If only for a little while.
45
AS THE AUTUMN BREEZES TURNED to winter chills, pieces of Penelope’s heart began to heal. Her husband and her son were finding a sincere patch of camaraderie as they worked side by side. Odysseus shared as much kingly wisdom as he could, and Telemachus took it all in stride, but never backed down from challenging his father, from asking how things could be different.
She was bursting with pride for both son and husband. When Odysseus had first returned, it felt as though the most important people in her life could never bridge the rift between them. But seeing them working together for a better Ithaca… it eased a heavy burden she had been carrying.
Penelope sat on the balcony of their bedroom, mindlessly stitching in the mid-afternoon light. There weren’t many days she spent alone, as her husband much preferred to be in solitude by her side. But on this crisp winter morning, wrapped up in layers of furs, she looked out to the sea.
“Penelope?” a voice interrupted her thoughts, pulling her out of her head. Her king was by her side in a matter of strides, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry to intrude, my queen.”
“Not a queen anymore,” she corrected, turning to face him.
“Always my queen,” he muttered, slowly coming to kneel beside her. As she watched her husband settle, she could tell there was a disturbance. “Someone has arrived.” Odysseus took the needlework from her hand, stretching around her to set it on a nearby table. His expression flickered, just for a moment. Penelope was certain she’d seen it.
“Who?” She turned in her seat to face him. He offered her a smile, rising to his feet. She followed suit, furrowing her brow as she watched him walk towards the door. “Odysseus?”
“I-” Her husband being lost for words was a delight when she caused it. But when she was wading into an unknown? Dread settled in the pit of her stomach like a rock. “Just come, please.” He presented his arm to her.
She did not miss the way his free hand clamped down over hers almost instantly, as if he was grounding her. But… she did not feel afloat. Was he grounding himself?
He did not speak as he guided her through their halls, but the tension was radiated off of him like smoke. His footfalls were heavier than normal, the mischief he carried so easily was completely absent from his eyes. Whoever she was meeting had ruffled her king’s feathers already.
They stopped just short of the door to the large meeting space. Odysseus dropped her arm, holding her face gently in his hands instead. “Penelope,” he whispered, closing his eyes. Her hand moved of its own accord, coming to rest gently on his cheek.
“Whatever he says to you, whatever tricks he is here to play…” he leaned forward, against her forehead. “You aregood. You are my strength, my light, and the leader Ithaca has always needed.” She shuddered underneath the weight of his words. “Don’t let him burrow in, wife. Don’t give him that.”
“You’re worrying me,” she whispered, her heart starting to beat faster in her chest. Odysseus did not respond. He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple before releasing her.
With a heavy groan, the door opened before them. Penelope blinked… once, twice, three times. She felt the blood drain from her face, felt her breath dissipate from her lungs as her eyes found the man standing in the center of the room.
She hadn’t thought it could get worse than seeing her attacker’s father standing before her, jeering at her, demeaning her and her king for the way they led their kingdom.
That was only because she never thought to assume her own father would belittle himself by coming to Ithaca.
Until now.
“My daughter,” Icarius’ voice pierced through the silence. He was not smiling, he did not move to greet her. “A delight to see you after all these years.” He was older now, grey hair pulled back off of his neck. “I have missed you, Penelope.”
She didn’t answer - how could she? After she had run away, he never came for her. Never checked on her, never even tried to reclaim her. He had truly just let her slip away into the night and never gave her another thought.
Odysseus was at her side. She could feel him widening his shoulders, straightening his back. The former Ithacan King had something to prove.
“Father,” her eyes never left his. Penelope tried to keep a neutral expression on her face, as she had been painstakingly taught to do. After over twenty years, though, she was afraid she might be out of practice. “What brings you to our home?”
“Do I need a reason to visit my daughter?” His words echoed off of the walls.
Odysseus took a step forward, opening his mouth to reply to the man. Penelope laid her hand on his arm, shaking her head gently. When his eyes met her, she smiled at him, hoping toextend the feeling of peace that he brought to her. “No, Father, I suppose you don’t,” she answered finally. “Twenty years is a long time. Whynow?”
He tutted quietly, clasping his hands behind his back as he took a step towards them. “Ever the pragmatic wench, daughter.” He sneered, looking down his nose at her at last.Therewas the man that had raised her. “Perhaps I had just gotten wind of the little suitor ring you’ve been running?” He continued encroaching, circling them like prey. “Perhaps I’d heard that myson-in-lawwasn’t dead at sea after all. Perhaps,” he stopped directly in front of them, tilting his head. “I wanted to see what sort of man could fool even the dullest of women into running away with him.”
She kept her breath even, did not engage with the insults he hurled at her. He wanted to provoke her, perhaps even to provoke her husband.
“Bold words for a man who did nothing to protecthis daughterwhen her home was overtaken.” Odysseus cut in. She could feel the anger in his words, the unspoken threat he was making against the Spartan in their halls.
“You did nothing either, Ithacan. Took your time getting home, didn’t you?” Icarius spat. “How many children do you have scattered across the seas now, boy?”
“Icarius,” Penelope’s voice sliced through the tension in the room, drawing both men’s attention. “You are bold to speak of things you know little about.”
