Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

For the first time in what seemed like many days, Makaria woke up in a good mood today.

She opened her eyes slowly and sat up on her bed of leaves and grass. She looked around her shelter and, seeing nothing unusual, simply sighed and got up to prepare for the day.
She tidied up a little and checked her food supplies: there wasn’t much left, except for hundreds of lotus flowers, so she just ate some leftover fish from the night before and left her shelter to gather more food. Before heading into the island, she checked her small boat again, which had shipwrecked only a few days ago. With torn sails and broken wood, she made a small mental note to get more wood soon and then ventured into the forest.

She walked for a few minutes until she came across an apple tree. She set her basket on the ground and began carefully knocking the apples down.
The day seemed peaceful; the wind blew softly, and a few clouds made the air cooler. Makaria kept gathering apples with a stick, thinking it would be a good day… until it wasn’t.

—Hey! You, girl! —a voice shouted from afar, up on a steep hill.
Makaria froze; her heart started pounding faster as she slowly turned toward the source of the voice. There she saw two men running down toward her. They were wearing somewhat elegant clothes, but more importantly, they were armed with large, sharp swords.

Makaria’s instincts reacted first—she pulled out a dagger from under her clothes and aimed it at the strangers, who, noticing this, stopped in their tracks and looked at her in confusion. Immediately, the shorter one drew his sword and stepped in front of the other man.

—Listen, woman, we don’t know who you are, and we don’t want a fight, so I recommend you lower your weapon —the stranger said coldly; his eyes scanned the girl, looking for any other threat—. I am Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and right now we’re in a bind. I have six hundred men waiting, starving, on our ships. We came to this island searching for food, and the lotus-eaters guided us to you.

The man’s words and stance didn’t waver; he stayed firm and alert while watching the girl. Her stance didn’t change either—she gripped her dagger tighter, eyeing the two men with distrust.

—Kings who don’t seek battle —she replied dryly— don’t arrive armed in foreign lands.

The tension was suffocating. They kept studying each other, neither willing to give in, until the other man spoke.

—Whoa, whoa! Why don’t we all relax a bit, friends? No one has to get hurt! —the second man said cheerfully, raising his hands in peace and stepping between the girl and the king—. My name is Polites, fair lady, and though my foolish friend doesn’t know how to show it, we come in peace —he said, locking eyes with the girl and offering a reassuring smile.

—We’ve been through a lot on our journey. Right now, our friends are hungry, and we need to find food soon. Do you know if there’s any other place or island where we can get some? —The soothing tone Polites used made the girl lower her weapon just a few inches, though she remained alert.

—There’s no feast here —she said—. This island doesn’t have enough food to feed six hundred men, but I know of another that might help you.

That made Odysseus sigh in frustration.

—Where is that island? —he asked in a grave, threatening tone.

—Watch your tone, king —the girl said coldly—. On this island, I’m the one in charge.

The air grew tense again in a heartbeat. The three held each other’s gaze until Polites spoke once more.

—Captain, please, lower your weapon. You’re making things harder than they need to be! The girl’s harmless; we just need to earn her trust —he said, turning toward the other man, while the girl only gave them a stoic look.

Odysseus stared at him for a few seconds before deciding to sheath his sword, and Makaria followed suit. They stood in awkward silence until the girl spoke.

—Follow me. —She said nothing else. She picked up her basket of apples and began walking toward her shelter without waiting for them. In the distance, she heard the man with glasses let out a relieved laugh and say something to the other about life and greeting it with open arms. She didn’t focus on that, only kept walking as the two men followed.

The girl led them through the forest, walking in silence and admiring the scenery. She thought she would have peace for at least a while until the man with glasses came up beside her and spoke.

—Thank you for helping us, fair lady —he said with a smile—. If I may, I’d love to know your name—of course, only if you’d like me to stop calling you “fair lady.” —His grin turned teasing and playful; the girl looked at him blankly.

—My name is Makaria.

