Chapter Text
The King and the Princess
"First love is a mixture of foolishness, boldness, and curiosity." - Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty
The waves were oddly calm for this afternoon in Sparta. Despite the calm waves moving against the mighty ship of Odysseus, the atmosphere was tense. Many ships all over Greece sailed its way towards the city. Cities as far as Troy, islands as far west as Ithaca all came to the city to marry the most beautiful woman of the whole world—Helen.
Odysseus was one of those men coming to Sparta, bearing the title as the Clever King of Ithaca. Accompanying him is his best friend, Eurylochus. The two young men were discussing Odysseus' chances of being chosen for Helen.
“Oh come on, you’re really expecting to win her over with your wits?” Eurylochus said in disbelief, he’s known Odysseus for 6 years when they were just children but he knew that Helen wasn’t looking for wits, “If Helen only cared for strength, Ajax would’ve been her husband by now and Greece would have not heard the end of it.” Odysseus refuted with sarcasm. Eurylochus instead just chuckled in response, “True, but I doubt your wits alone is capable of getting her.” to which, Odysseus took light offense, “Are you saying that I’m not handsome enough for her?” which earned both their laughs before arriving at the port.
“Land ho!” Odysseus said, ordering to anchor the ship by the coast as he and his ship settled. Nearby however, other ships began arriving, all coming from all over Greece. Some from Salamis, others from Troy in order to court Helen. “Say, you got any other reason why you’re trying to compete for Helen?” Eurylochus inquired, “What, a man like I cannot try finding love with a girl like Helen?” Odysseus said sarcastically, deep down he was concerned for his chances with Helen, he was thinking “The only thing people know me here for is my wits.” his chances were only by his cleverness, not for his looks, nor strength. These reasons were why he was chosen by Athena, not Aphrodite or Ares afterall.
Nevertheless, with confidence, Odysseus walked with Eurylochus to the King’s palace, continuing their conversation. Odysseus' mind was however tense with one thought, “If I’m not destined for Helen, who am I to marry then?”
In Sparta, King Tyndareus was getting ready with his daughter, Helen. The palace was a mess of royal panic in getting everything ready for the suitors to plead their case to Helen. “It's that time to finally grow up now…” Helen thought to herself, it was heavy on her to comprehend so many men going to Sparta for her, men she didn’t even know personally.
On the other side, Tyndareus was panicking internally, he was worried that this day had finally come. It was prophesied by Zeus when he agreed to be the mortal father of Helen, “In years time, your daughter will grow up and be renowned by everyone in the world as the most beautiful woman, and her choice will lead to chaos not for Sparta but for all Greece.” those words echoed in his mind, he was worried what this meant for him? And why was he informed of this prophecy just as Helen came of age? “Your majesty? Your breakfast is ready.” a nearby maid said, snapping Tyndareus from his thoughts. He quietly munched on his food, forgetting the prophecy for now.
“Are you excited cousin?” A voice of excitement echoed in the room of Helen that snapped her back to reality, she was staring mindlessly at the mirror laid in front of her to prepare her makeup. She looked to her side and saw her joyful and excited cousin, Penelope. “You finally get to decide who you marry!” Penelope said. “Father still hasn’t allowed me to choose who I’m allowed to be with so I’m really excited for you.” Penelope added, Helen remembered she was privileged with the choice to choose her husband but she was still worried, “Cousin, I’m scared. I don’t know why they want me, and I’m scared that who I choose will not bring me the joy of marriage. ” Helen said
“Deep breaths, cousin.” Penelope said, holding her hand, “It’s going to be fine, choose what your heart desires.” reassuring her, Penelope was certain it would be fine, Icarius said it was going to be fine. “Even if you decide who your lover will be, I’ll be the next in line and I doubt anyone would desire me the way the princes over Greece do for you.” she thought to herself, feeling a pang of jealousy that a lot of men were in love with Helen. She was forced in the shadow of Helen, she believed she was not as good looking nor as charismatic as her.
