Hello All,
In the previous chapter we were left with a cliffhanger. Now we will learn more about Hephaestion's fate. The woodland Healer Amanda finds an unexpected patient in much need of her caring.
All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,
// NorthernLight
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TEMPLATE:
Title: Illyrian Autumn (6 / 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.
Author's note: I don't know much of 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 Six
A Wood In Illyria, 338 BC
A Feast In Exile
Hephaestion slept sound and well after Alexander's ministrations in the evening. When he woke up his nostrils instantly were reached by the most appetizing cooking fumes. He saw the sun shine through the opening of their grotto. Its warming rays sparkled around Alexander, giving a brilliant glow to his long hair. He had taken another bath in the river and it was just drying up, spreading like a cloak of gold over his broad shoulders. The fire was merrily burning and a hearty meal of mushrooms, boar and roots was sizzling in the frying pan. A pair of juicy apples sat caressing each other near the fireside. Alexander was sitting near the fire, carefully looking at the frying pan, gently shaking it time and again. He looked perfectly relaxed and totally occupied with the cooking. There was now an ample supply of dry firewood and all their water skins and jars were filled and neatly stacked near the cave wall.
Hephaestion smiled fondly at his friend. At first Alexander had not been able to cook anything without burning it into cinders or turning it into an inedible mess. Now he had learned not only how to hunt and gather all kinds of food from the forest. He also knew how to prepare them and make them tasty and palatable, and he learned more for every day about all the household chores that were needed to keep them warm and well fed.
Hephaestion was much impressed by the way Alexander handled their exile. The young Crown Prince of Macedon had fallen from grace and lost all his power and rank. He ought to have been devastated and down trodden. Still he commanded his very own and special authority. He found opportunities in all situations and always made the best of all. They were on their own with their faithful horses, living in a humble mountain cave with just enough food to keep them from starving, just enough clothes, furs and blankets to keep them from freezing and only cool river water to drink. Still, in Alexander's company the cave looked like the finest Palace stateroom, their stone bench platform felt like the finest four poster bed and their every meal together tasted like a Royal Banquet.
// When he is King and General he will be able to turn even the direst disaster into a brilliant success, " Hephaestion silently mused to himself. " //
Now Alexander beckoned to him.
"Phai, you are awake and looking much better today! No, don't try to get up. I will serve you breakfast in bed!"
"That's kind of you, Alexander, but I want to get up! It's so fine sitting in the sun on that warm mossy stone, having all the forest and mountainside for our dining room. Now, when your cooking has improved the food will be tasty, too. "
Alexander smiled and helped him up. They walked together to the stone. and sat there together for a long time, enjoying all the food Alexander had prepared. The mushrooms were juicy and delicious, the slices of boar still succulent and tasty, well done but not burned, and the roots were soft and sweet tasting. Alexander had even managed to sprinkle the food with herbs, making it taste almost like the food prepared by the Royal cooks for King Philip's Banquets. Best of all were the apples. They tasted so sweet, being the same brand as the famous Miezan apples, and they made a wonderful desert. Silently, both of them remembered their happy and carefree days at Mieza, when they were studying and learning all that Aristotle was able to teach them.
// "I just love it here, "Hephaestion mused silently to himself. "I have always wanted to go on a secret vacation with Alexander, just the two of us, having him all by myself. No court intrigues, no smirking detractors, no Queen Olympias! Well, now I have got my secret wishes all fulfilled! If only the circumstances were not so very sad. Dear Gods, you must help my Golden One to return to his true station in life!" //
Woodland Accident
After the meal Alexander took care of Hephaestion's injured foot. He held his warming hands for a long time around the ankle before anointing it and putting on the splints and dressings. It felt so good that Hephaestion wanted those warming hands taking care of him forever.
