Chapter Text
The queen sat on her throne, keeping watch over the men wandering around her home. Antinous came over to her and the mere sight of him brought anger to her mind. "7 years is a long time to be sailing, my queen."
Penelope squeezed her eyes shut, almost praying that he'd be gone when she opened them. She knew it was a long time, his reminders weren't going to help. But oh how he loved giving them.
"If I can hold hope this long, I can hold on for longer. Bear in mind the isn't the only soldier yet to return."
"I'm starting to think hope is all you've got. Penelope." Antinous said with a smirk, saying every syllable of her name slowly. "I'm only trying to help. The longer you hold on the more devastating it'll be when you finally realize-"
"The only thing I have been realizing is that you really just mean to help yourself. I know he is alive and I will soon prove it. If that'll be all, your Queen would like to be left alone." She announced, before standing up and starting to move towards the door.
She wouldn't yell no matter how badly she wanted to; she couldn't give him the satisfaction of hearing her snap. He could feel it though. He could see her desperation like a flea ridden dog sniffing out it's owner's fear.
"Oh you can prove it can you? Would you like to share how you plan to prove his survival?" He was talking louder now, as if putting on a performance for the others.The crowd grew quieter and looked over to where he was talking. Some listened subtly, most started laughing along with Antinous - but all of them stopped their conversations to eavesdrop.
Penelope heard the door click open behind her and Telemachus walked in. She didn't need to look to know it was him - she would've recognized his footsteps through the busiest of crowds. "Perfect timing little prince! I'm sure he would love to know how you'll bring back his father?"
She narrowed her eyes at the suitor's grinning face. She could've held herself together until the end of time without showing weakness but it always got harder when they involved Telemachus. The disrespect to her was manageable but the harm they cause to her son was nothing short of infuriating.
"Mom, what's he talking about?" Antinous let out an exaggerated gasp at that "Oh she hasn't told you? Your mother claims she can prove the king is alive. I'd like to hear how."
What she wouldn't give to punch the smirk of Antinous' face. She had said it with the hope Odysseus will return soon enough to remove him; she didn't have concrete proof at this moment. She'd never needed it. She planned on showing him her husband was alive with the arrival of her husband - not at that exact moment but it had to be any day now.
"I merely meant you will see his return soon." But he knew she had nothing planned. "Ah, so was that a lie, Queen Penelope?"
She hesitated for a moment, he didn't seem to care though. "Just a misunderstanding." Telemachus had seemingly caught up with everything going on. He was always an intelligent kid, and always ready to protect his mother.
"He can't be gone much longer, when he comes back it should be enough proof!'
He had no reason to believe his own words honestly. He had accepted the fact that he was unlikely to meet his father - whether he was alive or not. But he trusted his mother. Even if she was wrong he would be on her side. If she had faith in his father coming back he would defend her.
And Penelope would always be greatful for his unconditional support. She didn't know how to convince him she was right - she just felt that she'd know if her Odysseus had been killed. Even if Telemachus didn't believe her, he'd never show it. He loved both his parents, he just didn't know if he'd meet the one that left.
"I'm afraid he can take longer, little wolf. He's already been gone 16 years, hasn't he? The war was over in 10." The crowd of suitors began to whisper among themselves. They weren't clever enough to think of their own arguments but they'd happily feed off of their leader's taunts.
"Well- maybe someone should go find him then." The prince said unsurely. He had barely finished his sentence before the man jumped in again. "Who would do that? Would you go?" The rumbles of their audience grew louder, all saying different things but it was clear most of them were taunting him.
Telemachus couldn't think of a response for that. Antinous took that as an invitation to continue, moving closer to the boy as he did. "Would you go out into the sea? Go find your dead dad?" Penelope's rage grew every word he said towards her family. She needed to think of an argument good enough to make him stop, but what could she say? Her thoughts were silenced by a final insult.
"Who knows, maybe you could join him in the great below. At least you'd finally see him" Penelope finally broke. It was as if a bowstring had been tightened until it snapped, pinging her rage out of her mind and straight at the suitor.
"That is enough! You do not get to speak to my son like that Antinous!" His smirk had grown to a full grin, full of malice and a warped sense of victory. "It was a simple question! Who would be willing to get on a ship to search for your-"
"I will!" She was barely thinking now, her only thought was silencing him. Her son was too young to be threatened like this. She knew it wasn't the first time; she had seen bruises on his arm before and no matter how much he denied it she knew where they came from. But it was the first time they had dared to be so obviously disrespectful in front of her.
Telemachus gently pulled her wrist, and muttered something to her under his breath. He must've been checking if she was sure but she was too distracted to hear him properly. And if she did listen, she wouldn't have an answer for him.
"I will personally go out and find my husband. Is that good enough for you?" She practically hissed the word you. "That's great your majesty. But who will rule in your absence? Would you leave your son on the throne?"
He was enjoying her rage, assuming she would back out. He was silently hoping she would - he couldn't rise to the throne if she was killed at sea, and taking the King's crown by force would only lead to another suitor doing the same to him.
"Telemachus will come with me. The details aren't of your concern, but I will be placing the king's sister Ctimene in charge while the kingdom waits for my return."
"Mom are you thinking his through?" Telemachus asked quietly, pulling on her hand to get her attention. She wasn't really thinking at the moment - but she could rely on her sister in law and she should have enough royal blood to be in charge right? All she knew was she couldn't take their mockery any longer, and that she'd rather die than leave Telemachus alone with them for such a long time.
".. We will leave by the end of the week. You are to leave us alone now so we can prepare." She reassuringly squeezed her son's hand, before gently nudging him towards the door. The boy took the hint and went through the open doorframe. Penelope followed behind, making sure to absorb Antinous' rage filled expression before she left.