They believed me.

I almost thought they wouldn't, but they did.

Odysseus quizzed me on everything he could, and although I said the words 'I can't tell you that, it may upset the Fates' way too many times, he wasn't discouraged.

"So we're remembered?" He asked so earnestly, "Greece is remembered?"

I smiled softly at him, "Yes. Greece is remembered as one of the greatest civilisations ever- the foundation for the modern world."

Penelope gasped, eyes shining and Odysseus pulled her into a hug.

"We're remembered," he whispered fervently. "Greece is remembered."

I left quietly, giving them some space.

Penelope and Odysseus summoned me back to their solar the next morning.

"Rhea," Odysseus greeted. "Penelope and I have been discussing the information you revealed to us last night."

I kept my eyes cast towards the floor, "I understand that it was a lot to learn."

"Yes." Penelope spoke up, "And I imagine that it is a lot to experience."

My eyes shot up to meet hers. She stood primly behind Odysseus' chair, hand on his shoulder. The curtains let the sun shine into the room, casting her shadow on the ground in front of me.

"Rhea; we are not here to scorn you, especially with everything you have gone through these past few days." Odysseus told me, "We did not lie when we said that you are welcome here."

"Does the truth not frighten you? I have been cursed, many would turn me away without a second thought." I frowned.

Penelope looked disgusted at the very thought. "You are still a child- condemnation is wrong." She shook her head, "No. Instead, we would like to welcome you fully. Odysseus and I extend an offer of adoption."

I gaped, shocked. "Adoption?"

Odysseus stood up, "We understand if you want to turn down our offer, but I can swear to you that we make it with the purest of hearts. We-"

"Yes!" I cut him off.

He blinked at me, a bit shocked. I flushed.

"Yes. I'd love to be your daughter." I said a bit more calmly.

Penelope beamed, and rushed forward to pull me into a hug. "I'm so glad that you've agreed!"

Odysseus chuckled and came to join the embrace, "So am I."

I smiled at them, blinking back tears.

Moving on is something I may actually be able to do.

"One step in front of the other. Go ahead and let the tears fall as you do. You're moving forward."

You know what is something that's hard to get used to? Speaking in a foreign language everyday.

I've had my lessons on Ancient Greek like any other camper, but that's a completely different thing to speaking it everyday. My speech is stiff and sometimes clunky, with a heavy accent and words that didn't flow well into one another.

Not to mention that the Greek that I'm speaking now is a completely different dialect than I was taught. Mycenaean Greek is a millenia older than Hellenic Greek and it hasn't gone through any Doric invasions either, so I might as well be speaking Spanish to a bunch of Portuguese speakers and crossing my fingers in hopes that they understand. At least I have an advantage since I also know Halmaheran- Annabeth and Grover would be completely lost.

Penelope and Odysseus, as my new parents, have elected to continue my princess-y education and I now spend mornings with a tutor, Erymas, who teaches me how to read and write. He tried to teach me maths, but I suppose a perk of the future is that Calculus got invented and so did a lot of other areas of maths, so we quickly realised that I far outstrip him in that subject. Thrice a week, we put away the slates and scrolls and pulled out the Lyre.

I've played the Lyre before, it's the one instrument I used when I did music at Camp with Cabin 7, and I have fond memories of Lee teaching me how to tune it. I was far from perfect, and Erymas was quick to point out my flaws and show me how to improve, but I managed to dazzle him with my rendition of 'My Heart Will Go On.'

Fun times were when I went tit-for-tat with some of the foster sons on politics, economy, and philosophy. Odysseus and the tutor Pytheas taught the boys themselves, and since I was the only princess from the future and the only girl there who will be wife to a kingdom's leader, I got to join them. I'm pretty sure Pytheas regrets letting me into his lessons considering the fact that as a modern American woman, I'm down to educate any idiot on the importance of democracy.

Odysseus ended up hiding his laughter behind his hand when I absolutely pulverised Melas in a debate over taxes- what kind of idiot thinks that we shouldn't have taxes?- even with my ridiculously bad greek. Leodros, Sofia's shy betrothed, was infuriatingly good at debating foreign affairs and, if he ever managed to get over his tendency for shrinking away from talking, he could talk any enemy into becoming an ally.