Tyndareus had finished his breakfast and was chatting with his brother, Icarius, over the fates of their daughters. “Still adamant in deciding Penelope’s lover, hm?” Tyndareus inquired to Icarius, “She’s that age afterall like Helen, finding love is all that’s left for her.” Tyndareus added, “She’s a model housewife, everything you want in a daughter.” Icarius said. “But she’s too smart for her own good. She has no clue how to flirt.” Icarius added, Tyndareus was confused, why would he still hold Penelope on such a tight leash and questioned it? “What brings you to that idea? If she’s such a model housewife, it would be impossible to believe she can’t flirt.” Tyndareus commented but Icarius refuted it quickly, “I let her choose her suitor for once and it didn’t last five minutes, they couldn’t even talk to each other properly.” Icarius sighed, recalling that memory, “ She’s better off with me deciding who will marry her so she doesn’t make a fool out of herself or our name.” Icarius added, he knew that Penelope had a rough time trying to express herself. She was smarter than her older sister, knew how to fight back with swords and bows, something that was unlike women her age. “Disappointing to hear from such a talented young woman. She would be a wonderful queen and somehow nobody has been able to connect with her?” Tyndareus scoffed, he could not believe it but he still felt sympathy for her failures to be able to connect with people despite her gifts.
When the two brothers arrived at the door of Helen, Icarius knocked and yelled “Alright, time’s up ladies!” before them, the door opened revealing Penelope and Helen in their own dresses respectively. They were then escorted by their fathers to the chamber. Tyndareus, as he walked, began worrying as he looked outside, noticing the amount of suitors approaching the palace. It was then he realized the full weight of the amount of people trying to court Helen and he began to think back to Zeus’s prophecy, “Please, Zeus, I’m begging to at least keep this all civilized. Sparta does not need a war, especially when it will be against all of Greece.”
On the path to the king’s palace, Odysseus and Eurylochus were continuing their conversation, “Just know Ody, you’re still in my eyes Helen’s only choice.” Eurylochus said, cheering Odysseus up which earned a light chuckle from him, “Don’t make people think you’re in love with me, you fool.” he quipped, leading the two to laugh. It was very unlike the two men to be sarcastic especially as they approached the palace. “Have you heard? Ajax, Menelaus, Diomedes, even Patroclus are all here.” Eurylochus said, “and? Just because they’re wealthy doesn’t make me look like I’m the only one with no gifts.” Odysseus responded, winking at him, “Definitely. But hey, with the amount of suitors, it's like a beauty pageant” Eurylochus replied, earning a chuckle between the two men.
As they entered the palace, Odysseus looked at the balcony, from there he saw Helen but he caught something else. Beside her was another girl as she looked monotone or even bored. He tapped Eurylochus’s shoulder and whispered, “Who the hell is that girl? I’ve never seen her.” Eurylochus was confused before realizing he was referring to Penelope, “Oh, you mean Penelope? She’s the princess.” Odysseus was surprised, how come had he never even heard of the princess and only Helen? “How come I’ve never heard of her if she’s the princess?” He inquired more, “I don’t know either, all I heard is that she's smart and pretty witty.” upon hearing those, a sense of competitiveness was stoked within Odysseus, “Witty? She’s been secluded in a castle hidden from the world, she surely can’t be as smart as me.”
On the balcony however, it was almost an inverse of what was happening, Penelope noticed Odysseus from the balcony quickly and nudged at Helen which snapped her back to reality, “Who the hell is he? The man over there.” she asked Helen. She was referring to the man and his best friend who were chuckling within the crowd which intrigued her. Helen snarked at her question, “Are you kidding? That's Odysseus, Ithaca’s clever king!” she said, smiling at Penelope’s cluelessness, “Clever? He dresses like a commoner. How did he get invited here?” Penelope said, she didn’t know how insensitive her comment was which earned a light tap from her father, “Hush, you’ll provoke a war with language like that, young lady.” Penelope rolled her eyes in boredom thinking, “He surely can’t be as clever as me anyway.”
