Day Twenty-One: First important battle and losses.
King Philip had set his mind onto new territories, Macedon was just too small for him now and his thirst for more territories boosted his lust for riches and allies. However, he realized that before his greatest dream could come true, that was the conquest of Asia and consequently the defeat of the Persians, he had to become more powerful in his own lands. Macedon had been finally unified and he had all the aristocracy and land owners under his thumb; the creation of a professional army had also helped him a lot; his warfare techniques were quite innovative and he also counted with vey good engineers, capable of building whatever the amazing engineer in the making, his son's lover, Hephaestion, designed.
The soon-to-be soldier had already designed some war machines that most of his men were eager to try in the battlefield.
So after thinking for a while and giving the idea a second and deep thought, king Philip knew that the Sacred Band were the next to defeat or to convince to join them against the Persians, whatever happened first.
The airs of war were heavy this time; the Thebans had been also fighting for the supremacy of Greece for a long time and now the unified Macedon was a great rival to face. However, king Philip felt a great respect for those warriors because they were quite a formidable force. Prince Alexander admired them a lot too but his admiration was more based on other grounds. Being an eternal hidden romantic as any young man living his seventeen summers, and with such a gorgeous and faithful lover by his side, Alexander saw the Sacred Band not only as a deadly force but also as a group of lovers fighting next to their beloved, as he was willing to do with his Hephaestion, his lover since nearly a year ago.
In spite of his anxiety, Alexander had still mixed feelings, he wanted to prove himself in battle but he was also afraid of dying before his own dreams could become true. He also feared for Hephaestion. He knew that any of his companions could get hurt and eventually died, but he could not get his mind around the idea that one of them could be his beloved Hephaestion; his brave friend who had already defeated death when he was a child, his courageous lover who would not dare to keep himself out of danger; who would enter right into the claws of death if that was necessary.
As the tension around his father and his prospective decision about going to war against Thebes grew, Alexander and his companions, who would be proved a soldiers for the first time in a big battle, spent long hours practising their moves and new tactics that Alexander had secretly designed and passed on his companions. They were eager to put them into practice but they also knew that they had to follow their commanders' orders first.
However, every free moment the prince had, he tried to spend it with his lover, they had already wasted too much time being separated and he would not tolerate that anymore. They had learnt in the hard way how it was to live apart one from the other and they had decided not to let third parties meddle with their relationship again. Alexander had clearly stated that his mother would never try to set them apart, not after the big row that they had had and that if he needed an heir, he would solve the problem when it was really necessary; Hephaestion would also have the right to express his thoughts about the topic.
King Philip had started to move his troops towards the border to asses their power by having small skirmishes before deciding to go against the Sacred Band in full force.
The king was happy as his men had done really good in those small battles and that had risen the morale of all the troops. The companions were excited because the king had promised that they would intervene in the big battle so they would be able to brag, after their victory, that they were real Macedonian soldiers.
The day before the battle at Chaeronea, the men were around their tents, sharing a good and hearty meal. The scouts had come hours before from their recognition mission and told about the enemy's position. King Philip walked around the tents, speaking to his commanders and seeing how his men were doing. He specially wanted to pay extra attention to his son and his companions who were nervous as new foals.
When he got near the young companions' tent, he saw an image that he wanted to imprint in his memory, all the young men were sitting all together, laughing and eating, speaking about what they would do after the battle was over. Only one of the young men was less happy than the rest. Alexander's lover was taking part in the meal but his mind seemed to be too far away. However, Alexander's simple touch on his arm brought him back and with it, a tiny smile, such an intimate gesture between those lovers, that made the tough warrior smile and envy them at the same time because they had their love fresh and still unstained.
The prince subtlety yawned loudly, outstretching his arms and then he let one of them fall onto Hephaestion's shoulders, bringing him nearer to his body. Hephaestion, even though he was not as comfortable as Alexander with those public displays of affection, leaned onto his side and it seemed as if he was going to allow some cuddling against him. Alexander got the message loud and clear, they needed to spend time alone before the battle, because even though it was always difficult to be alone before a battle, he was not in a commanding position yet so he could spend it as he wanted and all they did want was to spend that night together.
