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Chapter Text

Penelope was 20 when Odysseus was called to the Trojan War, sparked by a golden apple and the over-excited passions of a Trojan.

She was 30 when the Achenes won, laying waste to the city and bringing her cousin home.

She was 31 when the first suitors arrived, after news of her husband became less and less .

And she was 33 when the ship that had left the shores of Ithaca returned, but with only 43 men, and without its captain.

She was 33 when her husband's companions chased the suitors away, shedding blood within the walls of the palace, and Eurylochus had to give her the terrible news that Odysseus would not return.

He had been carried away by the sea, like many of his companions before him.
The same sea that he knew and had always respected, and that seemed to have become his tomb.

Penelope was 40 years old when her son, Telemachus, became king of the Ithacas, and she retired to private life in the countryside, hoping to find peace.

A peace that will be interrupted by the arrival of one of the most trusted men she has ever known, in the company of a stranger who perhaps, if the gods will, could bring relief to the woman's suffering.

Chapter Text

Sing, daughters of the great Zeus and Olympian Mnemosyne, protectors of us writers, the deeds that this story wants to bring

Of how love is not lost, not even after "death", and of its merciless twin, rancor, the one who infests the hearts of mortals like a snake

Our story begins in Ithaca, specifically in its countryside

There lived a woman, of very cultivated beauty (but fortunately not enough to be kidnapped by a Trojan with hormones at full blast) who once lived in the royal palace
But not as a handmaiden or servant, but as a queen

She was Penelope, mother of the current king of the Ithacas, Telemachus, and widow of the Greek hero who helped destroy Troy, Odysseus.

Twenty years had passed since they had last seen each other, and seven years since she learned of his death, at the hands of the ocean.

She had decided to retire to the countryside, leaving her son to govern the kingdom (after having taught him everything there was to do, of course) and since then she lived there, between the calm of the fields and the chatter of the farmers.

That day, however, a 2 Targelion, a sudden knock on the door of the house led her to leave her loom (are you really obsessed with this loom?) to open.

It turned out to be Eurylochus, Odysseus' trusted companion and husband of Ctimene.

The man had a tense expression, which he tried to hide with a smile.

The woman however, noticed something coming from the door, which was immediately closed by the man.

"Eurylochus" she began "I wasn't expecting you to visit."

"Hi Penelope, sorry in advance if I didn't send you anything to let you know, but Ctimene told me today and honestly I forgot" He apologized instead, a little excited "We need to talk"

"Do you want to sit down?" she asked

"No because...
Listen, Ctimene and I are about to have a baby." Finally he revealed "You'are about to become an Aunt."

"That's fantastic!" she exclaimed "Do you know what to call them?"

"Calm down she only told me today.
Anyway we don't even know what sex they are , let's pray to the gods that they will be healthy." He concluded

Penelope however noticed how the man was glancing quickly at the door, as if something was about to come in suddenly

"It seems like you have something else to tell me."

The man sighed at that, looking at her with perplexity.

"Actually, I didn't come just for that." He began. "A man came to the palace today, asking about you.
Telemachus asked him what he wanted before bringing you here, but he insisted that only you could understand."

"Only me? Well, what is it?"

"Penelope.
He says he knows about Odysseus."

Those simple words were enough to make the woman change expression, in a grimace of pure shock

It had happened a few times that strangers came to claim to know about Odysseus, when the hope of his return was still present in her soul

In the end, everyone turned out to be a scammer or a fake, hoping for some sort of reward

"Eurylochus but he-"

"I know Penelope, but he has something familiar.
As if I had already seen him somewhere."

"...Then let him in.
If he really needs to say something, I will listen to him."

The man in front of her obeyed, and the door slowly opened

A figure wrapped in a brown cloak entered, which covered his long hair, and revealed an almost enigmatic expression

He made a sign, as a sort of silent greeting, to which the queen responded with the following words

"Greetings stranger.
My friend here has brought you to my home for a reason that you have given him ,that Is well known to me.
Let it be clear, I have already had to deal with people who deceived me about my beloved, and I did not hesitate to chase them away.
So I hope it will be different with you."
She said, with the old posture she still possessed

"I recognize that I am not the first to send messages like this.
But I can assure you that I carry something more"
He answered instead

He glanced at the man next to them, before (finally) taking off his cloak, revealing his face
A face that seemed marked by a scar from a lightning bolt
His eyes were an intense blue, and his gaze was that of someone who has seen a lot

Penelope did not have time to realize that Eurylochus let out a scream, as if he had seen the devil
He had to hold on to a wall to avoid falling, but he stared fearfully at the man in front of him
A fear that only someone who had seen the wrath of a God in action could have

"Eurylochus, what's going on?"
She asked with concern

"Penelope, get away from him for the love of the Gods!" He exclaimed, "That's Poseidon!"