"Well, now you can be up and about all that you like, but you must not exert yourself, "Alexander prudently stated. " You are always working to hard for us all. "
"Yes, but I like to do it, Alexander. It's good to put all in order. The rose hips are so very near and handy here at our cave. I will pick a whole bowl and cook them into a tasty soup that we can share when you return, "Hephaestion answered. "You don't need to worry over me. YOU be careful when you go riding all alone in this big forest. Don't wander off to far, and don't take any great risks!"
"No, I will be careful, and Bucephalus is with me. He will always find the way back here for us!"
Hephaestion took a clay bowl in one hand and his sturdy cane in the other. He limped out, seeing Alexander off as he rode into the forest on Bucephalus. Castor stayed at his side, nibbling at the grass and moss on the meadow. The great stallion looked with great longing towards a thick bramble of rose hips higher up the mountain slope.
"Whatever is it up there, my four legged friend?, "Hephaestion asked. "One might think that you saw the finest stable and forage place in that remote mountain slope. "
The big horse nodded with pleasure, and Hephaestion thought that the grazing perhaps might be better higher up the mountain slope. He went to the rose hip bushes and industriously picked the shining red berries. His clay bowl was soon filled and he turned to limp to the cave to find another. The terrain was rugged and the grass and moss wet from the morning dew and a nightly rain. A wet and very slippery moss clad round stone accidentally met with his injured foot. He felt it slide away way under him. Then there was an ominous creaking sound from his foot as the splints broke from the stress. He stumbled and fell backwards, landing with his back on the hard ground. The wind was knocked out of him and he soon passed out from shock and pain. In the fall he dropped the bowl with all his hard picked rose hips. They rained all over him, like crimson drops of blood.
// "Oh NO, "was his last conscious thought. "I worked so hard for those berries! Now I will have to pick them all one more time !" /
Observations Of A Woodland Healer
Amanda had very mixed feelings about her new neighbours. They seemed to be very fine and well mannered young men, and their horses were well bred and well behaved. It was a pleasure to give the animals food, and she found it deeply moving when they so adamantly insisted to be given food to take away to their young Masters.
All the same, those Masters were MEN, and most men were dangerous and not to be trusted!
The first day she clearly saw the auburn haired one in charge of everything, even with the very bad limp he was having. He collected food, firewood and water, prepared their new woodland home and even did all the cooking. Amanda was amazed at all his abilities, especially the appetizing cooking fumes that reached all the way to her grotto. Ptolema and the puppies sniffed with great curiosity and she had to give them stern reprimands when they wanted to run down the slope to visit the strangers.
"No, you may NOT run over to them. We have fine food here, too, and you are such able hunters. You catch more than enough of those poor animals to keep yourselves well fed!"
The second day was much different. The young men slept very late. Amanda was so worried that she had to go to watch them, thinking that they were planning some kind of dangerous mischief. Fortunately they were not. No, they were sleeping so soundly and innocently in each others arms, no doubt very tired after their long journey. She truly enjoyed watching them, wandering a lot about the high colour on the cheeks of the auburn haired one.
// "Those furs and his Golden friend must be warming him very well, I suppose, "she mused to herself. //
Later on the Golden One appeared all alone outdoors. He collected water and firewood, running swift as lightning to and fro. She sat behind her rose hip bushes watching him. Once he managed to actually see her and her dogs, despite their elaborate hiding place in the thick rose hip bushes. The sight startled him badly. He jumped and almost fell backwards.
// "Oh no, am I looking such a fright, "she worriedly thought to herself. "The village men use to say that I am comely....." //
She swiftly hid herself and her dogs better, behind an even thicker bramble. Now she realized that the reason for the blush on the cheeks of auburn haired one must have been that he was ill with some kind of fever. She resisted a persistent wish to reveal herself to go and see to his well being. There was no cooking done at all for breakfast. The Golden One just boiled water and she sniffed the scents of elderberries and willow bark in the air.
