Page 46 of Elysium

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 are good . 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 to extend 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. Why now ?”

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. There was 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 my son-in-law wasn’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 protect his daughter when 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.”

“Have you lost all sense of decorum on this wild island?” His face was growing red, his temper was beginning to flare. “You will show some respect to your father.”

“Hmm,” Her voice was cool, trailing on. It was her turn to step forward, standing between father and husband. “You will show some respect to me, Icarius.” He cut his eyes at her, brow furrowing. “You will not barge into my home and demand things of me, of my husband.”

Odysseus closed the distance, gently placing his hand on her back in solidarity. “If you have something to say, speak Spartan.” He said, voice washing over Penelope, rooting her.

“Not to you,” he sneered, glaring at Odysseus. “These words are just for Spartan blood.”

Her husband rolled his neck calmly, the crackle of his bones resounding in the hall. As they stood there, she could feel him seeking to calm himself. “No,” was all he said. There was no room for arguments.

“No?” Her father laughed. “You don’t speak for me, and if my daughter is as bullheaded as she appears, you must not speak for her either.”

“I would forfeit my voice this instant if I knew Odysseus would be my mouthpiece.” Penelope scoffed, willing herself to keep her eyes still. “He can, he does, and he may speak for me.”

“Where are you residing now, Father-in-law? My wife and I so missed seeing you on our latest trip to Sparta.” Like a wave crashing on the shore, the devilry that crept into her husband’s voice coursed through her, leaking into every fiber of her being.

“Don’t you dare speak to me about the altercation the two of you caused in my home.” His words might have sounded harsh, but Penelope could tell… he was cracking. “No daughter of mine would have ever been part of such a spectacle. Such a disrespect to the king and queen.”

“We agree on one thing,” Penelope mused, weaving her arm through her husband’s. “I am no daughter of yours.”

“You would let me leave without hearing what I have to say?”

“Of course not, Icarius.” She did not look at him. She looked up at her husband instead, who was returning the motion, smiling softly at her. “One of our staff will put you up for the night. I will find you when I am ready to hear whatever you have brought to our shores.”

Odysseus leaned down, gently kissing her. Her lips turned upwards. He left no doubt - she was his . She belonged by his side. “Let us retire, wife.”

She hummed in agreement, turning her back on the Spartan behind them.

“Don’t wait too long, daughter. Hades is not known for his patience.”