Golden Treasure, Second Entry
Hello all,
This is the second entry to my Golden Treasure, Novel length version, kept here at my LJ account as a safety copy.
The Palace at Pella, 349 BC
Bedtime Stories At The Pella Palace
A sweet scented summer breeze wafted through a highly placed stone vaulted window, making a light blue curtain waft into the finely adorned room. It rippled over a mural painting from the Iliad, representing Achilles and Patroklos fighting the Trojans together, and made the flame of the night lamp flicker, creating an illusion of very real warlike actions.
All of this happened in the Royal Nursery at Pella. The young, beautiful Queen sat in a comfortable rocking chair, resting on soft purple cushions. She fondly watched the small, golden haired boy who was lying on his side, wrapped into a light blue quilt and a soft sheep fleece. He eagerly asked her:
”Mother, please tell me about Achilles and Patroclus once more!”
”Yes, yes, Alexander. Of course I will - but - don’t you know all about them by now?”
He shook his head and she proceeded to tell him the old tale once again, all except the gruesome ending. The fire on the hearth was burning with calm, orange red flames, slowly dying down into cinders. A servant put another log on the fire. As it flashed up anew it gave an extra glow to the Queen’s fiery golden red hair. Her young son listened intently to her bed time tale, seeing the dear friends before his Inner Eye, secret wishes filling his clever mind. She saw him close his eyes and thinking her dear little boy soundly asleep she gently patted his cheek and golden hair.
”Good night, Alexander. Sleep well and tight, my Little Dear One.”
When she left the room he opened his eyes and looked out the window. The Dog Star was burning bright like a priceless gem on the velvet dark blue sky. The small boy got up from bed. His dear little puppies, Sirius and Procyon, followed him on soft and stumbling legs. He also had a tame house snake called Hypnos. He slithered merrily at their side, gently hissing with his cloven tongue. They all climbed up on the stone bench at the window and begun what lately had become their very own and secret bedtime ritual. Little Alexander watched the starlit sky, looking at Orion, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Pegasus, the Plough and many other constellations. He pointed at them and told his little friends all kinds of made up stories. They nodded with kind understanding, although they really didn’t know what was so very fine with all those strange small lights high up in the skies. They were too far away to be prodded or sniffed at, and it was most uncertain if they even could be edible!
The small golden haired boy then lowered his eyes to the earthly realm. On the second hill from the Royal Castle at Pella there was a Keep looming high over the countryside. A small light was flickering in one window and if one watched very intently one could see a small shadow in its warm and golden light.
”Whoever lives in that Keep? I would so very much like to know him. Perhaps he will be my very special friend. Could it even be Patroklos living over there?”
A soft breeze of sweet scented summer air blew into the Royal Nursery. It brought a tiny Ladybug with seven small black dots on her bright red wings. She was guarded by a buzzing Bumblebee with a golden fuzzy fur. They said with voices, tinkling like little silver bells:
”Good evening, Alexander. ”
”Good evening, Little Ones. I have something for you. ”
He gently patted their tiny heads and then brought a plate with honey cake crumbs. The little ones started to eat with buzzing joy. Hypnos slithered up the windowsill and proceeded to eat the little ones. Alexander rebuked him, smacking his snout:
”No, Hypnos! Those are my very special little friends. You must NOT eat them for dinner!”
Ladybird and Bumblebee took off in frightened flight.
”Let us be, you nasty snake! Alexander, can’t you send him back to your Mother’s snake pit?”
”No, I like him, too. You simply must learn to behave yourselves! We are family, all of us!”
They all nodded. Ladybird and Bumblebee came back and shared the honey cake crumbs with Hypnos. The small puppies sat in Alexander’s lap, giving up some miniature howls at the crescent Moon. Alexander once more took a gaze at the Keep on the second hill. The light was still flickering and he told Ladybird and Bumblebee:
”I would so much like to know who lives in that Keep. You who can fly, can’t you fly over there first thing in the morning and see who he is?”
Ladybird and Bumblebee answered obediently :
”Yes, Alexander. We would also like to know. He sure must be someone very special. ”
They all went to sleep together. Alexander put Hypnos in a wicker basket at the foot of the bed and then took the puppies in his arms, gently fondling them. He tucked them all in under the quilt and fleece. Hypnos came slithering in and made him giggle.
”No, you are tickling me! Behave yourself!”
The little house snake gently coiled himself around Alexander’s right arm. He patted all his animal friends on their tiny heads and told them:
”Good night, all of you. Sleep well and tight. ”
”Good night, Alexander. ”
Ladybird and Bumblebee sat at the bedside table. Little Bumblebee started to drone a sweet and soothing bedtime tune and soon all were peacefully sleeping and snuggling together, as a great and loving family.
Morning Glory
Alexander woke up early in the morning. He yawned and stretched before casting off the quilt and fleece. The first thing he saw was his small friends sitting at the bedside table. Ladybird and Bumblebee greeted him with their voices tinkling like silver bells:
”Good morning, Alexander. ”
He patted their little heads and told them:
”Good morning, my little dear ones. I hope you haven’t forgotten the mission I gave you?”
”No, Alexander. We’ll be off to the Keep on the second hill right after our garden breakfast!”
And off they went, flying on little buzzing wings. Alexander looked at them when they disappeared down the Royal garden, wishing them luck with their important mission.
A servant came and gave Hypnos a great bowl of milk. Sirius and Procyon got a succulent meat stew. The animals started slobbering in delight and they had soon devoured their delicious dishes. Another servant came and brought the young Prince’s usual Spartan breakfast. Little Alexander ate his thin gruel and energetically chewed at the hard dark bread. It was so hard that it almost broke one of his milk teeth. When he was finished he was as hungry as when he started. His stomach growled and he looked with envy at the small puppies with their round tummies and Hypnos who had curled up in his wicker basket, rounded up with all the milk he had been drinking.
Hard Lessons
Now it was time for Alexander’s daily lessons. He marched off to the classroom with slow and heavy steps. Sirius and Procyon followed him, eagerly wafting their tails, every day forgetting those lessons were no treat at all.
His stern tutor Leonidas awaited him with a long and sharp pointer made from cornel wood. He addressed Alexander in a rough and demanding voice:
”Late as usual, my Prince! Sit down! We have much work to do here today!”
At first it was Reading. Alexander read aloud from his favorite Xenophon essay on horses, but since he pronounced each and every one of the Greek words the wrong way and got smacked on his fingers every time it didn’t give him much amusement, only very sore little fingers. Sirius and Procyon was jumping and yelping to his defense, but since their teeth were so very tiny there wasn’t much they could do. Master Leonidas told a servant :
”Take those bad mannered pups outside! They are disturbing my education!”
Out they went, pitifully whimpering. When they were reunited with their mother and siblings in the Royal kennel they told them all about Alexander’s hard lessons, bringing about much yelping and barking. Their kind mother told them all:
”You ought to be glad that you are not humans! It seems they are far too good at making each other feel miserable!”
Next lesson was Writing. Alexander had to copy seven times seven lines from the Iliad. His fingers were still sore from the smackings and his writing was very clumsy, almost unreadable. This rendered him some more smackings and an order to do it all over again. He proceeded in sullen disgust, and the valiant poetry didn’t amuse him at all.
The third lesson was Mathematics. Leonidas explained some very complicated Treasury calculations. Alexander didn’t understand the first thing about them. He didn’t dare to ask since he knew that would only bring on more smackings. He drifted off into more pleasant thoughts about the one living in the Keep on the second hill. Could it be another little boy, someone like himself, someone wanting to play with him? Perhaps he, too had a stern tutor and hard lessons to put up with...........