// "How strange. He truly knows the Art of Healing, "she mused. That's good for his poor friend. I don't want him to come to any harm. Something tells me that the Golden One needs him very much, indeed. " //
The horses came for their hay and apples, eating with a hearty appetite. This time they were most persistent, wanting to bring food to their Dear Masters. Since she had plenty of mushrooms, apples and roots she wrapped them up in parcel made from big chestnut leaves and let the faithful horses bring them. Amanda liked them a lot. They were so big, but still kind and considerate, careful not to tread on the curious puppies who were running rampant around their huge hooves.
Soon after the horses had returned to the other cave with her makeshift food parcels she could smell delicious cooking fumes. She was most curious and sneaked over there, watching into the cave through the thick rose hip brambles. The Golden One was sitting near the fireside, listlessly eating a fine evening meal of mushrooms, roots and slices of boar. He drunk some cool mountain water from a water skin, nibbled at an apple and spoke silently to himself.
"Well, this was a fine and satisfying evening meal. I am not such a bad cook after all. The food just doesn't taste as good as when Hephaestion does the cooking!"
He gave a fond smile to his friend, who was sleeping calmly wrapped into the warming furs.
// "Hephaestion, "Amanda mused to herself. "A strange but melodious and beautiful name. " //
Now the Golden One caressed his friend. He was shivering slightly from the evening cold.
"Oh, you are freezing again. Don't you worry, I will sure keep you warm even if the nights are very cold in this strange land. " He sighed to himself as he stated with regret, "I wish that I had not drunk all the wine in our wine jugs! It would have been most helpful against the cold! "
He put one more log on the fire and sat down very close to his friend, putting a generous fold of his fine wolf fur coat over him. Amanda silently withdrew from the cave.
Next day she was happy to see the auburn haired one on his feet again. He came outdoors limping, supporting himself on a sturdy cane as he prepared a hearty breakfast. The young men sat eating together on a moss clad stone, not knowing that Amanda and her dogs were curiously watching them. After the meal they returned into the cave once more. Soon she heard strange sounds from the cave, going on for a very long time before all was silent.
Amanda missed the beautiful sight of her new neighbours. She did all her chores, watching for them time and again. All day went by and she did not see anyone.
// "Whatever are they doing all day long in that cave of theirs? I must go and reassure myself that all is well!" //
She went to the cave, accompanied by Ptolema and the puppies. As she stood behind the rose hip thicket the auburn haired one called Hephaestion came stumbling out with his cane, looking for some more firewood. He came very close to her and their eyes actually met. Amanda looked straight into the most wonderful blue eyes. They were filled with kindness, love and sympathy and she knew that all those feelings were for his golden haired friend sleeping inside their new cave home. Seeing her made him very upset. He fell backwards, almost fainting, and he had to sit down on a mossy boulder. Amanda took advantage of his momentary weakness and quickly gathered her dogs and returned to her own cave.
// I cannot understand why they become so upset when they see me. Do I really look such a fright? One might even think that they are afraid of women.... " //
Unexpected Patient
The day after the Golden One went away, boldly riding on his black stallion. He left Hephaestion alone at the cave, together with his chestnut colored stallion. The horse grazed on the meadow and the young man brought a clay bowl. He swiftly picked it full with rose hips and then turned towards the cave again.
It was then the bad thing happened. Hephaestion slipped on a wet stone and fell backwards, landing hard on the ground. Amanda cried out aloud as she heard an ominous creaking and breaking sound from his injured foot. Then the wind was knocked out of him and he gasped in agony for breath. In the fall he dropped the clay bowl and the rose hips rained all over him, spreading like crimson drops of blood on the ground. He lay sprawled on the ground, still and unmoving. She could not hear him breathing at all. His faithful horse reared up and neighed anxiously. It sounded like a heart rendering call for help.
"I must go and see to him immediately! "Amanda called out to Ptolema and the puppies. "All of you must guard me carefully. The Golden One might return anytime, and he is dangerous! Keep him away from me, but you may not bite him, only if it is absolutely necessary!"