—What a beautiful name! It suits you well. May I ask what it means? —Polites’s eyes lit up so brightly that the girl thought they might burn her. She was about to ignore him when another voice interrupted.

—Where are you taking us? —Odysseus asked suspiciously—. We’ve been walking for quite a while, and I still don’t see anything.

The girl didn’t turn to look at him and replied coolly:

—I’m taking you to my shelter; there we can talk more properly.

As soon as she said that, they reached the shore, where a small hut stood surrounded by lotus flowers and a few butterflies.
Before entering, the girl stopped and turned to them, saying:

—Look, but don’t touch. —She turned and entered the hut.

The two men followed, staring in awe at the place: there were all kinds of tools, instruments, pots, and flowers. Odysseus and Polites explored with curiosity while Makaria stored her apples in a bag, until the king of Ithaca spoke.

—Who are you? Where do you come from?... How did you end up here alone? —Odysseus’s posture finally relaxed, and his voice sounded calmer. When the girl finished putting the apples away, she turned to face him and said:

—I come from a distant island, from a community that still lives isolated from the outside world. I lived a peaceful life there, but I always felt curious about what lay beyond the sea —she said, looking at Odysseus with a hint of nostalgia—. My family always told me that freedom was out there, so one day I simply decided to leave and explore the world on my own. But during a storm, my boat was damaged, and I ended up on this island for a while.

The two men were stunned by her story, exchanging glances in disbelief. What Makaria said seemed impossible, but seeing her situation, they finally understood.

—That’s… admirable, I must say —the king muttered—. How old are you? How did you learn all the skills you need to survive? It seems impossible, especially since you’re just… —Odysseus realized too late what he had said, because the girl cut him off.

—What? Because I’m just a woman? —Makaria’s voice was venomous and cold as ice—. Well, that’s not something I’d like to discuss right now. I’ll be twenty-two in a few months. —She let out a tired sigh and closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself.

—Well, I think Miss Makaria is very brave! —Polites chimed in, trying to lighten the mood—. Though I believe there’s always something new to learn every day, right? —he said with a sweet smile. Makaria looked at him for a few seconds before averting her gaze and returning to reality. She looked at Odysseus and began to speak.

—The island you seek is five days and four nights from here, to the northwest. I’ve passed near it before, so I know the route, but the island remains unexplored, so I don’t know what dangers await there. Even so… are you willing to go? —she asked sternly.

Odysseus looked at Polites for a few seconds before replying:

—It’s our only option. —Still looking at her, he spoke again—. Makaria, would you come with us and guide us to the island?

The girl’s expression showed surprise and some confusion.

—King Odysseus, are you listening to yourself? What makes you think I’d travel alone with six hundred men? Do you realize how many things could go wrong? —she said, frowning.

—I can promise you, Miss Makaria, that if you travel with us, you’ll have nothing to fear. I will keep you safe, and the order will be that everyone treats you with the respect you deserve —the man said, staring firmly at her.

—Don’t worry about that, fair lady! I’ll protect you every second you’re on that ship; you’ll have nothing to fear! —Polites said dramatically, stepping forward—. I assure you that all our companions are good people, and though it might feel strange at first, eventually we’ll all get used to it. —He flashed that radiant smile again; for a moment, Makaria thought she saw stars around him, until Odysseus spoke once more.

—If it helps you decide, when we reach the island, you can choose whether to stay or come with us back to Ithaca, where you’d be warmly welcomed. —For the first time since they met, Odysseus gave her a reassuring smile—. The choice is yours, Miss.

Makaria stayed silent for a few minutes, her gaze shifting between Odysseus and Polites, who both smiled at her.

—I’ll accept your offer, King Odysseus, but under two conditions —she said firmly—. First: I will not tolerate any lack of respect toward me from any of your men —her gaze sharpened even more—. And second: if at any moment I wish to leave the ship, you will stop at the nearest land and let me go without hesitation.

