Hello all,
Here, at long last, comes the conclusion. In this Alexander and Hephaestion receive some unexpected but most welcome visitors . They bring good tidings but also great changes. Now Amanda finds the right occasion to remind Alexander of his Midwinter promise.
All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,
// NorthernLight
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TEMPLATE:
Title: Illyrian Spring ( 2 / 2 ) Conclusion
Author: NorthernLight
Email address: aur_
Category: Love/Friendship/Adventure story
Pairing: Alexander&Hephaestion
Date: August 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. My dear friend, 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. They might have actually existed, but probably not so very similar to my own Nordic ancestors.
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Illyrian Spring, Part Two, Conclusion
Illyria, Spring 337 BC
Dream Of An Empty Cave
Amanda had always been a sound sleeper. She did not need much sleep, but the slumbers she got were deep and sound, filled with dreams of healing, flowers and herbs, and also about all her animal friends. Of late, the Goddess had also sent her some very strange dreams about the handsome young men living in the grotto nearby.
Amanda had the Gift of True Dreaming. This night, such a very special dream came to her.
// She saw the grotto of Alexander and Hephaestion. It was empty and deserted. All their things were gone, their cozy makeshift bed of furs and blankets, their food store, their weapons and their cooking utensils. No horses came to her for a treat. Peritas and Pollux had followed their Dear Masters. Even Lyllia the Lynx was gone. Amanda and her dogs were all on their own in her Grotto.
Amanda had never felt such desolate loneliness before.
Now she saw a road, leading over lands, seas, rivers, vast forests and mountains. It led far away, to countries she had never seen, and had not even known that they existed. Armies marched on this road. They were always victorious, even during the most difficult circumstances. The Golden One and his auburn haired friend rode in front of the armies. They were cheered by many, but also envied and threatened by some.
The scene changed. She saw a gray and gloomy room with a bed in the middle. The sight filled her with such grief and sorrow that tears ran freely from her eyes. The Golden One was embracing someone on the bed. He was crying and screaming out loud, his voice hoarse from inconsolable grief.
Amanda now saw who was lying on the bed.
It was Hephaestion! He was no longer amongst the Living! //
She woke up, rising from her pillows with a gasp for air. Many disturbing True Dreams had come to her, but none so crystal clear and ominous as this one.
Amanda knew what she had to do, even if it was against her very personality and better knowledge.
Spring Visitors
Amanda sat on a stone, prudently arranging her newly picked healing herbs. It was the very first spring harvest and she enjoyed the sweet and fresh smell and their crisp green colours. Ptolema and her puppies played and frolicked around her. They were not puppies anymore, no, they were big she dogs now. Their brothers were even bigger, grown bold and muscular together with their Dear Masters. Amanda had never seen such fierce and brave hunting dogs before. They had even bested a whole pack of wolves during the hardest days of winter.
Lyllia, the Lynx, had now also grown into a big and dangerous cat. She was supposed to join her family in the forest, but she adamantly refused to leave her Dear Master Hephaestion. In his company she behaved like a cute little kitten. It was a very strange sight, the big lynx with her tufted ears and stubby tail, purring and gently stroking herself around him and his beautiful muscular legs, resting her head in his lap.
Now, there were unfamiliar sounds in the meadow. A whole company of MEN arrived, and not any men! They were superbly mounted and armed, even if their armour was hidden under fine fur cloaks. Amanda had never seen such finery before. Their leader was a huge and awesome warrior riding a big gray stallion that looked especially surly and bad tempered. He had long black hair and a black beard. There was an aura of strength and authority around him and he frightened Amanda out of her wits. She collected all her valuable spring herbs and quickly hid herself behind the rose hip bushes.
Alexander and Hephaestion came out from their grotto with all their animal friends. The horses ran towards their equine friends, neighing in an especially friendly manner towards the big gray stallion.
"Cleitus! Demaratos! And - all of you, my dear Companions!!! I have missed you so much!"
Alexander embraced them all, especially the big black haired man. Hephaestion also embraced them. Peritas and Pollux ran around, merrily barking and yelping. They were vigilant watch dogs, but they clearly saw that these new arrivals were good friends to their Dear Masters. They, too greeted them with fond friendship. There was such cheering and laughter that they all had to know each other very well. Amanda clearly saw that they had been missing each other a lot. She had never seen such a fond reunion.