Masking his nervousness with confidence, Tyndareus approached the balcony and began to speak, “Princes of Greece! I am glad to see that all of you have received my invitations.” Tyndareus said, “I welcome you all to Sparta. I know some of you may be excited, but be patient. My daughter is no object I’d give away for free.” He then paused, before continuing, “I’ve given her the will to choose her destiny and who she marries with.” The palace’s lively conversations and whispers suddenly became silent upon what he said. It was clear this was a surprise to the suitors. With deep breaths, he thought, “Oh Zeus, they’re going to kill me aren’t they?” but regained his bravado, “Give her your case and why you should be her husband if you deserve it in her eyes.” He said, to his surprise the princes clapped, though it was clear that it was an applause out of respect, not for the speech.
“What a cold shoulder.” Odysseus thought. Shortly after this however, the suitors began to take the stage presented to them to explain their case, starting with Menelaus. However, Menelaus’s bold remarks as the greatest warrior lead to chaos within the palace as suitor after suitor began one upping each other's achievements, ranging from Ajax’s participation in the Calydonian Boar hunt to Diomedes having been chosen by Ares himself. Then came the attempted bribes with flowers, gold, or oxen as their gifts to both her and Sparta.
These many offers overwhelmed Helen, pressuring her on who she should choose as her husband. Menelaus spoke up first, yet a suitor insulted him and blamed him for starting the one upping. One thing leads to another and an argument breaks out within the chamber with suitors blaming each other with some invoking the wrath of their patrons. Odysseus, Eurylochus, Helen, and Penelope witness this with worry. “Oh Zeus, Hera, I need your help please.” Tyndareus silently begged, worried that the palace is one punch away from causing a war amongst all of Greece for Helen’s hand.
“Uh, Ody?” Eurylochus called, “I think it's time we take our leave quietly, this place is about to turn into a bar fight.” he justified, he was worried in being dragged into an violent conflict with men stronger than he as he was not a suitor for Helen but Odysseus shouted, “Everyone, silence!” quickly, the chamber turned its attention to Odysseus.
“Are you all kings or a bunch of madmen?” Odysseus asked the suitors, “Can’t all of you see? You’re all making fools of yourselves, fighting over Helen when her choice is still unknown!” He had said angrily, he was naive and held hope that the chamber would listen to reason, “If Helen marries strength, what happens to her if she is widowed? If Helen marries for looks, what happens to her prote-” but suddenly, he was cut off.
Diomedes spoke up, “You call that wisdom with your prattle?” he said angrily, “You’re no warrior Odysseus, you’re just a coward hiding behind a silver tongue with no spine to face things up front!” Odysseus was baffled at the insult. Quickly, he made a retort to the insult but he restrained himself upon remembering Athena’s lessons. Suddenly, the arguments resumed between the suitors for Helen. Tyndareus and Icarius attempted to silence the arguments with threats of disqualification but they were drowned out by the amount of voices.
“Enough!” Suddenly, a loud yell came. This time a feminine voice coming from the balcony. The palace became quiet once more and suddenly they were listening. “Penelope, what are you doi-” Icarius said as he saw Penelope standing beside Helen, “Perhaps Helen should marry none of you! All of you are a bunch of fools in crowns!” despite the insult to their honor, none of them retorted, “Odysseus is right. If my cousin marries one of you for his strength, how will she live her life if she is widowed? If she marries one of you for his loyalty, how long before you turn to another woman to sleep with?”
