has been badly hurt - but the helmet protected his thick skull from breaking, thanks to the Gods only! I'll try to staunch this flow of blood from his head - and then we must take him to some place where we can give him proper care and attention. "

He put his hand into the leather sac he always brought with him and quickly hauled up a big, round jar. He unstoppered it and put some of its contents on a reasonably clean cloth. The acrid smell of alum filled the air before he put the cloth to the King's head. It was immediately turned into dark crimson. At first nothing happened, but then the flow of blood diminished to a slow trickle. There was no reaction from Alexander. His face remained white and the slow and shallow breathing was the same as before. The doctor put on a crude field dressing and told them:

"Prepare a litter at once! We cannot remain in all this mud and dirt! We are close to the city. There must be some house where we can find shelter. "

Hephaestion took Alexander in his strong arms and lifted him in a tender embrace. His legs were shaking so badly from exhaustion and emotions they barely supported him, and now he felt a sore numbness in his swords arm. Nonetheless he held on to his dear friend and started to walk towards the gates of Pelium. Cleitus and Craterus discretely supported him on both sides, or else he would have stumbled and fallen. Doctor Philip walked close by , and the King's and Hephaestion's guards formed a circle of iron all around them.

Victory Marred By Worries

A cheering crowd of townspeople came towards them. They froze in horror before the sad sight.

"All hail to King Alexander and the Macedonian Army, our Liberators!"

They formed a circle of kind concern around the High command. Someone asked:

"How is King Alexander? He cannot, he mustn't be...?" "No, the King is alive - but he needs proper rest and care to recover. "

Someone provided a litter, someone told them about a fine townhouse with all kinds of comforts. Hephaestion carefully put his friend to rest on the litter, saw to it that his head rested on a soft purple cushion and tried not to upset his injuries. Afterwards he felt his legs at last give way under him and he would have fallen if Stefanos and Alexios hadn't caught him. Castor came nudging him and was neighing with concern.

"My General, do you think you can ride? You surely cannot walk any more. This has been far too much for any man to bear. "

Hephaestion gave a faint nod and let them help him to mount his war stallion. Castor saw his predicament and knelt to him, almost as graciously as Bucephalus used to do when Alexander was younger and too short to vault upon his giant war stallion. He mounted the big auburn stallion with great difficulty. Great waves of dizziness came over him as Castor rose from his hackles. He had to hold on to the ruffled mane of his equine friend for dear life not to take an ignominious fall to the blood stained ground. Alexander lay white and still on the litter, looking almost like a corpse. Cleitus, Craterus, Ptolemy and Perdiccas was carrying him with great care not to upset him more than necessary. Bucephalus went nudging and licking him all the time, neighing with great concern. Peritas and Pollux were running at the side, howling and yelping miserably. Hephaestion saw it all through a mist of tears and begun to tremble and wave to and fro. Then he felt a strong and friendly arm holding on to him. Stefanos had mounted his gentle dappled mare Sapphire and rode at his side, carefully seeing to him so that he couldn't fall off and hurt himself more.

"Careful, careful, my Lord. All will be well when we arrive into Pelium. Just hold on to me and Castor. We'll see to your safety, and the King's. "

He nodded at Alexander. The sad march progressed into the liberated town of Pelium. The people cheered the Macedonians, but when they saw the sad state of the King, all became silent. The Macedonians had won a great victory, the Illyrian danger had been averted for a long time to come - but the price of this victory was very high. The Valiant Young Warrior King lay grievously wounded - and no one knew if he were to make any recovery at all.

Careful Ministrations

Some senior citizens showed them the fastest road to a comfortable town house. Its stone portico was opened up to them and they rode into a courtyard filled with friendly people. Hephaestion dismounted and was immediately overcome by another dizzispell. He had to take hold on Castor and embraced his muscular neck with both arms. The brave war stallion tried to push him upwards to make him stay on his feet, loudly neighing to alert someone to help his Master. Stefanos and Alexios came and took him between themselves.