Now, she watched all the new arrivals from her safe place amongst the thorny rose hip bushes. Their leader, the big black haired man looked reliable and trustworthy. Amanda instantly liked him a lot, especially since he reminded her of her father. His older, slightly grizzled friend had a paunch and did not look as warlike as the others. He was dressed in a woolen tunic, chiton and cloak in a finer and more elaborate pattern than the others. Then there was a big, young, man with a beak like nose. He looked kind and orderly. Strangely, he had a distant similarity with Alexander. His friend with the blond, curly hair had the looks of a womanizer all over him. Amanda made a note to especially beware of him. Two wiry and wild looking twins rushed forward to greet Alexander. They could have passed as Mountain Illyrians. One man accompanied them. He was tall, muscular and black haired, an impressive fellow, looking strong and reliable. Amanda was astounded over the warm smile he gave Alexander and the ice cold sneer he offered Hephaestion. Amanda could have liked him, but when she saw his strange attitude towards Hephaestion she immediately changed her opinion.
Behind them all were two inseparable, tall, strong and handsome men. One was dark with short, shining black hair, the other had a long, glossy dark brown hair mane. They were heavily armed and kept a close watch over the rest of the Companions. Amanda realized that they were two Guards.
They all certainly were men, but strangely Amanda did not feel any fear of them. Alexander and Hephaestion liked them and their appearance had made them happy. That was all that Amanda needed to know.
Now she did something quite unusual and out of character.
She rose and stepped out from the rose hip bramble, bravely walking towards the new arrivals.
Spring Hope
One moment, they sat all on their own on their stone, preparing for a spring outing in the budding and blooming Illyrian forest, and then, all at once they were surrounded by happy and cheering Companions and friends.
"Alexander! We bring good tidings to you," Demaratos from Corinth merrily called out. "King Philip has changed his ways. He misses you dearly and he wants you back. You are his son and heir, the one to help him rule and lead his victorious armies. All past grudges are forgiven."
Alexander looked crestfallen. It took a long time for him to actually understand what was said, then a smile lit him up from the inside until all of him was shining with a golden aura of hope and freedom.
"My sincerest thanks for these good tidings, my dear Demaratos", he answered. "I certainly will return with you all. The best is to see you again. We sure have been missing you. Please share our hospitality before we go back to Macedon. You all must be very hungry after such a long travel."
"Yes, but we had a stay with Queen Olympias in Dodona", Cleitus answered. "Your Dear Mother sends her fondest greetings to you, Alexander, and to Hephaestion, too."
Amanda noticed that a shadow passed over Alexander's face before he nodded in thanks. It seemed that his relations to his mother were not all fond and loving.
So Alexander was the son of a southern King. Amanda was not the least surprised. She had always understood that her new neighbours were very special. Now, they would soon be leaving their grotto and her company. She felt tears rising in her eyes, but she proudly forced them back.
"I am Amanda of the Mountain Illyrians," she greeted them. "I wish you to share my hospitality, too."
The Companions watched her with astonishment. A WOMAN in the company of Alexander and Hephaestion! She was not very tall, but she had an aura of knowledge and sheer authority. Her hair was blond and shining and her eyes were green, deep set and filled with secret knowledge. They all found her formidable, especially Cleitus and the Guards.
"Amanda is a local Healer, "Alexander explained. "She has been of great help to us during this time of Exile."
Hephaestion produced a newly killed boar and then he addressed Lysimachos and Leonnatos.
"You two are good cooks. Help me roast this one. We need lots of food to satiate you all", he said with a warm smile.
"I will provide the mushrooms and vegetables", Amanda gently offered. Then she quickly returned to her safe grotto and rosehip bramble, not wanting the new arrivals to see her blushing and trembling.
Alexander beckoned to all the Companions, gathering them in a close circle around him. Then, in a few words, he told them Amanda's strange and tragic history.
"This lady is off limits to you, my friends," he adamantly told them. "Especially you, Perdiccas, you will keep away from her. And I must also tell you that she is very strong and skilled for a woman."
Alexander did not notice that Cleitus wasn't there in the circle.
Spring Courtship
Amanda returned to her cave, her green eyes suddenly filled with tears. She was feeling so very sad that she could barely find the mushrooms and vegetables. Soon, her orderly and practical mind returned and she put the delicious food in the frying pan and boiling kettle. She sat down to watch the delicious mushroom stew and the boiling spring herbs and roots. It would not do to let the food burn when she had such celebrity guests from such a long distance.
Amanda knew very little of where or what Macedon was.
Soon the mushrooms were fried. She poured them from the frying pan into a cauldron, adding some flour and milk, letting them simmer in their delicious juices. Amanda was so occupied with the cooking and her feelings of loss and grief, that she did not notice that someone had entered her grotto. Then suddenly, there was a dark shadow in the opening. It was the black haired man called Cleitus. Ptolema and her puppies came to him, strangely fawning around him, yelping in a friendly manner and merrily wagging their tails.
//"He cannot be that dangerous", Amanda mused to herself. "My dogs are good judges of character."//
She looked at him. The light was shining on him, his broad shoulders, his formidable black hair mane and his deep set brown eyes. He was one of the most handsome men Amanda had ever seen. She also realized that he was not like Alexander and Hephaestion.
No, this man clearly had an eye for women!
A strange aura of warmth and friendliness filled her lonesome grotto.
"Amanda, you are quite a formidable woman, living out here all on your own in this wilderness", he politely addressed her. "May I keep you company when you are cooking this excellent food? It smells quite delicious!"
"Yes, you may sit over there," Amanda answered, "but please do not upset my cooking. I have never prepared a meal for Royalty before"
She adamantly pointed towards the bed of furs. Cleitus sat down, watching her lithe and slender form as she did her cooking. She was dressed in a spring green woolen tunic, an elaborately knitted blue green shawl, soft dear skin boots, and she even wore leather trousers. There was an unfamiliar aura of strength and deep knowledge about her, as if she was not a woman at all. Cleitus clearly knew that she was off limits to him, but soon he could not contain himself.
She was the most beautiful and alluring woman he had ever met!
Amanda could clearly feel Cleitus watching her with more and more improper interest. Then he rose from the fur bed. A strong arm was placed over her shoulders. He was much too friendly, Amanda thought. Then, he even pinched her bottom! His grasp was very strong, it almost hurt her. She reacted with a spontaneous outrage, grabbing at the frying pan and smashing it straight into his head.
He fell like a clubbed ox, resting unconscious on the floor of her grotto. Amanda looked at him with dismay, the frying pan still in her hand.
// "Oh no. I did not mean to hit him that hard", she thought. "He is a friend of Alexander. I even liked him when I first saw him. Whatever will they think now?" //
"Cleitus! Where are you?"
The two guards came rushing into the grotto. They stopped, looking at the older man on the floor with astonishment and alarm. Then, they saw Amanda with the frying pan in her hand.
"Oh no. What have you done to him?" Stefanos asked with deep concern.
"He disturbed me in my cooking! He even pinched my bottom!, "Amanda called out in an outrage. "Your young friends have been with me all autumn and winter and they NEVER made any improper advances to me! Then all you MEN come here, upsetting my fine order! It seems that you even intend to take Alexander and Hephaestion away from me!"
Alexios knelt at Cleitus' side, closely examining him.
"He is not badly hurt, just a bump and a bruising," he reassuringly stated. "Fortunately, our good Captain has a very thick head. This will teach him not to make any improper advances to unknown ladies!"
"Yes, I told him to leave her alone!, "Stefanos answered. "Pinching women's bottoms might pass in the joy houses for Pella, but not in this desolate wilderness. She is a formidable woman, living out here all on her own. Hephaestion told me that they would have been very badly off without her benign help. Well, she certainly can take care of herself."
Amanda now came to her senses, seeing that the Guards were friendly and understanding. She put down the frying pan and swiftly produced a jug of raspberry wine. She knelt at Cleitus' side and held it under his nose. His nostrils fluttered and the colour returned to his cheeks. When she held the jug to his lips he drank from it, several big gulps. Then he sat up with a cough, watching Amanda with astonishment.
"You! YOU!, "he said, pointing at her. "You are an even more formidable woman than I expected. I will certainly not try to pinch your bottom again!"
Amanda gave him a watchful smile as he rose from the floor in a wobbly manner.
"I am glad to hear that you have changed your ways, my good man," she told him. "I did not mean to hit you that hard, it's just that I am my own woman out here. No one makes such advances to me!"
Then, all three of them sat down and shared the raspberry wine and sampled the mushroom and vegetable stew. They found that they had much to talk about. When no one pinched her bottom Amanda found that she quite liked these rough and outspoken men. They also shared their friendship and concern for Alexander and Hephaestion.
Redeeming Of A Midwinter Promise
All company shared a sumptuous meal of roasted boar, mushroom stew and boiled spring roots and vegetables. They ate and talked, then they ate some more. They had cool mountain water with the meal, and then some raspberry wine. The talk was so good, they had so much to catch up on. The Companions told Alexander and Hephaestion about all events in Pella and Macedon. They also brought the fondest greetings from King Philip, Queen Olympias, the General Amyntor and the Lady Theano.
Amanda listened with great interest. She found all these people and places very exciting and she wished that she could get to know them better. Her grotto and Illyrian mountains were safe places, her life was lonely, but safe and predictable. The world outside was endless, unknown and filled with dangers and deceit.
Amanda pondered and considered all options with great care. When the dinner was over she had come to a decision.
The Companions were very tired. They put up their tent on the meadow and went inside to instantly fall sleep. The horses hobbled around for some time, munching on hay and spring grass before they, too, fell asleep. The she dogs circled the perimeter, vigilantly watching over them all. Alexander and Hephaestion sat on their stone, watching the star lit sky together. Peritas, Pollux and Lyllia sat at their feet, protecting their Dear Masters. Amanda slowly went over to them.
"Alexander, there is something I would like to ask you," she softly addressed him.
"Yes, Amanda," he answered, realizing that she had something really serious to discuss.
"You remember that during the Midwinter Festivity you promised to grant me any favour that I would ask from you. Now you will soon be restored to your true rank and station." She then became silent for a long time, carefully considering every word. "Alexander! I want you to take me away from here. I want to follow you and Hephaestion to your homeland, and out in the wide world, even all the way to Persia when you go there! You know, I do not even know where all these countries are - but I want to be with you and give whatever help and assistance I am able to offer. I have great knowledge in healing and cooking. Isn't that something for an army on campaign?"
Alexander watched her with great astonishment. He was silent for a long time, carefully considering her offer. Then he answered.
"Amanda, my dear friend, I am proud and honoured that you want to follow me on my Campaign. It will not be easy, no, we will meet with many dangers and much hardship. Not much in Macedon or Persia is like Illyria. You will meet many things that you do not understand - but you will also be of great help to us all. I gladly take you with me."
A star fell from the sky, flaring with a joyful sizzling sound. They all watched it, finding it a Good Omen for their future together.
Farewell To Illyria
Alexander and the Companions had been to the Illyrian Village. They all were warmly welcomed during a sumptuous Spring Feast. Amanda had said a long and tear filled farewell to her parents and Jun. Strangely, they were not very surprised by her unusual decision.
Now all their things were packed. Amanda had her valuable herbs and tools of healing in four big leather sacs safely loaded and secured on a prudent packing donkey, together with spare clothes and a bed roll with furs and blankets . Her personal belongings were packed in a sturdy leather knapsack hung over her shoulder. She had dressed herself in a warming deep green woolen tunic, leather trousers and soft dear skin boots, and wrapped herself in a wolf fur cloak. Now she sealed her grotto with a curtain of thorny rose hip branches that Hephaestion had made for her. Then, she took a last farewell of her beautiful garden. It was filled with crocuses and snow drops and the Midwinter Roses were budding and blooming. It was the most beautiful time of the year. She almost cried when she realized that she was setting her eyes on it for the very last time. Hephaestion came and put his arm around her.
"You can still change your decision," he gently told her. "We will understand. You have a good and safe life here. We cannot promise you that."
"I know, Hephaestion, I know," she solemnly answered. "I will not change my mind now. I want to follow you, and I want to follow HIM."
She looked at Alexander. He was mounted on Bucephalus, dressed in a Royal red tunic and chiton, his wolf fur cloak swirling around him. His hair shone like a golden lion's mane in the bright morning sun. He was the very image of youthful adventure and prosperity. At the same time, he conveyed the security of long time Royalty and Authority.
Amanda felt safe in his company. She would follow him to the very end of the world.
Now Stefanos beckoned to her. He lifted her up in front of him on his calm and clever mare Sapphire. They rode at the side of Alexander and Hephaestion.
Amanda looked back at her dear grotto and rose hip bramble once more, then she set her eyes on the long and winding road before them.
Illyria lay behind them. All the wide world awaited them with new experiences and glorious adventures.
The End
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