"Princess Rhea, I understand that as a foreigner you are not used to the… finer… points to Aegean politics, but here, young women do not yell to prove their points. We have a long tradition of civilised discussions and debates about civilised topics- I do not understand who educated you on this ridiculous idea that we should tax every citizen, but it is better placed in the more… radical of Athenian debate chambers." Pytheas lectured me.

I raised a single eyebrow, "So the other boys may yell their points so they are heard over each other, but I cannot? And this 'ridiculous idea' was taught to me by my Pater. My Pater the god of the Seas who rules Atlantis with such a taxation system."

Odysseus laughed out loud, clapping Pytheas's shoulder as the stuffy old tutor spluttered. "She has a point, old friend! Besides, I know for certain that when my wife starts yelling at me- my point is invalid and she is right!"

The foster boys laughed and scowled, some of them agreeing more than others.

As I left the room to go to another weaving lesson with Agnethe- I hate the stupid loom, why do I have to be ladylike and learn to weave?- Melas and his friend Kyros approached me.

"Princess Rhea," Melas caught my attention. "You have a silver tongue even when it has difficulty wrapping around the words of the language."

I gave a polite smile, noticing that the others were watching from the side. "Thank you, Prince Melas. Your ideas of improving the trading system were valuable too."

Read: That was actually genius and you soundly beat me in that area of economics, but I still believe that my idea of taxing luxury goods is right.

He grinned, and I felt the tension leave me as I realised he didn't hold our debate against him. "Your words are kind. We were planning to go charioteering and I heard that as a daughter of the Father of Horses, you handle horses well?"

I blinked, "Yes, I can understand them."

Kyros butted in, ignoring Melas' elbow that met his ribs for interrupting. "Can you truly? That is brilliant! Would you join us this afternoon then?"

Melas glared at his cousin but turned back to me with a smile, "You do not need to ride with us, we merely thought you might enjoy meeting the horses."

I gave Odysseus a quick glance for support, but he nodded with the clear 'go on' signal, so I turned back to them.

"I'd love to."

Deme bustled excitedly after me when I told her that I got invited to hang out with the foster sons this afternoon.

"This is great! And especially since you've only been here for half a moon's turn!" She chirped, fixing my hair.

I rolled my eyes, "They're not trying to court me- they want to see the daughter of a god in action." I replied, and then pushed her hands away from the makeup. "I'm going to drive a chariot, not go to a feast, I don't need rouge."

She frowned, putting her hands on her hips. "Prince Melas is the fourth in line to the kingdom of Pylos, you could at least put a little bit of rouge on your cheeks."

"If he is the fourth in line to Pylos then what is he doing in the pirate-ridden barren wasteland of Ithaca?" I pointed out, "I am not looking to be anyone's wife. Deme, put that rouge down."

She grumpily put it down.

I stood up, ignoring her squawk that I wasn't ready yet. "Lais," I turned to the quietest of my servants (I refuse to call them my property even if they're slaves). "Can you grab my sandals?"

"Rhea! You don't have a veil on!" Deme scolded as if she wasn't the younger one, the smaller one, and the servant out of us. I would have smiled at the fact that she's so comfortable around me, that we're actual friends, if it wasn't for the fact that we're arguing right now.

There may have been a slight whine in my voice as I responded, "Do I have to? I'm gonna be riding and racing and it'll just get in the way."

"You're a princess, of course you do! We can use one of the smaller headbands," she suggested and I reluctantly sighed and let her pin it on.

Despite our arguing over 'formal and royal' and 'athletic and casual', Deme and I managed to get me in an appropriate outfit. My blue bordered peplos was open at the side, but carefully belted and pinned so none of the boys would be getting an eyeful (like I sometimes got- is it so hard to wear something other than just a chlamys when you're wrestling or delivering messages? Dear gods). A thin golden belt accentuated my waist and held my peplos closed. The only jewellery I wore was strikeLuke's/strike my camp necklace and Riptide in it's pendant form. My veil wasn't more than a prettily embroidered bandana that pulled my hair away from my face.