”Well, Alexander. How many gold coins do you have left if there are two thousand in one Treasury sac and you administer two hundred to the Army, two hundred to the Navy and two hundred to the Royal Household?”
”Excuse me, Master Leonidas. I didn’t hear the question. ”
”You - what? Didn’t hear the question? I’ll teach you to listen to my education!”
Alexander was grasped by big, strong, claw like hands and then put upside down on hard knobbly knees. His chiton was dragged aside and he felt the sharp cornel pointer approach the tender skin of his poor little behind.
Serious Search
Ladybird and Bumblebee fortified themselves with a tasty breakfast on honey and nectar from all the sweet smelling flowers in the Royal garden. Then they started flapping their little wings to fly over the high stone walls. Halfway up they were panting pitifully and dropped down on their tiny butts. Alexander had fed them too many honey cake crumbs, making them too fat to fly over the walls! Now they sat on a ruby red rose, crying in shame and sorrow. Their friend the Little Red Robin came asking:
”Why are you so sad? You are Alexander’s very special friends, and he gives you better food than he ever gets himself!”
”Yes, he is so very nice to us, and now he has asked us to fly to the Keep on the second hill to look after who lives in there - but we are too small and well fed and we cannot even fly over the wall!”
They continued crying bitterly and their tears fell like small crystal dew drops on the rose petals. Little Red Robin tried to give them some solace.
”Don’t you cry, Little Ones. I will fly over there and when I come back I can tell you everything. ”
”Oh, thank you so much. We’ll give you some of our next serving of honey cake crumbs as a reward!”
Enchanted Garden
Little Red Robin flew away on tiny wings. The mild summer breeze was helping him and blew him towards the Keep on the second hill. Soon he was perching in the wild ivy, hiding behind a tangle of the small lobate leaves. He was immediately lucky in his mission when his curious little eyes were enchanted by a most merry sight.
A small boy with glossy auburn hair and the most beautiful blue eyes was sitting at his breakfast, consisting of apricot and raspberry jam, honey, soft white bread, newly churned butter and milk warm from the nanny goats. Two small kittens, one with golden fur and the other jet black, were sitting on the table like tiny balls of fuzzy fur. They were sharing his meal and licked at a bowl of cream, showing excellent table manners. A whole litter of fuzzy rabbits in all kinds of colors and patterns were jumping around his feet, nibbling at fresh and succulent lettuce leaves. Two flaming red squirrels were sitting at the table, holding some hazel nuts in their tiny paws and eating, they too with excellent table manners.
A beautiful Lady with radiant auburn hair showing from under her thin sea green veil was sitting in a chair, nursing a small baby, she too with this glossy auburn hair. It seemed like a very happy family and Little Red Robin stayed for a long time, watching in delight, before he returned to the Royal Garden to report to Ladybird and Bumblebee.
The little ones were still sitting on the ruby red rose, and they had consumed most of its honey and nectar during their anxious wait. When they saw their kind bird friend return they came buzzing towards him:
”Have you really been there? What did you see? What did you find?”
”Yes, I’ve been to the Keep - and it is such a wondrous place! Another little boy lives there. He too, likes animals a lot - and they even have lots of delicious food!”
Little Red Robin told his wonderful tale to his eager listeners. When he had finished they all flew directly to Alexander’s school room, wanting to bring the Good News as quick as possible.
Valiant Warrior
They approached the school room window aperture with kind anticipation. The sight meeting their tiny eyes froze them into three small horrified statues at the window sill. Little Alexander had been slumped over Master Leonidas’ knobbly knees. His chiton was dragged aside, laying his tiny pink behind bare, to be threatened by a sharp cornel wood pointer, raised in the angry hand of the stern tutor.
Little Bumblebee buzzed in righteous wrath:
”NO. Now the Bad Man is at it again! I will not stand for it anymore!”
He brandished his tiny but sharp sting and flew with great speed down towards the scene of unjust punishment. The pointer was just about to hit its innocent goal when he stung the stern tutor deep into his right earlobe.
”Ouch! What was that?”
Master Leonidas smacked at his ear, his hand coming down like a cruel cudgel towards Bumblebee. Ladybird and Little Red Robin gasped in terror. Bumblebee managed to withdraw his stinger at the last minute and flew away, only to be hit by the pointer. Fortunately it just helped his flight to the windowsill, where he collapsed in a small breathless heap. Little Ladybug gave him a loving hug and kissed his tiny black cheek.
”Oh, my Valiant Warrior. You are braver then Achilles or Hector - since your adversary was much, much bigger and more dangerous than yourself!”
Master Leonidas clutched at his ear. It had turned into a raging red and was swelling into its double size. He roared in anger, pointing towards Alexander:
”You! You and those spoiled animals of yours! You are hopeless. I wish I could send you all to the mines to teach you some manners! Tonight you will go to bed without your dinner!”
Great Expectations
The little Prince was marched to the nursery and locked up. Hypnos and the puppies kept him company and soon Ladybug, Bumblebee and Little Red Robin joined them at the windowsill. Alexander came and sat down at the stone bench, gently patting their tiny heads:
”Many thanks for saving me from that smacking! You are a very valiant warrior, little Bumblebee. I wish I had some extra honey cake crumbs to reward you, but it seems we are in disgrace this evening, all of us. ”
”It doesn’t matter, Alexander. We are together, that’s the important thing - and - he’ll give you another serving of gruel and hard bread tomorrow morning! Let’s now tell you what we found out about the Keep!”
Alexander felt his curiosity arise and eagerly asked his little friends:
”Yes, my Little Ones. Please tell me at once!”
He listened with rising happiness. This was even better than he had expected! When they had finished he told them:
”We are skipping school tomorrow. We must pay a visit to the Keep at the second hill instead!”
”Yes, Alexander. Perhaps they will have some food for us, too! We are very hungry, all of us....”
Yes, tomorrow would be a real treat - but there was still a long night of hunger to endure.
Bedtime Hunger
Little Alexander was lying on his side under his quilt and fleece. His stomach was grumbling so pitifully no one could go to sleep. Sirius and Procyon were holding their ears with their tiny paws, Hypnos had hidden his head deep into his coils and Ladybird and Bumblebee had taken shelter in a silver thimble the Queen had forgotten on the bedside table. All animals were starving and their little tummies were growling in unison. No one understood why they were suffering this cruel punishment.
An angry voice was heard at the other side of the nursery door:
”No. You cannot smack me with that pointer. I’m the Queen of Macedon!”
”Yes, I know, but, the King has told me to educate his son as I see fit - and tonight he goes without supper. Period!”
There was a long silence, disrupted by loud snoring. Soon afterwards the door was quietly opened. Queen Olympias entered with Alexander’s little Sister Cleopatra in tow. They were followed by Hyrmina from Epiros. The old handmaiden carried a tray with all kinds of delicious dishes. Alexander looked at them with surprise and delight.
”Ssssh, my son. He is sleeping. We sent a beautiful handmaiden to lure him with a cup of wine laced with a sleeping potion and a tray with honey cakes. ”
Alexander looked at his mother with some dismay :
”Mother. Are you sure it was only a sleeping potion?”
Olympias took a closer look at her young son :
”My Little Dear One, you understand far too much for your tender age. ”
Hyrmina administered all the delicious foodstuffs. Alexander got some hot posset, bread with butter and ham and cool raspberry juice. The puppies got their meat stew, Hypnos his bowl of milk and Ladybird and Bumblebee their honey cake crumbs. Little Bumblebee got some extra large crumbs and Alexander told his Mother about his bravery. The Queen gently patted the little one on his tiny black head:
”You are very brave for one so small. I sure hope my son gets many warriors as valiant as you when he marches out for Persia!”
They all fell asleep to an Epirote lullaby, full and satisfied from all the fine foodstuffs they had devoured.