Odysseus only needed ten seconds of eye contact before saying:

—Deal.

—Woo! We’ve got a new member on the crew, how exciting! —Polites shouted joyfully, hugging Odysseus, who looked like he wished the ground would swallow him whole.

Makaria prayed to the gods that the decision she had just made was the right one.

Chapter Text

New day, new problems.

For several days now, their food rations had begun to dwindle; hunger was starting to appear, and if they didn’t find a solution soon, the return to Ithaca would be harder than planned. That was the first thing Polites thought when he woke up.

He went out on deck to start the day, greeting the crew members he came across. That’s when he saw Odysseus talking with Eurylochus and decided to approach them.

— Good morning, Captain! —he said cheerfully, ready to start a new day. Odysseus greeted him warmly and then turned back to look at the horizon.

— Look! Way out there, I can see an island! —shouted Polites, pointing toward an island a few kilometers away—. I see a light shining softly; maybe it’s people lighting a bonfire! Maybe they’ll share their food—who knows? —he said, turning to look at his captain.

Odysseus looked closely at the island before saying—: Something feels strange… I see fire, but there’s no smoke —he said distrustfully.

— I say we strike first; we don’t have time to waste! —declared Eurylochus firmly, while Polites glared at him indignantly—. So let’s burn the place down and—

— No —said Odysseus—. Polites, get ready; you and I are going. —The one mentioned only repeated what the captain said and threw Eurylochus a mocking look—. We have to find a way for no one to end up dead. —Odysseus turned and stroked his chin thoughtfully.

— Captain, we don’t know what awaits us! —said Eurylochus.

— Give me until dawn, and if we don’t return… then six hundred men can burn this place to the ground! —finished the captain, placing a hand on Eurylochus’ shoulder—. Now, get ready, gentlemen! Full speed ahead! —

The crew prepared to set sail, dropped the anchors, and the two men took their swords, ready to leave. Polites looked excited, while Eurylochus had already resigned himself.

They had been walking for a few minutes. Odysseus walked with his sword held high, ready for any danger that might appear, while Polites admired the landscape, walking happily.

The island was beautiful; there was a great variety of vegetation, and birds sang in harmony. But even though there was peace, they still hadn’t found any food. He noticed the absence of humans around them—everything was covered in weeds and plants twice their height.

Odysseus walked with his head held high, gripping his sword tightly. Polites seemed to notice how his hands were trembling and felt pity for him.

— You can relax, my friend —said Polites, placing a hand on his shoulder.

— …Huh? —

— I can tell you’re getting nervous, so do yourself a favor and… —The bespectacled one plucked a blue flower from a tree and held it out to the king—. Try to relax, my friend! —

His attempt to calm Odysseus made the latter roll his eyes and keep walking. — I’m fine, Polites. Focus on our objective. —

— Think about everything we’ve been through! We’ll survive anything! —Polites grabbed Odysseus’ hand and started running, dragging him along—. I know you’re tired of war and slaughter… but tell me, how are we supposed to live? —He waved his arms in the air, urging him to admire the beauty of nature around them.

— Look at the way you hold your sword; that says a lot —he said, snatching it from his hands—. Why should we take when we can give? —And then he threw it into the river at their feet.

— Polites, don’t—! —The bespectacled one only hugged him and threw himself into the river with him.

The current carried them until they reached a kind of lake, where Odysseus emerged coughing up the water he had swallowed.

— This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms! —sang Polites, offering a hand to his captain—. Whatever we face, we’ll be fine if we're leading from the heart. —Odysseus took it, and they ran out of the lake together.

They arrived at a field full of lavender. Polites’ eyes lit up; he began running around the meadow and leaped joyfully into it while Odysseus watched him from a distance—. No matter the place, we can light up the world! Here’s how to start. —He spread his arms wide to feel the wind—. Greet the world with open arms! —

— Welcome. —

Small voices sounded behind Polites. The atmosphere suddenly darkened, and a group of small creatures emerged quickly from the bushes. Odysseus reacted in an instant, unsheathing his sword and stepping in front of Polites to protect him. — Stay back! —

— Stay back… stay back… —their voices whispered softly.

