Hello all,

Here comes my own personal version of Gaugamela. It explores events before, during and after the Battle. There are several POWs, but those of Hephaestion and Amanda are central to the tale.

Since I am constantly fascinated by the star lit sky and astronomy the lunar eclipse before the battle takes an important role in this first part of the tale. I have chosen to let it occur on the eve before the Battle. Some sources have it that way but in T A Dodge it is placed well over a week before.

For references to the Battle I have used T A Dodge's extensive book about Alexander and his campaigns, a true and old fashioned gem of historical and military facts.

My thanks also to the Wikipedia Hephaistion entry, an extensive and laudable work of members in our Army of Alexander. :)

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

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The Blood Red Moon Of Battle

Part One

The Eve Before Gaugamela, 331 BC

Moon Of The Huntress

The Goddess Artemis soared amongst the clouds of the star lit sky. She watched with worry a place called Gaugamela on the plains some distance from the city of Babylon. Soon an great Battle would be fought at this place. One of her dearest Charges was there, leading a proud and brave Army.

Yes, King Alexander of Macedon and his army were proud and brave, the very best warriors of the time - but they were totally outnumbered by their Persian opponents.

They needed all the help they could get.

The Goddess Artemis would provide it for them.

Moon Of Good Omens

The warm autumn day had turned into a very chill evening. Darkness had fallen and a sinister white gray mist soared all over the Macedonian Camp. It looked as if it was filled with all the Spirits of those killed in the numerous Battles that had been waged of late.

An auburn haired man stood all alone on a hill, watching the fires that had been lit for warmth and cooking. They were few, like a small flight of flickering fire flies. Then his eyes fell on the fires of the Persian Camp. They were innumerable, like a blazing furnace.

Hephaestion felt that he needed to be on his own before the big Battle. He wrapped his gray woolen cloak closer around him. The night air was chilly and the dampness of the fog crept into the very marrow of his bones. He was very worried since the Persian's advantage was overwhelming. Darius had retreated in shame after Issus but now he had managed to rally new troops. The Macedonian scouts had been able to count to well over a million men in his enormous armies. There was cavalry and infantry from all the Persian Empire, well equipped and armed. Worst of all were the sinister and dangerous scythed chariots.

King Alexander had just forty seven thousand men. The King was totally confident of the Macedonians' superior military skills and training, their courage and his Luck, still Hephaestion felt fear and worry. He watched the star lit sky. The Moon was full and shone with a friendly silvery light. Suddenly it was obscured by a sinister red shadow. This shadow came from the West and soon obscured all of the Moon.

It looked as if it was completely covered in blood red crimson.

Hephaestion shuddered. He knew that there was a totally natural explanation to this odd behaviour of the Moon, still he became very worried, most for Alexander and his friends and Companions but also for himself.

/ "What will become of Alexander if I fall in Battle tomorrow?" /

There was great turmoil all over Camp. The soldiers and camp followers cried out in fear and terror and they started to rampantly run around.

Then there was heard a reassuring clear Voice, ringing and booming all over Camp. Alexander calmed his soldiers and subjects, confidently explaining about the Earth casting its Shadow on the Moon, obscuring it in this strange manner. The young King stood there proud, regal and sure of himself and his Army. Even in the fog and cloded darkness he shone with his very own golden light. He was dressed in Royal red and purple with a golden chain adorned with rubies around his neck. Another man was standing at his side. He was dressed in white with a bright green cloak over his shoulders.

It was Aristander, the Sooth Sayer. He now spoke to all Camp.

"This is a Good Omen for us all. Astarte is the Persian Moon Goddess. She is now being obscured by the blood red Cloud of Battle. It is a clear Sign that Victory will become ours!"

Cheers filled with hope and optimism now sounded all over Camp. The worried and rampant running was calmed down and all now stayed in calm and confident groups before they sat down to their evening meal.

A warm and reassuring arm was put around Hephaestion's shoulders. His Golden One had silently come to be at his side. He was now prudently dressed in a warm gray woolen cloak over his royal purple chiton.

"Hephaestion, you need not stand here all alone anymore. Come and keep my company this evening, "he said, making a most adamant invitation. "I need you at my side."

They stood for a long time watching the Moon. The red shadow was sinister, looking like crimson carnage. Still Hephaestion felt his fears and worries flee from him when he was engulfed in Alexander's Golden light and strength.

"It is strange, Artemis is our Moon Goddess and now it is as if She wants to help me and my Macedonians with this sign, "Alexander stated.

Hephaestion nodded in assent. They stood at the hill for a long time watching all of the Lunar Eclipse. When the Moon had regained her usual silvery light they went together to the Royal tent. They sat down to a frugal evening meal, roasted chicken and turnips with well watered wine to drink. Afterwards they carefully went over the Battle plans time and again. When all was clear they went to bed together, wrapping themselves in the wolf fur cloak they had shared during their Illyrian Exile. Alexander was calm and confident. His reassuring manner engulfed Hephaestion as if in a cloud of wonderful warmth and security. All his worries and doubts dissolved and he felt totally calm and relaxed.

Hephaestion rested in the arms of his Golden One. He soon fell asleep. He slept sound and well all through the night knowing that all would be well in the morning.

Alexander was at his side. Nothing could go wrong when his Golden One was there to lead them to Victory.

Moon Of Family

Amanda watched the blood red Moon of Battle. It scared her despite the reassuring speech of King Alexander and his Sooth Sayer. She could see the crimson carnage that would be unleashed during the coming day and she was very worried for all her Dear Ones.

The Healer had a family now. The General Cleitus was her Man. The Faithful Guards Stefanos and Alexios were her very dear Friends. She watched her three beloved boys, sleeping calmly in their small wicker beds under their woolen blankets and warm wolf furs. Big brother Cleitus held his arm in a protective manner around his smaller twin brothers Stefanos Alexander and Alexios Hephaestion. Little Cleitus was a little boy no more. He was three now and big and strong for his tender age. Already he could help his proud mother with her Healing and household work and he was very good at watching over and take care of the Twins. Alex and Phai were well over one year old now and prone to all kinds of mischief, crawling and walking all over Camp in the company of their older brother.

Amanda gently stroke their small heads and said a Prayer to the Goddess for their well being. She then went out to watch the blood red Moon again. A strong and sinewy arm was placed around her slender shoulders. She looked up on Black Cleitus. She found him beautiful in a rugged and fatherly manner. His black hair mane fell in waves over his broad shoulders and his dark brown eyes shone with confidence.

"You need not worry, my Dear One, "he told her in a reassuring manner. "King Alexander knows what he is doing. Victory will be ours and tomorrow evening we all will celebrate it together."

Amanda nodded but still she was worried.

She well knew that all her Healing skills would be desperately needed after tomorrow's Battle.

Moon Of Bad Omens

The air was chilly and clear at the top of the Ziggurath in the city of Babylon. The Khaldean Seer Shamash stood there wrapped in a deep blue woolen cloak. He watched all the stars appear. The Constellations and Planets were familiar to him, looking like a Dance of sparkling pearls and diamonds. The silvery Moon rested proud and Queenly amongst them. Shamash knew what would happen to it this evening, It was the very reason that he was out there in this chilly weather.

The Seer watched the Eclipse from beginning to end. He shuddered when the Moon was all covered in crimson, knowing that it was a very Ill Omen for his King and Master Darius and his proud Persian Empire.

Next time the Moon rose in the sky he would no longer be High King of Persia.

TBC

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