Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"I'm just a man, but when must a man become a monster? Forgive me..."

"Odysseus! Stop!"

He froze at the familiar voice behind him.

"Polites?"

"Captain, please! You don't have to do this!"

He couldn't bring himself to look at his friend.

"Why are you here?"

"Ajax saw you heading up onto the walls. Please, step back from the edge and talk to me."

Odysseus took a half-step backward, but still didn't turn around.

"My friend, what troubles you so? The gates are open, the city is taken, the war is won. We have seen terrible things in these ten long years, but I beg of you not to give up so soon. Your people need you. Penelope and Telemachus need you. I need you."

"You misunderstand. It was not myself I was about to throw from this wall." He turned, letting Polites see the infant in his arms.

"What has come over you? This is not the Odysseus I know."

"Zeus himself appeared to me, and told me to slay the son of Hector. If I did not, he would eventually seek revenge for what has happened here. He had a counter for every alternative I suggested. Send him to the ends of the earth, and still he would find his way to Ithaca. I even thought I could take him for my own, give him a new name and hide his parentage, but he said the gods would make his identity known to him."

"I have seen you face death in many battles, with more courage than most. Why does this far-off threat affect you so?"

"If he was only a danger to me, I could accept the risk. But Zeus implied he would kill Penelope if I let him live!" He fell to his knees before Polites, tears streaming down his face.

A hand fell on his shoulder. "Easy, my friend. I fear your emotions are clouding that mind I admire."

"Then advise me. What do you see that I cannot?"

"Are the gods forcing you to act, or did they give you a choice?"

"They have given me an impossible choice. How could I sacrifice my wife, to save the child of an enemy? But when I look at him, I can only see Telemachus as he was the day we left Ithaca. I am here because I could not bear to hurt him; how can I kill one who looks so alike, who has done me no harm?"

"If they cannot make you take an action, then they cannot make this child either; he, too, will have a choice. Why not embrace him with open arms?"

"What?"

"Take him in; you will have years to influence his choices. As for the gods, what is their threat to reveal his identity if he already knows?"

He looked up at his friend. "You would have me risk defying the gods?"

"I do not know how they will react, but I am certain you will draw the ire of at least a few if you murder a defenseless child."

"True enough; Ares cares for valorous combat, not the slaughter of innocents." He stood, shifting the infant to one side to wrap an arm around Polites' waist. "Thank you. You may have saved me from making a terrible mistake."

Polites draped an arm across his shoulders. "It's the least I can do for you. You need to be able to live with yourself after this, and the rest of us have to live with you as well."

Odysseus strode into the the Achaean camp, tracking down his second-in-command amidst the chaos.

"Eurylochus! Provision the ships as best you can; we break camp the moment we are ready to sail."

"Yes, Captain. But why such a hurry?"

"I am eager to be home not a day later than necessary. Surely you are eager to see Ctimene again after so long?"

"I do miss her, as you must miss Penelope, though..." Eurylochus trailed off and shook his head, as though deciding against what he had been about to say. "So what's this? The other men take gold and silver, and you have obtained a child?"

"An orphan; Polites convinced me that mercy was the wisest choice."

His commander smiled knowingly. "That's just like him."

"It is. I considered renaming him Hermides, for he came within a hair's breadth of being taken by Hermes, but we decided to keep his name as it was. Astyanax."

Chapter Text

"Captain, might I have a word?"

Odysseus looked up from the desk in his cabin. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

"I was reviewing our food stores, and they're getting lower than I'd like."

"How so? I thought the ships were well-stocked before we departed."

"So did I. But six hundred men have quite the appetite, especially when they're celebrating. Not just our victory, but that every one of the men we brought with us is returning home alive. I can't blame them."

"Neither can I, I suppose. How bad is it? Do we have enough to reach Ithaca?"

Eurylochus ran a hand over his face. "We might. On tight rations, if everyone cooperates. We'd get there with sore bellies, though."