Excursion!
Alexander woke up very early in the morning, well before dawn and first light. He dressed in his plain wool chiton and cloak. Hypnos coiled himself up around his right arm and Sirius and Procyon tottered at his side on small, stumbling legs. Ladybird and Bumblebee put themselves to rest on his right shoulder. They made a first halt at the Royal kitchens, collecting an ample supply of bread, cheese, honey cakes and a jar of raspberry juice. Alexander put it all in his knapsack and then out they went. Of course they couldn’t pass the sentries - but Alexander knew a secret door leading through the thick walls of the gardens. They went through it and climbed down a steep path from the side of the Royal castle, heading straight towards the Keep on the second hill.
The path led deep into the forest. Looking from the nursery window the Keep seemed to be very close nearby. Well into the forest the small company realized the truth was far more complicated. They walked on and on and on..........an interminably long walk. Sirius and Procyon got tired and their small paws got filled with blisters. The little pups sat down, howling pitifully. Alexander took them in his arms.
”Well, since you cannot walk any longer I’ll have to carry you. ”
Disaster
On they went. The young Prince felt his own feet getting sore and tired, his soft deer skin sandals being worn out by the hard stones and sprigs of the woodland path. Then he stumbled on a thick and very tough root. An ominous creak was heard from his right ankle, and then he fell down a deep slope. He was rolling, rolling and rolling along, the small puppies spinning like balls of whimpering fur at his side. Ladybird and Bumblebee took to flight, flapping their tiny wings and crying out for help in dismay.
The rolling and falling seemed endless but at long last was stopped by a moss clad fallen tree trunk. Alexander and the pups lay panting, the young Prince was silent from shock and loss of air but the small puppies were pitifully whimpering. Alexander took them in his lap and examined them. Fortunately they were unharmed, just frightened out of their wits. Their thick fur had protected them from serious injuries. Alexander was not so lucky. His right ankle and foot was swollen and turning into an ominous blue and purple color. He tried to rise and stand. It gave way immediately and he cried out from the stabbing and throbbing pain as he fell back towards the soft green moss.
”Oh, no. How do we get away from here? No one knows where we are! ”
He looked at Ladybird and Bumblebee who was sitting on his knuckles.
”Little Ones, do you think you can fly back to the Palace and tell Mother where we are? She will understand what you are saying, no one else will!”
”Yes, Alexander, we’ll fly at once. ”
They took off on tiny wings, eagerly trying to return to the Pella Palace. The forest had become very thick and dark around them. The warm golden sunlight seeping down the foliage wasn’t enough to show them the right path - and they were quite confused by witnessing the falling and rolling of their friends. Soon little Bumblebee said to his Ladybug friend:
”I don’t know at all where we are. I think we are lost!”
”Yes, I don’t know any better than you. Whatever shall we do? We must get some help to Alexander. He will never get up from that slope by his own!”
They sat down on a lady’s mantle’s lobate leaf, pitifully crying, their tears falling like tiny crystals and adding to the pearly clear water drop inside the leaf.
”Sob” Help us, someone! Help us! We are lost!”
Alexander heard their voices, tinkling like little silver bells from afar. The forest was getting deeper and darker all the time. A cold wetness was creeping into his very bones from the grass and moss. The golden sunlight seeping down through the thick fir and spruce branches was not enough to warm him and he begun to shiver from shock and fatigue. Sirius and Procyon curled up in his lap and gave him some friendly licks. He gently patted their heads and told them:
”It’s nice of you to stay with me - but it would have been better if you had been able to run back to the Palace. I hear the Little Ones have flown away in the wrong direction!”
The puppies started to whimper pitifully as he soothingly cradled them in his arms. Alexander told them in a small but valiant voice:
”Don’t you be afraid, all my Little Ones. Someone will come for us, they always will. ”
Waiting
Ladybird and Bumblebee were sitting on their lady’s mantle leaf, sobbing and crying. They could hear Alexander groaning from deep down the slope. Knowing that their little Master was in pain and danger made them even more upset and their crying became uncontrollable. The Little Ones cried so much the dew drop in the leaf flew over the rim and they had to move to another lobate leaf. The forest became darker and more and more threatening all around them. Blue, black and green shadows were creeping close by from all directions. They all heard all kinds of creaking, creeping and crawling sounds, some from small and harmless creatures, some from bigger, more dangerous animals.
Alexander was leaning towards the moss clad tree trunk. His right ankle was throbbing from pain and had swelled to twice its ordinary size, turning black and blue at the same time. Hypnos coiled around it, trying to soothe the pain. He gently lifted the little house snake in his tail.
”No. You are just tickling me. Come here and coil around my arm instead. ”
His small puppies licked the swollen ankle. When they saw that their kind and gentle ministrations didn’t make it better they sat down starting to howl miserably. Alexander took them in his lap and tried to wrap them all inside his woolen mantle. He was shivering from pain and shock and the threadbare fabrics hadn’t much warmth to offer them. The mossy ground felt cold under him and he knew he couldn’t stay this way for very long. Soon it would be dark - and some of the many wolves, lions or bears inhabiting the forest would be able to detect him.
Suddenly a shower of warm, golden rays of sun came through the thick foliage. He felt himself wrapped inside their wonderful warmth. They soothed the throbbing pain in his injured ankle and lulled him into sleep. He barely managed to feel for the little sharp knife at his side before he succumbed to a deep slumber and a very strange dream.
// Alexander felt the golden sun rays carry him up and far away, as if in a golden chariot. The thick green foliage brushed all over his body, just to be replaced by warm summer breezes. He could see the forest as a tapestry of different green, brown and yellow colors. Suddenly and unexpectedly the Keep on the second hill loomed before him and he was able to enter through a vaulted window.
He found himself in a finely adorned school room. A small boy with glossy auburn hair was sound asleep, slumped on his cherry tree desk. His teacher was also sound asleep and loudly snoring, his head resting upon some old and apparently most comfortable scrolls. He was a kind looking old man, the very opposite of Master Leonidas. The small boy must be very lucky indeed. Alexander’s lessons never ever allowed him to be lulled into such a peaceful sleep!
Alexander went towards the other boy and gently tapped his right shoulder. He was so very sound asleep he didn’t react. Now the young Prince saw the basket. Two tiny kittens and two fiery red squirrels were waking up. The little tomcat with the golden fur jumped out of the basket and right at his leg. He begun to purr and gently rub himself around Alexander’s legs. The small she-cat licked at his swollen ankle and made it feel better with her tiny rough tongue. Alexander patted their furry heads and smiled at them.
”My sweet little ones, it seems you are the only ones noticing me. You must wake your Master and tell him I urgently need his help! Something tells me that you have the Gift of Speech and are Talking Animals, just like my own!”
They nodded and meowed in kind consent. Alexander felt himself drawn out from the vaulted stone window, back to the forest once more......//
Deep in the forests around Pella a young, golden haired boy smiled happily in his sleep. Now he knew that help was on its way.
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Bedtime Stories At The Keep Of Amyntor
The small, auburn haired boy was gently rocking a cradle, fondly watching over a tiny baby tucked into a fine rose colored quilt and lace adorned sheets. She too had auburn hair and her tiny head rested on a rose colored cushion embroidered with small silvery flowers. He caressed her peach soft cheek and felt her little hand taking hold of his. Warm hazel colored eyes watched him and she made some soft, satisfied gurgling sounds. He felt she was the most lovely creature on the whole earth.
”Little Helen, my Little Sister, I will always be there for you. Sleep well and tight now. ”
The venerable tall man and the beautiful Lady stood in the doorway, his strong right arm embracing his dear wife. She looked up to him with warm love in her hazel colored eyes:
”They are so sweet together -and little Hephaestion loves his baby sister so much. One wishes they could stay this way forever!”