She fetched her big satchel with medical equipment and swiftly ran to the stranger's side, together with her faithful dogs. The stranger was very pale, drops of cold sweat was forming on his brow and he was desperately struggling for air. She lifted him up and held a root smelling strongly of mint, rosemary and thyme under his nostrils. He sneezed violently before slowly regaining his breath.
"Thank you, Alexander! I did not know that you had such a potent root in your satchel, "he whispered, and then passed out once more.
// "Alexander. Well, that's the Golden One's name. I will have to remember this. Something tells me that all the world soon will hear way too much of HIM !" //
Amanda held Hephaestion in her arms until she saw that he was breathing more easily. Then she carefully examined his injured foot. It had been wrapped in fine linen dressings around the coarse wooden splints. The splints had shattered from the violent fall. She took them away and unwrapped the dressings. Amanda had never seen such fine materials in her whole life. Nearest to the foot was a makeshift compress, drenched in arnica and yarrow. The herbal infusion smelled strongly from the healing herbs .
// This Golden One is not as unpractical as I first thought, " Amanda mused. "How strange. These dressings and splints have been applied with great skill and craft, and the healing herbs are freshly made. They are so potent that I could not have prepared anything better myself! The dressings are made from very fine fabrics. Where do these young men come from? Who are they really? They are no ordinary hapless wanderers! "//
She put her hands around Hephaestion's injured foot. It was light blue, tender and swollen, but fortunately nothing was broken. She probed it carefully, bending it this way and that, all until he called out loud from pain.
"Hush, hush, my new friend, "she calmingly told him. " I don't mean to hurt you. Stay calm now. There is nothing seriously wrong with your foot, just a bad sprain. THIS will make you feel better!"
She put her hands around his foot and ankle, holding them there for a long time. He soon gave up a sight of sheer relief and pleasure.
"Oh, Alexander! That feels sooooo good. Don't take your warming hands away from me!"
Amanda twitched from surprise and took her hands away, but then the stranger moaned again from pain. She held them around his foot once more, feeling the heat emanating from her hands herself, too.
// Well, that was most unexpected, "she stated to herself. " I thought that this Alexander was a dangerous and fierce warrior. Now I see that he is a Healer, too, and a most potent one, at that!" //
Amanda sat for a long time holding her warming hands on Hephaestion's foot. When she saw him relaxing and lapsing into unconsciousness she fetched some moss jelly from her cave and drenched a healing compress with it. The dogs fetched her some new splints. Then she wrapped and dressed the foot. She was very careful since she was afraid to hurt him.
"Oh, Alexander, that feels cool and nice. How come your hands are so light and gentle? "he asked with a husky voice.
Now the half grown puppies came up to him, wanting to be friendly. They licked him all over his face and neck with the most fervent adoration. He started to giggle, still with his eyes closed.
"Alexander! You may NOT nibble at me out in the open!, "he called out in outrage. "The Forest Nymph might be embarrassed!"
Amanda smiled and grasped the puppies in the napes of their necks, gently lifting them away from him.
"Hush, my Little Ones. You may not disturb him. So, am I a Forest Nymph, now. Well, I am a Healer, too, and there are not many aspects of human behaviour that can make ME embarrassed!"
She saw that Hephaestion was still in pain and that he shivered from the chilling mountain breezes. The ground was cold, too. He was a big boned young man and she was not able to lift him and take him to the cave. She did the second best and brought all the furs from the cave and wrapped him snugly and securely into them. He smiled in his semi conscious state and reached out for her. She quickly withdrew, but he managed to lay his strong hands around her slender waist for a short while.
"Alexander, it's always so nice when you tuck me in. Why don't you come and embrace me, the better for us to sleep and relax! How strange, you have become very thin and soft, indeed. Is my cooking not pleasing you anymore?"
Amanda blushed as she gently liberated herself from his eager grasp. His hands were strangely pleasing for a man, and they brought a tingling sensation all over her.
"Now it's time for you to be properly put to sleep, my new friend! Your Golden One will not take kindly to it if you are making improper advances to me!"