"What kind of king would I be if I bring starving men back to their families?" He sighed, and turned to the charts on his desk. "If we turn north, we should be able to reach Ismara in a day or so."

"I'll tell the other crews; we should be able to take what we need easily enough."

"No. We're going to ask, not take."

"What? Need I remind you that all of our men are veterans who survived ten years of war? You think we wouldn't be successful if we just attacked?"

"That's exactly why we're not going to fight. We may have lived through that war, but we lost too many years of our lives to it. I'm not about to risk starting another war without good cause. And they may be competent warriors, but they're going home to be sons, husbands, fathers. They need to remember how to be kind, and gentle, not always fierce."

"Exactly how much time have you been spending with Polites?"

He laughed. "Why, are you envious?"

The deck creaked as Eurylochus shifted his weight, and didn't answer.

"I'm sorry, he's just so good at helping with Astyanax. Don't worry, I'll send him with you to negotiate with the Cicones."

"Odysseus. If I might speak boldly. The men respect you because you're willing to do anything you ask of them. When you had the wooden horse built, you insisted on being one of the warriors to go inside, and persuaded Menelaus and Agamemnon to go with you. But now you ask your friends to go out, while you remain safely on your ship. Since you acquired that child, you have been more focused on him than on being the leader we need."

He nodded slowly. "Your criticism is fair, and I will try to pay that more mind. Still, I'm a bit surprised to hear you complain about having the chance to be in the lead, instead of second. Captain."

Eurylochus stiffened, then stood a little straighter than he had before. "This isn't about me, Captain. It's about the entire crew, and making sure they're confident in your ability to get us all home."

"Now who's been spending too much time with Polites?"

"Are you planning to promote him, too, if you're sending us out together?"

Odysseus smiled at how he'd looked away and dodged the question. "He may be well-liked, but he's not the natural leader of men that you are. He'd rather be every man's friend than their commander. But he is a close friend and trusted advisor, so I ask that you show him the same respect that I do."

Eurylochus smirked before turning to the door. "Oh, believe me, I do."

"Open wide, there's a big cargo ship coming in to port."

Odysseus scooped up a spoonful of mashed peas, weaving it through the air and into Astyanax' mouth. The boy seemed to ponder for a minute, then spit the peas out at him.

How does Polites get him to cooperate so easily?

"I thought you were a general, not a nursemaid."

He quickly toweled himself off; that crisp voice was unmistakable. "I am a man of many talents, Athena."

"I'm not sure this rises to the level of 'talent'. Perhaps you should be asking Hera for help."

"I hope you're not here merely to mock my struggles."

"No. The Trojans brought your wooden horse into their city, allowing you to destroy them from within. Now you bring a Trojan into your own home. I hope you don't need my teachings to see the parallel here."

He picked up another spoonful of peas. "I do see the similarity."

"Yet you do it anyway."

"Yes."

"Even though you were told he will do harm to you."

"Yes." Astyanax actually swallowed this time. Success!

"Then enlighten me as to how this is wisdom, and not foolhardiness."

"Is this infant any threat to me today? Or tomorrow? Or a year from now? No. Maybe in fifteen, twenty years; plenty of time to teach him to not seek vengeance.

Athena scowled. "That sounds more like hopefulness, or naivete."

"If he can't be persuaded, I'd rather keep him close enough to notice that he intends me harm, so I can try to intervene. But even in the worst case scenario, if there's nothing that can be done to alter this fate, by the time he's capable of doing anything, Penelope and myself will be nearly sixty years old. Telemachus might already be king by then. We'd already be in the twilight of our lives. Sure, I'd prefer to live a bit longer and die peacefully, but it wouldn't change much in the grand scheme of things."

"So, you take a risk, thinking that if it goes badly, you have little to lose. What do you stand to gain if it goes well?"

"Is it not enough to overcome an adversary by never letting him become my foe to begin with? And this may not play to your sentiments, but I would gain another son. Penelope and I always talked about having several children, but her labor with Telemachus was difficult. We were told she would likely not survive a second child, and with being called away to war we never had the chance to even consider trying."

