A/N: This chapter revolves around Alexander's last battle in India, told as always from Hephaistion's point of view.
Don't own them, never will.
Reviews and comments always welcome.
Chapter 6
Our last battle in India, oh how well I remember it. We rode through the forests of India. We were vulnerable; we did not know the land. The land full of things we had never seen before. High in the trees lived a species that looked like man, that walked like man, yet spoke in a tongue we had never heard. I can recall having to explain to Alexander and the rest of the army that these creatures would not harm us, that they were animals, and I knew that this species was called 'monkey'.
The monkey itself was not what bothered us, but then there was the rain. We had never before seen such the amount of water falling from the Gods, and the enormous snakes that slithered around us… battle had frightened us less. I remember hearing Alexander shout for the snake healers to come and tend to a young soldier who had been bitten. Before the healers could help him, he had died.
The next day we rode through the forests, only to come face to face with a gigantic beast I had only laid eyes on in pictures. My nurse had once told me it was, by name, called an elephant. I attempted to ride toward it, but…
"The horses will not go, Alexander!" I shouted to him.
"On foot then!" he shouted back to me. "Come Macedonians, why do you hang back? Ride, ride!"
And into the sea of raging soldiers he went. I shouted his name in an effort to make him come back. However, I was well aware that if Alexander started something, he would indeed be the one to finish it. Alexander, King of Macedonia, was not one to accept defeat, and he would not return until he succeeded.
It was then I saw the most incredible thing I think I have ever seen. Whilst riding his horse Bucephalus, he charged toward that monstrous looking thing called an elephant. I watched, almost in horror, as Bucephalus reared at precisely the same moment as the elephant. With two legs in the air he could not have been very stable. Suddenly, a spear flew from the hand of the man riding the elephant, and it pierced Bucephalus in the point of the shoulder. Alexander, whilst falling, threw his own spear, but as he did, an arrow struck him in the chest.
Alexander fell from Bucephalus and hit the ground with such force I was sure he would be dead if I did not do something.
"The king is down!" I shouted. "Ride to your king's aid!"
With Alexander unable to move, I, Ptolemy, and believe it or not, Bucephalus, surrounded him to protect him. Mine own horse was then struck down, and I fell with him. As I moved to get up and attack whoever dared harm the king, I suddenly felt searing pain.
I had been struck in the thigh with a spear. Letting out a cry, and believe you me, it takes a fair amount for me to admit I was in pain, I made one last swing with my sword, and I fell. Not thirty minutes later the Indian savages had retreated, and Alexander was lifted high above us for his own protection.
He turned his head as he was carried away from the battle grounds, where over one hundred of us lay injured, some dying perhaps. He looked at me, but I am not sure he recognized my face; he had lost too much blood.
Within a week, all of us had gathered outside of Alexander's tent. We had waited, some patiently, other not so, for him to emerge from his tent. Roxanne had not been allowed admittance, neither had Bagoas, not even I.
Twas a humid day whilst we finally laid eyes on our great King Alexander. Beyond his pale and sickly looking skin I saw a look in his eyes that I had never seen before.
Twas the look of defeat.
"Men of Macedon…" he addressed us.
Again, we waited in silence.
"We're going home."