The woman looked back at the stranger, who didn't seem to have moved an inch from there, and she observed him with an almost ironic calm for his situation
The similarities were there, but then what was he doing there?

"He was the one who sank many of our ships, after-"

"You blinded my son." He concluded, "And you killed his livestock and invaded his house.
I remember it well."

"Wait." She paused for a moment
"You blinded one of Poseidon's sons?!" added, surprised, "So that's what that unexpected event was that you told me about that cost many of your ships!"

Then she turned to the God, seeking answers in him

"What are you doing in my home?
If you seek vengeance, you won't find it here, the man who wronged you is gone."

"...I need your help."
He replied, almost ashamed
"To find him."

There was a moment of silence, almost in disbelief, before Eurylochus broke it with an offended look

"After everything you've done to us?
After you threw him into the sea and drowned him, leaving us without a captain and a king, you think we'll help you?!"

"I wouldn't have done it if you hadn't tried to kill Helios' sacred cows!"
He added angrily

"Oh sorry, why was sinking our other ships just because we blinded your son totally justified?"

"I think you wouldn't have sat around doing nothing if someone had-"

"COULD YOU STOP FIGHTING LIKE TWO CHILDREN!"
The woman finally shouted, causing surprise in the two
"I want to know what the hell happened to my husband, since it seems much has not been said before"
She added, turning to the God
"In what sense you drag Odysseus down?"

"I actually wanted to drown everyone, but I only managed to get him."
He replied, as if it were normal and his interlocutor was not literally the king's wife

Obviously the woman's reaction was what one would expect, and it would have been strange if she hadn't thrown something at him
In fact it would have happened, if the god hadn't said the following

"But before you slap me rightly, Zeus has already done it."
He continued, pointing to the scar

"Did he punish you for that?"
Eurylochus asked a little surprised

"Not so much for that but because I interrupted fate.
And before you ask, we gods are also subject to fate, and we cannot hinder it in any way."

"Excuse me, but what did fate say about us?"

"Eurylochus.
You were supposed to die, only Odysseus was supposed to survive."

"...."

"Anyway." He continued, "Zeus banished me from Olympus after the deed, forcing me to wander among mortals.
Until recently I received a message from Athena begging me to find him, because his soul never arrived in the Underworld according to Hades' records.
She promised me she would convince Zeus to let me back among them."
He took a rolled-up scroll from his pouch with the goddess' symbol on it
"This is proof that I am not lying to you."

Ah, Athena, patroness of heroes and strategist of excellence, of course she would not abandon her hero.
She took the scroll with trembling hands, and read its contents.

"So this means that-"
But before she could finish her sentence, the man before her knelt, taking her hand.

"Penelope.
I ask you to follow me on my journey to find the hero Odysseus.
To soothe your spirits and bring peace to the hearts of the Ithacans, who miss their old king.
I know my role in the affair, and I know that you now bear a grudge against me, but I promise you that I will do everything I can to find him."

She looked at him a little stunned, and then saw the reaction of their spectator, who instead seemed skeptical
Inside the woman, several emotions moved, first anger at knowing that all this had been caused by a silly argument between the two parties (an argument that Eurylochus had preferred to reduce to an "accident" without explaining to her how things had gone) and then uncertainty in her own beliefs that had led her to isolate herself, and then disdain for the god's act

But in the end one feeling was stronger, hope

"Okay.
I'll come with you."

The reactions were obviously of surprise, in particular Eurylochus seemed on the verge of leaving

"Penelope, can I talk to you for a moment in private?"
He asked, clearly ready to say all sorts of things.

With the woman's consent, the two went into the other room, leaving the guest in his thoughts.

"Listen, I know you miss Odysseus so much, I miss him too.
But we can't trust Poseidon!"
It's literally his fault if we lost many of our men." He began.

"I know, but I should remind you that it all started from a mistake of yours.
And then look, Athena herself asked to find him, it means he's still alive!"
She replied instead, showing him the scroll.

"Then I'll come with you.
I won't leave you alone with him."

"No. We don't know how long it will take, and you have small children and one on the way, I don't want to risk making them orphans."
Have you seen him?
Now he's a mortal like us."

"Mortal or not he as still an God's mind.
A violent one at that, don't you think about your safety?"