Hephaestion stood up and bid everyone health, Alexander followed him minutes later. When he entered the tent, his brunette was standing before a small altar to Aphrodite and he was already praying. Alexander approached him and hugging him from behind, he joined him in his prays.
When that was over, they started the ritual of undressing the other, really slowly while caressing, licking or nipping the hidden skin as soon as it was uncovered. They made love that night, first, desperately as if they wanted to get rid of their nervousness; it was hard, quick but satisfying. However, they also needed to reconnect as lovers so Hephaestion took his prince slowly, so tenderly that their lovemaking made their hearts sore. Nobody bothered them that night.
Bright and early, both young men were ready and they know that they would not have to wait longer.
The battle was ferocious, each soldier, either Theban or Macedonian, fought very bravely but luck seemed to be on the Macedonian side but none of them wanted to chant victory before the right time came.
But luck is a very capricious lady and she liked to play with those men in battle. She started to lean the scales towards the Thebans when the Sacred Band entered the battle. Both Alexander and Hephaestion secretly admired them and felt their hearts jump inside their chests when they saw them. They moved as if they were only one soldier but anyone could see who was partnered with whom.
The battle got worse and in a desperate moment, Alexander decided to use one of his tactics with the Phalanx and it was really successful.
Feeling so euphoric, Alexander let his guard down and got as bit distracted. Those seconds of distraction almost cost him his life when a Theban soldier, blinded by the death of his lover at Macedonian hands, saw the opportunity to cut Alexander's thread of life with an outstanding movement of his sword that caught the prince on his chest, leaving a deep and long cut along his left side, over his heart.
Alexander fell in the battlefield, blood flowing trough the open wound in big gushes. Hephaestion saw the image of his lover lying on a pool of his own precious blood and the brunette saw red. Left behind was his mercy and understanding in that precise moment.
He had seen Alexander's attacker so he pursued him through the sea of men in the bloodied battlefield. The soldier was knelt, cradling his dying lover in his arms. They were much older than Alexander and Hephaestion, their bodies were covered with many and old scars and their left wrists showed matching gold bracelets.
The Theban soldier, sensing a presence nearby, lifted his head, looked at Hephaestion with blurred eyes, and whispered "Sorry" for your mate.
Hephaestion acknowledged his apology and then looked at the soldier cradled in his arms who had just died, looking into his lover's eyes.
"Do me a favour and kill me now because I don't want to live without him".
Hephaestion honoured his request and respectfully took his life so they could be reunited in the warriors' heaven.
Immediately after, Hephaestion ran back where he had left his wounded lover, who was now surrounded by two or three of their companions.
Alexander was still bleeding and no one dared to move him because it could be worse for the prince. Hephaestion knelt by his side, and without knowing why, he leant over and took his lover's bloodied lips in a searing kiss. When Alexander, who was dizzy due to the loss of blood, felt his lips covered by his Hephaestion's, he felt warmth running along his full body and a renewed energy was boosted inside him. His wound stopped bleeding and everyone could see that it did not look as dangerous as minutes before. The companions, seeing that his prince was in better hands, left them alone to celebrate their victory.
Hephaestion was really focused on Alexander's wound so he got a bit distracted and he did not see the Theban soldier crawling towards him. The soldier stood up silently and lifted his sword and he was about to severe Hephaestion's life when a loud howl made him turn round and so Sotiris jumped towards his neck and bit him hard. However, the dying soldier had enough strength to lift his sword again and struck the she wolf with it.
Hephaestion saw the attack as if it were in a slow motion; he saw all of it but he could not do anything to stop it. Alexander, feeling a bit better, motioned him to go to Sotiris and so Hephaestion realized that his attacker was dead and his dear friend was dying.
The young brunette knelt by her side, as he had done with Alexander minutes before. The animal tried to stand up but she could only lift her head, her yellowish eyes were almost closed and bright less. Hephaestion carefully cradled her in his arms and ran his slender fingers through the thick coat of grey fur, now mostly stained with her own blood. Sotiris opened her eyes and locked them with Hephaestion's and it seemed as if she was asking for his forgiveness for leaving him alone; a tear ran along the furry cheek and she died.
A loud shriek was heard and the people around them would swear it was more animal than human, as if it were a wolfish howl.
