Hello all,again!
My Muses have been busy these days. Here comes the next update. Strange things are going on in the Illyrian woods. Alexander and Hephaestion are puzzled by their invisible helper, and Alexander is exposed to several enticing temptations.
My apologies for the cliffhanger. Next chapter will be up this weekend, hopefully.
All the best wishes and good reading, Wishing you all a Happy New Year,
// NorthernLight
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TEMPLATE:
Title: Illyrian Autumn (5 / WIP)
Author: NorthernLight
Category: Love/Friendship/Adventure story
Pairing: Alexander&Hephaestion
Date: January 2009
Feedback: Yes, , on and off list, as you please.
Archive: Yes, but please tell me first.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. This is for entertainment only, and for my deep interest in Alexander and Hephaestion, their times and great adventures.
Beta: Denise, but not this time. Wishing you a wonderful vacation and A Happy New Year. Many thanks for interesting discussions and suggestions. You sure make my stories a far better read.
Summary: Alexander and Hephaestion experienced hard times during their Illyrian exile. There were some memorable moments, though.
Warnings: One OMC. Amanda is my alter ego, a wishful dream come true.
In this chapter H/C that turns into something more explicit amongst warming furs.
Author's note: I don't know much about Ancient Illyria. The Mountain Illyrians are a proud and stubborn people of my own invention. Elk and lynx are animals living in the North of Europe. I don't think that they lived in Ancient Greece or Illyria in Alexander's time, but I like them to be there all the same. :)
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Illyrian Autumn, Part Five
A Wood In Illyria, 338 BC
Woodland Care And Warmth
Alexander and Hephaestion sat for a long time enjoying their meal in the warm autumn sun. Then chilly winds started blowing from the north. They made Hephaestion shiver and he wrapped his bear skin cloak closer around himself.
"Oh no, it was wrong of me to expose you to the cold outdoors, "Alexander said. "Let's go inside so I can put you to bed and keep you warm."
Hephaestion rose on unsteady legs, supporting himself on the cane. He suffered from a very bad limp and could not avoid gasping out from pain several times when he had to put weight on his right foot. Alexander held on to him and when they were safely inside the cave he helped him to lie down on the soft bed they had made from fragrant hay and warming furs. He was still shivering but he looked around their new home with great worry.
"We need more water. Those water skins are almost empty, "he said, pointing at them with determination. "And we don't have very much firewood. The nights are very cold in this country ! At least we have much left of the boar we got yesterday. I put it safely in that very cool stone crevice near the entrance. It'll keep for some more days, but then we need to do more hunting and gathering!"
"Stay calm, Phai, "Alexander answered. "I will take care of all that later on, but first I must take care of you. I can see that your foot still hurts very badly. Rest yourself on the furs and let me see to it. "
Alexander wrapped his friend into the warming furs before he removed the dressings and splints from his right foot. It looked better now but it was still blue and very swollen and tender to the touch. Hephaestion moaned and flexed his leg, taking it away from Alexander's probing hands.
"Oh, I am sorry if I hurt you. It's a pity that it is too far to the river. The pain and swelling would be reduced if you could sit and have your foot in the cold water for some time. "
"I'd rather not, Alexander, "Hephaestion adamantly answered. "I do not like cold baths as much as you do! Just put your warm hands around my foot for some time. Then I will feel much better. "
Alexander did as he was asked and held his hands around the swollen ankle. He could almost feel the swelling go away under his firm and tender grip. Then he started to gently massage the foot, calf and lower leg. Hephaestion felt the wonderful warmth from his friend's hands bringing both Healing and more pleasurable feelings. It went from the foot all the way up his leg, and then his whole body and self were engulfed by the very special warmth that only Alexander's hands could bring to him. His cheeks became all flushed and he moaned out loud.
"Am I hurting you, Phai?, "Alexander worriedly asked. "Do you want me to stop and put on the dressings again? I have to fetch firewood and water, too. "
"No, all that can wait. This cannot!, "Hephaestion told him as he sat up and embraced Alexander in a most vigorous manner. "Come to me immediately. I am still freezing, and it is only you who can make me warm again! "
"Yes, but are you sure that you are up to this? You are still not very well......"
"I am well enough, Alexander. It's just my foot hurting. Don't talk so much, just come to me now!"