"I think about my safety, don't worry.
If Athena asked to find him, and he never arrived in Hades, it means he's still alive.
I have to at least try, I can't stand the thought that maybe he's somewhere in these lands."

The man understood that she wouldn't move easily, so he tried one last strategy

"And what do we tell Telemachus?
He'll never let you leave alone with who took from him-"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY MOTHER'S HOUSE?!"

It seems that there would have been no need to call the young king, who came just in time to end up in a misunderstanding
The two entered the room and saw the boy intent on unsheathing the spear (swords were not yet for them) against the invader

"Mom, what is this guy doing in your house?"
He asked rightly
"I told him to wait."

"Telemachus...this is Poseidon"

"...What?"

After a long discussion~

"I will not let you travel alone with him."
The boy concluded after a discussion that we decided to avoid because you already knew

"Telemachus, you must stay here to be king, the citizens need their guidance."
Was the predictable response of the woman

"And I need you.
I do not want to leave you alone."

"For the last time I will not be alone.
We will leave with several men trusted by your father."
She replied again
"I'll be fine."

The son, however, was not at all convinced, and turned his gaze towards a perplexed Eurylochus and a serious Poseidon

And where will you go?
Do you at least have a lead?"

The woman looked for an answer in the god, who fortunately seemed to have one

"We would review the less dangerous stages that he followed, according to Athena he could be in them."
He explained
"At least, let's try to ask around."

"So we don't have a plan.
Fantastic."
Eurylochus commented

"Mom, I trust you and I just don't want to lose you too."

The woman approached her son, and kissed him on the forehead, holding him tight

"Telemachus, your worries are plausible, but I promise you that we will find him.
The Gods have given us hope today, and we will take that chance."
She reassured

"...
Okay, I will start the preparations."
He concluded

Chapter Text

Things weren't going well on Olympus (when did the gods ever have five minutes of peace?)
Almost seven years had passed since Athena had spoken to them, and for good reason: Odysseus.

The hero hadn't returned home, Poseidon's fault, who had thought it a good idea to drown him in the waters, trying to teach his companions a "lesson" after they had eaten the sacred cows without permission.

Well, let's just say it didn't end well for him either, since the divine Zeus punished his brother with one of the worst punishments a god could receive: mortality.

Going back to the previous discussion, Athena no longer had a good relationship with the gods (especially with the aforementioned father), so much so that the goddess had distanced herself from Olympus, seeking answers about the missing hero (who many believed to be dead).

The gods had decided to not think to much about it; it would get over her quickly, right?

Well, not everyone thinks so.

A certain messenger was rather dissatisfied with all that silence, and was among the few who believed the hero was still alive.

He was in a forest, near one of his sacred places, having a conversation with...a turtle?

More than conversation, the son of the Pleiad Maia seemed to be trying to find the right words to go ask for help from a mortal we've already seen, with a couple of problems.

"Hey Telemachus, sorry to bother you, but could you tell me how to ask my stepsister to speak to her father?
I mean, you're an expert on Daddy issues, aren't you?"

Pause for thought*

"Okay, that's a bit of a dick to say."

He clears his throat*

"King of Ithaca, you who forged a friendship with wise Athena, could you please guide me to find her so she can go up to the father of the gods and finally speak with him?"

Another thoughtful silence*

"No, too formal.
OH COME ON, HERMES! YOU JUST NEED TO TALK TO A MORTAL, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE DONE THAT!"
He exclaimed in frustration, then glanced at the turtle rather pityingly.
"You looking at me like that, darling?
Do you have a better idea?"

Another pointless silence*

"Right, you're a turtle.
Okay, Hermes, just go over there and tell him to help you, you don't have to use any big words."

So, taking his trusty Caduceus, his turtle for moral support (because even immortal gods need moral support), he flew as swiftly as the wind towards mythical Ithaca, while the morning light bid him good morning.

When he arrived at the palace, however, he didn't see the usual commotion one might expect; on the contrary, everything was calm.
There was no sign of either the young King or his much-contested mother.

"Okay, where are they?"
He wondered, looking around a little disoriented.
"Maybe outside?"

And so he darted out of the palace, beginning his search.
He flew for several minutes, moving from one part of the kingdom to another, noticing the citizens.

The mortals were busy with daily activities; women were washing clothes at the fountains, while children played tag, often falling and being scolded by their mothers.
The men were returning from hunting or preparing for some sort of sacrifice, but alas, they were far fewer; they had gone to fight in the Trojan War and were either too old to go in the first place or simply survived, and therefore in the clear minority.

