Hello all,

Here comes the thirteenth entry to my Destiny tale. The Bedchamber Government is something I have *borrowed * from real history. Our First Swedish Bernadotte King in the early 19th century, Karl IV Johan, was not very alert in the mornings. He stayed in bed most of the day. His ministers and officials had to go to him in the bedchamber, it actually happened that way!

I found this a very good idea when Alexander and Hephaestion needed to rest after their strange illness and because they simply were over worked from all their government duties.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

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Escape From Destiny, Part Thirteen

Ecbatana 324 BC

A Morning Of Recuperation

Hephaestion had not felt so well for many months, perhaps not since before the Indian campaign. He had been allowed to sleep as long as he liked this morning, and when he awakened he was resting on the strong and able arm of his Golden One. Alexander was soundly asleep. His beautiful golden hair was spread out over the linen cushion. It looked like a lion's mane, so soft and curly, even more beautiful mixed with strands of silver. Hephaestion placed a soft and friendly kiss on Alexander's brow. It was still cool but his friend was warmer now. Hephaestion could feel the familiar warmth and vitality coming to him directly from Alexander. He smiled. All was well once more. All would become well agan, he tried to persuade himself.

Hephaestion well knew that it was not so. He did not want to believe this, but in his calm and reasonable ways he realized the grim reality all the same.

Hard campaigns and too much work had taken a dangerously high toll upon him and his Golden One. They were not young men anymore. They needed to rest and recuperate - or else they would not endure at all.

Now there was a soft purring. Two coal black furry friends sneaked into the King's broad four poster bed. Nychta and Mavra liked the Royal bed in the Ecbatana bedchamber very much. It was made from one separate very broad tree stem and it reminded them of their far away Indian jungle home. Nychta and Mavra were not the cute little panther cubs that Hephaestion adopted way back in India. Now they were two full grown giant female panthers. They often behaved like house cats, but they certainly were not tame at all. In the company of their Dear Masters they were always friendly and well behaved. They rubbed themselves gently against Alexander and Hephaestion, nudging them and trying to force them to get up.

"No, my dearest cats, "Hephaestion adamantly told them. "Not today. The King and I will stay in bed all day long. We need our rest. You can go out in the garden anytime you like. We will join you outdoors in a day or two."

Nychta and mavra obediently stayed with their Dear Masters. Now there was eager barkings from two huge sand coloured Molossian dogs. Peritas and Pollux were gone to all faithful Animal's Elysium a long time ago. In Nysa they had befriended a fine Molossian she dog and she had a litter of the most endearing puppies. Two of them were little he dogs, the very like of their beloved sires. They were named after them and they had followed Alexander and Hephaestion on the homeward road. They were always there for them, constantly and vigilantly watching. Now they wanted their Dear Masters to get up from bed and join them for a run in the forest.

"Good dogs, good dogs, "Hephaestion told them. "You must go out with our attendants today, and then come back later on. The King and I will remain in bed and rest - but soon we will take you for a woodland hunt again!"

The faithful dogs hung their heads and tails, looking sad and forlorn.

All the King's and Chiliarch's animal friends knew that something was very wrong.

Now Alexander stretched and woke up. He fondly embraced Hephaestion and all their animal friends. He looked himself, but his strained breath told another tale.

"What a fine morning, "he stated. "I feel much better today. It was good for us to have all that sleep and rest yesterday and tonight."

Attendants came with a hearty breakfast for all animals. There were huge bowls with choice meats and even some fresh fish for Nychta and Mavra. They also got four bowls with sparkling cool mountain water. Dogs and panthers enjoyed their breakfast for a long time.

Stefanos and Alexios came with a huge tray with mild gruel, newly baked soft wheat bread, jam and butter and a big copper tea kettle generously filled with Amanda's Healing herbal concoction. They put it on a small bed table that rested steadily between King and Chiliarch who shared all the delicious offerings.

After breakfast they all rested some more. The panthers and dogs went out for a walk in the forest nearby. Their attendants followed them but soon they were allowed to roam freely as much as they liked.

The attendants knew that the King's and Chiliarch's dogs and panthers always returned to their Dear Masters.

Bedchamber Government

When their animal friends were back King and Chiliarch were sitting up in bed. The small dinner table had been replaced by a much larger writing table filled with scrolls, books and papers, also quill pens and styluses.

Nychta and Mavra, Peritas and Pollux looked with great disappointment and lay down on their furs and blankets on the marble floor.

They neither understood, nor liked their Dear Masters' excessive administration duties.

Alexander and Hephaestion read all the scrolls that their advisers had put before them. Then they dictated answers to letters needing to be replied. The scribes wrote it all down and went to give the replies to couriers ready to ride on the Royal Road to all the four corners of the earth with the King's important messages.

Then there was a Govenment Council. The Generals and Companions came and sat on chairs around the bed. They talked and talked and talked forever and ever. There seemed to be an endless amount of errands and assignments that needed to be discussed.

The friendly animals went out into the forest once more. There was only so much faithful watch dogs and homely panthers could take!

When the Government Council was all over Alexander and Hephaestion were totally exhausted. They fell asleep on the fine linen cushions, holding on to each other. Stefanos and Alexios watched over them and spread furs and blankets over them. Amanda came with another Healing concoction in the big copper kettle.

"Oh, they are already asleep. Then you may give this to them when they wake up, "she told the faithful Guards. "They sure need their rest. They will feel better real soon...I hope."

Yes, Amanda hoped that her Dear Ones would be well again reals soon. Still she was very worried for them.

TBC

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