”Yes, Theano - but soon Hephaestion will have to join the Royal pages and little Helen will make a good marriage. We must cherish them and do our very best for them when they are living here with us. ”
The small boy rocked the cradle until the tiny baby fell soundly asleep, making little sweet snoring sounds. He hushed at his parents:
”Sssh. Little Helen is sleeping. Now I’ll go and say good night to all my animal friends. ”
”Yes, Hephaestion. And - I think you must go to bed, too. ”
The little boy obediently followed his parents into his own chamber. It was finely adorned, with furniture in cherry tree and fabrics in sky blue and sea green. The boy’s bed held several finely embroidered cushions and a beautiful warming blue quilt. All embroideries were representing horses, trees and all kinds of birds and animals.
A bunch of small white, black and spotted rabbits were huddling together in a big basket filled with straw. They were almost sleeping but when he gently stroke them they wrinkled their little pink noses and fondly licked his fingers.
”Good night, Snowflake and Mayflower and all of your family. We’ll see how many there are of you in the morrow........”
”Good night, Phai. ”
They answered him in a whole chorus of tittering voices. In the beginning there had just been Snowflake and Mayflower, but in the manner of rabbits they had recently begun to multiply .......
Two fiery red squirrels sat in another basket, this one on the windowsill. They smacked with happiness when he came to them and patted their tiny heads.
”Good night. Rascal and Rosie. Sleep well and tight. I’ll bring you some more nuts in the morning so you don’t have to steal food from Cook. ”
”Good night, Phai. We didn’t steal the food from Cook. It must have been Someone Else!”
The squirrels curled up together in their soft straw basket. Soon they were snoring ever so sweet.
”Achilles and Antigona! Where are you? It’s time to go to bed!”
Two small kittens who had been hiding under a cupboard came butting their tiny heads on his knobbly knees. They went all around him, marking him as theirs and giving small meows all the time. He lifted them gently and took them to the bed, carefully putting them under the quilt, one in each of his arms. They made themselves comfortable, closing their eyes and starting to purr with sheer pleasure. They eagerly asked their little Master in small, curious voices:
”Will there be a bedtime tale tonight? We would like to hear about this other Achilles!”
”Mother, Father! Achilles and Antigona want to hear about Achilles and Patroklos this evening, too. ”
”Yes, but they have already heard all about them yesterday and the day before and the day before that. ”
”Theano, let’s tell it once more. There is nothing like a good bedtime tale. ”
And so the old Homeric tale was told once again at the Keep of Amyntor. Little Hephaestion and his tiny kittens were lulled to sleep by the awesome adventures of Achilles and Patroklos. This particular night it wasn’t as easy as usual. Hephaestion felt his stomach growl from an all consuming hunger and eagerly asked his parents:
”Please, I’m so hungry. Couldn’t we have some milk and honey cakes?”
”Yes, of course - but - we all ate a good supper on broth and beef not long ago. You simply cannot be hungry again. ”
The little boy was stubborn and soon he and his kittens and squirrels were sitting on a soft cushioned sofa near the windowsill, eagerly nibbling at some golden delicious honey cakes, downing them with fresh goat’s milk. When they had finished their evening meal they looked out through the window. They had a fine view of the Capital, especially the Royal Castle. In one of its windows the night lamp was burning especially bright and golden. Little Hephaestion had noticed this very special lamp and window of late. It stirred his eager imagination. He prudently told his animals:
”Whoever might live in that room? His lamp always burns so very bright, every evening the same. They say the Queen is related to Achilles. Could it even be him coming to visit her? What if he came to visit us, too?”
Little golden Achilles gave a consenting, sleepy meow, just as the black Antigona started to purr and curled up in her little Master’s lap. His parents kindly told him:
”See. Your kittens are falling asleep on you. Now you all must come to bed! And, you don’t need to brood so much over the King’s Castle. Soon enough you will be going there and see all of its marvels for yourself. ”
The Lord Amyntor took his young son and his kittens and kindly carried them over to the bed. He tucked them in and stayed with his wife for some time until he saw them soundly asleep.
Little Hephaestion’s sleep was filled with glorious dreams about Achilles and Patroklos going out on all kinds of adventures together. Soon he saw quite another sight, a young golden haired boy having kind conversations with kind animals just as he himself used to have. He had two puppies and a little house snake eagerly listening to him. There were also two even smaller animals, looking like one drop of black striped gold and one red ruby with small black dots on it. This Beautiful Golden One had filled his dreams of late, looking so wonderful, just wanting to be his Very Special Friend. Could he really be out there, actually waiting for him? No, it was only a dream, too good to be true.
Sleep overwhelmed the young auburn haired boy, rolling into his thoughts like a golden chariot driven by two magnificent war stallion, one black as thunder and one fiery auburn. Softly he murmured in his sleep:
”My Achilles! Mine alone..........”
Little golden furred Achilles gave a soft meow and started to purr in satisfaction as his little Master gently fondled him in his sleep.
Tedious Tutoring
Master Lernias’ lessons were kind and well meaning - but not especially interesting for a young boy with a bright and curious mind. The kittens and squirrels had long since gone to sleep, huddling together in a straw filled basket. Snowflake and his multiplying family didn’t need to attend classes. They were amusing themselves in a large pen filled with succulent grass and lettuce leaves, especially made for them in the garden.
Hephaestion had obediently read from Xenophon’s essay on horse breeding, and then he had dutifully copied seven pages from the Iliad with his stylos and learned how to make accounts on all the jars of wine and olive oil produced by the House of Amyntor. Now Master Lernias was reading aloud from the Odyssey. Hephaestion heard his voice coming from further and further away. He saw King Odysseus’ ship sailing Eastwards, to Egypt, to Babylon , to Susa, even to the fabled city of Persepolis.........
His eyelids were drooping down heavier and heavier, his head was looming like a lump of lead on his shoulders and the golden morning sun was shining on his back, as if wrapping him into a soft blanket of warming furs. The beautiful Golden One was wandering in the woods, followed by his puppies, eagerly searching for something - someone.......Soon Hephaestion was sound asleep - but in his prudent mind he thought he was still attending Master Lernias lessons.
A loud snoring suddenly woke him up. Master Lernias had at long last succumbed to his own tedious tutoring and was sleeping, his graying head comfortably resting on the Odyssey scrolls. Little Hephaestion kindly wrapped his mantle closer around him, musing for himself:
”Well, what do I do now? ”
A loud and urgent meow at his foot made him jump. The small kitten with his glorious golden fur was running rampant around his feet, madly meowing. It almost sounded like cries for help. His black furred friend was running around together with him, gently striking herself around her Master’s legs.
”Achilles! Antigona! What do you want? Shall we perhaps go outside?”
”Yes. We must go into the woods. There is someone who needs us! He has been here to ask for our help!”
”What do you mean by that? How can you know such a thing?”
”We just know! You must listen to us!”
”Yes. Don’t I always? You are the only talking kittens I know!”
This was an unusual situation, and Hephaestion got an unusual idea. He was always calm and obedient, but now he decided to do something quite unexpected.
”Let’s go out into the forest and have a day all on our own! Perhaps we’ll reach the King’s Castle and look out for the one with the Golden Lamp. It cannot be far from here. ”
Said and done. He brought a basket and managed to get some bread, cheese, ham and a jar of raspberry juice from the kitchens. No one saw him when he sneaked out through a secret door in the Keep’s garden. His kittens ran around his feet as small furry balls and the squirrels sat on each of his shoulders, merrily chattering.
”Phai! Why did you take all that food from Cook? You always tell US we mustn’t!”
”It’s not the same, my little ones. This is emergency provisions for our important excursion!”