The subjects, however, seemed happy, continuing to carry out their duties and enjoying the day.

Hermes watched them, noticing a ship that had set sail as he approached the port.
The vessel was medium-sized, typical of commercial voyages, and was heading toward the horizon.

It was there that he saw the person he was looking for, who seemed intent on watching the aforementioned ship.
He was in the company of an elderly man, whom he quickly recognized as Eumaeus, Odysseus's swineherd.

Hermes landed a short distance away, close enough to get a clear view of the two.
And then, with divine ingenuity, he changed his appearance, gaining elderly features and a new face.

He approached, and soon Telemachus noticed him, assuming a curious expression.

"Greetings, stranger," the young king began, scrutinizing the elderly figure.

"Greetings, are you by any chance the king of this place?"
He replied, with a small bow.

"Yes, Telemachus of Ithaca.
What brings you here?"

"Oh, honestly, I wonder too.
I've been traveling for years in search of a home, but war has made me forget the beauty of these shores."

"War?" the boy asked.
"Did you take part in the Trojan War?"

"Of course! I had the pleasure of witnessing your good father's deception.
A wooden horse with soldiers inside as a gift? Rather... cunning?"

"Do you know my father?" he continued, now more interested in the stranger's speech.

"Yes, I do.
Poor man, he never got to embrace his family again."

Telemachus lowered his gaze, the thought invading his mind, making him melancholy.

"I can't help but notice that that boat in the distance arouses your curiosity.
May I know the reason?"

"The queen has left," the old swineherd replied.
"In search of her husband.
The order was given by wise Athena."

The God's smile faded, replaced by a grimace of surprise.

"Athena did—" He paused and settled his voice.
"Why such a request from the Goddess?
Isn't the previous king dead?"

"She thinks he might still be alive.
But I have my doubts about that." The older one replied, sounding dismayed.

Hermes thought for a moment. Athena was certainly looking for the man, but she also involve the queen?
And above all...who was the stranger who had brought such a request?

"Do you have a home?" Telemachus suddenly arrived, pulling the god from his thoughts.

"Unfortunately, no.
I've been traveling for days."

"Then may I offer you hospitality in the palace?
So you can tell me about your experience with my father."

"I am truly honored king of Ithaca, but I believe you've heard my tales there a billion times from many other mouths more experienced than I.
I don't want to seem repetitive."

"Trust me, I've heard many stories.
But they all spoke from a different perspective, and therefore managed to be unique in a certain sense.
And tonight, above all, we would like to organize a sacrifice to Hermes, to ensure the journey is safe."

"Then I hope to intrigue you with mine."

And so the small group headed toward the castle, passing through the city and receiving greetings from the subjects.
Hermes, however, noticed how Telemachus looked at him, as if searching for something on the false face.

Some time later~

The warm, welcoming light of the fire illuminated the evening, while songs rose to the sky seeking comfort.
The smell of incense and flesh could be smelled for miles, while the swift messenger gazed intently at the mortals before him, still unaware of his nature (though he appreciated the gifts and would obviously give some thought to making the journey safe for the queen).

Only the son of Odysseus seemed to be glaring at him, something he did since they met.
The boy stood up abruptly, while everyone was intent on finishing their prayer, and approached the stranger.

"May I have a private conversation with you?" he asked, in a tone that hinted at an impending truth.

"Only if you'll allow me a walk around."

And so the two of them left the group and walked silently through the palace, passing Penelope's room.
There they could see a bed carved from an olive tree, a symbol of a love that continued to endure even after "death."

"That bed must be important, such skill in making it—"

"Hermes, stop the charade." Telemachus cut them off, his gaze now more serious.
"I know it's you."

"What?" the god began, feigning sadness.
"Am I losing my temper? Are my deceptions no longer working?"

"Athena told me to expect the arrival of some god.
So I prepared myself." He replied, "What are you doing here?"

The god removed his mask, revealing his true nature, and then spoke tensely.

"Telemachus, listen, I have to find Athena." He explained.
"She has to settle things with Zeus.
There's discord on Olympus, and her leaving to look for your father isn't pleasing the father of the gods."

"I don't know where she is, but—
Wait, she's looking for my father?
But he's dead..." He said, lowering his eyes.

Hermes placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at him with monstrous seriousness.

"Telemachus...
I carry souls to the underworld. I would have noticed if my great-grandson had ended up there."

"...So he's alive?"

