Hello All,
Now winter has truly come to Illyria. Alexander and Hephaestion are well prepared and they enjoy the new season, inside and outside their homelike grotto. They will find that there are unexpected delights and dangers waiting in the beautiful snow covered landscape.
You who have been with me from the beginning of my fanfiction writing will recognize a passage from one of my first tales, To Drive The Cold Winter Away. It felt right to incorporate here, and I hope that it has merited from the fact that my English has become somewhat better and that I have beta help from Denise now.
There is a cliffhanger towards the end, but I will post the update later on this weekend so you will not have to wait too long .
All the best wishes, Read and enjoy,
// NorthernLight
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TEMPLATE:
Title: Illyrian Winter ( 2 / WIP )
Author: NorthernLight
Email address: aur_
Category: Love/Friendship/Adventure story
Pairing: Alexander&Hephaestion
Date: April 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. 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 Winter, Part Two
A Woodland Cave In Illyria, 338 BC
Winter's First Blizzard
Snow !
Hephaestion had never seen so much of it. Winters in Macedon and Pella were usually hard and cold, but there never was such merciless and hard blizzards with this kind of prolonged snowfall. The winds were so hard and the snow fell continuously. At first it even blew inside their grotto, forming large snowdrifts indoors. They had to build a stout barrier of thick spruce branches covering the opening of the grotto to protect themselves from the cold white menace and the merciless winds. Now they were most thankful for all the extra furs and blankets that Amanda had provided for them. When she presented this gift they had thanked her with kind indulgence, silently thinking that this kind of pampering and luxury would not be necessary for real men.
Now, when the cold winter winds were roaring and howling and the snow was forming in heaps, drifts and virtual mountains outside their homelike cave they found that they needed every fur and blanket that they could lay their hands on. They huddled together under a heap of them, with Queen Olympias warming wolf fur cloak wrapped around them both all the time. They even walked together under it when they needed to go outdoors.
They were careful to keep watch over the fire and never let it go out. Their very life depended on all the warmth they could have from it. All day long they sat at the fireside, talking or reading from the Iliad. They also sat silent for hours and hours, contemplating their strange new fate. The horses were at their side, wrapped into their very own warming blankets. They mumbled and grumbled over the cold and snow. They were fine war stallions and used to outdoor exercise in all weather. Now it was simply impossible. The layers of snow were very thick and reached up to their thighs and stomachs. Men and horses tried several times to go outdoors to get some well needed exercise. It was impossible. The snow was white, glittering and beautiful, but it formed an irresistible barrier all around their grotto. When they walked outdoors they simply sunk down into the cold whiteness. The snow offered them a soft embrace, but it was deathly with its unmerciful chilling cold. They had heard from people who had nearly frozen to their deaths that the snow and cold felt warming and welcoming, inviting to the most alluring sleep and rest. They had not believed this, until now.
They were glad to have their grotto to live in, with its warming fire and abundant food stores.
The dogs and their tame lynx were better off. They were bigger now and able to run, play and tumble around in the snow. They were good hunters and provided their Dear Masters with all kinds of small animals. Peritas and Pollux brought hares and birds. Lyllia persisted with bringing rats and mice. She was equally disappointed every time when Hephaestion told her that she could eat them herself.
Winter Warmth
If someone had told Hephaestion that he would have to spend a long, cold and hard winter snowbound inside a remote mountain grotto, miles and miles from anywhere he would have shuddered and thought that such a thing would be impossible to cope with.
Now, when he was actually facing such dire conditions he found them quite bearable, even agreeable.
Being all on his own with Alexander made all the difference!
They had always been close, even from the very beginning, but now they were together all the time, with no one and nothing to disturb them. Others could have met with bitter disappointment and resentment. Their friendship and fondness for one another deepened for every day spent in exile.
The fire became a symbol for their growing love and respect. They spent all their time near it, rolled inside their furs and blankets, giving each other all the love, warmth and comfort they could muster. They thought that they knew one another well enough, but now they learned more every night and day about their minds and bodies and their special needs.
