Forest Child Chapter3

Alexander led the forest child into his private rooms by the hand. It was a scene not far from that time long ago.

"Wait here." He said sitting him down on a chaise lounge type chair. The boy had been staring at everything with wide eyed wonder and continued to do so as Alexander reluctantly left him to go and find the nearest servant.

"I want a bowel and jug for bathing and something for wounds bringing to my room at once." He demanded "And whatever you do, don't tell my mother about this is that understood."

He was going to tell his mother in his own time.

"Yes my lord." Said the servant

"Oh, and some food." Alexander added "enough for two."

He could see the question that dare not come out of the servant's mouth appear on his face but he simply replied as before and went about to see the princes orders carried out.

The forest child was still sat were Alexander had put him, still huddled in his riding cloak, his head moving constantly as he took in his new surroundings. His head snapped around but smiled when he saw it was Alexander sat beside him.

"Right then. I guess we better give you a name."

The forest child just looked blankly at him. So Alexander showed him what he meant by pointing to his chest and saying his name slowly "Alex-and-er."

The other copied him by pointing to himself and opened and closed his mouth. Just little gasps of noise came out but nothing that resembled speech.

"No!" Alexander laughed pushing the hand down gently "I'm Alexander. He pointed to himself then pointed to the forest child "You are…" he paused.

"How about Hephaistion?" Alexander asked knowing that the boy was unable to reply. Just sat and stared with big blue trusting eyes.

The hero of a story long since forgotten had been called Hephaistion. And yet the name of the hero had stayed with him. It seemed fitting somehow. He took the boys hand and made him point and like his own name broke it down.

"He- phais-tion."

It was at this point the servant entered carrying the water jug and the bowel. At the sight of an unknown person the newly named Hephaistion panicked. He leapt off the chaise lounge landing in a crouch in front of the servant. He began to snarl and growl like the wolves that had raised him. At the sight of the wild creature in the young master's room the servant dropped the items and ran screaming. Hephaistion was about to give chase when Alexander put himself between them.

"NO! He barked and held up a warning finger "No."

Hephaistion stopped and looked sheepishly down between Alexander and the floor hidden behind a curtain of hair. When Alexander approached he actually flinched so he softened his approach.

"You can't do things like that." He said gently pulling him up from the floor and sitting him back down on the chaise lounge. He looked down at the broken remains of the bowel and jug.

"No doubt they have gone to tell my mother about you." He said

Such enough Olympias entered her son's quarters without a knock or an announcement. She entered dressed in black her brown hair piled high on her head by braids and curls held in place by an ornament of gold. A lonely female body servant followed her though did not enter the prince's chambers. Olympias passed her the pet snake that had been wrapped around her wrist and told her to wait outside. She stood there in the doorway studying Alexander and then Hephaistion.

"Well well what do we have here?" She asked finally stepping into the room and sitting down at the end of the chaise lounge. Alexander saw that Hephaistion was afraid of his mother and tried to put as much distance between him and her. A strange reaction considering her just nearly attacked the first person he saw.

"I can explain."

Olympias listened as Alexander explained how Hephaistion came to be in his care. He saw her sneer at the mention that he was doing it against the wishes of Phillip.

"Come here child."

Hephaistion looked puzzled at Alexander who nodded his head.

Alexander watched as his mother took hold Hephaistion by the grubby hands. It was then as if she entered a trance and hypnotized Hephaistion for he just sat there. After awhile Olympias broke whatever spell she had hold of him and turned to back to Alexander with a smile.

"He shall be under my protection." She said

She finally acknowledged the mess that had been made.

"That would never have done." She said standing up "Come with me."

Later that night Olympias was still up. She sat deep in thought whilst idly stroking her chosen pet snake. Ever since she was a girl Olympias could feel and tune into the invisible life force which kept the world in which they resided in alive. She had been trained to use it by her grandmother. She recognized the same gift in the wild child that Alexander had brought home. She had used it to commutate with him. He had not been so lucky "Something troubling you mistress?" asked a voice in her head interrupting her thoughts

"This boy." She replied looking down at the reptile in her lap " He troubles me."

" We felt it too" The serpent replied "We kept our thoughts hidden."

" And what do you think?"

"His power is as wild and untamed as he is." The serpent replied " It must be contained."

" Is he good or evil?"

" It is hard to know at this time."

Olympias stood up the snake wrapping itself around her wrist and forearm. She was silent taking in the serpent words as first she went to her alter of Dionysus to make a small offering.

" Then I'll shall be the one to teach him. " She decided uncurling the snake and returning it to the basket which housed its brethren. As Olympias laid down on her bed she heard the faintness of the snakes words as it too settled down for the night " Very good mistress."