"I see. I suppose you will pass my teachings on to him as well."

"Of course. Wisdom is to be shared, not hoarded."

"You've done well with Polites so far. He was able to echo it back to you when you had forgotten on the walls of Troy."

"I will admit, that was not my finest moment."

"No, but even the gods are not perfect." Athena studied him for a minute. "We are not as united on this as you might think. Those who supported Troy asked for the prophecy as one final act of the war, and Zeus granted their request to end the dissent within Olympus. Not all of us approve of this attempt to perpetuate a cycle of violence."

"I'm guessing you're one of them?"

She gave him a rare smile. "I would not easily turn away from my favorite general. Speaking of loyalty, your friends should be returning soon; you may want to be there to meet them. But remember you are not the first to try to defy the Fates. Few, whether man or god, have succeeded."

The goddess vanished; Odysseus was never sure if she was actually there, or just appearing in his mind. It was encouraging to know that he still had the support of his mentor. He stood and headed for the door.

He looked out across the bay; the other eleven ships were anchored further offshore. Close enough to show the strength of the fleet, but far enough to be safely out of bowshot if things went wrong. Turning, he took in the rugged hills of the Cicones, and the small city of Ismara. Polites and Eurylochus approached the dock, followed by what looked to be the local chieftain and two of his warriors. All seemed to be in good spirits, fortunately.

"Friends! What tidings do you bring?"

Eurylochus responded. "The good news is that we have an agreement; they will provide the provisions we require to get home."

"Excellent! What's the catch?"

"The bad news - at least for you - is the price: your share of the spoils from Troy."

"All of it?"

"All of it."

"You can't be serious. I would expect such a joke from Polites, but not from you."

The chieftain spoke up. "It is no joke. That is what your commanders offered, and I accepted."

Eurylochus nodded. "You insisted that I negotiate; it seemed only fair that you, and not your crew, should pay the price."

"Very well, if that is the bargain they made, I will honor it. Perimedes, would you bring out the chest from my cabin?"

He disembarked to join his friends on the dock; the Cicone chieftain looked down at him.

"So, you are the infamous Odysseus? I thought you'd be taller."

"I get that a lot. Fortunately, my wife doesn't seem to mind."

Perimedes arrived carrying a small wooden box. The chief lifted the lid, revealing it to be barely half full of silver and gold coins.

"What's this? Do you think to deceive me so easily, claiming this is all you have? Or were the spoils truly so poor?"

"There was plenty of loot, but that is indeed all of mine. Did you assume I would take the bulk of it for myself? I made sure my share was the least of all my men, and every one of them knows it."

The chieftain stared at him for a long minute, then barked out a laugh. "I have heard tales of the cunning and wily king of Ithaca. When they said they were here on your behalf, I was glad to not be dealing with you directly. I should have known they would be as clever as you, laying a trap and letting my greed drag me right into it." He dug a hand through the coins. "While less than I had hoped for, this trade is still fair enough, and I will not go back on my word."

"I'm glad to hear it. Of course, the rest of my men have plenty of coin, and little to spend it on while we're at sea. It will take some time to load provisions; might I give them leave to explore the merchants and services of your city in the meantime?"

"That is reasonable, so long as they do not cause any trouble."

"They will forfeit their share of treasure if they harm your people."

"Agreed. Welcome to Ismara."

Polites descended to the dock; the rest of the fleet was already pushing out to sea. He handed a small canvas bag to the Cicone chieftain, who seemed surprised by its heft.

"What's this?"

"A gift. For being a generous host, and for taking the deceit of our negotiations in such good humor. I believe that embracing the world with open arms should be rewarded, not punished."

"I see. Polites, was it? The world would be a kinder place if more men thought as you do. When you make it home, tell your merchants that the ships of Ithaca will always be welcome here."

