beautifully well capture of their emotions! i love it!

I wanted to read/write a fanfic about the time Alexander told Heaphestion he had be nothing without him, because I'd read recounts about Alexander's life that mention it - and here it is! I'm pretty stoked to have found this fic, thanks!

Damn, that was perfect. Alexander is damn lucky (and damn undeserrving, in the first half of this fic) to have someone like Hephaestion. XD I'm totally jealous, of Alexander and of your incredible writing skills. You might just be my favourite fanfic writer of all time...

spectacular ... no words ! lovely!

This fic and A Choice of Words are two of the very best fics you have ever written. The words you wrote, every single one, touched the heart so deeply and spoke so accurately of what could have happened. You are indeed a very talented writer. I'm still reading the rest of your stories and I'm quite enjoying them and thanking your generous spirit for sharing them freely with us.

Hello,

Congratulations, it is a pretty good fic. Bravo

So here we get Hephaestion's point of view, and why he lost his temper that day. How intuitive of him, to fear the mutiny of troops more than the betrayal of any one man ... the officers, especially Parmenion and the other older ones, might've disagreed with Alexander a lot, but the troops were notoriously supportive of him and it would've truly been a blow to Alexander to lose their "love." But really, Hephaestion wanting to warn Crateros to keep older veterans (who, as he knows, are stubborn and inflexible) to "keep them in line"? I can just imagine them all with their weathered faces and greying beards falling into an ominous silence when this arrogant young favorite of Alexander's tries to "warn" them about anything! (Darkly comedic moment!) Still, his mindset as you describe it here seems so natural, and the veterans are not the only ones affected by the heat and insects of India.

That entire sequence of the actual confrontation was so charged, and every nuance of emotion behind the words written so efficiently and perfectly! Bravo!

Also, can't help but sympathize when it's mentioned that Hephaestion's held his tongue regarding Crateros for years. Walking away with quiet dignity is hard!

All of the paragraph on how Hephaestion's men (including the "dashing cavalrymen") reacted when they pitched camp, just enough to show they sympathized but not enough to make a show or suggest they actually pitied him, was absolutely wonderful!

It's kind of sad to reflect that once the other companions looked upon their love with good-natured humor, but that jealousy and rivalry poisoned this. But I'm glad, even for the "spite that lingers" - and how Alexander doesn't retract the threat of crucifixion. That seems much more realistic - he's king, he can't go back on his (public!) word. And Hephaestion can't give in to Alexander so soon as the dinner party afterward. They have standards! (grin) Even though sometimes those standards cause them to make themselves miserable. In the end though, it makes their understanding and love so much more complete.

I love their reconciliation, what it means to Hephaestion, how Alexander's capitulation - which he had held out for, despite such isolation and even despair - suddenly becomes so very humbling, and even frightening to him, how he thinks that "one should not humble a god." (sigh) And your description of their courtship as it is now, "elegant" with "restraint and longing," looks and vows in the form of poetry and philosophy, is just beautiful. I'm so glad, too, that at the end it doesn't matter anymore what Crateros or anyone else says about their relationship, that this quarrel has made them all a little wiser and strengthened a love that was already so strong.

Lovely, lovely pair of stories on such a (in)famous line! But I eagerly join in the others' motions for Crateros' point-of-view!

This is a beautiful story; I liked it more than the original, because it is from Hephaistion's more mature POV. I found this passage stunning and such a great reflection of true and pure love:

"He had wanted an apology; he had held out for it, he had tormented both himself and Alexander until he got it. But now it was unbearable. ... And one should not humble a god."

Yes, indeed, how meaningless the apology becomes, that at one point seemed so important! At the end in this one, Hephaistion understands that all three of them gained and lost something in this episode, but that their own love grew even stronger. I join in the motion for a Craterus POV; however I would like him to reflect on this episode not immediately, but later when he is carefully kept away from Hephaistion and somewhat away form Court (and sent off to Macedon in 324 BC). By then no doubt, he truly understands the magnitude of HIS punishement for the very public quarrel.

On a separate note, did Alexander really say the exact words "You are nothing without me" to Hephaistion or is it dear old Plutarch saying to Hephaistion "You are nothing without him"? I wonder, given that Plutarch put a little negative spin on Hephaistion whenever he had a chance!

I love it AND it's dedicated to me ! What could be better ! See, aren't you glad you decided to 'finish' it now :-D ! All you have to do now is tell it from Crateros point of view, and we'll have ourselves a lovely little trilogy ! Go on... You know you want too ;-) ! Thanks again for the dedication... It really did make my day ! xx

I can't say much more than has already been said before, except to gush adoringly. Besides, now that you wrote this, you do realize that it will be incomplete without Crateros' POV. I'm very curious to learn what Alexander yelled at him and what/how he finally came to understand that Alexander cannot live without Hephaistion. Sorry this sounds like a challenge... but that's what it is *giggle*

This is an excellent story and a great companion to "A choice of words". Very interesting to read events from Hephaestion's point of view. Keep up the good work!

Wow. Beautifully written. Hephaistion's pain and journey to see how Alexander needs him was so poignant. His honesty about Craterus was very well done. I love the last paragraph 'I don't care!' - he's now sure of himself and his place with Alexander and can move on.

another powerful and moving story from you.

I am always glad when Hephaistion and Alexander kiss and make up i don't like them fighting and arguing like that.

Excellent kept it up

PL

I love this episode in their lives and am so glad that you have done this sequal. I enjoyed the first story from Alexanders point of view but liked this one even more. You've managed to portray Hephaisions feelings very well and the fact that even after they have made up he still finds 'a little spite still lingered' is more realistic than eveything being alright again. Alexanders confession of his fears at night illustrated very well just how much he needed Hephaistion, and bless Hephaistion for knowing about them already!

I have not commented on your stories before but always enjoy and look forward to reading them.

Wow! Yet another brilliant story from you. I've always wondered how, after those horrible words, they made peace with one another again, so it was very interesting to read your take on that. Great fic!