"Here, here, my Lord. We'll get you inside and see to you. You, too must have been injured. You took some hard beatings while defending the King. "

Someone showed them the way inside and the King's litter was carried up a broad stone staircase. A fine bedchamber with furniture in dark cherry tree was waiting, its windows opened to let in some fresh spring air. All fabrics were in light and dark crimson, finely embroidered. Hephaestion stubbornly got away from his protecting guards. He lifted Alexander from the litter with great care. All in the room could hear an audible and ominous cracking and creaking sound from his right arm. Hephaestion now felt a crippling and stabbing pain in his swords arm but he refused to give in to it. Gently he put Alexander to rest on the soft cushions and mattress of the finely adorned cherry tree bed and saw to it that his friend's hurting head was resting on his own soft purple cushion. He let his hand rest on the cold, clammy brow and looked with great concern on the chalk white face and the blood stained golden tresses.

"You'll get better soon, my friend. You simply MUST!"

He stayed close by the King's bedside all the time the good doctor attended to his Royal patient. His guards had to provide him with a simple wooden stool since his legs gave way under him all the time. Doctor Philip and his attendants undressed Alexander and washed him clean from all the blood stained mud from the battlefield. Then they covered him with a warm, crimson colored quilt and some bear skin fur. They put a clean towel on the purple cushion before Doctor Philip removed the crude field dressing and carefully examined the ugly head wound once more. It was still bleeding, but now only in a slow trickle. He washed it clean, soaking the beautiful golden hair to remove all blood and dirt. The golden mane seemed to have lost its usual gloss, looking pale and lusterless. Doctor Philip once more applied the alum paste. Alexander winced from pain and lifted his right hand to ward off the hurting sensation. Hephaestion grasped his hand at once and soothingly told him:

"Stay calm, my Dear One. Doctor Philip just wants to help you. "

"He is reacting to pain, at long last. It's a good sign. "

Doctor Philip made a compress filled with a warm ointment of healing herbs, put it on the King's head wound and then he carefully wrapped clean linen bandages all around.

"This will make it heal, all in good time. We'll just hope he will get all his senses properly back when he wakes up. Now I must see to his neck. It sure looks to be badly bruised. "

They looked in compassion at the growing deep purple, blackening bruise at the left side of the King's neck. It was at the same place as when he took his bad fall into the Danube, and once more he winced from pain when the doctor put his fingers to it. He asked the Royal servants:

"Did you bring the King's leather sac with medical supplies? I think it's time for the Miracle Ointment once more!"

They nodded and gave it to him immediately. He rummaged through it and grasped the right clay jar and proceeded to make use of its contents. Hephaestion blushed, despite the fact that he was so very pale from his ordeals at the battlefield.

"Doctor Philip, I don't think there can be much left. We must have used it all up in the cave when I cured his hurting legs and he cured my hurting back!"

"No, you are wrong, my friend. This jar is filled to the brim! It truly is a Miracle Ointment!"

He took a great daub into his right palm and carefully anointed the bruises on Alexander's neck. The patient winced once more but then settled down from the soothing fumes. Doctor Philip put a small sheep's fur on the swelling and then wrapped clean linen around. Alexander seemed to become calm and relaxed from these ministrations. He gave a great sigh and fell into a deep sleep. There were even some faint traces of color returning to his pale cheeks.

"There we are. Keep him quiet and watch carefully over him. He must have complete rest when he wakes up. No exertions whatsoever!"

Hephaestion was now waving to and fro from pain and exhaustion, barely able to remain seated. The guards steadied him and stood protectively at his sides. They exchanged worried looks since the young General now was looking almost as bad as the King. He was very pale, cold sweat was dripping from his brow and he clutched at his right arm as if in excruciating pain. Stefanos asked:

"How are you, my Lord?"

"Not well, Stefanos. My arm is hurting something awful. "

Hephaestion now felt the red hot pain searing up and down his right arm. His hand and fingers were getting numb and they didn't obey at all when he tried to move them. He felt for them with his left hand and tried to lift the hand to take a closer look. Then there was an audible creak and even more agonizing pain from his arm and hand, all the way up to his head. A ball of white hot, liquid fire exploded behind his eyes and then there was nothing at all, just a merciful cooling blackness.