Chapter Text

Telemachus paced the halls of his father's palace. He should have been here by now! Even with the letters he sent, five years was too long. Where was he?

Penelope caught his shoulder as he walked by her.

"You're worrying."

It wasn't a question; there wasn't much he could hide from his mother. "Yeah."

"I miss him too, but there's no sense stressing about something you can't change. He'll get here safely. The gods will make sure of it."

She continued down the hall, but Telemachus stood frozen in place. He was certain she was correct, yet her words were not comforting.

Gods, be merciful on—

"Who?"

He glanced around; strange time of day for an owl to be active. Movement outside caught his eye: a tall man, wearing a traveler's cloak and petasos. He looked up as he approached the palace, revealing a face Telemachus knew even better than his own. He sprinted outside to greet him.

"Telemachus! It is so good to see you again!"

He looked up at the younger man, now fully a head taller than himself. "It's been too long, Astyanax."

"I hope I'm not too late."

"I'd have delayed things if necessary; my little brother isn't going to miss this. But everyone is here, and I'm sure you'll be swarmed as soon as you step inside. Before they know you've arrived, would you come and sit with me under the olive trees, the way we used to?"

"Of course. I'll be glad to rest my feet, and more glad to talk with you."

Astyanax set down his pack as they sat together in the shade.

"How'd you get so much taller than me?"

"Late growth spurt, I think. I know Odysseus calls us both his sons, but it's clear you're the one related to him. You have his stature." Astyanax smiled. "And his mind."

"Hey, he taught you as much as he did me, plus you just spent five years studying with Chiron. I'm pretty sure you'd beat me in a battle of wits."

"Perhaps, but I know you wouldn't make it easy."

"Athea is here, of course. You should talk to her."

"How do I begin? I haven't seen her in so long. Does she even want to talk to me?"

"You could start by saying hello, and see where it goes from there. And yes, she's told me how much she misses you, and how excited she's been when she got one of your letters."

"Alright, I'll try. After everything else is over, I don't want to distract from a day that's supposed to be about you."

"It's not just about me, though; it's about all of Ithaca. And at some point, there needs to be a new heir, from one of us."

"Still no one you're interested in? I'm surprised."

Telemachus snorted. "People have tried to catch my attention, but it seems like they're only after the wealth and power they could have. I fear that's only going to get worse. How do I find someone who wants me for who I am, not for my status?"

"I wish I knew. There has to be someone out there for you, though. You've been the best older brother I could have asked for."

He looked away for a minute, then sighed. "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I know there are logical arguments for this - I'm older, and as you said, not the adopted son - but I'm still willing to consider other arrangements. We could share the throne, if you want; you're as capable as I am. I don't want you to feel resentful about anything."

"You're thinking about the prophecy, aren't you?"

"... yeah."

Astyanax put a hand on his shoulder. "I appreciate the offer, but no. We don't need rumors about a foreigner trying to take over the throne. Besides, in a crisis, Ithaca needs a strong, capable leader; that's been Odysseus, and you. You will always have my support, but I've taken after Polites more."

"Is that a bad thing? A just king needs to be able to be compassionate."

"True, but in times of war, being ruthless to foes might be more merciful to our own people. For me, healing comes more naturally than causing harm."

As their discussion veered into philosophy, neither of the men noticed an owl, perched in the tree above them.

Odysseus stood at the top of the steps to the palace, looking out at the crowd gathered below. A mix of Ithacans and other Achaeans, many of them starting to age as he was. Mostly familiar faces, though a few he didn't recognize. Diomedes, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Perimedes, Elpenor, Antilochus, a tall figure in a hooded grey cloak at the back. Eurylochus right in the front, one arm around Ctimene, the other around Polites.

He felt a brief pang of envy, and quickly pushed it away. Since their return from Troy, Polites had split his time between Ithaca and Same. By all accounts, Ctimene had enjoyed this arrangement as much as Penelope did. Everyone agreed Polites seemed to be blessed by the gods, but he didn't have to look so darn smug about it. Athea was clearly Eurylochus' daughter, though; the resemblance was unmistakable. He shook his head, trying to not dwell on those thoughts; Polites would spend time with him again soon enough.