Odysseus, calmer and motivated to help keep his peers more professional, rose up to support Penelope, “We are all here for Helen, not to yell at each other.” he said, Menelaus then spoke up in a show of humility, “... He’s right, we’re better off talking this out as civilized kings.” slowly, the mood shifted away from Helen and restored some semblance of order in the palace. Helen, quiet during all this, began to speak up, “I would like to announce that my husband…” the suitors looked and waited for her to continue the sentence only for it to be… “No one.” this announcement would shock the court. Before anyone could speak up, she continued speaking in a show of authority, “You’re all wonderful gentlemen with promises but seeing you all argue like children has left me no choice for a possible husband. I would like to have a 1 week deadline, if you may, for me to settle this.” she said, slightly choking before Tyndareus intervened, “You’re all dismissed. We will all discuss this privately and we urge you to be patient.” Then everyone in the chamber all left, Penelope followed suit before giving Odysseus one last glance, “Hm, maybe he is as clever as he calls himself.” she said to herself.
Odysseus and Eurylochus were facing away from Penelope to notice her comment as they were leaving the palace, Odysseus then sighed, “Ugh, utter chaos for the day.” he said to Eurylochus, however he is more shocked at his reaction, “Bold of you Ody to speak like this when you were just the only sane man in the room.” he chuckled, leading to an eye roll from Odysseus. “What, it's like I’m the only one in the room gifted with patience.” Odysseus commented on the arguments, “Especially what, Diomedes?” he sneered, “No wonder he was chosen by Ares.” he rolled his eyes further, earning the laughter from Eurylochus.
“Are we forgetting your real win there?” Eurylochus threw his shoulder around Odysseus, Odysseus was confused at what Eurylochus was trying to imply, “What? Didn’t I win by getting the chamber to calm down?” he said, Eurylochus mocked in surprise at his comment, “Oh? Are we just removing the fact that you smoothly got Penelope to back you up?” Odysseus rolled his eyes, “She just agreed with what I said.” he said, not getting the hint, “Are we sure Ody? Or are you just hiding you like her aren't you?”
Odysseus gets surprised from such a comment, “Me? Liking Penelope?” he chuckled, “I mean, I see we can be friends and all but liking her when Helen’s right there?” he said, Eurylochus then changed the tide, “Didn’t you say you had a thing for smart girls? Seems to me Penelope showed her smarts by choosing to stand by your argument.” he said, Odysseus just playfully pushed him aside, “Well of course, I’m the clever king. Naturally, people would agree with a smart argument if they were smart too.” he said.
“Whatever you say Odysseus, keep it to yourself. I'm no tease with you and your crushes” he said, “Joke about it once to my sister and I’m telling her you like her.” Odysseus joked back, holding the leverage, Eurylochus was silent and playfully rolled his eyes in response, “Whatever you say.” was what Eurylochus could muster up as a response. Odysseus chuckled as they walked to the center plaza of Sparta.
Back at the castle, Icarius and Penelope were alone at the throne room of Sparta. Icarius turned to his daughter with disappointment and anger over her intervention and said to her, “That was reckless beyond any measure.” He said calm yet firm, expecting her to listen but was surprised when Penelope talked back, “They wouldn’t stop arguing. Not even for Odysseus.” she stood her ground, “Have you lost your sense in that head of yours? Are you forgetting the customs our forefathers taught to us?” her father questioned her, but Penelope did not budge and continued to argue, “Father, I’m aware I’m overstepping our customs with my intervention but I had to show my sup-” Penelope tried to speak out but was cut off, “In show of support, you threw yourself into the fire as well!” Icarius yelled in disbelief, he stepped closer as he wanted to emphasize his point, “You humiliated princes and accused them of being mad! You nearly cost Sparta a war with kingdoms it can’t afford with your own blood!” his voice echoed in the throne room.
She snapped at her father, “You and uncle were failing to keep the castle in order!” she paused before continuing, “They were all arguing over Helen like she was a prize to earn, not for the woman she is!” she said angrily. Icarius opened his mouth but sighed in disappointment. He paused momentarily before replying to Penelope, “Your independence is a detriment to your intelligence, Penelope. You would’ve been the perfect heir if you were born a man.” he said, “You can’t even flirt with a man, what made you think you could act like that?” the insult had surprised her and led to Penelope yelling back “Our customs are weak if I’m not able to speak out for what is right even as a royal!”
