Hello all,

Here comes the eighth entry to my Destiny tale. The faithful Guards have been with Alexander and Hephaestion for a very long time. Their work has been hard and dangerous. Now they become more and more worried over the changes that Time has brought upon their Dear Masters.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading, Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2014!

/ NorthernLight

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Escape From Destiny, Part Eight

Ecbatana, 324 BC

Worried Guards

Stefanos and Alexios had been with Alexander and Hephaestion for a very long time. Ever since Alexander became King they had faithfully and vigilantly watched over their Dear Masters.

Now they saw that their King and Chiliarch were not young men anymore. They were still strong and handsome but Time and hard campaigning had taken much of their vitality away. They were especially worried over the state of King Alexander's health. He had never made a proper recovery from his dreadful wound during the Mallian Campaign and they noticed that he almost constantly had difficulties with his breathing.
They were worried over Hephaestion's health, too. He was always working too hard and these days he often became over worked from his excessive administration duties.

It seemed that all his paper work was more tiresome than the hardest of campaigns.

They were on guard all night long. Prudently they turned away from the door when they realized that their King and Chiliarch wanted to spend some private time together. They smiled to one another when they heard the sounds of fondness and love. Then there was another sound, the sound of agonized gasping for breath. Now they simply had to watch through the chink of the door. Their worried eyes were met by a most distressing sight.

King Alexander lay stark naked on the bed, his beautiful golden hair spread over the snow white linen sheets. His face was white, turning into a pale blue. His breath was laboured and he clutched his right side as he gasped for each agonized breath. He managed to scold his worried Chiliarch between his gasps for life giving air. Hephaestion sat at his side, looking most worried. Then he reached out for a rose coloured glass vial and poured some oil into his right hand. The Royal bedchamber was suddenly filled with a most wonderful fragrant scent of roses. The Chiliarch Hephaestion was stern and adamant during his daytime duties. Now it was most unusual to see him give King Alexander a most energetic and arousing massage.

"Shall we call for some help?, "Stefanos whispered to his fellow Guard. "King Alexander seems to be in a bad way."

"No, my friend, "Alexios calmly told his fellow Guard. "You can see for yourself that the Chiliarch's treatment is most successful. "

Stefanos saw that King Alexander now had no difficulties with his breathing whatsoever. His colour was back to normal and he was embracing his friend and Chiliarch in a most energetic manner. The faithful Guard blushed and turned his back to the arousing sight. He became so inspired that he had to embrace his friend and fellow Guard Alexios. The embrace was fervently returned but then they straighthened themselves up, returning to their stern postures on each side of the doors to the Royal bedchamber.

There Amanda found them. She knew that her dear friends were not young anymore either. The years of hard campaigning and constant worries fopr their Dear Masters had taken their toll, also severe wounds and illnesses. The long nighttime Guarding duties were tiresome for them, even if they never complained. The Healer used to come to them in the middle of the night bringing a basket with some treats. This time it was a flagon of warming but well watered red wine, some newly baked bread and some cheese and ham to go with it. Stefanos and Alexios thanked her and took their nighttime meal still standing and vigilantly watching over their Dear Masters.

Afterwards they all watched through the chink of the door. King Alexander and the Chiliarch Hephaestion lay soundly asleep and embracing one another. Alexander's beautiful golden hair spread like a lion's mane over the snow white pillow. It mixed with Hephaestion's glossy auburn tresses as they lay together. They had not bothered to cover themselves properly with the blankets and furs and the silvery moon shone over their handsome and muscular features and bodies. The night was cold and a chilly draught came from the window. It was brisk mountain air that made Amanda shiver. She carefully walked inside the Royal bedchamber and tucked them in. As she lifted the sea green and blue blankets and the warming bear furs she gently stroke the chins of her Dear Masters. Then she made a strange discovery that made her shiver even more.

Alexander was very cold, almost like Illyrian snow. Hephaestion was very hot, almost like the summer sun.

/ "How strange, "the Healer observed to herself. "It always used to be the other way around. There must be something seriously wrong with them both. I will have to see to it in the morning!"/

TBC

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