"Oh no. Now he, too is out cold! Let's put him to bed and let the doctor see to him. "

The guards caught their dear Lord with great care. There was an additional bed at the other side of the room and they carried him to it. When he was resting they undressed him and removed his armor. He winced and cried out from severe pain whenever they touched his right arm. They understood why when they got it free from armor and chiton. His shoulder was swollen and badly bruised. A purple, blue and black swelling was rapidly spreading down his whole arm. Doctor Philip carefully felt it all over, provoking some agonized groans from the patient.

"Rest easy, my General. No wonder you are in so much pain. Your shoulder has been dislocated - and I think your upper arm must be broken! I cannot understand how you've been able to fight with this severe injury- and then even lift and carry the King!"

Stefanos explained:

"We all love Alexander more than any King, more than any other human being. It will be even more so for HIM. "

The good doctor nodded in understanding.

"I'll set the shoulder and bone and make a protective splint dressing. Then he must be kept quiet until he comes around - and no heavy duties for a long time to come!"

Hephaestion found himself lying on a soft mattress, a soft cushion under his head. Worried voices were talking across him. He opened his eyes and saw his guards together with doctor Philip.

"He is coming around now, doctor. "

"Oh, that's a pity. This is going to hurt like Hell! Hold on to him, hard and steady! "

Stefanos and Alexios took a determined hold at his legs and left arm. Then the good doctor made a quick and able pull on his swords arm. There was an ominous cracking sound, followed by something squashing back into his right shoulder. Hephaestion felt another bolt of searing pain, and then he was swallowed by the merciful darkness once more.

Anxious Vigil

Stefanos was sitting on a stool, leaning back on a cushion someone put behind his back. He was dead tired from the hard day on the battle field, but he was so worried over the state of his two dear Lords he felt unable to drift into sleep. He had been too tired to stand and when the kind servants of the friendly House of Pelios offered him the stool and cushion his legs didn't obey him anymore and he succumbed to this unmanly comfort. Now he felt this strange sensation in his eyelids. They were getting heavy, heavier all the time, almost as if loaded down with tons of lead... CLANG! His spear dropped to the floor, his right hand being so numb from exhaustion he was unable to hold on to it. His friend Alexios put it into his lap, kindly telling him:

"Stefanos. You must have fallen asleep. This is trying for us both, but we simply must stay awake. They might need us soon. "

Stefanos got up from the stool, once more rigid from alertness. He looked at the King, lying pale and wan in one bed, his head and throat strictly bandaged and his body uncannily still and unmoving. The General Hephaestion was looking almost as bad, resting on soft cushions with his swords arm tightly bound to his body. Now he was tossing and turning around, groaning in agony. His wonderful blue eyes flashed open and suddenly he was sitting up in bed, looking directly at Alexander.

"NO! He is dead! He is DEAD! He must not be taken away from me, not now after all we've been through together. "

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and tried to get up. Almost immediately he fell backwards and the faithful guards held on to him. Doctor Philip came in a rush and tried to persuade him to lie down again.

"No, Hephaestion. You may not get up right now. You'll just take a fall and hurt yourself even more. Alexander is alive - but it'll take some time for him to recover. "

The beautiful General violently pushed him aside with his left arm.

"Let go off me! I must go to Alexander, at once!"

He got up, more slowly and carefully this time, feeling his whole world spinning around . White bolts of agony shot from his shoulder down into his arm and his left hand clutched around it with a gasp. When he managed to set his eyes upon Alexander he felt steady once more and managed to get on his feet. The faithful guards held on to him as doctor Philip resigned:

"Well, we'll just let him do as he wishes. Please, bring a comfortable chair with lots of soft cushions!"

Servants came running and when the guards had led him to the King's bed, staggering on stumbling legs all three of them, the chair was waiting for him. They lowered him carefully into it and saw to it that he was sitting as comfortably as possible, but he still held his left hand around his injured shoulder, groaning from severe pain. The servants came with a warm, turquoise quilt and wrapped around him since he was shivering from cold and exhaustion. He sat for a long time, just panting, looking worriedly at Alexander. Then he felt the brow and neck of his friend, giving a great sigh of relief when he found some faint signs of life. Doctor Philip tried to calm him:

"Don't you worry so. He is just sleeping. He'll come around soon."

The good doctor went away. He returned after a short time with a bowl brimming with the fumes from calming and pain killing herbs.

