Defying Fate

Chapter 6 p2

Odysseus woke up some time later to find Penelope gone. The sun was setting and a shaft of light slanted through the curtain to shine on his face.

Pulling his chiton back on from where it had fallen on the floor, he stepped through that gap in the curtain to find Penelope standing, staring out to sea. He stood behind her, and put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing her upper arms, which were bare in the cool evening.

"I dreamed about you," he said, sticking his nose in the bend where her shoulder met her neck. She was just a few inches taller than he was, and it suited her very well. "That you had given up on me," he added.

"I would never give up on you, my love," Penelope said, but gently prized his hands from her arms, and turned to look into his eyes. "It's time for the feast, to celebrate your return."

"Should I change?" Odysseus looked down at his ragged chiton, only to see it had changed into a fine blue one, trimmed in gold, and made of a finer material than any he'd ever owned.

"You are perfect just the way you are," Penelope said.

Odysseus let her lead him down to the feast hall, which was already filled with guests. They all cheered when they saw the couple, and it reminded Odysseus a little of his wedding celebration. Except...

"Where are Polites and Eurylochus?" Odysseus looked around the room, but didn't see his two oldest friends. "Polites was right behind me—"

"My love, don't you remember?" Penelope looked concerned. "The storm? They drowned."

"They're gone?" Odysseus shook his head, "no, that's not possible." Polites had been right behind him. He still felt the impression of his hand on his shoulder, right before—

"Come sit, my dear," Penelope said, pulling him forward to the place of honor in the center of the room. "We've prepared a great feast for you! Everyone, my husband is home!"

The crowd cheered once more—more likely at the mention of food—and Odysseus sat. Servants came around carrying trays laden with fruit, and soft breads and cheeses, and two strong men came in carrying a full sized, massive roasted boar.

Penelope lifted her cup and another servant with an amphora came forward and filled it with wine, then filled Odysseus' cup, which sat beside him.

Odysseus looked down at his plate, the polished bronze reflected his face, his eyes seemed sunken in his face, haunted by the things he had done and seen.

Then Penelope swiped the plate away and quickly returned it filled with fresh fruits, apples, pomegranate seeds, grapes, and others, as well as a steaming slice of the wild boar.

"Cooked just the way I remember that you like it," Penelope whispered in his ear. "I know you're hungry. You worked up quite an appetite this afternoon." Then she stood, and raised her wine cup to the room. "A toast! To my husband, who braved the trojans, and the might of the seas, to come back to us. A toast to your king!"

"To the king!" The crowd roared as one, and drank. Odysseus drank too.

The wine was sweet, and carried notes of a flavor he didn't recognize, but it was good, and he realized his throat was parched. He drank deeply, and didn't catch Penelope's sigh of relief as he began to eat.