Hello all,

My apologies for the delay. I left you with a quite dreadful cliffhanger - but now Hephaestion will get all the help that he so badly needs. We will also see that there is goodness even in the Persian Court.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Blood Red Moon Of Battle

Part Seven

The Aftermath Of Gaugamela, 331 BC

The Blood Red Moon Of Nightmare

Hephaestion was gasping for fresh, life giving air. The blood red dust from the battle field was overwhelming him and engulfing him into a choking cloud of pain and agony. He saw the blood red Moon soar over him. The crimson tide dripped from it, threatening to drown him. He was ice cold, then suddenly he felt very hot, as if a dangerous fever had come to burn him up. His left arm was throbbing from an unendurable red hot pain. He felt as if he would want to cut it off to make it stop tormenting him.

Then he saw Alexander above him. The sight of his Golden One was calming and comforting. Desperately he grasped at him and held on to him for dear Life.

He thought that his Golden One was the only one who could save him.

Unfortunately he was wrong. Not even Alexander was able to Heal the dreadful wounds on his left arm. The poison from the Archer's arrow was coursing violently through his body and system, causing more harm for every minute.

A Battle Of Healers

Doctor Philip knew that there would be too much to do for him after a major battle, too many who needed his care and too many that would not make it.

At Gaugamela these grim facts became worse than ever.

The Good Doctor cheered when he realized that the Battle was won and that the Macedonian Camp was saved from the Persian infamous raid upon the innocents.

Soon he did not find the time to cheer anymore.

The wounded started to pour into his field hospital, at first one and one, but soon they totally overwhelmed him and his fellow Doctors and Healers. There was so much blood, so much suffering, so many horrible wounds and injuries - and too many friends needing his care.

Some of them would not last the day out.

Doctor Philip worked so hard to help them all that at long last he felt dizzy. He had to go outside to get some fresh air.

It was not easy to achieve. The red dust still lay as a thick choking cloud over the Camp and battle field. He gasped and gasped to get some gulps of air, but he almost choked on the dust.

Then he was assaulted by more pressing matters.

Alexander came running towards him with Hephaestion hanging limp and listless in his Kingly embrace.

The young King urgently called out for a Healer. The good Doctor followed him into the Royal tent.

At once he saw that Hephaestion's wounds were bad, very bad indeed. His left arm had been hit both by a Persian arrow, and then by a Persian spear, Alexander told him. The wounds were already festering. They were surrounded by angry red and swollen welts. The swelling on the arm was enormous, it was the double size as his right arm. The skin had turned into an angry dark purplish colour. Black and yellow pus poured freely from the wounds.

Doctor Philip at first pulled back from the hideous sight, but then he opened his medical bag and went to work. He called out for hot water and clean linen. It was immediately brought to him. He started to clean up the wound, despite the patient's squirming and cries of pain.

"Hephaestion! You must stay calm when I tend to you, or else I will fail to Heal your wound, "he told his dear patient. Then he turned to Alexander. "Sire, you must help me to hold him down, even if we have to hurt him even more. This is a very serious and poisonous wound!"

Alexander nodded and immediately held on to his friend. Hephaestion grasped for him with his good, right arm and hand. His grasp was strong, filled with a desperate strengthwhen he held on to his Golden One for dear life.

Doctor Philip and Alexander worked with Hephaestion for a long time. They managed to stop the bleeding and clean up the wounds, but the angry swelling and the uncanny purplish discolouration continued and the pain seemed to be almost unendurable.

Then their patient developed a very high fever. It was as if the poison tried to actually burn him up. Alexander soaked him with cold water, but to no avail. Doctor Philip made aconcoction against the fever and the pain, but it was not helping at all.

"Alexander, your friend is very ill, I fear, "Doctor Philip stated. "If he doesn't improve very soon I will have to cut off his arm, or else he will die!"

"No, NO, you cannot do such a dreadful thing to him. He is a warrior and he needs both his arms!, "Alexander called out. "Cleitus! Get me Amanda the Healer. She knows about Healing herbs that are more potent even that yours! She even learned from my Mother!"

Evil Overload List

Amanda found the waiting during battle most trying. When the wounded started to come in she was coping with all the work with excellent skill and order. She washed their wounds, put on healing herbs and ointments and clean bandages. She helped them all in proper order and in due time. She did not forget a thing.