"Friends! Comrades! Countrymen! Some of you may have already gathered why we are here. Today is my last day as the King of Ithaca."

A murmur ran through the crowd; he waited a moment for it to pass, then continued.

"Telemachus is more than prepared for his duties. I thought he was ready several years ago, but he insisted on waiting for his brother to return from his studies abroad. You may have noticed that he has been involved in almost every royal decision of late. In truth, he has been making most of those decisions himself, though I will continue to advise him. All of this is to say that you will be in capable hands, perhaps even more so than my own. I ask that you show him the same respect you have shown me all these years."

Odysseus slowly removed his golden crown and set it gently on Telemachus' head, then knelt in front of him. Astyanax and Penelope joined him, kneeling to either side.

"Hail Telemachus, King of Ithaca."

A cheer erupted from the crowd. "Hail Telemachus, King of Ithaca!"

He stood and moved to embrace his son, freezing at the flurry of movement in the corner of his eye. Penelope's sandal had caught on her chiton as she stood. Time seemed to slow as she stumbled, her foot slipping on the edge of the top step.

Odysseus reached out for her as she balanced for a moment. His hand moved agonizingly slowly, and too late.

The world went silent as she tumbled down the stone steps, landing in a twisted heap at the bottom.

All he could hear were her screams, burning into his mind. He knew he would hear them again in his dreams, every time he closed his eyes. Even a thousand years in the Underworld would not be enough to erase them from his memory.

Chapter Text

Astyanax tried to avoid looking at Penelope's face as he examined her. The dark bruises were disconcerting to see, but not what he was worried about.

"Please excuse the ways I must touch you to gauge the extent of your injuries."

"It's alright, do what you need to. Your herbs are working very well already. The pain is tolerable now, no worse than I've dealt with every month, and your touch is so gentle I can hardly feel it at all."

His heart sank as he felt another cracked bone.

"Could you lift your legs a little for me?"

She didn't respond for a minute. Perhaps he'd spoken too quietly for her to hear. He looked up, preparing to repeat himself.

"Sorry, is that enough? It's hard for me to tell."

"That's fine. Just try to relax, please."

He slipped a hand between the mattress and her lower back, touching her spine and counting vertebrae as he moved upward. Halfway up her back, she gasped sharply, and he pulled back his hand.

"I- I guess I can feel something there, at least."

Astyanax nodded, trying to contain his emotions. He drew a sheet up the bed to just under her arms, then opened the door, letting Odysseus and Telemachus into the room, their faces creased with worry.

"I am fortunate to have a son who is such a well-trained physician. How is she?"

He silently retreated to the far side of the bed from the older men, looking down at the floor.

Odysseus knelt next to Penelope, taking her hand in both of his. "Astyanax?"

"I cannot heal her."

"What?"

"If it was just a shattered pelvis, she would live, though she might not walk again. But her spine is broken in two places. Too many vital organs are paralyzed. I'm sorry."

Telemachus looked at him. "How long can she live like this?"

"Days, maybe a few weeks. All I can do is try to manage the pain."

Odysseus spoke, his voice cracking. "Perhaps we could send for Chiron himself. Not that I doubt your skill, but there may still be some things he hasn't taught you."

Penelope squeezed his hand. "You know there isn't enough time for that, my love. There is one more thing you can do, Astyanax. That you must do. I am sure you have other herbs, mortal ones that will relieve all my pain."

He took a step back in shock. "How can you ask that of me?"

"Because I always knew this day would come. I didn't know that it would be like this, but from the day Odysseus brought you home, the prophecy has been clear to me. My death would be at your hands."

