This is a pre-Odyssey pre-Iliad story. It takes place a few years before the Trojan War. Though I can't really prove that this is how the story of Penelope and Odysseus begins I say they have to start somewhere so this is how I figure it happened. So for those of you who don't know, it was custom in Ancient Greece for girls around the ages of 13- probably 17 or 18 to marry men in their thirties or older. Knowing that it would only make sense for Penelope to be a teen and Odysseus to be an older man in his thirties when they married. And men would marry daughters of kings so they could become kings of the land. Therefore Odysseus was only king because Penelope's father ruled Ithaca. Some more useless background information for this story is that Penelope is Helen and Clytemnestra's (Agamemnon's wife) cousin. Don't think that will make much of a difference, but incase you cared to know.
It was a warm day, a sunny day. The world was peaceful. Penelope lit the candles in the temple and bowed her head and prayed to the goddess, Hera. She prayed for many things, including that her father would change his mind about her marriage. Her father, Icarius, was a proud and stubborn man. He wanted only to see his daughter married off to a powerful man; he cared nothing for what she wanted.
He kept saying that girls younger then her had already been married. Her cousin Helen was already married to Menelaus as was Clytemnestra to Agamemnon. It was now Penelope's turn to marry a man such as her cousins had. He also said she was getting too old and soon no man would want her. Still Penelope was uncertain of all this. She was not ready to marry. Her father suspected her of having some sort of love affair with one of the stable boys, but it was quite untrue. Penelope feared to marry; especially when she had only met her soon to be husband once and that was over ten years ago.
Odysseus had only once made his way to the house of her father in Ithaca. She had been six at the time and he was almost twenty. He was in his thirties now and Penelope felt this age difference was too much. She felt in her heart she was too young to be married off. Penelope could not stand this arranged marriage. Her mother had been sent off to marry her father when she was fourteen and she never grew to love him. Her father took mistresses and might as well have spat on the union with his wife. Penelope feared such a thing would happen to her. Still her father said it was Odysseus who had asked for her hand. But Penelope knew her father well; he had most likely made Odysseus a fine offer of cattle and gold for him to take Penelope as his wife.
Now, every morning, and every night Penelope would pray to the goddesses Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and Hera the goddess of marriage. She hoped they would hear her prayers and take her away from all this. Yet so far her prayers were unanswered. Her father still planned to have her marry Odysseus whether she wanted to or not.
Bowing her head to the statue of Hera, Penelope said her prayer silently.
"Penelope?" Her mother's voice floated into the temple.
Penelope finished her prayer quickly and blew out the candles. She hurried from the temple to see what her mother wanted. "Yes, Mother?"
"There you are." Her mother took her by the arm. "Odysseus will be her very soon."
"I am sorry, Mother, I was praying." Penelope bowed her head to her mother.
"No time for apologies, we must get you cleaned up and ready to go. Should your father see you like this no amount of praying will spare you from his wrath." Her mother took her by the hand and led her towards the house.
"So I have been told many times over by Icarius. He seemed to be desperate to rid himself of his daughter."
"That is because she is seventeen and she is getting too old to marry. He just wants her married before she's twenty, like any father would."
"If she is as beautiful as you say, then why is it that she is not married already?" Odysseus turned to see what Acheron would say. The man did not seem to have an answer for him.
At a great length he spoke, "I believe Icarius was waiting for a great man of honor to come along. Not just any man should be allowed to come along and marry Penelope, who knows what ruin would fall upon Ithaca if the wrong suitor was chosen to rule after Icarius?"
Odysseus nodded. Acheron was right, if the wrong suitor was chosen for Penelope then Ithaca could well fall to ruin. He had lived his whole life on Ithaca and his father had spoken of terrible kings who came to power and nearly put the place to ruin. "Perhaps you are right. Besides I do not wish to see this place fall to ruin because of a faulty king."
"And who better to rule Ithaca then you? A man of worth and honor. You can defend this fair country and many men respect you. I have never met another man so worthy as you to be king." He rose and helped Odysseus to his feet. "Come you must now go to the house of Icarius. We are already late."Odysseus dismounted his horse and handed it to a stable boy. Behind him Acheron did the same. Servants bustled about, running here and there, getting water, and doing anything they could for the guests. Icarius came from inside the house and embraced Odysseus and Acheron.
"Friends, I am glad you have finally come. We have been making preparations all day."
"As we can see," Acheron said, looking about at the servants, "You flatter us and we long to see your beautiful daughter."
Icarius smiled, patting him on the back, "As she longs to see you. She has been so excited about your coming, I cannot put into words how she feels." Word of Penelope's "excitement" traveled swiftly to her ears. "If he has not already insulted me enough, but now he adds an injury with such a remark." She growled to her handmaiden, Melantho. "To say I was excited at meeting them. I have never wished for death so much in my life."
Melantho said nothing, just adjusted Penelope's hair and dress. "He lies to them so they think that they are wanted here." She wanted to cry now, she wanted to scream even more, but it was quite unacceptable for her to do either.
Her mother came into the room and made sure her daughter looked presentable. When everything seemed in order she led Penelope out to meet Odysseus.
Icarius spoke of many things with Odysseus and Acheron until his wife appeared. "Ah, I see my daughter is ready to come out." When Penelope entered the room Acheron and Odysseus stood out of respect, but for Odysseus it was more out of awe. He thought Acheron's tales of Penelope's beauty was just that. She was far more beautiful then he could have imagined. Her long brown hair fell far past her shoulders and several strands fell into her deep brown eyes. She looked surreal to him. As though any moment he would wake from a wonderful dream.
At first he was unable to do anything. When Acheron bowed to her Odysseus did the same. He never took his eyes off her. She seemed uninterested and made no eye contact with him for a long while. It was not until later at dinner did she give him a solid glance. Penelope knew she was being watched; the only time Odysseus took his eyes away was to say a few words to her father. At one point during dinner she decided to give him one quick look.
She looked up from her dinner and as was expected he was looking directly at her. She made eye contact for a moment and when she felt her face turn red she looked away. She was silent and she kept her head down throughout dinner.
Odysseus heard her speak once the entire night. After dinner she asked her father if she could retire for the night. Her voice was soft and sweet. Odysseus longed for her to say something else. He longed to hear his name fall from her lips, but at present she seemed too afraid of him to say anything.
After dinner Odysseus spent an hour speaking to Icarius. When Icarius retired for the night, Odysseus did as well. All night he dreamt of Penelope.