Then it all started to overwhelm even her. They were so many and their suffering so great. She knew that she would not be able to help them all in due time.

Still, she worked as hard and as fast as she was able.

She saw her little boys in the corner. They sat with Xanthe and Malena, comforting the handmaidens. It was comforting for Amanda, too, that they all were recovering after their ordeals during the Persian raid. She gave them a warming smile before returning to her urgent Healing work.

The Healer returned to her important and pressing assignments. All the wounded soldiers were coming along in an endless, bleeding, groaning and even screaming line towards her. She feared that she would run out of her ample supply of bandages, salves and ointments.

Then a strong and commanding arm took hold of her.

"Amanda, you need to come with me. At once!"

It was Cleitus! She was happy to see him alive and well after this cruel battle. All the same she did not want to do as he told her.

"No, NO, Cleitus! Don't you see that I have a very long waiting list here!"

"Yes, of course I can see that, my dear - but you are needed elsewhere now, "her black maned man told her. "Hephaestion has been very seriously wounded. King Alexander and Doctor Philip want you to attend him. All they have done has failed hitherto!"

Amanda became cold as ice. Then she dropped all her caring utensils, grasped her satchel filled with Healing herbs and ointments and swiftly followed Cleitus to the King's tent.

The Most Important Patient

When they arrived at the King's tent the patient had become even worse. Hephaestion was burning up from fever. He was white from loss of blood, but the fever had painted his white cheeks with crimson roses.

They looked angry, like the blood red moon of battle they had recently seen.

He was screaming out loud from pain and agony. It was a heart rendering sound and most alarming.

Amanda knew that it must be very bad, indeed for him to be screaming like that. Hephaestion was one of the most steadfast and patient men that she had ever known.

She wanted to do her very best to Heal him. Quickly she produced a Healing ointment and put it on the angry red welts and wounds before wrapping the snow white linen bandages around the arm again. She pulled up a clay flagon and called for strong, red wine. Cleitus came with a silver goblet filled with the blood red liquid. Amanda put a blue concoction smelling strongly from poppy, mint and valerian into the goblet. Then she held up Hephaestion's head and put the goblet to his lips.

"Here, Hephaestion. Drink this, "she told him in a calming manner. "It will take your pain away and make you feel better."

Her patient swallowed the concoction and even watched her with a smile filled with thankfulness.

"Amanda, I already feel better, "he told her before he drifted into a fevered but painless sleep.

Alexander thanked her.

"Healer, I am happy that he feels better now. Many thanks for your help."

"Yes, Alexander, but it is just a temporary remedy. His wounds are very serious. I can feel the viper's venom still coursing through his body and system, even if you did your very best caring for him after the battle, "she told her King. "It is a very strong venom, and one that I am not acquainted with. We will need an antidote, and I am not sure if I am able to prepare it!"

All in the Royal tent watched her with fear and sorrow.

Hephaestion lay pale and feverish in his bed. Soon he started to groan from anguish again.

The Archer's Remorse

Arash the Archer had never seen a braver man in all his life. All knew about the dangers of the Persian Arrows. Still this man had thrown himself in its way, as a Human Shield to protect his King and Friend.

Yes, the Archer realized that it was more than mere loyalty to the King, much, much more that motivated this valiant man to his brave deed.

Now he was doomed to die. In a few hours he would have breathed his last. Arash the Archer felt great remorse for his shooting and probably killing this most valiant warrior. He groaned and held his head in his skilled hands. He had to do the things he did for Persia - but the King of Persia was not worthy of his skills and efforts.

Darius had fled from the battlefield.

The unknown Macedonian Warrior had sacrificed himself to save his friend and King.

Arash the Archer made a serious decision. He wanted to save this valiant Warrior.

It was very difficult to prepare an antidote to the venom that drenched his arrows. The Archer had a small flagon with a green fluid that had been prepared by Shamash, the Chaldean Seer.

It was to be used in most dire need only. Now the time had come. He grasped the flagon and hid it well into his sleeve.

Arash the Archer donned a dark green cloak and pulled the hood up over his head, hiding his face. Then he melted into the shadows and went through the battle lines, straight into the Macedonian Camp.

TBC

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX