Hello all,

I have often mentioned Amanda's ability of precognition and her True Dreams. Very early, way back in distant Illyria, during the beginning of her friendship with Alexander and Hephaestion she has a most uncanny True Dream about a Seven Walled City, its walls coloured like a rainbow. In this Dream she actually *sees* Hephaestion's sad and untimely, far too early Death. Now she is actually there in Ecbatana with Alexander and Hephaestion. It is 324 BC and her Dream threatens to turn into grim Reality.

Amanda will do her very best to change this Destiny - but how will she and her brave and faithful friends take on this most difficult assignment?

Warnings: This is a multi part AR tale. Events will turn out quite different from *real* History. There are dire Omens of main characters' deaths -but since the tale is AR nothing is quite as it seems.

Because this is AR both Bucephalus and the General Cleitus are still alive.

Special warning: Love scene in first chapter.

All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,

/ NorthernLight

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Escape From Destiny, Part One

Ecbatana, 324 BC

Autumn Glory - Autumn Gold

Autumn was his favourite time of year. He loved the high clear air, the cooling of tempers and especially the warm and flaming colours. He had been away from it so very long. In the southern countries they had visited it had simply not been for real. In those places there were no distinguished seasons at all, just summer all year around, sometimes interrupted by interminable storms and raining.

Here, in the seven walled city of Ecbatana he could enjoy all autumn's beauty. The trees had donned their most beautiful garments. Their leaves glowed and flamed in golden yellow, burning bright orange and russet red.

Hephaestion especially liked the Persian Ironwood and the Persian Maples. These trees had their own especially warm and stunning red, golden and orange foliage. There was a forest filled with them near the Palace. They had recently hunted deer and boar together with the Companions. It was a most enjoyable hunt.

Now Hephaestion wanted to catch an even more attractive prey.

He had recently been appointed Chiliarch, a position of great Power. This afternoon he made the most of it. He had cancelled all his own and his King's appointments. Then he had told Alexander that they had a most important and secret Diplomatic meeting in the forest near the Palace. He had brought a huge basket filled with the most delicious, rich and sumptuous foods, also with Alexander's favourite warming red wines.

Now they rode into the beautiful Persian forest. Two giant maples formed a golden portal as an entrance into the beauty of autumn. Bucaphalus pranced and reared up from joy when he saw the lovely trees and the soft mattress of autumn leaves. It was soft for his hooves to thread upon. Bucephalus was old now, his friend Castor, too. Both seasoned war horses had lots of gray and white hair in their manes but still they were most coal black and shining auburn. Alexander gently stroke his equine friend and held on to the reins.

"Whoa, Bucephlus, whoa! Calm down, now. We are on an important diplomatic mission so you must behave!"

The old warhorse looked at his dear Master with surprise. He could sense no other people in the forest. He also felt the relaxed mood that Hephaestion and Castor was in.

Today would bring a most special treat for them all!

They rode straight into the forest. Alexander and Hephaestion took the lead, followed by Cleitus and the faithful Guards. Stefanos and Alexios followed on their mounts Sapphire and Topaz. Cleitus rode old Gorgon. The bad tempered and ill mannered stallion was very old now, but still going strong. He came up and even managed to bite Bucephalus in his black behind. The King's horse kicked out and Cleitus smiled at the brashness of his good old warhorse.

"No, Gorgon. You must behave yourself and you must not bite Bucephalus! He is a Royal horse, you know."

Gorgon snorted and pranced as they reached a most beautiful glade. It was surrounded by very big ironwood and maple trees, still having lots of golden, orange and red foliage. The fallen leaves formed a soft and enticing mattress on the ground. It was more beautiful even than the royal chambers in the palace.

"Phai, where are the diplomats we are supposed to meet?, "Alexander asked his Chiliarch. "I can see no one at all here! You told me it was a most important Diplomatic meeting."

"Yes, Alexander and so it is, "Hephaestion prudently answered. "We will spend all afternoon in this beautiful place on our own, for our own leisure. I felt that we needed time for relaxation and recuperation, so it is an important Diplomatic meeting for King and Chilarch only!"

Alexander looked at his Dear One with great surprise. Then he jumped off Bucephalus and leaped towards Hephaestion. He held out his arms to him and embraced him as he dismounted into the arms of his King and friend.

"This is a splendid surprise, "Alexander said. "And from you of all people. You are always the most prudent and dedicated of all. I never thought that you could stage such a hilarious prank!"

Stefanos and Alexios spread a warm bear fur under a a Persian maple that rained golden leaves over it. Then they brought the huge basket and offered King and Chiliarch the rich foods and the warming red wine. They sat down and enjoyed the delicious autumn meal together. Alexander leaned against the broad tree trunk and Hephaestion sat at his side. The King put his right arm around his true steadfast friend and offered him special treats from the food basket. He also gave him the wine flagon. King and Chiliarch drank together, feeling warm and relaxed. It was a fine and sunny autumn day. The sun shone bright and golden from a cloudless azure blue sky, warming the couple under the maple.

Of course the leisurely free afternoon was a hilarious prank - but it had a very serious background. Hephaestion was very worried over the state of health of his Golden One. Alexander had never managed to heal properly from the dreadful wound the Mallian Arrow gave him. He never gave in to weakness of tiredness. Still he was constantly reminded of it. His breath laboured when he had to make great efforts, sometimes even from more mundane occupations. Now he sat relaxed and leaning towards the warm and steady tree trunk. Hephaestion could still feel that he was in pain. There was a discrete but harsh stridor in his breath. It was barely audible, but Hephaestion could both hear and feel it.

Alexander needed to rest and relax - even if he did not want to admit it even to himself!

Hephaestion felt that he needed rest and relaxation, too. All the worries for his Golden One had taken a great toll of him. He was feeling more tired these days. There was a strange chill in his bones. It threatened to take hold of all of his body even his keen and sharp mind.

Hephaestion loved Autumn - but he also feared its premonitions of an aging and dying Nature.

Alexander had not felt this good since the leisurely days in far away Carmania. He sat in the sun with Hephaestion at his side. The auburn haired Chiliarch rested on his right arm, adding strength and warmth to him. The pain in his right was constant, but now it had been sothened by warmth, wine and rest. Alexander felt his spirits awaken. He now knew that they were all alone in the forest glade.

No one would come and disturb them.

He discretely beckoned to Cleitus and the Guards to withdraw. They willingly obeyed their King, smiling when they understood his intentions.

Then Alexander rose and stood in the midst of the glade. A mound of golden and red leaves formed around him. A soft autumn breeze blew them around him as he slowly undressed.

TBC

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