Alexander smiled as he crept under the furs and embraced his friend. Soon the chill winds and hard realities of the Illyrian woodland were forgotten. The morning sun shone straight into the cave, its golden rays playing on their young bodies as they embraced each other, adding to the warmth and love that was given. Alexander gave fond and warming caresses as he removed Hephaestion's clothes and then his own. His friend was looking quite irresistible as he lay back on the furs and fragrant hay, his glossy auburn hair spreading like a fine feather fan as it shone in the bright autumn sun.
"Mine, always mine, "Alexander exclaimed as he embraced his friend.
Hephaestion looked up at the Golden Young God standing over him. Alexander was virtually glowing, the sunlight surrounding him and enhancing his inner warmth and strength. Hephaestion was overwhelmed by the sight and he closed his eyes as he was embraced and filled with the most wonderful warmth. He felt Alexander cover them with his wolf skin fur cloak, then he knew no more.
Afterwards the two young men lay spent and exhausted, sleeping in each others arms. Golden hair mixed with auburn on the furs and hay. The sun went from the east towards the south, leaving the cave in gloom, making it more chilly. Alexander reached out for their fur cloaks, feeling the cold even in his sleep. He wrapped them up more tightly around himself and his friend, feeling Hephaestion holding on to him for warmth and strength.
Now Bucephalus and Castor returned from their pasture. They had new apples and chestnut leaves parcels in their muzzles and they carefully dropped their gifts on the floor of the cave. Then they looked at their Dear Masters with some worry. Their colour was high and they were breathing heavily, almost panting.
// "Oh no. Now they have been at it again, "Castor told Bucephalus. The big black stallion calmly answered: " Yes, I know. It is a very strange practice, but it seems to bring them great pleasure...." //
The horses lay down to rest in the cave, close to their Dear Masters, to let them borrow some warmth from their big bodies.
Forest Nymph
Hephaestion woke up, feeling comfortable and rested. The pain in his foot was almost gone and now his fever had broken completely. His Golden One lay sound asleep at his side. He got up, careful not to disturb Alexander, well knowing that he had been awake all night long to take care of him during his untimely illness. He felt his stomach grumble and he lit up the fire before fetching some parts of the boar. He put the frying pan to the fire and poured some olive oil in it. Then he fried the boar, careful not to burn the meat. Not the horses tried to alert him to something. He saw the new parcels with mushrooms resting on the floor of the cave, also the apples.
"Good horses, good horses. You bring us so many good things - but I don't understand where you get them. You cannot make those fine parcels yourselves!"
The horses nodded and looked down the slope. Hephaestion took the frying pan off the fire and went to fetch some more wood He limped outside, looking down the slope, the same way as the horses had shown him. There was an opening in the sheltering rose hip thicket surrounding their cave, and he curiously gazed through it.
His blue eyes looked straight into the deep blue green eyes of a young, golden haired woman standing at the other side of the rose hip thicket. She was dressed all in green, with a warming wolf skin fur cloak casually thrown over her unusually broad shoulders. A whole pack of dogs were surrounding her, like a faithful guard. One was very big and black, the other five were half grown puppies, but big and looking fierce and alert. Three were black, the other two were sand colored, looking like mountain lions.
Hephaestion saw a strange green shimmering rise before his eyes and he went all dizzy, almost on the verge of passing out. He had to sit down on a mossy boulder nearby. When he regained his senses he gazed through the opening once more.
There was no one there and no traces of the unknown woman and her six dogs!
// "Mother told me about the Forest Nymphs Queen Olympias meets at the Dionysia. I never thought that they truly existed! Well, she did not look malevolent at all, just curious. Perhaps it is she who has brought us all the apples and mushrooms. " //
Hephaestion returned into the cave with the wood. He picked up some roots and mushrooms to fry together with the boar, mixing them into a very tasty stew. The cooking occupied him totally, as he sprinkled the stew with herbs and spices and tasted it time and again to reassure himself that he had added the correct amounts.
Two strong hands grasped him from behind, and hot lips started to nibble at the nape of his neck. He called out in fright. Was it the Forest Nymph coming to seduce him and devour him?