Odysseus was openly weeping. "Why didn't you tell me? I would—"

"I know. You would burn the whole world down to try to keep me safe. That's why I never told you. You would have killed Astyanax, and your grief and guilt would have destroyed the person I love so much. You cannot fight the Fates. I am just glad they are merciful enough to allow this to be an act of love, and not of hate."

"I do have such an herb, but what you ask of me is still an awful thing. Why must I do it?"

Telemachus circled around the bed, reaching up to put a hand on his shoulder. "I understand how you feel. She will die anyway, but intervening somehow makes you feel more responsible. We condemn murder, even though men are mortal and will eventually die." Astyanax nodded, and he continued. "I think you will do this, though, because you are not cruel enough to let her suffer. I don't want to lose her either, but I'd rather let her go peacefully, on her own terms."

Astyanax pulled him into a hug, then turned to the table covered in dried herbs and other supplies. He removed five hemlock seeds from a small pouch, grinding them into powder and dissolving it in a goblet of wine. With that done, he carefully handed the goblet to Penelope, who was now propped up in the bed, supported by Odysseus sitting next to her.

Before she could drink, Odysseus caught her arm. "We lost too many years, separated by a war and the sea. I am not looking forward to being apart from you again."

"Neither am I, but once again it isn't our choice. I promise you, whether it is for a day or a year, for another ten years or for fifty, I will always be waiting for you. Until then, I want you to take care of Polites, and let him take care of you."

"I should get him, so you can tell him that yourself. He deserves to be here as much as anyone."

With general assent, Odysseus stood and stepped out of the room. Penelope drained the goblet, then gagged slightly. "A little earthy, but it has a nasty aftertaste."

"Sorry." Astyanax refilled the cup and handed it back to her. "See if that helps wash it down; the extra wine will help you sleep anyway."

"Thank you." She sipped at the fresh wine, seeming to enjoy its flavor much more. "Please don't blame yourself for your role in any of this; it's not your fault you were forced into it, as was Odysseus. Same goes for you, Telemachus. I don't regret anything that's happened."

"Even what happened in Troy?"

"No. Both of you have been wonderful sons, and brought me so much joy; I wouldn't want to give up either of you. And if Odysseus had listened to the gods and killed you, I doubt he would have found his way home so easily. Even if he had, he would no longer be himself."

The door opened again, and Odysseus and Polites entered, each with one arm around the other. Polites wiped away tears with his free hand; clearly he'd filled him in. Penelope gave him a long look, then nodded slightly.

Polites sat next to her, as Odysseus made his way around the bed to her other side. She took his hand. "I would rather not become maudlin, so let me just say thank you. For many things, but perhaps most of all for being a second father for my children. Not that the first hasn't been good enough himself."

Odysseus made a series of faces as Polites laughed softly. "It has been my pleasure. Ctimene actually said something similar recently; I seem to be the only person capable of telling Athea 'no'."

Odysseus shook his head. "Eurylochus was a great soldier, ruthless at times, but one look at his daughter and he was completely helpless."

"Not that you were much better. You always wanted to give these two the world before they even asked for it."

Penelope laughed at the familiar banter between the older men. They soon fell into reminiscing about happier moments the family had spent together. After half an hour or so, she slowly closed her eyes.

"I find myself getting drowsy, but I want to make sure I say this. Polites, please continue to care for Odysseus' heart when I cannot. And Odysseus, let yourself be comforted. Telemachus and Astyanax, I have no more advice I haven't already given you, and I don't think you need it now."

Polites leaned down to kiss her softly. "I will do my best. Eurylochus might grumble about me spending most of my time here, though."

Odysseus laughed despite himself. "Let him complain. Maybe he and Ctimene will visit more often."

Penelope smiled, her voice quieter. "Make sure they bring Athea along. She looks at him the way I looked at you."

"I know. Until we meet again, my queen." Odysseus gave her a slow, tender kiss.

"I always will be, Odysseus."

She relaxed, and her breathing became slow and regular.

Over the next few minutes, her breaths grew shallower and farther apart, until they could no longer be noticed.

Chapter Text

"I need some fresh air."

