“Athena.” He spoke through clenched teeth, with his fists tight at his side. “I-”
“Odysseus,” she interrupted him, stepping close enough that he had to tilt his neck to continue meeting her gaze. “You have fought wars for her, braved storms and gods alike. Let that not be the end of your devotion, Odysseus. A good man does not abandon his wife to the whims of fate - not in life, nor in death.”
He forced himself to relax the fists at his side, taking in a ragged breath. “If anything happens to her-” His voice caught, he couldn’t finish his statement.
“You’re not hearing me, Ithacan.” She erupted into laughter, turning her back on him. “How long did you play the god’s games to return to her side?” She tossed over her shoulder.
“You know how long I was away,” He snapped, brow furrowing as the goddess continued to egg him on.
“Do you need me to hold your hand, Odysseus?” She mocked him, hands on her hips as she shook her head. “Lead you to the answer myself? For a clever man, you have certainly become quite dense.”
“Athena.” He practically growled her name, finding himself losing patience, even with the goddess.
“You’re a fool for that woman. You know that, right?” She finally turned around, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized him. “She makes you weak. I have always said that.”
“I would rather be the weakest man in the world by her side than a god without her. She is nonnegotiable.”
“You’ve never needed the gods to protect her, foolish king.”
“But I’m asking-”
“No, Odysseus. You only need to remember why you fought for her in the first place.”
He ran a hand through his hair, taking a few steps towards her. It took all his power not to pace right there in the grove. The anxiety was about to drown him.
“I love her, Athena. To the core of my soul, she is in every inch of me.”
“This isn’t news to me, King.”
“Athena, please.” He felt his resolve breaking. “Will you watch over her, over my son, when the time comes?” He couldn’t meet her eyes anymore, shame flaring up in the back of his throat. “I have made my decision, and if it brings peace to her, I will never regret it. But please, my oldest friend, can you do me that last kindness?”
The goddess laughed again, reaching out to grab Odysseus by his shoulders. “If a time comes when she is no longer by your side, you weak man, I will watch out for her.”
He managed a watery smile, but still couldn’t meet the goddess’ fierce gaze.
“Just remember, King of Ithaca, what she means to you. How hard you have always fought for her safety here in Ithaca.”
She smiled, a sincere smile this time.
“And all will be well, my old friend.”
51
ODYSSEUS HAD DISAPPEARED right after their midday meal, and typically she would question him. It wasn’t because she was distrustful; it was because she truly hated to be away from him.
But today, it was a blessing in disguise. Penelope had been trying to find time to steal away herself without alerting or worrying her husband.
She had to talk to Telemachus.
He didn’t deserve to stay in the dark. He had spent most of his childhood shielded from the bigger issues at play, from the work of man and gods alike. The very least she could do was to provide him with information that she had.
She found him in the open space of the courtyard, casually tossing a pomegranate into the air. “Son,” she called as she neared him.
He turned, offering his mother a lazy grin. Her heart lurched at the sight. So much of him came from his father. All of his best assets were Odysseus. “Mother!” He stood to hug her. He stood a head taller than her, dwarfing her as his arms wrapped around her shoulders. “Where’s Father?”
She didn’t miss that he smiled a little easier without his father nearby. She couldn’t fault him. Telemachus had heldthe entirety of her attention for twenty years, and having to suddenly share that affection with a ghost couldn’t be easy at all.
He didn’t put on airs when it was just the two of them. He didn’t have to be King Telemachus, or Telemachus, son of Odysseus, he could just be her son, her boy.
