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“Penelope!” Odysseus shouted from down below her window. He had taken to doing this at least once a day, always with some dramatic flair or story. If Penelope was being honest she was starting to enjoy these daily visits.
“Odysseus,” She chuckled, wondering what dramatics her current suitor would bring. She liked this one, he was pretty skilled with words and kind of funny and a refreshing break from the other suitors she got, who all boasted of their achievements in war and hunting and were mostly old and repulsive. She didn't hate to admit that this Odysseus fellow was quite attractive.
“How fairs the most gorgeous maiden in Ithaca?"
“You flatter me so, Odysseus,” Oh so he wanted dramatics, well Penelope was always happy to play along. “But you could adorn me with every beautiful word on this island with no commitment or skill of character other than prowess in flowery language. What truly would you give to me?”
“I would give you eternal love and devotion, admiration to last until all that there is comes to an end."
“But what else?”
“I would slaughter every snake and bear and vulture and boar that dared to approach you. I would fight every siren and cyclops, every giant and hydra, every harpy and chimera, the Minotaur, even Cerberus. I’d do it all for you”
“You boast of your love, but why do you love me? What is it about me that compels you so?”
“Every new thing I learn about you makes me fall in love with you again. You are wise, thoughtful and cautious. I have a secret inkling that you may be smarter than even me. I see your strength, both physical and mental and I fall head over heels for you every single day.”
Odysseus had the mind of a genius, calling her smarter than maybe even him is the highest compliment she’d ever received. The usual suitors who came to her would profess love for her body and beauty, want her for political gain, an alliance with their kingdom. Now don't get her wrong, she saw the way Odysseus looked at her as if she outshined the morning sun, he saw and admired her beauty, but he saw more than that. Odysseus saw her. He wanted her. Not a body, not an alliance, Odysseus wanted her. He respected her mind, her cunning and her intelligence, her strength. Almost all of the suitors forget she's from Sparta for goodness sake, she's a warrior and none of them cared, none except Odysseus.
And she wanted him.
Penelope had been observing him, just as she was sure he had been observing her. She watched him train and work up a sweat that would glisten across his olive skin, watched as he set traps and used his craftiness to his advantage, watched him study and learn about the world around him, but most importantly she watched him care. Care for his people, his friends, his family, even his dog. He was attractive and strong and the best she was going to get.
All that was left now was the part that involved getting. And how hard could it really be?