Suddenly, the door to the room opened and Tyndareus entered, “Enough arguing you two.” the king said, he looked at Icarius with a sign of disappointment over this, “Daughter, can you leave me and your uncle alone?” Icarius asked Penelope, “... Yes father.” Penelope said before quietly departing from the palace. She was disappointed at her father sticking to old customs and insulting her as she left the castle for a secluded spot in the forest, not far from the castle.
At the Spartan plaza, Eurylochus and Odysseus stopped walking to rest on a nearby bench. Eurylochus stretched in amusement but Odysseus' mind lingered with the chaos in the castle, suddenly Eurylochus snapped him back to reality, “Say Ody,” he said, Odysseus looked at him in intrigue as he continued, “Do you miss Ithaca with how often you leave?” Eurylochus asked interestedly, “It’s home, of course I miss it. I’m… never used to leaving it.” he said, looking at the banner of Ithaca waving on his ship’s mast.
Eurylochus continued, deciding to tease Odysseus, “I bet if you had a wife, you’d be missing her by now.” Odysseus rolled his eyes, though not in amusement which surprised Eurylochus, “Hey, wait, I didn’t mean to insult you.” Odysseus rose his hand, “You don’t need to worry, I know.” he said, “If there’s anything I want right now, I want to go home.” he said, “My entire life has been there and it's my entire world, I don’t know what I’d do if I’m lost for 10 years, 20 years, all away from Ithaca.” Eurylochus listened intently before speaking, “I don’t blame you, Ithaca’s been my life too.” he said, “I still remember that time you snuck me into the throne room with your father when he wasn’t looking.” he chuckled, reminiscing old times to which Odysseus appreciated it, “You still remember the time you tried to make a makeshift bow as your gift for me when we finished our training?” the two men made a heart-felt laugh at the memory. The tranquil quiet came back between the two, this time they were content with it as they just observed their surroundings. However, Eurylochus stood up, patting Odysseus' shoulder and brushed off dust from his attire, “I think I’m going to explore Sparta, Ody.” Eurylochus said, Odysseus raised an eyebrow and questioned it, “Explore? What made you so adventurous and curious, hm?” he said, “No reason, Ody.” Eurylochus muttered almost instantaneously.
Odysseus was surprised at how quick he responded while Eurylochus took a glance over his shoulder, he followed his gaze and saw his sister, Ctimene, chatting with other maidens as they explored Sparta, “Ah, no wonder.” Odysseus smirked at Eurylochus, “Huh?” he looked back immediately at Odysseus and sounded more flustered, as if awaiting permission from Odysseus to court Ctimene, “Go on, I won’t stop your so-called ‘expedition’ Eury. Make sure she’s safe.” he chuckled but before he could look back, Eurylochus was already halfway to Ctimene.
“Never change, Eury, never change.” Odysseus laughed to himself. He was now alone at the plaza and stayed there, looking around and gently relaxing to the soft breeze as the stresses of the earlier confrontation in the palace had gone away. Eventually, he would grow sick of the festivities and caught eyes with other suitors for Helen, “Oh Athena.” he thought before standing up to leave. Quietly, he stood up and slipped a slide path that led to the forest.
As he walked away from the plaza, the noises grew quieter before he found a sunlit grotto, flowers everywhere and a lone olive tree. He was awed by the scenery, “Thank Zeus for Persephone.” he commented before deciding to climb the olive tree, out of instinct and desire to see the view at the top.
Unbeknownst to him, however, Penelope was in the area and she didn't know the clever king was there.
Footsteps were heard as she arrived at the grotto, her spirits were immediately lifted at the sight of butterflies and flowers and the peaceful tranquility of the olive tree, “Inner peace.” she smiled with her book in hand. Odysseus, as he neared the tree’s top, saw a familiar figure below him, he looked down and saw her, “The princess…?” he whispered quietly, he leaned closer while holding onto the branch for a closer look to make sure his instincts were right but he leaned too close, the branch snapped and fell as he yelped.