A look of concern appeared on Polites’ face when he saw Odysseus’ defensive stance. The creatures looked harmless, so he didn’t see a reason to threaten them and feared they might get hurt.

— My friend… greet the world with open arms —said Polites, trying to reason with him.

Odysseus ignored his plea and only tightened his grip—: We’re only here for food. —

— Food… food… —The creatures began to approach the men.

— Six hundred friends are waiting for us to show our faces... —

One of the creatures jumped toward them and shouted—: Food! —

Odysseus reacted instantly, stepped forward, and swung his sword—: Stay back, I’m warning you! —he shouted, advancing a few more steps—. If we don’t make it back safely, my men will turn this place into blazes!

— Here you go! —

Odysseus froze when the lotus-eaters handed him a basket of fruit. He lowered his sword in confusion and astonishment, while Polites smiled brightly and stepped forward.

— See!? —he exclaimed joyfully—. This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms! —

The creatures surrounded Polites, and he hugged them, taking the fruit they offered. — Whatever we face, we’ll be fine if we're leading from the heart! No matter the place, we can light up the world. Here's how to start: Greet the world with open arms! —

Odysseus’ heart softened a little at his friend’s kindness. For a moment, he thought maybe Polites was right. But as he examined the fruit closely, he realized what it was.

He grabbed Polites and pulled him away from the creatures, making him drop the fruit he was about to eat. — My friend, I wish that I could say that I agree, but… —He took one of the fruits and split it in half to show him—. Look at the way this fruit is glowing and filled with glowing seeds. It took me a while to notice just what kind of fruit they eat. It’s a lotus; it controls your mind and never lets you free. —

Odysseus dropped the fruit to the ground and turned to pace around. Polites looked at his friend and noticed the disappointment in his face.

— That’s what we get with open arms. —

Polites stood thoughtful, reconsidering his options. He looked at the lotus-eaters and got an idea.

— Lotus-eaters! I’d like to show my friend that kindness is brave. —he said, kneeling to speak to one of them—. Could you tell me where there's other food to eat? —he asked, offering them a gentle smile.

— The girl… (the scary girl) —

— The girl—! Wait, the girl? —All the hope Polites had gathered turned into confusion when the creatures mentioned a woman. This also caught Odysseus’ attention, who turned and approached the lotus-eaters.

— What do you mean…? Speak —ordered Odysseus firmly.

— The girl… over there... —The lotus-eaters opened a path for them through the flowers.

Odysseus and Polites exchanged confused and astonished looks. They didn’t understand what the creatures meant. A woman on the island? Could she be dangerous? they wondered. They didn’t wait another second and started walking down the path shown by the lotus-eaters. They left the lavender field and entered a mountainous area. The creatures led the way, jumping and singing playfully. Neither of the men spoke for a while.

The lotus-eaters guided them up a steep hill. They climbed quickly, ascending the mountain. Once they reached the top, they looked around, searching for any sign of someone. Neither Polites nor Odysseus saw anyone nearby, but when the bespectacled one lowered his gaze toward an apple tree, he saw her.

Amid the thick foliage, where sunlight barely filtered through, a figure emerged as if the forest itself had sculpted her. He saw a woman standing beside the apple tree, its branches swaying gently in the breeze. The air around her felt different, denser, more alive.

Polites’ heart skipped a beat. Is she a goddess…? A nymph? That was the first thought that crossed his mind as he watched her. Her long, curly hair moved in sync with the wind; her hair and the apples competed for which held the prettiest shade of red.
He could’ve admired her for hours, but Odysseus finally noticed the woman below the hill and ran toward her. Polites followed a few seconds later.

— Hey! You, girl! —shouted Odysseus.