Astyanax left the room, heading for the entrance of the palace. Telemachus had moved to follow him, but his longer legs easily outpaced him.

He was running by the time he made it outside, hurtling down the damnable steps three and four at a time. No one was here anymore, no sign left of what had happened that morning.

He didn't know where he was running to, and it didn't matter; anywhere but there.

As his thighs started to burn, he finally slowed, raising a fist to the sky.

"Are you happy now? Is that enough for you? Is your awful thirst for vengeance finally satisfied?"

He dropped to his knees. Or would have, had hands not caught him under his arms and held him up. Nearly blinded by tears, he collapsed against the unyielding stranger as words and raw emotion began pouring out of him.

"Why did I have to do this? Why was I dragged into a war that ended decades ago, that I wasn't even alive for most of? I've spent my entire life living in fear of a prophecy. Been controlled by it. I tried, I tried so hard to avoid it. Wouldn't let myself learn how to fight well, so I couldn't be much of a threat. Always tried to suppress my emotions, make sure I would never lose control by accident. I wanted to learn medicine to be able to heal people, not to hurt them. And it was all for nothing! After all that, I still had to kill her!"

"I know."

The calmly-spoken words shocked him. How could anyone know about all that? He hadn't even told his brother some of it.

Footsteps approached, then stopped. He blinked away tears to see Telemachus standing uncertainly several paces away, with Odysseus closer behind than he would have expected, given his age. He took a step back to look at the stranger in front of him.

Slightly taller than he was, a drab cloak swept back to reveal gleaming armor. Piercing grey eyes looked at him from under her helmet.

Athena.

"To answer one of your questions, yes, the prophecy has been fulfilled, though not in a way its originators had envisioned. If it's any consolation, they did come to regret it, as they saw the person you have become, but what is woven by the Fates cannot be undone."

"So what am I to do with this anger and grief? Where do I put the blame? I am told not to place it on myself, or Odysseus, or the gods. But then who is responsible?"

He felt Odysseus' hand on his shoulder. "Many people have been involved. Polites convinced me to spare you. Penelope chose to sacrifice herself to give you the best life she could. There are many people who could be pointed to as the reason, but perhaps none of them deserve the blame."

Telemachus approached on his other side. "As for what to do, remember her. Carry the flame of her love for all of us with you. It wasn't fair what you've been put through, but I think she'd rather have you become the best physician since Asclepius than try to seek vengeance for it."

Astyanax nodded in agreement. "That would make her happier. You both seem to be handling this a lot more calmly than I would expect."

"My coronation should have been a day to be proud of, instead of remembering it as the day my mother died. But as king, I have a responsibility to all the people of Ithaca, including you; I need to be able to remain calm and rational to lead them."

"Perhaps in public. I will always be here for you if you want to talk things through privately."

"I know, and I'll probably take you up on that."

There was a brief pause, and Odysseus spoke again. "I have long feared that something like today - or worse - would happen, though I didn't know it would be like this. I think I have processed most of the emotions already, so I'm less overwhelmed than I would have been. I am going to miss her terribly, though."

Athena's gaze softened as she looked at him. "I could ask Hermes to take you to her, if you want."

"No. At least not yet. I am still needed here, especially right now. And Penelope said she'd wait as long as necessary for me; I've never had a reason to doubt her."

"Of course." She turned back to Astyanax. "As I'm sure you're aware, long ago I became Odysseus' mentor, and called him a warrior of the mind. I'd like to extend you the same offer."

"Why ask me, and not Telemachus?"

She laughed. "Did I say I hadn't? I have his answer already, but I want to hear yours without the influence of knowing his choice."

"I knew Odysseus spoke with you often, and I suspected Telemachus did as well. But why did you never speak to me until now?"

"There are still simmering tensions between gods over the war in Troy. I did not want to aggravate things by risking the appearance of trying to influence the prophecy. Besides, you haven't really needed my guidance."