This is the second entry to my Golden Treasure, Novel length version, kept here at my LJ account as a safety copy.
The Palace at Pella, 349 BC
Bedtime Stories At The Pella Palace
A sweet scented summer breeze wafted through a highly placed stone vaulted window, making a light blue curtain waft into the finely adorned room. It rippled over a mural painting from the Iliad, representing Achilles and Patroklos fighting the Trojans together, and made the flame of the night lamp flicker, creating an illusion of very real warlike actions.
All of this happened in the Royal Nursery at Pella. The young, beautiful Queen sat in a comfortable rocking chair, resting on soft purple cushions. She fondly watched the small, golden haired boy who was lying on his side, wrapped into a light blue quilt and a soft sheep fleece. He eagerly asked her:
”Mother, please tell me about Achilles and Patroclus once more!”
”Yes, yes, Alexander. Of course I will - but - don’t you know all about them by now?”
He shook his head and she proceeded to tell him the old tale once again, all except the gruesome ending. The fire on the hearth was burning with calm, orange red flames, slowly dying down into cinders. A servant put another log on the fire. As it flashed up anew it gave an extra glow to the Queen’s fiery golden red hair. Her young son listened intently to her bed time tale, seeing the dear friends before his Inner Eye, secret wishes filling his clever mind. She saw him close his eyes and thinking her dear little boy soundly asleep she gently patted his cheek and golden hair.
”Good night, Alexander. Sleep well and tight, my Little Dear One.”
When she left the room he opened his eyes and looked out the window. The Dog Star was burning bright like a priceless gem on the velvet dark blue sky. The small boy got up from bed. His dear little puppies, Sirius and Procyon, followed him on soft and stumbling legs. He also had a tame house snake called Hypnos. He slithered merrily at their side, gently hissing with his cloven tongue. They all climbed up on the stone bench at the window and begun what lately had become their very own and secret bedtime ritual. Little Alexander watched the starlit sky, looking at Orion, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Pegasus, the Plough and many other constellations. He pointed at them and told his little friends all kinds of made up stories. They nodded with kind understanding, although they really didn’t know what was so very fine with all those strange small lights high up in the skies. They were too far away to be prodded or sniffed at, and it was most uncertain if they even could be edible!
The small golden haired boy then lowered his eyes to the earthly realm. On the second hill from the Royal Castle at Pella there was a Keep looming high over the countryside. A small light was flickering in one window and if one watched very intently one could see a small shadow in its warm and golden light.
”Whoever lives in that Keep? I would so very much like to know him. Perhaps he will be my very special friend. Could it even be Patroklos living over there?”
A soft breeze of sweet scented summer air blew into the Royal Nursery. It brought a tiny Ladybug with seven small black dots on her bright red wings. She was guarded by a buzzing Bumblebee with a golden fuzzy fur. They said with voices, tinkling like little silver bells:
”Good evening, Alexander. ”
”Good evening, Little Ones. I have something for you. ”
He gently patted their tiny heads and then brought a plate with honey cake crumbs. The little ones started to eat with buzzing joy. Hypnos slithered up the windowsill and proceeded to eat the little ones. Alexander rebuked him, smacking his snout:
”No, Hypnos! Those are my very special little friends. You must NOT eat them for dinner!”
Ladybird and Bumblebee took off in frightened flight.
”Let us be, you nasty snake! Alexander, can’t you send him back to your Mother’s snake pit?”
”No, I like him, too. You simply must learn to behave yourselves! We are family, all of us!”
They all nodded. Ladybird and Bumblebee came back and shared the honey cake crumbs with Hypnos. The small puppies sat in Alexander’s lap, giving up some miniature howls at the crescent Moon. Alexander once more took a gaze at the Keep on the second hill. The light was still flickering and he told Ladybird and Bumblebee:
”I would so much like to know who lives in that Keep. You who can fly, can’t you fly over there first thing in the morning and see who he is?”
Ladybird and Bumblebee answered obediently :
”Yes, Alexander. We would also like to know. He sure must be someone very special. ”
They all went to sleep together. Alexander put Hypnos in a wicker basket at the foot of the bed and then took the puppies in his arms, gently fondling them. He tucked them all in under the quilt and fleece. Hypnos came slithering in and made him giggle.
”No, you are tickling me! Behave yourself!”
The little house snake gently coiled himself around Alexander’s right arm. He patted all his animal friends on their tiny heads and told them:
”Good night, all of you. Sleep well and tight. ”
”Good night, Alexander. ”
Ladybird and Bumblebee sat at the bedside table. Little Bumblebee started to drone a sweet and soothing bedtime tune and soon all were peacefully sleeping and snuggling together, as a great and loving family.
Morning Glory
Alexander woke up early in the morning. He yawned and stretched before casting off the quilt and fleece. The first thing he saw was his small friends sitting at the bedside table. Ladybird and Bumblebee greeted him with their voices tinkling like silver bells:
”Good morning, Alexander. ”
He patted their little heads and told them:
”Good morning, my little dear ones. I hope you haven’t forgotten the mission I gave you?”
”No, Alexander. We’ll be off to the Keep on the second hill right after our garden breakfast!”
And off they went, flying on little buzzing wings. Alexander looked at them when they disappeared down the Royal garden, wishing them luck with their important mission.
A servant came and gave Hypnos a great bowl of milk. Sirius and Procyon got a succulent meat stew. The animals started slobbering in delight and they had soon devoured their delicious dishes. Another servant came and brought the young Prince’s usual Spartan breakfast. Little Alexander ate his thin gruel and energetically chewed at the hard dark bread. It was so hard that it almost broke one of his milk teeth. When he was finished he was as hungry as when he started. His stomach growled and he looked with envy at the small puppies with their round tummies and Hypnos who had curled up in his wicker basket, rounded up with all the milk he had been drinking.
Hard Lessons
Now it was time for Alexander’s daily lessons. He marched off to the classroom with slow and heavy steps. Sirius and Procyon followed him, eagerly wafting their tails, every day forgetting those lessons were no treat at all.
His stern tutor Leonidas awaited him with a long and sharp pointer made from cornel wood. He addressed Alexander in a rough and demanding voice:
”Late as usual, my Prince! Sit down! We have much work to do here today!”
At first it was Reading. Alexander read aloud from his favorite Xenophon essay on horses, but since he pronounced each and every one of the Greek words the wrong way and got smacked on his fingers every time it didn’t give him much amusement, only very sore little fingers. Sirius and Procyon was jumping and yelping to his defense, but since their teeth were so very tiny there wasn’t much they could do. Master Leonidas told a servant :
”Take those bad mannered pups outside! They are disturbing my education!”
Out they went, pitifully whimpering. When they were reunited with their mother and siblings in the Royal kennel they told them all about Alexander’s hard lessons, bringing about much yelping and barking. Their kind mother told them all:
”You ought to be glad that you are not humans! It seems they are far too good at making each other feel miserable!”
Next lesson was Writing. Alexander had to copy seven times seven lines from the Iliad. His fingers were still sore from the smackings and his writing was very clumsy, almost unreadable. This rendered him some more smackings and an order to do it all over again. He proceeded in sullen disgust, and the valiant poetry didn’t amuse him at all.
The third lesson was Mathematics. Leonidas explained some very complicated Treasury calculations. Alexander didn’t understand the first thing about them. He didn’t dare to ask since he knew that would only bring on more smackings. He drifted off into more pleasant thoughts about the one living in the Keep on the second hill. Could it be another little boy, someone like himself, someone wanting to play with him? Perhaps he, too had a stern tutor and hard lessons to put up with...........
”Well, Alexander. How many gold coins do you have left if there are two thousand in one Treasury sac and you administer two hundred to the Army, two hundred to the Navy and two hundred to the Royal Household?”