Alexander had never been more beautiful than during these cold and lonesome winter days. He shone like a burning flame in the light from the fire. His hair tumbled like a lion's mane around him and he had become even more muscular and powerful during their woodland excursions. Hephaestion bathed in his glorious golden warmth, thinking that he could very well have perished from cold and exposure had it not been for Alexander's exceptional inner warmth and strength.
Hephaestion had never been more calm, orderly and reliable than during these days of bitter exile. Alexander felt that his very reason depended on having such a true and steadfast friend by his side. Hephaestion was always there, sitting by the fire, doing the cooking and providing them with excellent feasts every day. When he rested amongst the furs he was quite irresistible. His auburn mane swirled around him, his beautiful blue eyes blazed with fond feelings of concern and friendship and his lean, muscular frame invited warm embraces.
They gave warmth and comfort to each other, sometimes talking, but often with silent, eager and hot embraces leaving them exhausted and spent amongst the warming furs and blankets.
Tales From The Past
Amanda came by at least once every day to see to them. They did not admit it even to themselves, but they appreciated very much how the small, fair haired woman cared for them. She had been a true and most unexpected friend to them during their time of need and hardship. Her kind concern and substantial help had made it far easier for them to survive during the cold and hard Illyrian winter.
Once she saw them as they sat huddled under Alexander's wolf fur cloak, reading aloud from the copy of the Iliad that Aristotle had bestowed them.
"Why are you talking to this old scroll?, "she curiously asked them. "It seems to hold great interest for you."
"Yes, it is Homer, telling of Achilles and Patroclos, "Alexander answered.
"Whoever are they?," Amanda asked.
Alexander looked at her in sheer disbelief. Hephaestion was more understanding.
"Alexander, we are very far away from home, "he stated. "Everything is different here. Let us tell Amanda all about Homer and the Iliad."
And so Amanda sat down at the fireside together with the puppies and the lynx kitten, taking them under her own wolf fur cloak. They all listened intently when Alexander told them all about Homer and his recollections of the Trojan War. Bucephalus and Castor listened, too, but they soon let their big heads droop down, filled with drowsiness.
They had heard this tale time and time again. They knew it by heart!
When Alexander had finished Amanda sat silent for a very long time.
"I like this story, "she stated at long last. "Your countrymen are brave and cunning, especially Odysseus. I like him the most! But you - you must beware not to succumb to the sorrowful fate of Achilles! , "she sternly addressed Alexander. "You will be a great Leader of men, and it is for the better if you were able to have a long and rewarding lifetime."
A chilling wind suddenly swept inside the grotto, making the fire flicker and almost extinguish itself. Alexander and Hephaestion embraced each other for comfort, making the Sign against the Evil Omen. Amanda gave them a reassuring smile.
"You will do just fine, as long as you are together!, "she calmly stated. "Alexander, why do you need that old and brittle scroll to look at when you tell us this story? You know it all by heart!"
The friends smiled at her, all three of them sharing the secrets of the distant past, the present and the insecure Future.
Winter Hunt
After a whole week of merciless blizzards, Alexander and Hephaestion awoke one morning with their hair rimmed with frost and ice taps, despite the warming fire near their bedside. There had been a fierce winter storm raging on during the night. Lots of snow had blown into their cave home despite the barrier made of stout spruce branches that they had made to shield them from the cold. They shuddered and were happy to be alive and not frozen stiff. It was a necessary chore to shovel all the snow away from the grotto entrance before they ventured outside. Hephaestion had made two big shovels from a broad and flat tree branch and they used them together, swiftly getting all the snow away. It formed in great heaps and walls, offering well needed isolation from the cold.
There was something new about the outdoor landscape. The sky was clear and azure blue. The ominous blue gray blizzard clouds were absent and the sun was rising over the horizon in a rose colored, golden dawn. There were no winds blowing at all and the weather was mercifully calm. They found it almost warm after the week of the merciless blizzards.