"Of course he's alive!" the god exclaimed. "Just...missing somewhere.
Athena sent Penelope to look for him, but who brought the message?"

"It was Poseidon."

The god's grimace of surprise became more evident as he absorbed the information.

"So he came here...
Does Athena truly trust him to carry out this task?" he asked, a little worried.
Especially considering the past history with the aforementioned king..."

"She promised to convince Zeus to restore him to the gods, so..."

Hermes considered what to do; perhaps it was best to go to him and ask about Athena.
He set off his sandals and in a second he was in the sky, while Telemachus looked at him in surprise.

"Thank you for the information, Telemachus.
We'll see each other again, I promise."

And without even waiting for a response from the young king, he flew away, late into the night.

"Well, even Olympus has its own family problems..."

Chapter Text

Penelope had seen many maps in her life: it was not uncommon for her husband, in more peaceful days, to speak to her of the world's boundaries, never illustrated but certainly carefully researched.

The entire world enclosed within those walls that no one had ever dared to cross (and from here many, including Odysseus, dreamed of reaching and surpassing their own horizons).

Of course, the risks of sailing far were well known; the Pillars of Heracles marked the passage between their world and whatever lay beyond, thus encouraging the curious to search.

But what she found before her seemed to fulfill the wishes of those who had always wanted to see the world as it was.
The boundaries were drawn, showing places with almost impossible precision.

"It's a truly well-made map.
Where did you find it?" She asked, drawing her companion's attention.

"Found it?
It belongs to me, one of the few things I had when I was sentenced." He replied.
"You should see the one in the whole world."

"What?"

"Anyway.
It will take us a couple more hours to reach our destination. We're currently near Sparta, your cousin's home..."

Penelope looked down at the spot where the kingdom was marked.

Years had passed since she'd seen Helen, before her shameful kidnapping by order of the Trojan prince Paris.

She sincerely hoped she was well; she'd heard some rather questionable comments from those who spoke poorly.

"Sparta is also my first home, even before I was known as Queen of the Ithacas."

"Do you miss it?"

Such a question might have seemed normal, but in this context it took on a double meaning.

"...Yes-"

Footsteps were heard outside, and Zeno (one of the men they had brought with them) entered, seemingly bringing trouble.

"Um, Queen, am I bothering you?
We have...a visitor." He explained, looking back tensely for a moment.

"A visitor?" she asked, appropriately, given their current position.
"Who?"

"Lord Hermes.
He says he has something for you." He concluded, then left.

The two exchanged a surprised look, but they certainly couldn't refuse such a visit.

When they came out, they saw the god sitting calmly on the main pole, his staff glistening in the sunlight.

"Penelope!" he exclaimed, then flew toward her.
"Dear, how long has it been? You finally fished my dear uncle out of the street."

This comment made some of the others chuckle, but they received a glare from the former god.

"Hermes, it's nice to see you again," she replied with a smile.
"They told me you brought a message, may I know?"

"More than a message, I'd call it a cry for help.
The divine Zeus is angry, Athena decided to leave Olympus until she finds Odysseus.
He sent me to look for her; your son told me she sent a message through Poseidon." He looked up and addressed his uncle seriously.
"Do you know where she is?"

"Tell my brother I know nothing about Athena.
I received the call for help through one of her owls, but I haven't seen her since the war." The answer was firm, his gaze full of resentment.
"He can very well go look for her himself."

Hermes looked at him uneasily, and was about to reply if one of the men busy steering the boat hadn't suddenly shouted.

"What the...I can't move the oar!" he exclaimed in amazement as he tried with all his might to make it move.
"Something is blocking it."

Slowly, the others began to have the same problem, as the ship began to suddenly change direction, as if the waters didn't want to continue its journey.

Or rather, they wanted to change it.

"What's happening?" Penelope leaned over to see what was blocking the oars, and saw a strange black substance coming out of the water.

It was quite dense, and it moved as if it were alive.

There wasn't a breath of wind, but it seemed as if a cyclone was catching them.

She looked toward the horizon, and saw the shores of Sparta getting closer and closer to them.

"Whatever's moving the ship seems to be taking you to your cousin." Hermes commented amusedly
"Weird."

"Hermes, do you know anything about this?" Poseidon's voice was accusatory, but it didn't much move the swift messenger.

"Honestly, no? You're the one who takes care of the waves here.
I think we should take a little detour" he replied calmly.

Penelope looked back at the water, while everyone else was struggling to keep their balance due to the sudden, hasty movements.

Yes, the journey hadn't started off on the right foot.

"...Fantastic."