”Excuse me, Master Leonidas. I didn’t hear the question. ”
”You - what? Didn’t hear the question? I’ll teach you to listen to my education!”
Alexander was grasped by big, strong, claw like hands and then put upside down on hard knobbly knees. His chiton was dragged aside and he felt the sharp cornel pointer approach the tender skin of his poor little behind.
Serious Search
Ladybird and Bumblebee fortified themselves with a tasty breakfast on honey and nectar from all the sweet smelling flowers in the Royal garden. Then they started flapping their little wings to fly over the high stone walls. Halfway up they were panting pitifully and dropped down on their tiny butts. Alexander had fed them too many honey cake crumbs, making them too fat to fly over the walls! Now they sat on a ruby red rose, crying in shame and sorrow. Their friend the Little Red Robin came asking:
”Why are you so sad? You are Alexander’s very special friends, and he gives you better food than he ever gets himself!”
”Yes, he is so very nice to us, and now he has asked us to fly to the Keep on the second hill to look after who lives in there - but we are too small and well fed and we cannot even fly over the wall!”
They continued crying bitterly and their tears fell like small crystal dew drops on the rose petals. Little Red Robin tried to give them some solace.
”Don’t you cry, Little Ones. I will fly over there and when I come back I can tell you everything. ”
”Oh, thank you so much. We’ll give you some of our next serving of honey cake crumbs as a reward!”
Enchanted Garden
Little Red Robin flew away on tiny wings. The mild summer breeze was helping him and blew him towards the Keep on the second hill. Soon he was perching in the wild ivy, hiding behind a tangle of the small lobate leaves. He was immediately lucky in his mission when his curious little eyes were enchanted by a most merry sight.
A small boy with glossy auburn hair and the most beautiful blue eyes was sitting at his breakfast, consisting of apricot and raspberry jam, honey, soft white bread, newly churned butter and milk warm from the nanny goats. Two small kittens, one with golden fur and the other jet black, were sitting on the table like tiny balls of fuzzy fur. They were sharing his meal and licked at a bowl of cream, showing excellent table manners. A whole litter of fuzzy rabbits in all kinds of colors and patterns were jumping around his feet, nibbling at fresh and succulent lettuce leaves. Two flaming red squirrels were sitting at the table, holding some hazel nuts in their tiny paws and eating, they too with excellent table manners.
A beautiful Lady with radiant auburn hair showing from under her thin sea green veil was sitting in a chair, nursing a small baby, she too with this glossy auburn hair. It seemed like a very happy family and Little Red Robin stayed for a long time, watching in delight, before he returned to the Royal Garden to report to Ladybird and Bumblebee.
The little ones were still sitting on the ruby red rose, and they had consumed most of its honey and nectar during their anxious wait. When they saw their kind bird friend return they came buzzing towards him:
”Have you really been there? What did you see? What did you find?”
”Yes, I’ve been to the Keep - and it is such a wondrous place! Another little boy lives there. He too, likes animals a lot - and they even have lots of delicious food!”
Little Red Robin told his wonderful tale to his eager listeners. When he had finished they all flew directly to Alexander’s school room, wanting to bring the Good News as quick as possible.
Valiant Warrior
They approached the school room window aperture with kind anticipation. The sight meeting their tiny eyes froze them into three small horrified statues at the window sill. Little Alexander had been slumped over Master Leonidas’ knobbly knees. His chiton was dragged aside, laying his tiny pink behind bare, to be threatened by a sharp cornel wood pointer, raised in the angry hand of the stern tutor.
Little Bumblebee buzzed in righteous wrath:
”NO. Now the Bad Man is at it again! I will not stand for it anymore!”
He brandished his tiny but sharp sting and flew with great speed down towards the scene of unjust punishment. The pointer was just about to hit its innocent goal when he stung the stern tutor deep into his right earlobe.
”Ouch! What was that?”
Master Leonidas smacked at his ear, his hand coming down like a cruel cudgel towards Bumblebee. Ladybird and Little Red Robin gasped in terror. Bumblebee managed to withdraw his stinger at the last minute and flew away, only to be hit by the pointer. Fortunately it just helped his flight to the windowsill, where he collapsed in a small breathless heap. Little Ladybug gave him a loving hug and kissed his tiny black cheek.
”Oh, my Valiant Warrior. You are braver then Achilles or Hector - since your adversary was much, much bigger and more dangerous than yourself!”
Master Leonidas clutched at his ear. It had turned into a raging red and was swelling into its double size. He roared in anger, pointing towards Alexander:
”You! You and those spoiled animals of yours! You are hopeless. I wish I could send you all to the mines to teach you some manners! Tonight you will go to bed without your dinner!”
Great Expectations
The little Prince was marched to the nursery and locked up. Hypnos and the puppies kept him company and soon Ladybug, Bumblebee and Little Red Robin joined them at the windowsill. Alexander came and sat down at the stone bench, gently patting their tiny heads:
”Many thanks for saving me from that smacking! You are a very valiant warrior, little Bumblebee. I wish I had some extra honey cake crumbs to reward you, but it seems we are in disgrace this evening, all of us. ”
”It doesn’t matter, Alexander. We are together, that’s the important thing - and - he’ll give you another serving of gruel and hard bread tomorrow morning! Let’s now tell you what we found out about the Keep!”
Alexander felt his curiosity arise and eagerly asked his little friends:
”Yes, my Little Ones. Please tell me at once!”
He listened with rising happiness. This was even better than he had expected! When they had finished he told them:
”We are skipping school tomorrow. We must pay a visit to the Keep at the second hill instead!”
”Yes, Alexander. Perhaps they will have some food for us, too! We are very hungry, all of us....”
Yes, tomorrow would be a real treat - but there was still a long night of hunger to endure.
Bedtime Hunger
Little Alexander was lying on his side under his quilt and fleece. His stomach was grumbling so pitifully no one could go to sleep. Sirius and Procyon were holding their ears with their tiny paws, Hypnos had hidden his head deep into his coils and Ladybird and Bumblebee had taken shelter in a silver thimble the Queen had forgotten on the bedside table. All animals were starving and their little tummies were growling in unison. No one understood why they were suffering this cruel punishment.
An angry voice was heard at the other side of the nursery door:
”No. You cannot smack me with that pointer. I’m the Queen of Macedon!”
”Yes, I know, but, the King has told me to educate his son as I see fit - and tonight he goes without supper. Period!”
There was a long silence, disrupted by loud snoring. Soon afterwards the door was quietly opened. Queen Olympias entered with Alexander’s little Sister Cleopatra in tow. They were followed by Hyrmina from Epiros. The old handmaiden carried a tray with all kinds of delicious dishes. Alexander looked at them with surprise and delight.
”Ssssh, my son. He is sleeping. We sent a beautiful handmaiden to lure him with a cup of wine laced with a sleeping potion and a tray with honey cakes. ”
Alexander looked at his mother with some dismay :
”Mother. Are you sure it was only a sleeping potion?”
Olympias took a closer look at her young son :
”My Little Dear One, you understand far too much for your tender age. ”
Hyrmina administered all the delicious foodstuffs. Alexander got some hot posset, bread with butter and ham and cool raspberry juice. The puppies got their meat stew, Hypnos his bowl of milk and Ladybird and Bumblebee their honey cake crumbs. Little Bumblebee got some extra large crumbs and Alexander told his Mother about his bravery. The Queen gently patted the little one on his tiny black head:
”You are very brave for one so small. I sure hope my son gets many warriors as valiant as you when he marches out for Persia!”
They all fell asleep to an Epirote lullaby, full and satisfied from all the fine foodstuffs they had devoured.
Excursion!
