“He had to take care of business elsewhere.” She loved him, his amber eyes, the way he still carried youth in his smile. She had relied so fully on him during Odysseus’ absence, she would never know how to thank him. “Are you free, my son?”
“For you Mother, always.” He dropped the fruit onto the chaise he had been lounging on, a lopsided grin still present on his face. He offered his arm. “Shall we walk?”
She slipped her hand into the crook of her son’s arm as they left the courtyard. Telemachus led them down a path that led around the palace walls.
“Telemachus,” Penelope took a breath, closing her eyes momentarily as she leveled herself. “There is something you and I must discuss. Something you mustn’t share with your father.”
He tensed next to her, but nodded. “Alright… I trust you.” He said after a moment of quiet contemplation. He stopped right as they passed into the gardens, releasing her arm.
“Your father has made a deal with Hades,” she started, watching him for a reaction.
“Yes, I know.” His response was very matter-of-fact. “When Icarius was found dead, he told me of the deal.”
She shook her head. “That was too much to put on you, my son. I am so sorry.”
“I’m not a boy, Mother.” His voice was soft, but strong. “Father doesn’t treat me like a child. He is direct with me.”
Her heart ached almost instantly at his words, at the way he almost sounded reverent when talking about Odysseus. She was both overwhelmed with joy at their connection, and a little takenaback that Telemachus thought she spoke to him like he was young.
As if reading her mind, he smiled at her. “Mom, he doesn’t know how to speak to me any other way. I do not resent our relationship, or wish anything was different. You are my mother. It’s your sacred duty to dote on me.”
She blinked back the tears that quickly warmed her eyes. Offering her son a watery smile, she laid a hand on his cheek. “I will always dote on you, my sweet boy.”
The tips of his ears flushed red as he broke her gaze. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?” He asked, looking awkwardly at his feet.
“No, it’s not.” She was breathless now, anxiety catching up with her. “No, there’s more to the deal.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together.” He was so confident, so sure of himself and his parents.
“I wish we could, my son.” She said, biting the inside of her cheek as she framed her confession in her mind. “I wish we could… But I-” Her voice caught.
“Mom?”
“I made a deal too.”
He stood in front of her, mouth agape as he searched her face. Penelope’s heart raced, her pulse echoing in her ear as she waited for her son to say something.
“With Hades?” His voice was almost indiscernible from the breezes around them.
Her words stuck in her throat, so she just nodded. He turned his back to her, pulling his hand through his dark hair. “For what? What did you offer?” He kept his back to her, did not look as he asked.
“My life for his, with one condition.”
“Mother…” Telemachus was scolding her. She could hear both the hurt and the despair in his words as he spoke. “Why?What condition could youpossiblythink that you or Father could meet that would keep your life safe? Do you understand how foolish-”
“Yes, son, I do.” Leveled now, she stepped forward, gently laying a hand on his shoulder. “I trust your father without fail, without doubt. Beyond reason.”
“Then tell me what you bartered away for him.”
“When the time comes… when Hades returns to Ithaca for your father, I will go, too.” Telemachus opened his mouth to retort, but she held up her hand, “And no matter what, Odysseus gets to rest. He will spend his eternity in Elysium, his afterlife in rest.”
“And you?” His words were clipped, cold.
“If your father allows me to go with him, allow me to cross the Styx without a word of argument or dissent… I will spend my eternity in Tartarus.”
And Telemachus… laughed.
“You find this funny, son?” She scowled at him as he continued to chuckle.
