That was such a good story! 00 But I love happy endings and the story didn't have one, so I don't blame Alexander for crying ... I'm too busy loving happy endings too much right now to end with another bit of fangirlism about how great this fic is ...

HI! So, I was looking for something good to read tonight, and it so happens that your stories are the BEST Alexander stories in the world. So I headed to your profile, to re-read something, and I stumbled upon this jewel of a story! I'd never read it before, it's SO beautiful! Loved the fairy tale, and it was a more than fitting metaphor for Alexander and Hephaestion :) Hellanike and Cleitos were wonderfully portrayed, too. Also, and yet another testament to your amazing characterisation, I love how you let Alexander act like a kid, like a person... prone to jealousy, and to fighting, even with Hephaestion. *sigh* you made me wish for a sequel to this, so we can see The Golden Prince and The Silver Boy making up.

HUGS!

Arlad

I really love it, it very sweet and very well written hope you continue this story...

hi!

This is really great story hope there will be another part or chapter of this.

Once again, I love your work. I especially loved the story that you incorporated. I just would have liked to see what happened to Hephaestion and Alexander the next day. Are you going to continue?

Baliansword

This is one of your best stories, it's just fantastic! I have printed it out, it's like a myth, just lovely and sweet and a bit sad. You have such an rich, exquiste talent with your writing, I'm ashamed of my own poor attempts when i read yours.

This is just a breautiful story, I can't help but repeat myself, I can see this is a myth that both Alexandros and Hephaistion would have read over and over again, and probably laughed over as well. I'm so glad I woke up at 3:30 this morning and felt compelled to do some reading. Bless you,

Selket

I honestly think this is the very best of all your young Alexander stories! It's absolutely wonderful and inspired. I don't know which I like more, Alexander's story or the fairy tale inside the story. Perhaps the latter - it is so full of magic, both sweet and bitter. Apollo and Artemis' friendly rivalry is delightful and light. But the darkside of the Golden Prince's love for the Silver Boy leads to such eternal tragedy - the story reminded me of some of Hans Christian Andersen's tales. I loved the ingredients that went into making the two boys - such awesome imagination! But oh such a sad, sad, end, when the Golden Prince realized that because of one little fit of jealousy, he had forever lost the most precious thing.

I also loved the "outer" tale. Alexander is very aptly drawn (Not "little friends" but "Companions" indeed!), as is Lanike. And even the very lightly drawn characters here like Actaen, Cleitus, Hephaistion. Lanike's teaching method is so very wise - a lesson that will perhaps never be forgotten, though it feels a bit harsh at the time. I loved the breathless description of the javelin lesson and of the ensuing fight.

The construction of this story is totally remarkable. This is perfect! And I do think the ending is just what it should be.

(But shallow imperfect being that I am, I too would like to know Alexander's POV as he wakes up the next morning and what he decides to do - now that HE knows the story of the two ill-fated heavenly boys, but Hephaistion doesn't!)

Dear moon71,

Many thanks for the dedication. I'm both glad and proud that my Golden Treasure have given you the inspiration to write this such lovely childhood tale. It's warm and loving but also most disturbing. You give us a telling description of Alexander's indomitable will to surpass all and everyone. He treats his Hephaestion most cruelly, and Hellanike does the right thing in telling him the sorrowful tale about the Golden and the Silver Boys. As always, I like your connections to Greek Mythology, and this bedtime tale about the rivalry of Apollon and Artemis is most lovely, a beautiful parabel of the Beautiful Golden One and his True Steadfast Friend and their complicated relationship.

The interlude between Hellanike and Cleitus towards the end is most humorous. I like the idea of Cletus unintentionally teatching little Alexander rought language, and Queen Olympias strongly disapproving.

It's not nice of Hellanike to leave the little Prince crying himself into sleep, though. I feel so sorry for him, and I sure hope he'll make up to his friend inthe morning. I would just love to see a sequel to this. :)

All the best wishes,

/ NorthernLight

Lovely - very sweet and so Alexander! I also like your Cleitus. Cheered me up as I sit here recuperating again.

Nice and sweet story as always, my dear. You have a gift to picture Alexander and Hephaestion is their childhood so well, they sound so REAL!

And I didn't forget you: I'm very busy, but I will write you very soon, dear. A kiss from me and a BRAVO for this story!

Oh this story needs a sequel!

Very sweet and well-written. But did Hellanike have a heart of stone to leave a highly-strung little boy (who seemed about 6 or 7) to cry himself to sleep?

aw Don't cha just love a little Alexander.

Great. I loved the bedstory inside the history told by Hellanike about the two princes. It is so beautiful, so sad and in a certain way symbolize so well what will be the relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion along the years. But I agree with angstman: we also want to know what will happen when the morning comes.

What a great bed time story, not only you make little Alexander weep. You make me cry too. It is such a sad sad and lovely story. I also hope that you will reveal what will happen to Alexander and Hephaistion in the morning. And as always, I love your young and innocent Alexander and Hephaistion. It is always fun to read about them

Hug