Alexander woke up very early in the morning, well before dawn and first light. He dressed in his plain wool chiton and cloak. Hypnos coiled himself up around his right arm and Sirius and Procyon tottered at his side on small, stumbling legs. Ladybird and Bumblebee put themselves to rest on his right shoulder. They made a first halt at the Royal kitchens, collecting an ample supply of bread, cheese, honey cakes and a jar of raspberry juice. Alexander put it all in his knapsack and then out they went. Of course they couldn’t pass the sentries - but Alexander knew a secret door leading through the thick walls of the gardens. They went through it and climbed down a steep path from the side of the Royal castle, heading straight towards the Keep on the second hill.
The path led deep into the forest. Looking from the nursery window the Keep seemed to be very close nearby. Well into the forest the small company realized the truth was far more complicated. They walked on and on and on..........an interminably long walk. Sirius and Procyon got tired and their small paws got filled with blisters. The little pups sat down, howling pitifully. Alexander took them in his arms.
”Well, since you cannot walk any longer I’ll have to carry you. ”
Disaster
On they went. The young Prince felt his own feet getting sore and tired, his soft deer skin sandals being worn out by the hard stones and sprigs of the woodland path. Then he stumbled on a thick and very tough root. An ominous creak was heard from his right ankle, and then he fell down a deep slope. He was rolling, rolling and rolling along, the small puppies spinning like balls of whimpering fur at his side. Ladybird and Bumblebee took to flight, flapping their tiny wings and crying out for help in dismay.
The rolling and falling seemed endless but at long last was stopped by a moss clad fallen tree trunk. Alexander and the pups lay panting, the young Prince was silent from shock and loss of air but the small puppies were pitifully whimpering. Alexander took them in his lap and examined them. Fortunately they were unharmed, just frightened out of their wits. Their thick fur had protected them from serious injuries. Alexander was not so lucky. His right ankle and foot was swollen and turning into an ominous blue and purple color. He tried to rise and stand. It gave way immediately and he cried out from the stabbing and throbbing pain as he fell back towards the soft green moss.
”Oh, no. How do we get away from here? No one knows where we are! ”
He looked at Ladybird and Bumblebee who was sitting on his knuckles.
”Little Ones, do you think you can fly back to the Palace and tell Mother where we are? She will understand what you are saying, no one else will!”
”Yes, Alexander, we’ll fly at once. ”
They took off on tiny wings, eagerly trying to return to the Pella Palace. The forest had become very thick and dark around them. The warm golden sunlight seeping down the foliage wasn’t enough to show them the right path - and they were quite confused by witnessing the falling and rolling of their friends. Soon little Bumblebee said to his Ladybug friend:
”I don’t know at all where we are. I think we are lost!”
”Yes, I don’t know any better than you. Whatever shall we do? We must get some help to Alexander. He will never get up from that slope by his own!”
They sat down on a lady’s mantle’s lobate leaf, pitifully crying, their tears falling like tiny crystals and adding to the pearly clear water drop inside the leaf.
”Sob” Help us, someone! Help us! We are lost!”
Alexander heard their voices, tinkling like little silver bells from afar. The forest was getting deeper and darker all the time. A cold wetness was creeping into his very bones from the grass and moss. The golden sunlight seeping down through the thick fir and spruce branches was not enough to warm him and he begun to shiver from shock and fatigue. Sirius and Procyon curled up in his lap and gave him some friendly licks. He gently patted their heads and told them:
”It’s nice of you to stay with me - but it would have been better if you had been able to run back to the Palace. I hear the Little Ones have flown away in the wrong direction!”
The puppies started to whimper pitifully as he soothingly cradled them in his arms. Alexander told them in a small but valiant voice:
”Don’t you be afraid, all my Little Ones. Someone will come for us, they always will. ”
Waiting
Ladybird and Bumblebee were sitting on their lady’s mantle leaf, sobbing and crying. They could hear Alexander groaning from deep down the slope. Knowing that their little Master was in pain and danger made them even more upset and their crying became uncontrollable. The Little Ones cried so much the dew drop in the leaf flew over the rim and they had to move to another lobate leaf. The forest became darker and more and more threatening all around them. Blue, black and green shadows were creeping close by from all directions. They all heard all kinds of creaking, creeping and crawling sounds, some from small and harmless creatures, some from bigger, more dangerous animals.
Alexander was leaning towards the moss clad tree trunk. His right ankle was throbbing from pain and had swelled to twice its ordinary size, turning black and blue at the same time. Hypnos coiled around it, trying to soothe the pain. He gently lifted the little house snake in his tail.
”No. You are just tickling me. Come here and coil around my arm instead. ”
His small puppies licked the swollen ankle. When they saw that their kind and gentle ministrations didn’t make it better they sat down starting to howl miserably. Alexander took them in his lap and tried to wrap them all inside his woolen mantle. He was shivering from pain and shock and the threadbare fabrics hadn’t much warmth to offer them. The mossy ground felt cold under him and he knew he couldn’t stay this way for very long. Soon it would be dark - and some of the many wolves, lions or bears inhabiting the forest would be able to detect him.
Suddenly a shower of warm, golden rays of sun came through the thick foliage. He felt himself wrapped inside their wonderful warmth. They soothed the throbbing pain in his injured ankle and lulled him into sleep. He barely managed to feel for the little sharp knife at his side before he succumbed to a deep slumber and a very strange dream.
// Alexander felt the golden sun rays carry him up and far away, as if in a golden chariot. The thick green foliage brushed all over his body, just to be replaced by warm summer breezes. He could see the forest as a tapestry of different green, brown and yellow colors. Suddenly and unexpectedly the Keep on the second hill loomed before him and he was able to enter through a vaulted window.
He found himself in a finely adorned school room. A small boy with glossy auburn hair was sound asleep, slumped on his cherry tree desk. His teacher was also sound asleep and loudly snoring, his head resting upon some old and apparently most comfortable scrolls. He was a kind looking old man, the very opposite of Master Leonidas. The small boy must be very lucky indeed. Alexander’s lessons never ever allowed him to be lulled into such a peaceful sleep!
Alexander went towards the other boy and gently tapped his right shoulder. He was so very sound asleep he didn’t react. Now the young Prince saw the basket. Two tiny kittens and two fiery red squirrels were waking up. The little tomcat with the golden fur jumped out of the basket and right at his leg. He begun to purr and gently rub himself around Alexander’s legs. The small she-cat licked at his swollen ankle and made it feel better with her tiny rough tongue. Alexander patted their furry heads and smiled at them.
”My sweet little ones, it seems you are the only ones noticing me. You must wake your Master and tell him I urgently need his help! Something tells me that you have the Gift of Speech and are Talking Animals, just like my own!”
They nodded and meowed in kind consent. Alexander felt himself drawn out from the vaulted stone window, back to the forest once more......//
Deep in the forests around Pella a young, golden haired boy smiled happily in his sleep. Now he knew that help was on its way.
***********************************************************************************************
Bedtime Stories At The Keep Of Amyntor
The small, auburn haired boy was gently rocking a cradle, fondly watching over a tiny baby tucked into a fine rose colored quilt and lace adorned sheets. She too had auburn hair and her tiny head rested on a rose colored cushion embroidered with small silvery flowers. He caressed her peach soft cheek and felt her little hand taking hold of his. Warm hazel colored eyes watched him and she made some soft, satisfied gurgling sounds. He felt she was the most lovely creature on the whole earth.
”Little Helen, my Little Sister, I will always be there for you. Sleep well and tight now. ”
The venerable tall man and the beautiful Lady stood in the doorway, his strong right arm embracing his dear wife. She looked up to him with warm love in her hazel colored eyes:
”They are so sweet together -and little Hephaestion loves his baby sister so much. One wishes they could stay this way forever!”