The battle was over; Alexander was taken to the royal tent to be examined by his father's doctor but his wound was almost healed. When king Philip saw that he was alright, her let him go to see how Hephaestion was doing.
The blonde prince found his lover still cradling the dead wolf between his arms and he seemed to be totally lost. He helped him to be again on his feet and the brunette did not let Sotiris go.
The rest of the army started to organize a small celebration after they had taken care of the injured and the dead. Hephaestion did not feel like celebrating at all so he asked his commander for a special leave and the old warrior, seeing true pain in those sky-blue eyes, granted him his permission without asking a single word.
Hephaestion mounted Dione and Alexander passed him Sotiris's corpse that had been gently covered in one of the prince's cloaks to his arms and the brunette, thanking the kind gesture, left without uttering another word.
When lady Amyntoros saw a rider at the distance, her heart felt heavy. After a battle, the worst thing that a woman could expect to see was a rider coming towards them.
Suddenly she distinguished the lean frame of his beloved and youngest son but the posture was not the one of someone who had been victorious.
She suddenly looked at his lap and saw the still body of the she wolf and her heart suffered due to her son's loss.
Hephaestion dismounted and let his mother hug him tight and without passing a word between them, he started to walk towards the lake. He chose a spot near it and he lowered her gently on the grass. He let his mother look after Sotiris while he went back to the farmhouse in search of a spade.
He made the hole in the land and then he kindly washed her fur of the blood that was still staining it. He kissed the crown of her head and after a long moment, he buried his dear friend and he was not ashamed of crying while he did that. His mother was all the way, next to him giving him support and company.
Hephaestion offered his pray to Apollo, the protector of the wolves, and asked the god to find a nice spot for Sotiris in the Elysium Camps so she would be able to run and chase the rabbits she liked so much.
Lady Amyntoros took his devastated son back to the house and made him take a bath so he could wash away the grim and blood that he was still covered in. Then she tucked him in bed, as she used to do when he was her little boy, and sang to him an old lullaby she used to sing to him when he was just a baby and his beloved Sotiris was still alive. And Hephaestion cried against the pillow because his beloved Sotiris had left him and he also cried for the Theban soldier he had killed because he was not able to live without his lover and the young brunette felt his loneliness deep in his heart and wished he could do something to not feel so guilty for surviving.
Hephaestion spent nearly two days in a blur, just sighing, barely eating, when he listened to a quick gallop and a very familiar nigh. He also listened to Dione answer back and he soon realized who their visitor was. However, he was not in a hurry to greet his lover; his heart was still heavy as Sotiris had been the first close loss he had suffered. He realized he had been a bit selfish with Alexander but he was sure that his lover would understand him.
When after some minutes, no one came looking for him, Hephaestion left his room and headed towards the kitchen. He found his mother and Alexander talking quietly while sharing some sweetened drink the prince was so fond of. Hephaestion realized that Alexander was taking his pain into consideration and, in spite of his natural impatience, the prince was giving him the time he needed to grieve and mourn properly, without imposing his presence. Hephaestion realized that his Alexander loved him deeply and the brunette was happy to see that his feelings were exactly the same to the young blonde prince.
The prince lifted his gaze to look at his lover and he felt his heart shrink when he saw the pain in his Phai's eyes.
"I brought this for Sotiris" Alexander said and handed a small cloth bag to Hephaestion.
When the brunette opened the bag, he looked at Alexander and a tiny smile graced his lips.
"It is beautiful. Thank you" Hephaestion said while looking at the small statue of himself and Sotiris sitting by his side.
"Come with me to set it?" Hephaestion asked while outstretching his hand towards his lover.
Alexander looked at the offered hand and took it immediately. They walked side by side towards the lake and Alexander realized that Hephaestion had chosen that special spot because it had been where Sotiris had saved Hephaestion's life so many years ago, for the first time.
Alexander saw Hephaestion place the statue on the still wet land and then he knelt by it whispering his thanks for her courageous on saving his lover's life again.
They went back to the house and after a light dinner, both young soldiers returned to the army camp where more victories were waiting for them and if, in their way to the camp, they seemed to see a she wolf running beside them, they did not say a word but their teary eyes met in silent recognition.
TBC