Let me be the arms that hold you tight (Odysseus x Polites)

Chapter 15 - Done for

A group of nymphs sat around Polites as he carefully braided one of the younger nymph's hair, something he had picked up from his sister. She told him how Circe usually did it, but she was busy clearing away the plates from the crew's feast.

They were eating casually, without the slightest bit of worry Circe had cursed it; he ate with them, albeit more hesitantly. Chatting idly with them, he almost forgot about why he had even come to the palace in the first place. Until the nymph, whose hair he was braiding, turned and asked him a question with wide, curious eyes, "Who are you, exactly?"

He was taken aback slightly, almost as if he had forgotten he wasn't a nymph adopted by Circe ages ago. "I am Polites of Ithaca and I was— am sailing home from war." He corrected himself, even returning home felt like a distant dream. She nodded, clearly wanting him to go on. "Of Ithaca? Are you royalty? What's Ithaca like?"

"Ithaca's nice and no, not royalty, but—"

"But? Are you going to marry a king? A prince?" Another nymph interrupted him excitedly, asking too many questions for him to answer. "Let him finish!" The original nymph stopped her from bombarding him with any more questions.

"I'm not married to the king, he has Penelope but we're quite close. We've even kissed once." The whole group gasped at that and Circe glanced over at them, stopping what she was doing. "Really?" She came over and sat down next to him and soon he was recounting the entire war and voyage to the nymphs.

—————————————————————————————————

There was hardly any noise, aside from the low hum of conversation. "Lady of the palace." Odysseus spoke to no one at all, hoping she would hear him and come. When no one came to greet him and kept walking and speaking. "Sorry that I ask this but I hope that I've been misinformed." Footsteps approached and he turned to find Circe staring at him. "I sent out some scouts to take a look around through here and they wound up at your doors."

"Through the years we seldom get a warm welcome, so I must ask just to be sure." He spoke formally to her, aware of how dangerous she could end up being, even with moly. "Did you do something to them?"

"Who, me? All I did was reveal their true forms." She smiled as she spoke, acting innocent as if she hadn't physically altered his men.

"You turned them into pigs." Odysseus pointed out. 

"Huh." Circe mocking spoke, as if she hadn't considered the idea before turning serious and glaring at him. "I don't know who you are nor why you're here but let me make this one thing clear, I've got people to protect Nymphs I can't nеglect." She waved her hand and a group of nymphs went running from the room she had emerged out of, with someone who looked suspiciously like Polites in tow.

"So I'm not taking chances, dear." She smiled before shutting the door behind the nymphs, making sure they would be safe. "If you makе one wrong move, then you're done for, anything I don't approve, then you're done for. I could put a spell on you and you're done for boy, you better run or soon you will be done for." She snarled, prepared to kill if it would mean her nymphs would be safe.

"I don't mean to tip your scale but you will fail at placing any spells on me. I just ate a flower, one that claims your power, so you better cower now and flee!" Odysseus puffed out his chest, trying to appear stronger than he was actually.

"You must be a liar! Mortals can't acquire moly without dire consequence." Circe laughed,

"Then I must be a god like you 'cause I got this root from the ground with my bare hands!" He lied quite easily to her, hand finding itself to his sword.

"Hermes gave it to you, didn't he?" She laughed, easily seeing through his line.

"Okay, fine, yes, but regardless!" He stumbled through his words, trying to appear confident. "You and I are now evenly matched, our fates are intertwined, they're attached!" He pointed dramatically at her.

"I've got people to protect, friends I can't neglect!" Odysseus drew his sword out and pointed it towards her and she grinned.

"So now there is no turning back, you've made your one wrong move, now you're done for!" Circe summoned a chimaera, a fearsome beast Odysseus had thought only existed in stories. In return, he summoned a cyclops, much like the one he had blinded.

"I will be the one to prove that you're done for, not even a spell saves you, 'cause you're done for! Oh, you better run or soon you will be done for." The two creatures battled. It was short lived, as when the chimaera lunged to attack the cyclops brought down its wooden club, killing it on impact.

"You've lost." He stepped towards her, sword pressed against her throat.

"My nymphs are like my daughters, I protect them at all costs. The last time we let strangers live we faced a heavy loss." She grabbed the sword and pushed it away, letting it clatter to the floor. "You've given me no reason to bestow you with my trust, but everyone's true colours are revealed in acts of lust... ;)"

"I'm not sure I follow." Odysseus made an attempt to step away from her, only to be pulled back.

A/N - 2 CHAPTERS!!! we felt chapter 14 was too short so you got 2 today :)

Wordcount : 935