Alexanders stomach suddenly grumbled from hunger.
"Oh, I will cook something for us, Alexander. Would you like some mushroom stew, or porridge with rose hip jam?, " Hephaestion kindly asked.
"Yes, that sounds all right, after our morning hunt, "Alexander stated with determination. "I am tired of being shut up inside the cave, even if I enjoy your company. We'll go out in the forest together and see if we have any luck with our hunting."
He grasped his large double curved bow and ran out of the cave, his fur cloak fluttering about him like great eagle's wings. Hephaestion eagerly leaped after him.
"Not so fast, my dear one ! You will scare all the game away !"
He caught Alexander in his strong arms and wrapped him carefully into the fur cloak. Then they sneaked into the wood, trying not to make any squeaking noises on the crust of the hard packed snow. The sun was glittering on the snow and ice, a very beautiful sight if it had not been so bitterly cold . The sky was a light clear blue and the snow on the bushes and trees made enthralling patterns in the migrating sunshine. Carefully they sneaked far into the wood, sometimes embracing each other for warmth. Then they came upon a most enticing sight. A flock of big deer were walking innocently through the bushes. The proud animals were as hungry as the handsome pair stalking them. They were so occupied with looking after mosses and sprigs to fill their starving stomachs that they did not notice the eager hunters behind some big junipers. Carefully Alexander and Hephaestion armed themselves with the curved bows. Together they took aim and their arrows flew at the same time. Two deer fell gasping out their last, their blood running in steamy puddles on the crusty cold snow. All the others run away, very frightened by this sudden death being unleashed upon them from out of nowhere.
"Well done, Alexander!, "Hephaestion cried out in happiness. "Now we have lots of fresh meat for the coming days. "
He leaped to take care of the game - but then he saw him, his Dear Golden One, standing with his curved bow held high, the sunrays shining upon him, forming a halo around his curly golden hair,. His wolf skin cloak suddenly opened, revealing his perfect body with it's lean stature, now all too thin from their wilderness hardships.
Hephaestion instantly forgot the deer and their need for food. He was suddenly overcome by a more urgent feeling.
He wanted his Golden One, there and then!
Next he saw a most inviting snow drift. It looked like the softest and finest royal bed spread out under an enormous spruce. Its lower branches formed an emerald green curtain of blessed seclusion. H could not resist Alexander so he just dropped his bow to the ground and leaped for him, taking him down and sending him sprawling straight into the soft snow drift.
"Oh no, Hephaestion! I'm starving!, "Alexander called out loud, in a sudden outrage. "We have to go to our cave and prepare the deer for our dinner. We must wait until later !"
"No, my dear. I'm far too starved for ...this...."
Hephaestion forcibly embraced him, fumbled at the clasps of his fur cloak, then at the ones of his own. Alexander at first resisted him violently.
"No, not here! Not out here in all this cold and nasty snow! I'm freezing!"
"Yes ! Yes indeed. You will soon see that I'm able to come up with something to warm you.
"Yes, that I can certainly feel. Oh, my stubborn friend. You will always have your way with me."
Alexander struggled a bit against his ardent but friendly assailant before he became limp and compliant, totally overcome by a sudden rush of desire. Hephaestion embraced him and violently pulled him closer. He longed for his Golden One very deeply and ardently. Their embrace was so endearing to them both that they soon felt the snowdrift melting and steaming around them.
Afterwards, they lay panting in the snowdrift, totally spent and exhausted.
"We must get up and away, or else we'll catch our death of cold! And, we have some cooking to do, too, " Hephaestion prudently stated.
He then heard Alexander gasp out of fear, looking at something over his left shoulder.
"Careful, my dear friend, careful, "Alexander whispered.
Hephaestion turned his head and saw the biggest boar he had ever come upon. His tusks were curved and yellow, his small eyes squinted balefully at them and he looked so starved that he surely intended to have them both for dinner He fumbled desperately after his spear, knowing that he would be too late.
TBC
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