"There are times I would have liked to have it, at least as reassurance. Still, I accept your offer."

Athena smiled. "I hoped you would. I am pleased to call you my fourth warrior of the mind."

"Wait, fourth? Not third?"

"No, that was you, Telemachus. Odysseus has been a friend, as well as a pupil, and I wasn't going to leave Penelope entirely on her own while he was away."

Odysseus shook his head sadly. "I used to tell her she had your wisdom. She always laughed when I said that."

"Well, you weren't wrong. I can assure you that she'll be well taken care of, and while she may be waiting for you, I won't have her sitting idle."

"You would have us serve you even in the Underworld?"

"You'll have the choice. I didn't invest so much in you intending to only benefit for a mortal lifetime. I suppose declining would reduce how many favors I owe Persephone. Ultimately, it will be up to you."

"I see. You've given us much to think about. Perhaps we should return home."

Athena nodded. "Astyanax, remember that your fate is entirely your own now. I may not always be with you, but I will never be far if you call for me."

A woman paced restlessly in front of the palace. She stopped mid-step as she noticed them approaching, then rushed up to them.

"Astyanax! You're okay! I was so worried when I heard you ran off." She wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Physically, I'm fine."

"Polites told us all that Penelope had succumbed to her injuries, despite your best efforts."

"Athea, no, she—"

She held him tighter as she continued. "And then he told me what you'd had to do. I'm so, so sorry you had to go through that."

He took a deep breath, thinking through possible responses. She knew what he'd done, and this was still how she greeted him. "Thank you."

Athea leaned back slightly to look up at him. "You're taller than I remembered. It's been too long. Even when you got back, I barely got a glimpse of you before you were busy with your family, and then the chaos of today. Would you sit and talk with me a while?"

Telemachus and Odysseus were already at the top of the steps. His brother turned and waved, giving him a quick grin before disappearing inside. He didn't have to be so smug about it.

"Sure, I would like that."

They sat on the palace steps, watching the vivid colors of the evening sky fading into twilight. As the air started to cool, she wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling herself closer. His arm draped across her shoulders, and she leaned her head against him.

Eventually, Astyanax broke the silence. "I thought you wanted to talk."

"There's a lot that can be said without words."

He considered this for a minute, taking in the warmth of her body against his side, the feel of her hair on his arm, the way her hand grasped his hip. It seemed like most of his family was trying to make him pay attention to her, and maybe they had a point. His fingers traced over the muscle of her shoulder.

"I suppose there are other ways to communicate."

Athea looked up, at him, or perhaps at the stars that were beginning to emerge in the darkening sky.

"Are you okay, really?"

"I will be, eventually."

"You sure? It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself more than me."

He sighed. "I'm not sure how to describe what I feel anymore. Losing Penelope hurts, of course, for several reasons. But it's more than that. Almost everything I've done my whole life has connected to that prophecy somehow, trying to avoid it. Now that it's gone, I'm not sure what I'm doing anymore."

"Well, I think becoming a physician is still a noble thing, whatever your reason is. I'd understand if that seems too hard now, though. If that's the case, I'd like to help you figure out what else you're doing."

"I appreciate the thought. It's getting too late to deal with anything else tonight; it's been an exhausting day. Maybe we can talk more tomorrow?"

"Sure."

Astyanax helped her up as he stood, and they headed into the palace, carefully navigating its darkened halls. Everyone seemed to have retired for the night already; he didn't have the energy to deal with anyone else now anyway. He stepped into his bedchamber. As he turned to shut the door, she slipped inside after him before it could close.

"Athea?"

"Sorry, I hope this isn't too bold. I'm not expecting anything to happen between us tonight, it's just... I'm still worried about you. Didn't feel like you should be alone right now."

"I don't think it's that bad? But trying to insist that you leave would probably just make you worry more. And I do like your company."

"That's good, because as you may have noticed, I rather like you as well. We can talk about what we are in the morning. For now, get some rest, and know that you don't ever have to be alone again."