Hello all,

Gaugamela was one of Alexander's greatest Victories - but it was also a very hard and dangerous battle. Many of his Companions and soldiers were seriously wounded, amongst them Hephaestion. Alexander, Amanda and Doctor Philip cares for him but his wound is a bad one and their powers of Healing are not enough. Then a remedy arrives from a most unexpected Helper.

Warnings: Detailed descriptions of wounds and caring for them.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

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The Blood Red Moon Of Battle

Part Eight - Conclusion

The Aftermath Of Gaugamela, 331 BC

Desperate Measures

Amanda was a skilled Healer. She seldom lost a patient. Now she had done her very best. Sadly it was not enough. Hephaestion was burning up from fever and he was in so much pain. He groaned and clutched at his injured arm, trying to remove the bandages. The pain was almost unendurable- Amanda checked the wound. Then she saw that it had rapidly become much worse. Where the rims were red, angry and swollen they had now blackened and all of the arm had turned into an ominous blue black colour.

Doctor Philip saw it and he shook his head in sadness.

"The poison has spread too much, "he said . "I fear for his very life. There is only one thing to do that may save him still!"

The good Doctor then called for a very sharp knife and a cruel looking bone saw. His assistant promptly produced them - but the man's expression was filled with sadness and dismay. Alexander and Amanda gasped with outrage.

"No, Philip! You cannot do such a terrible thing to him, "they told the good Doctor. "He is a Warrior. He cannot go on with only one arm!"

"I know,"the good Doctor said with great sadness, "but he will not survive at all if I do not perform this dreadful surgery! Or else we need a Miracle Cure!"

Alexander stilled his hand and took the dreadful knife and bone saw away.

"Wait for a while, Doctor Philip, "he told the trusted Court physician. "If there is no improvement in an hour from hence we must perform the operation - but I know that it will not become necessary. There is always Hope - even in the darkest hour of need."

He then sat down and lifted Hephaestion into his lap, holding him in a fond embrace. The patient instantly became calmer. His dreadfully injured arm even seemed to improve.

All in the King's tent knew that it was an illusion.

All knew that time was running out for Hephaestion.

Brave Walk Through Enemy Territory

"I am in the land of the Enemy now!"

Arash the Archer was a very brave man. He seldom felt fear - but now he did. He was surrounded by Macedonians. They gloated and celebrated their great and grand Victory over Persia. He wanted to lift his hands and clap them over his ears to avoid hearing them. He even wanted to produce his bow and arrows and shoot as many of them as he could.

He knew that now he would not do such a thing.

This time he had a mission of Healing instead of Killing!

Night fell quickly at the plains of Gaugamela. It brought darkness and cool and fresh air. and winds blowing the choking red dust of battle away. The camp fires were lit and the evening meals were being prepared. Arash the Archer managed to melt into the darkness. No one realized that he was a Persian amongst his Mededonian foes.

His dark green cloak hid him well from curious eyes, allowing him to approach the Royal Tent. He saw that the Royal Guards had a grim expression of sorrow, despite the great Victory.

He knew that time was running out for his brave Enemy.

Unexpected Cure - Unexpected Reverence

Alexander saw that Hephaestion drifted in and out from consciousness. When awake he was in an almost unbearable pain. His arm was now blue and black and terribly swollen. Suddenly he gasped for air. He had great difficulties with his breathing. He could barely get any air at all - and soon his face became blue, too.

Alexander called out in dire need and agony.

"Mighty Father Zeus Ammon, do not take him from me! I need him at my side. Please, send us some help and healing!"

Suddenly there was a great commotion outside the Royal tent. Stafanos and Alexios shook their spears and called out in a forbidding manner.

"No, you cannot enter the King's tent! He is busy taking care of his Companion who has been very seriously wounded."

"Yes, I know, "a Voice called out in awkward Greek sounding much like the Persian language. "Please let me inside. I have something that will cure and Heal him!"

He held up a small glass flagon filled with a dark green liquid. When he lifted his arm his cloak fell from his face and revealed his handsome Persian features. His skin was clean, his eyes dark brown and his hair and beard was black as the night.

"You are a Persian!, "Stefanos called out with outrage. "And I recognize you. You are the very Archer that shot our Hephaetion!"

All the Guards formed a circle around Arach, proceding to arrest him.

Then there was a determined voice from inside the tent.

"No, let him in. I will speak to him myself. It seems as if the Gods have shown us a Sign!"

Reluctantly the Guards let the Archer inside. Stefanos and Alexios held on to him, prepared to throw him to the ground if he would try to do some harm to King Alexander or the General Hephaestion.

They did not have to do this. The Archer gracefully sank to the ground all on his own, making the Proskynesis before Alexander. He held the flagon with the Antidote in his right hand and it shone with a green light all of its own. Amanda saw him engulfed in this green light and she whispered in Alexander's ear.

"My King, this is the very Remedy that will heal and cure your Dear One! Your Prayer has been granted."

"You may rise, my unexpected visitor, "Alexander gracefully told Arach the Archer. "Why do you come here, in the midst of enemies who will do their very best to avenge the harm you have done to my very dear Companion?"

Arach the Archer rose and saw the young King sitting with his Companion cradled in his lap. He was surrounded by a Golden light and the brave warrior realized that he now had become the true King of Persia. He had never seen two more handsome and powerful men together. King Alexander was brave and Golden, his hair like a lion's mane - but his Companion with his glossy auburn mane radiated a calm strength of his own, even now in his weakened condition.

Arach the Archer realized who was the true Power behind the Throne of Macedon. He politely and humbly addressed King Alexander.

"Yes, Sire, I admit that it was I who shot the arrow that caused your Companion this dreadful wound - but I also saw his bravery when he saved you from my deadly venomous arrow. I regret what I did, "the Archer admitted. "I have seldom seen such bravery in an Enemy. I here have a Cure that will totally restore him to you. Please, let me administer it."

"Yes, you may. My Healer has vouched for you, "Alexander answered. "She has the Second Sight and I trust her with my very Life and the Lives of my Dear Ones."

Arach the Archer opened the flagon and held it to the lips of Hephaestion. The auburn haired General now was unconscious again - but he seemed to realize that he needed the remedy. He swallowed it with great difficulty. Some time went. It was an agonized wait when things looked all the same. Then, as if someone had wafted a magic wand, their Dear Patient became restored. His breathing came easier, his facial colour returned to its normal and healthy glow. At long last his badly injured arm no longer was blue and black. It now returned to a more normal colour and the swelling visibly went down. His consciousness returned and he looked up.

"Alexander! I am still with you, "he called out with difficulty.

Then he looked up and saw the Archer at his side. He pointed with accusation to his Enemy.

"you. YOU! You were the one who shot me, but also the one who Healed me! Why? WHY?"

"It was not I who Healed you , it was your own bravery," the Archer stated. "I felt remorse over what I did. King Darius ordered me to shoot King Alexander with this poisoned arrow - but you threw yourself in its path. I have never seen such selfless bravery before."

He knelt once more and made the Proskynesis before King Alexander and his Companion.

Hephaestion no longer was able to see this unexpected reverence. He had fallen into a salutary sleep, calmly resting in the arms of Alexander.

The End

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