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Hello all,

Here is part two of my Gaugamela tale. The blood red moon continues to create worries as a Bad Omen for Darius and Persia. Desperate measures are taken and a Formidable Foe is engaged.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

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The Blood Red Moon Of Battle

Part Two

The Eve Before Gauagamela, 331 BC

Moon Of A Waning Empire

The Moon was red as blood, just as his wise Seer Shamash had told him. High King Darius could see the Chaldean before him. The skilled Seer had looked at him with sorrow in his dark brown eyes. His long white hair and beard had lost their curls due to his worries and the bad news that he had to tell his King and Master.

"My King, beware of the Blood Red Moon that soon will occur. It is a Bad Omen for you. It will bring you personal grief and sorrow - but worst of all, when this happens you will soon lose both your throne, your Empire and even your very Life."

Then the wise Seer had prostrated himself and covered himself with his golden rimmed violet cloak. It was adorned with golden stars and moons, a beautiful work of embroidery and craftsmanship.

Darius knew that Shamash the Seer was never wrong.

Now the Moon was red as blood. It was also red as if it wept tears of grim sorrow.

King Darius had received some very bad news of a death in his Family. His beloved and beautiful Consort Stateira was dead and gone. No longer could he hope for her to return to his side.

The High King was all alone in his private chambers. His tent was filled with gold, jewels and precious objects. He had innumerable personal servants and faithful Guards. His Army consisted of well over a million armed men, cavalry and infantry both, all the finest troops of Persia.

Still he had no one to offer him comfort and friendship. There was no such loneliness as that of a High King. He shed some more tears for his belovedStateira. Then he gathered his wits once more. He could not allow himself succumb to grief and sorrow.

He had an Empire to rule and defend!

Moon Of The Archer

King Darius clapped his hands. His servants immediately entered and prostrated themselves before him.

"Go and tell Arash the Archer to come to me at once, "he ordered them.

They nodded and swiftly returned with a tall and well built man. He was dressed all in emerald green and he had a golden helmet covering both his head and his broad shoulders. His double recurved bow rested well on his back. The quiver was at his hip, bristling with arrows. They had been dipped into snake poisons and they were deadly even if they did not strike the vital parts of their hapless victims.

Arash the Archer was a proud man and a formidable Warrior. He avoided the Proskynesis and simply paid his respects by going down on one knee before his King.

"My King, what do you want from me this evening?"

"Arash, my bold Archer, I have a vital mission and command for you during tomorrow's battle, "King Darius stated. "Your aim is true, you are the very best of all my marksmen."

Arash nodded. He well knew his value. He was feared by all his enemies, they used to run away at the mere mentioning of his very name.

"You will hold vigil at my side all night, and ride near my Chariot from the beginning of the Battle. I want you to kill King Alexander for me, as soon as you are able. You are skilled enough to do it, and when he is down his men soon will follow. He is their Soul and Inspiration, without him the Macedonians are nothing!"

"As you want, High King. I will be prepared and at your side early in the morrow, and I will wait all night outside your tent."

Arash the Archer bowed to his High King, showing his respects all until he went outside the Royal tent. The air outdoors was chilly and a fog was fuming all over camp. He looked up to the sky, seeing the blood red moon that had scared all the soldiers during the evening, before King Darius' Seers had told them:

"The Macedonian King is a Wanderer, just as the Moon. This red shadow is a Bad Omen for him!"

Arash found it a Good Omen for him. Whenever the Macedonians attacked he would be ready for them. His eyesight was sharp and true, he could even see in the dark of the night, almost as good as in bright daylight.

Arash the Archer never missed his Target.

Still, he wondered why his High King did not want to meet his Enemy in brave combat hand in hand on the battlefield? That would be the most honourableway to win a great Victory and defend Persia from the foreign Invaders.

Moon Of Blood

The Moon rose on the velvet dark blue skies. It shone like a bright silvery globe, surrounded by Stars bright and sparkling like pearls and diamonds. They all soared together, making Celestial Music that soothed his ears and calmed his nerves. He found it amost beautiful and calming Sight.

Suddenly the Moon was covered in bright red blood. It showered over the silvery globe like a crimson tide.

Then it started to drip all over him, forming a sinister welt on his left arm. He felt a sharp, burning pain, almost unendurable. An Arrow protruded from his arm, the cause of all his pain.

Hephaestion woke up, cold and shivering and gasping for breath. The arrow was gone, but he still felt as if it was stoutly lodged into his arm.

/ "I will become arrow shot during tomorrow's battle! "he thought. "The arrow will be coated with deathly poisons! I will DIE tomorrow!" /

He sat up in bed, casting the gold stiched woolen red blankets and the warming wolf fur cloak aside. His auburn hair mane flowed wildly down his broad shoulders. It was thick, warm and glossy but it could not warm him in his fearful mode. His eyes were wide with fear, they were so dark that their deep bluecolour had turned into midnight black. Then he saw his beautiful Golden One soundly asleep, as calm and secure as a baby in his cradle. Alexander's golden hair flowed freely over the pillows, its curls like a lion's mane. He reached out for his friend, his hand was warm and vibrating with warmth and strength.

/ "Well, if HE can sleep so very calmly before this dreadful Battle, so must I. " /

Hephaestion felt all his pain, fears and nightmares dissolve as if chased away by a glorious morning sun. Alexander embraced him in his sleep and pulled the blankets and wolf fur cloak securely over them.

Hephaestion fell alseep and he slept sound and well all night long.

Alexander was at his side. Nothing could go wrong with such a King and Friend.

TBC

Author's note: Arash the Archer is a famous Persian Legend. He lived long before King Darius' reign but He is a most brave and Formidable Foe so I wanted to let him have a part of *my* Gaugamela.

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