Even from a few meters away, Polites could clearly see how the girl’s body tensed instantly. She dropped the stick she’d been using to gather apples and turned slowly toward them.

Wow.

When the girl turned with fear, he could see true beauty in person. Her pale, freckled face looked at them with confusion and fear; her emerald-green eyes sharpened in an instant. Her body reacted on instinct, pulling a dagger from her clothes and pointing it at the two men.

Odysseus and Polites stopped abruptly. The captain, realizing the danger, drew his sword and stood in front of his friend to protect him.

This is going to be a long day.

.

.

.

Makaria.

Yes, it was definitely the most beautiful name he had ever heard in his life.

They all walked in silence until they reached the girl’s small shelter. It was truly beautiful; lotus flowers surrounded the hut, creating a cozy atmosphere, and the sound of the sea in the background lulled them warmly.

They didn’t ask her any more questions, they understood how hard it must be to bring two strange men into her safe place and simply observed.

Odysseus offered the girl to travel with the crew back to the island, but she seemed hesitant. He couldn’t blame her; after all, it must be terrifying to travel with six hundred men as the only woman. But Polites promised to look after her and protect her at all costs.

Eventually, she agreed.

Makaria didn’t have many belongings; some things were broken, others lost to the sea. She grabbed her bag and packed only the essentials: maps, tools, her “weapons,” and the apples she had collected. Odysseus and Polites watched closely, patiently waiting for her to finish packing. Once she did, Odysseus led the way toward the boats.

The redhead took one last look at the place where she had lived all this time. She was sure she wouldn’t miss it, but it had been her only shelter from the cold nights on the island.

They walked for several minutes, retracing the route the two men had already taken. The King of Ithaca walked briskly, trying to speed up their return to his men. Polites followed behind him, and the girl a few steps further back.

Polites glanced sideways at her now and then. She was lost in thought, looking only at the beauty of the island they were about to leave behind. Some lotus-eaters followed close, jumping and running around them. Odysseus looked annoyed, while Polites and Makaria watched them with faint amusement.

The bespectacled man suddenly slowed his pace, ending up beside the redhead.

— I didn’t think you’d actually agree to come —he said, breaking the silence.

— Neither did I —she replied without lifting her gaze.

The sound of the wind and the sea created a soothing atmosphere on the island. A kind of awkward silence settled between them; neither knew what to say. Polites, usually the most talkative, seemed shy for once to Odysseus’ great surprise, who was listening a few steps ahead.

She glanced sideways at him; there was something about the boy’s aura that made her feel calm, as if she didn’t have to worry about anything else in the world. She lowered her gaze and murmured:

— It’s been so long since I walked beside anyone… I’d forgotten what it felt like to hear footsteps next to mine. —

Polites turned to look at her, surprised she had spoken. He processed her words for a moment, then smiled at her in the sweetest way she had ever seen.

— Well, you don’t have to worry anymore, fair lady! —Polites nudged her playfully on the shoulder—. From today on, you’re one of us! And believe me, I don’t let people go that easily. —

Makaria turned her head to look at him. When their eyes met, she could truly see those honey-colored eyes shining like twin stars in the dark, full of life and kindness. For a moment, she thought she was looking at a son of Apollo, no one could possibly shine that brightly.

— Do you always talk like that to strangers? —she asked, amused.

— Only to the distrustful ones who point daggers at me —he replied without losing his smile.

Makaria rolled her eyes but couldn’t help letting out a small, amused snort. For the first time since she’d met the two men, the tension in her shoulders eased a little.

The voices of the crew began to grow louder, men laughing, others shouting, others just chatting. Makaria’s expression hardened again, bracing herself for the encounter ahead.

— Don’t worry, Makaria. I’ll be watching your back —murmured the bespectacled one. Makaria didn’t look at him, but she loosened her grip on the bag; she hadn’t realized her hands were starting to ache.

Please, be kind to me. That was all she asked.