olive tree
Even though she traveled a lot, it always took Penelope some time to get used to new surroundings.
She and her cousins had been in Ithaca for a few days now, as Helen scouted out her suitors. It seemed every man in Greece would take her hand in marriage if given the chance, Penelope thought.
And so, as Ithaca had a potential candidate for Helen, the Spartans made their way to the small island kingdom.
Penelope took no part in it. She merely exchanged pleasantries at the beginning and watched from afar as men tried to woo her cousin. She almost found it comical, how much of an act the suitors would put on for Helen.
So when Penelope grew tired of the nonsense, she would wander around the palace grounds, looking out to the Ionian Sea, dreaming that she was back in Sparta, where her beloved tapestry loom was.
She sat for a while, thinking to herself, as she often did, under a great olive tree that grew near the edge of the palace grounds.
“Hello. Am I disturbing you, my lady?” a voice said behind her.
She turned around to see a handsome young man, about her age.
“Huh? Oh … oh, no. Not at all. Just … thinking, I suppose,” she stood up to get a better look at him.
Brown eyes that sparkled in the sun connected with hers. He nervously tucked his dark wavy hair behind his ear, revealing an intricate braid that weaved through the side of his head. His arms and shoulders were that of an archer’s, strong and stoic. He wore a simple white linen tunic, stitched with dark blue around the hem. On his wrist was a golden cuff, graced by an owl, a sign of Lady Athena.
She was lost in his presence.
The young man cleared his throat. “My lady?”
Penelope fixed her attention back to his eyes. “Yes? My apologies. I seem to get a bit lost in my own thoughts.”
He huffed a small laugh. “I just said that I do the same. If I’m not to be talking, then I am thinking. My father, the great king Laertes, hates it but I am quite fond of it. There is so much a person can say, but an infinite possibility of what one can think.”
“Oh! My apologies, your majesty,” Penelope hesitated. “I had no idea you were–”
“It’s truly fine, my lady. There is no need,” he smiled.
A silence washed over the two. The young man stepped closer to Penelope, who was now leaning under the great olive tree. He broke the silence.
“You know, I come to this tree every day. Ever since I was a small boy. I remember watching the gardener plant it, and look what it has become,” he looked up at the massive tree, admiring its sprawling branches and leaves, small olive sprouts scattered throughout. “It’s beautiful, no?” he asked Penelope.
“It is. Very,” Penelope agreed. But not as beautiful as you, she thought as she looked at the young man again.
Little did she know, he felt the same way about her. His father invited the “beautiful Helen” of Sparta, as so many have called her, to their kingdom, to hopefully arrange a marriage between Helen and his son. But ever since he laid eyes on Penelope, Helen was out of the question.
“May I kiss you, my lady?” he asked Penelope.
Penelope’s heart fluttered. She could feel her cheeks turning bright red.
“What? I –” before she could answer, the young man pressed tender lips to Penelope’s supple cheek.
“Please forgive me, my lady,” he apologized, looking away.
“No. Don’t be sorry,” Penelope paused. “I liked it. Very much.”
He looked back at her and gave an embarrassed smile.
Another silence.
He sat down at the trunk of the tree and Penelope followed suit.
“What is your name, your majesty?” Penelope asked, curiosity running across her face.
“I am Odysseus of Ithaca.”
“Oh! My gods. My cousin is –”
“Helen of Sparta. You must be Lady Penelope,” Odysseus said with a grin.
“Yes,” Penelope huffed a laugh. How did you know?”
“Helen talks about you,” Odysseus replied.
“She does? All good things, I hope,” Penelope smirked.
“Of course. All good things. I remember you from when we first met a few days ago.”
“Oh?”
“I do. How could I forget? You look gorgeous, Penelope,” he said.
My, what a man, Penelope thought.
“And Helen is …” she questioned.
“I’m not thinking about Helen,” Odysseus said and took Penelope’s hand. “I am thinking about you.”
“And I you.”
They both sat in silence for a while, enjoying the view from the shade of the tree. Boats from all over, docking and leaving from the small port below the rocky cliffs from which the palace grounds sat.
“So what will you tell Helen?” Penelope finally asked Odysseus.