”Yes, Theano - but soon Hephaestion will have to join the Royal pages and little Helen will make a good marriage. We must cherish them and do our very best for them when they are living here with us. ”
The small boy rocked the cradle until the tiny baby fell soundly asleep, making little sweet snoring sounds. He hushed at his parents:
”Sssh. Little Helen is sleeping. Now I’ll go and say good night to all my animal friends. ”
”Yes, Hephaestion. And - I think you must go to bed, too. ”
The little boy obediently followed his parents into his own chamber. It was finely adorned, with furniture in cherry tree and fabrics in sky blue and sea green. The boy’s bed held several finely embroidered cushions and a beautiful warming blue quilt. All embroideries were representing horses, trees and all kinds of birds and animals.
A bunch of small white, black and spotted rabbits were huddling together in a big basket filled with straw. They were almost sleeping but when he gently stroke them they wrinkled their little pink noses and fondly licked his fingers.
”Good night, Snowflake and Mayflower and all of your family. We’ll see how many there are of you in the morrow........”
”Good night, Phai. ”
They answered him in a whole chorus of tittering voices. In the beginning there had just been Snowflake and Mayflower, but in the manner of rabbits they had recently begun to multiply .......
Two fiery red squirrels sat in another basket, this one on the windowsill. They smacked with happiness when he came to them and patted their tiny heads.
”Good night. Rascal and Rosie. Sleep well and tight. I’ll bring you some more nuts in the morning so you don’t have to steal food from Cook. ”
”Good night, Phai. We didn’t steal the food from Cook. It must have been Someone Else!”
The squirrels curled up together in their soft straw basket. Soon they were snoring ever so sweet.
”Achilles and Antigona! Where are you? It’s time to go to bed!”
Two small kittens who had been hiding under a cupboard came butting their tiny heads on his knobbly knees. They went all around him, marking him as theirs and giving small meows all the time. He lifted them gently and took them to the bed, carefully putting them under the quilt, one in each of his arms. They made themselves comfortable, closing their eyes and starting to purr with sheer pleasure. They eagerly asked their little Master in small, curious voices:
”Will there be a bedtime tale tonight? We would like to hear about this other Achilles!”
”Mother, Father! Achilles and Antigona want to hear about Achilles and Patroklos this evening, too. ”
”Yes, but they have already heard all about them yesterday and the day before and the day before that. ”
”Theano, let’s tell it once more. There is nothing like a good bedtime tale. ”
And so the old Homeric tale was told once again at the Keep of Amyntor. Little Hephaestion and his tiny kittens were lulled to sleep by the awesome adventures of Achilles and Patroklos. This particular night it wasn’t as easy as usual. Hephaestion felt his stomach growl from an all consuming hunger and eagerly asked his parents:
”Please, I’m so hungry. Couldn’t we have some milk and honey cakes?”
”Yes, of course - but - we all ate a good supper on broth and beef not long ago. You simply cannot be hungry again. ”
The little boy was stubborn and soon he and his kittens and squirrels were sitting on a soft cushioned sofa near the windowsill, eagerly nibbling at some golden delicious honey cakes, downing them with fresh goat’s milk. When they had finished their evening meal they looked out through the window. They had a fine view of the Capital, especially the Royal Castle. In one of its windows the night lamp was burning especially bright and golden. Little Hephaestion had noticed this very special lamp and window of late. It stirred his eager imagination. He prudently told his animals:
”Whoever might live in that room? His lamp always burns so very bright, every evening the same. They say the Queen is related to Achilles. Could it even be him coming to visit her? What if he came to visit us, too?”
Little golden Achilles gave a consenting, sleepy meow, just as the black Antigona started to purr and curled up in her little Master’s lap. His parents kindly told him:
”See. Your kittens are falling asleep on you. Now you all must come to bed! And, you don’t need to brood so much over the King’s Castle. Soon enough you will be going there and see all of its marvels for yourself. ”
The Lord Amyntor took his young son and his kittens and kindly carried them over to the bed. He tucked them in and stayed with his wife for some time until he saw them soundly asleep.
Little Hephaestion’s sleep was filled with glorious dreams about Achilles and Patroklos going out on all kinds of adventures together. Soon he saw quite another sight, a young golden haired boy having kind conversations with kind animals just as he himself used to have. He had two puppies and a little house snake eagerly listening to him. There were also two even smaller animals, looking like one drop of black striped gold and one red ruby with small black dots on it. This Beautiful Golden One had filled his dreams of late, looking so wonderful, just wanting to be his Very Special Friend. Could he really be out there, actually waiting for him? No, it was only a dream, too good to be true.
Sleep overwhelmed the young auburn haired boy, rolling into his thoughts like a golden chariot driven by two magnificent war stallion, one black as thunder and one fiery auburn. Softly he murmured in his sleep:
”My Achilles! Mine alone..........”
Little golden furred Achilles gave a soft meow and started to purr in satisfaction as his little Master gently fondled him in his sleep.
Tedious Tutoring
Master Lernias’ lessons were kind and well meaning - but not especially interesting for a young boy with a bright and curious mind. The kittens and squirrels had long since gone to sleep, huddling together in a straw filled basket. Snowflake and his multiplying family didn’t need to attend classes. They were amusing themselves in a large pen filled with succulent grass and lettuce leaves, especially made for them in the garden.
Hephaestion had obediently read from Xenophon’s essay on horse breeding, and then he had dutifully copied seven pages from the Iliad with his stylos and learned how to make accounts on all the jars of wine and olive oil produced by the House of Amyntor. Now Master Lernias was reading aloud from the Odyssey. Hephaestion heard his voice coming from further and further away. He saw King Odysseus’ ship sailing Eastwards, to Egypt, to Babylon , to Susa, even to the fabled city of Persepolis.........
His eyelids were drooping down heavier and heavier, his head was looming like a lump of lead on his shoulders and the golden morning sun was shining on his back, as if wrapping him into a soft blanket of warming furs. The beautiful Golden One was wandering in the woods, followed by his puppies, eagerly searching for something - someone.......Soon Hephaestion was sound asleep - but in his prudent mind he thought he was still attending Master Lernias lessons.
A loud snoring suddenly woke him up. Master Lernias had at long last succumbed to his own tedious tutoring and was sleeping, his graying head comfortably resting on the Odyssey scrolls. Little Hephaestion kindly wrapped his mantle closer around him, musing for himself:
”Well, what do I do now? ”
A loud and urgent meow at his foot made him jump. The small kitten with his glorious golden fur was running rampant around his feet, madly meowing. It almost sounded like cries for help. His black furred friend was running around together with him, gently striking herself around her Master’s legs.
”Achilles! Antigona! What do you want? Shall we perhaps go outside?”
”Yes. We must go into the woods. There is someone who needs us! He has been here to ask for our help!”
”What do you mean by that? How can you know such a thing?”
”We just know! You must listen to us!”
”Yes. Don’t I always? You are the only talking kittens I know!”
This was an unusual situation, and Hephaestion got an unusual idea. He was always calm and obedient, but now he decided to do something quite unexpected.
”Let’s go out into the forest and have a day all on our own! Perhaps we’ll reach the King’s Castle and look out for the one with the Golden Lamp. It cannot be far from here. ”
Said and done. He brought a basket and managed to get some bread, cheese, ham and a jar of raspberry juice from the kitchens. No one saw him when he sneaked out through a secret door in the Keep’s garden. His kittens ran around his feet as small furry balls and the squirrels sat on each of his shoulders, merrily chattering.
”Phai! Why did you take all that food from Cook? You always tell US we mustn’t!”
”It’s not the same, my little ones. This is emergency provisions for our important excursion!”