She swiftly went to her cave to fetch a big jar of strong raspberry wine, a smaller one with poppy juice and a medicinal bowl made of clay, adorned with light blue flowers and leaf garlands. Then she made a calming concoction, pouring wine into the small bowl and mixed it with ten drops of poppy juice. She served it to the stranger and he drank with great pleasure before falling into a deep sleep. Amanda was worried over the state he was in. She had the ability to feel through her hands what truly ailed her patients, and what she learned of Hephaestion was disturbing her deeply.
// "He is giving all his strength, skill and stamina to this Golden One. It exerts him too much, it could well lead to an early and most untimely End! " //
Amanda shed a single hot tear before she made up her mind to do her very best to give this handsome stranger all the help she was able to offer. She sat down at his side, gently holding his hand and caressing his brow.
The chestnut colored stallion took the empty bowl in his muzzle, looking greatly disturbed. All the rose hips his Dear Master had picked with so meticulous care lay scattered on the ground. It was as if the horse wanted help to gather them anew. Amanda took the bowl and filled it with rose hips, prudently putting it on a stone before she sat down once more, taking Hephaestion in her lap. She kept a careful vigil over him as he was sleeping soundly on the calming concoction that she had administered. Now he was in no pain and he seemed to be warm and relaxed.
She sat there for a long time, together with the dogs and the chestnut war stallion. It pleased her more than she wanted to admit to have this handsome stranger all by herself, and she admired his fine features. His hair was a shining auburn, spreading like a fiery cloak over her forest green tunic. His face was strong and determined, but still there was much kindness and care. The wonderful bright blue eyes that had watched her before he passed out were filled with intelligence, order and an all and consuming Love and Friendship for his golden haired friend. She held her hand upon his brow and made a prayer filled with well wishes.
// May you always be there for as long as HE needs you, and may you both always be together, the way you are now, against the turmoils and troubles of the World!" //
Her contemplative mood was interrupted by the friendly neighing of the chestnut colored stallion. She heard another, more fierce neighing far away in the forest. Ptolema and her puppies yelped silently to alert her.
"Oh my. The Golden One is coming! We must hide ourselves once more. He must NOT see us!"
She gave Hephaestion a final fond caress over his brow and hair before she entangled herself from him and gently put his head on a tuft of soft grass.
"Sleep well, my dear friend. Now your Golden One will take good care of you again, and when you wake up you will be feeling well and healthy again, as you were before this injury "
She picked up her medicinal bowl and the poppy juice but she left the jug with raspberry wine at his side.
// I have so many of those jugs in my cave, more than I need since I only drink water! They need it far better than I do! //
Once more hid herself in the rose hip brambles. Ptolema faithfully followed her into hiding. The puppies were more reluctant, but when Amanda and their mother called out for them they slowly left the dear stranger.
Now the Golden One came, leading his black war horse. The proud stallion was heavily loaded with thick bundles of fire wood and he looked most dissatisfied with this humble task. Alexander held a bunch of fine fat partridges, looking proud and happy with his catch. His happiness quickly turned into dread and dismay as he saw his friend lying still, pale and unmoving on the ground. He screamed out loud as he dropped the partridges and ran towards Hephaestion, fast like a golden lightning.
"No, NO, Phai! You cannot leave me, not now, not ever!"
Amanda had never heard a call so filled with sheer agony and bereavement.
// "I must go to him and reassure him that there is nothing alarming with his friend, "she mused to herself. "I cannot bear to see anyone at all in such despair - and one who expresses such love and concern cannot be as dangerous as I fear!" //
Still she remained hidden in the brambles. This Alexander was surrounded by an Aura of great strength and power. She had never seen such a thing before and she simply did not dare to approach him.
Alexander threw himself over his friend, calling out to him and giving him a thorough and careful examination. He became somewhat calmer by what he perceived. Suddenly he looked straight at the brambles.
"Forest Nymph, "he called out. "I know that you are there watching us. Reveal yourself! I will not harm you!"
TBC
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