“The truth. I want to be with you, Penelope. For the rest of my days.”
Penelope gasped. A new feeling crawled inside of her, one she never felt before. It was one of desire and passion, a feeling that Odysseus was experiencing as well.
Two young kids in love.
“I am afraid I must go now, Penelope. My father will start to question my whereabouts,” Odysseus said as he stood up. Inside, he wished that he could stay under the olive tree, where he was happiest. But princely duties demanded otherwise.
Penelope stood up alongside him. “I understand,” she said with a soft smile.
Odysseus reached to his side, pulled a red peony from the ground and tucked it behind Penelope’s ear.
“I hope to see you here tomorrow, Lady Penelope. I really did enjoy our time together,” Odysseus smiled at her.
“I did too, Odysseus,” she cupped his cheek with her hand. “I will meet you under the olive tree.”
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that WHO in no longer u oh my GOD
YESSSS
Like, yeah, Odysseus is like "Yandere" (joking but also not) because kills all who even go near Penelope and Telemachus and he's very protective of them AND jealous.
But I think this "WHO?!" is also a desperate plea as to who is this dangerous man who is near his wife? A warlord? A conquerer? A man who would not even care about Penelope for who she is and mistreats her?
Because even in the Odyssey, Odysseus asks about Penelope to his mother.
Tell me of the wife
I married. What are her thoughts and plans?
Is she still there with our son, keeping watch
on everything? Or has she been married
to the finest of Achaeans?
(Book 11, Johnston)
There's not even much resentment in his question. There could be but Narrator does not say. The use of "the finest of Achaeans" almost is a "Did she at least marry the best man? Did she at least marry a GOOD man?"
In "No Longer You", when he hears of this dangerous man NEAR his wife, he is SCARED. It could be jealousy but I feel it's more of concern. As it is in the Odyssey.
"I understand if she would remarry, it pains me but I did tell her that when Telemachus finally grows his beard, she could. I will love her always but is she at least happy? Is she safe?"
And she's not safe. She's not happy. He is terrified.
Psst. The reason why My Odysseus takes a long time to grow his beard is because of that line. He's hoping that his son will take after him and take forever to grow a beard like he did (as he doesn't really have one even when he first leaves for Troy) because he would try forever to get home. Penelope even teases him that he still doesn't have one so that's a silly request and that's the point. "I will never stop trying to come back to you. He and I will likely remain beardless forever." (it's a little funky for him when he finally grows one by the end of Troy. He's thinking "...Shit. Telemachus, stay baby-faced for your dad please.")
ANYWAYS.
I mean we all know that these two are obsessed with each other in the Odyssey and in Epic. They are likeminded and are so integral to who they are. They mean everything to one another. I think Odysseus genuinely does want Penelope happy. As even in the Odyssey with him simply asking for another bed, shows how much he loves and respects her. He could've been like "get in it" even though she had rejected him at first but he LISTENS BECAUSE HE LOVES HER. Only breaking down into a sobbing mess when he believes she destroyed their bed.
"Heaven made you as you are, but for sheer obstinacy you put all the rest of your sex in the shade. No other wife could have steeled herself to keep so long out of the arms of a husband she had just got back after nineteen years of misadventure. Well, nurse, make a bed for me to sleep alone in. For my wife's heart is just about as hard as iron."
(Book 23, Rieu)
Please note that this is his attempt to insult her in a way and yet he still talks about her being from Heaven 👀 SIMP
But even though he's deeply hurt by her rejection (poor guy would've probably sobbed himself to sleep) He still asks for another bed. After sleeping on the floor and in the dirt since he's been on Ithaca, refusing beds unless it's his own marriage bed, he takes her 'no' because he values her happiness and comfort over his own. He takes a lesser bed so she can still sleep in their own luxurious one.
I mean we know how fucking awful the suitors are. Hold Them Down is a disturbing song. (as it should be. As they are not good men) He does not even know how bad these men are yet. If his future self could speak with his past self, he'd probably be like "Yeah, don't worry about the guy who kills a bunch of people, they had it coming. ;) " or something.
That "WHO?!" is a mix of jealousy AND fear.
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