Woodland Appetites
Alexander had not felt so tired for a very long time, not since after the cruel and bloody battle of Chaironeia. He succumbed to a very deep sleep, being satisfied to have Hephaestion at his side, reassured that his friend was mending from his untimely illness. His dreams were sweet, he relived the fond embraces and love play amidst the furs and fragrant hay. He moaned softly and yearning, reaching out for Hephaestion.
The fur bed was empty, but the cave was filled with the most appetizing cooking fumes from boar, mushrooms, roots, herbs and spices. Alexander slowly awakened, looking around. The fire was burning brightly and merrily and Hephaestion sat at the fireside, busily stirring and shaking the frying pan. He was wrapped into his bear skin fur, but his auburn hair spilled down his broad muscled back, the flaming tresses shining like a river of molten copper.
He looked even more appetizing than the tasty food he was preparing. Alexander simply could not resist him. He slowly rose from the fur bed and sneaked towards Hephaestion. He was so busy with his cooking that he did not notice the attacker, not until he was grasped from behind. Alexander held him firmly and started to nuzzle at the nape of his neck. He especially liked the soft, small locks curling there.
"No, NO! Don't eat me up, kind Forest Nymph! Alexander, help me, tell her that I am not a tasty meal!"
Alexander turned Hephaestion around and looked straight into his wonderful blue eyes. At first his friend looked very frightened, but then he saw the familiar features and gave up a sight of great relief.
"I don't agree, Phai! You sure are a most tasty meal. I could eat you on the spot, "Alexander teased him to calm him down. "Why are you talking about Forest Nymphs!"
"Alexander. It is you, I am so glad that it is you. There is a Forest Nymph outside our cave! She has long golden hair and large blue green eyes, and she is guarded by a pack of fierce dogs. I saw her a short while, and then she disappeared. "
"You don't need to be afraid of her, Phai. There are no Forest Nymphs here, "Alexander reassuringly told him. "You are still weak from the fever, perhaps you are even delirious. It must have been some kind of illusion. "
Alexander did not dare admit that he, too had seen the Forest Nymph. Hephaestion carefully listened to him and let himself be persuaded.
"Yes, you must be right. I am still feeling a bit dizzy. Perhaps it is from lack of nourishment, "he stated. "Let us eat now. The stew is ready. "
They sat down to their woodland meal. It tasted far better than anything they ever had eaten in the King's Palace. They were together, no one to disturb them or annoy them and they sat eating and talking for a very long time. Afterwards they went to bed, embracing each other as the warming furs covered them and the fire went out at their bedside.
Woodland Chores
Next morning it was Hephaestion's turn to sleep late. Alexander let him rest and he wandered off to fill all their water skins, collect an ample supply of firewood and prepare a hearty breakfast from apples, roots, mushrooms and some slices of boar. When he at long last woke up, Hephaestion was surprised by the newly acquired cooking and foraging skills of the Crown Prince. They sat down sharing their meal on a warm, moss clad stone.
"This food will not suffice, "Alexander worriedly stated. I will have to go away into the forest to set some traps. Perhaps I can spear another boar, too. I must be gone for some hours. "
"Yes, but I can manage on my own, Alexander. There are so many rose hips that need to be picked, and I can rest if my foot starts hurting me again. "
Alexander brought his spear and packed the traps in his saddle bags. Then he leaped upon Bucephalus and went away. As he looked behind he saw Hephaestion walking around with a clay bowl to collect the rose hips. He was worried for his friend. It did not feel good to leave him behind all alone in this strange place, but he knew that Hephaestion was strong and reliable and could look after himself. He had Castor with him, too.
Alexander rode off into the forest. It was beautiful, adorned with all the flaming colors of autumn and he enjoyed his day out, setting traps and watching all the unfamiliar animals of this Illyrian woodland.
When he was all ready with the traps he returned home, bringing some big and fat partridges.
// "My Phai likes chicken a lot. These are even better, "he silently mused to himself. " //
He was merrily whistling to himself as he returned to their new home. Hephaestion would be so glad to prepare their evening meal, and they would spend the evening and night together in perfect bliss and happiness.
It was not to be. When he came close to the cave he saw Hephaestion lying pale and unconscious on the ground in front of the rose hip bramble. Lots of rose hips were scattered all around him, like drops of crimson blood.
"No, NO, "Alexander called out loud as he ran to his friend. "You cannot leave me, not now, not ever!"
TBC
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