"Here, my friend. Drink this now. It'll ease all that pain. You shouldn't be out of bed, but since I cannot stop you I can at least make things more bearable for you. "

He held the bowl before Hephaestion. The patient started to gulp down the draught at once but doctor Philip withheld it from him.

"No, not so fast. It'll only make you sick. Take it slow and easy now. "

The good doctor made his patient take the concoction in small sips and stayed at his side until he saw it take hold. It was a long night, filled with anguish. Hephaestion kept his eyes open all the time, worriedly keeping watch over his Beautiful Golden One. Alexander was no worse, but he didn't seem to improve either. He was very pale and his breathing barely noticeable. Doctor Philip sat at the side of his patients, sometimes gently feeling their brows and hands. The guards were resting on their stools, but prepared to rise and be of help whenever the were to be needed. Well after midnight, the Generals Cleitus, Ptolemy and Craterus came marching into the bedroom. They gasped outright at the sad sight but were fast to calm themselves. King Alexander looked so very pale and wan they thought he was beyond all human help. The General Hephaestion seemed to be even worse, slumped in a chair at the King's bedside, so pale he seemed almost translucent. Each strained breath seemed to cause him agony and he clutched at his right shoulder so hard his left hand was turning into a ghostly blue white pallor. Cleitus asked the good doctor, feeling deep concern:

"How are they? "

"Not very well, my friend. The General Hephaestion will come out of it soon, but it'll take some time before he regains proper use of his sword arm. It's far worse with the King. One never knows with head injuries - and this one is looking real bad. He ought to have regained consciousness by now...

"We'll stay here, if we can be of some help. Things are looking well out in the town. The Illyrians have fled into the mountains. Our troops didn't leave anyone living in their way. We have taken a thorough revenge..."

Cleitus felt his voice break and he returned to concerned silence. They all sat down on stools brought by anxious servants. Their nightly vigil was long and arduous, all being exhausted from a day filled with violence and troubles. Alexander stayed unconscious for well over three days, lying cold and still, not responding to anything, not even the worried pleas from his True Steadfast Friend. Hephaestion and doctor Philip didn't move from his bedside. The Generals and Companions came and went, asking worried questions. Stefanos and Alexios and their fellow guards helped the doctor care for his patients, fetched and carried and managed to give them some nourishing broth and pain relieving medicines.

All were deeply concerned for the King and his General. They didn't dare to think about what would happen if Alexander never were to wake up again. They were even more worried over the state of his True Steadfast Friend. Hephaestion didn't move from Alexander's side. He talked to his friend all the time, held his hand, gently stroked his face, shoulders and chest, trying to remind him of all their happiness together - and all their glories to come. His face was all white and translucent, his wonderful blue eyes filled with silent tears, and his complete indifference to his own pain and exhaustion was simply beyond belief. All knew he would not survive for long without his Beautiful Golden One.

Towards dawn the third day Alexander was looking worse than ever. His cheeks were hollow, he was pale beyond belief and his breathing barely discernible. There were no signs of him regaining consciousness and he hadn't made any movements at all since he was struck down by that heavy boulder. Hephaestion managed to rise, and, not feeling concerned over his badly injured shoulder he let himself fall all over his friend, embracing him and drenching him in hot tears of anguish and bereavement. All withdrew from the sad sight, thinking it might well be their very last moments together. Hephaestion felt the still, cold and unmoving form under him and he made a silent plea to all the Olympic gods:

/"Please, do not take him away from me! I cannot go on without him - and his people and his Mother need him so very badly. " /

No one seemed to listen, nothing happened for a very long time. Then the rays of the rising sun welled through the windows like a flow of glorious golden solace, making straight at the exhausted friends in the bed. Hephaestion felt the force of life return to the one resting in his arms. Alexander was no longer cold and still, his body slowly regained its warmth and vitality. Soon a trembling hand gently stroke his auburn hair and pale cheek. He looked up, straight into the beautiful gray eyes he knew best of all. They were filled with pain and deep concern. Alexander spoke, a barely audible whisper filled with reproach:

"My friend, why did you let me drink too much wine before this crucial battle? My head is hurting like Hell itself!"

Hephaestion gave in to laughter and crying at the same time, and doctor Philip and the faithful guards embraced each other in silent gratitude to the very Gods themselves.

TBC