"Are you going to drown me in perfume too or can I go? I don't want to be late," I told her.

She gave me a look. "Are you going to let me put perfume on you?"

"No."

"Damn it Rhea!"

A laugh came from the doorway and we whirled around to find Penelope looking at us, amused.

Deme paled, quickly dropping into a curtsey.

Penelope waved her off, "None of that now. I'm glad to see that you and my daughter are getting along so well." She smiled down at her.

Deme gave a weak smile back, looking absolutely terrified.

"Penelope!" I quickly stepped in. "I suppose you heard about my chariot watching this afternoon?"

She turned back to be and grinned, "Yes, that's what I came here for! Odysseus said that Melas invited you to watch them go charioteering!"

I shrugged, fiddling with a hairbrush. "That he did. To be quite honest, I'm only going to get out of the palace."

The teasing glint disappeared. "I know that it's a difficult thing to move on- are you feeling a bit stifled?"

I nodded, "I haven't picked up my sword since I arrived."

She sighed and dropped down to kneel in front of me, "Rhea, you are my daughter now- you can tell me if you wish to join the men in the training arena."

"Are you not upset? I'm supposed to be a princess and weave- not use a sword." I asked, confused.

"I am from Sparta, do you understand what that means?"

Huh? "Sparta is the most militaristic of greek states, their patron god is the Red War."

She smiled, "Yes. Spartan women and men are trained to fight from a young age."

Wait…

My head shot up to meet her gaze, "You fight!?"

I didn't mean it rudely, but Penelope reminded me more of my mom if she was an Aphrodite kid. Nurturing, loving, pretty and always with perfect posture. Not exactly the image you would think of when you imagine a badass Spartan woman. Well… I would think of my mom as a badass- just not as a Spartan.

"Unlike my cousins, I did not marry for power- I married Odysseus for his cleverness and the fact that he saw me as an equal. I still carry a dagger strapped to my thigh in case I need it." She winked, then straightened and stood up. "Now, if you prefer a more Spartan women's education- I have plenty of time in my day to teach you. Odysseus is likely to encourage it too, so don't you fear disapproval from his end."

I shot to my feet and threw my arms around her, "Thank you!"

She laughed, patting my head. "Now run off. I believe the boys are waiting for you."

I gave her a kiss on the cheek and hurried to do so, uncaring that it's not technically 'proper' for a princess to do.

I don't have to give up sword fighting!

"Cut your hair, learn an art, sing your song, hold your ground. You're free little mockingbird: fly."

"Princess Rhea!" Melas called, approaching to drop into a bow. "I am so glad that you have made it!"

I smiled back at him, flushing slightly. "I am glad that you invited me, Prince Melas."

Melas was, admittedly, handsome. Golden-brown skin, oiled and smooth, stretched over muscles. A blinding white smile that complimented his hazel eyes. I can definitely understand why some of my fellow foster daughters' knees knocked together whenever he entered the room.

He ran his hands through his curly, light brown, locks. "Shall I introduce you to my companions? With your many lessons, you haven't met many of our fellow fosters."

"If you please," I agreed.

I truly haven't met most of the 30 fosters of Ithaca- my lessons with Erymas were private, and then I weaved with Agnethe or joined Melas, Leodros, Kyros, and Icarious (the fostered princes) with their tutoring.

He gave me a crooked grin and introduced his friends. "You know my cousin Kyros. Heirax is of Sparta, one of Queen Penelope's distant cousins, and he has a deft arm with a spear. Diokles is of Thebes, from the stories Odysseus has told of you, you will get along well with your ability for numbers. Theodron is of Ithaca, he knows every growing thing of nature from memory and can tell you a great deal about it. Cylon is of Crete, he is currently studying to be a healer from the priests of Apollo. Xanthos is of Opus, he is our fiercest fighter and has recently returned from a trading mission with Argos."

I turned to them, giving a polite nod of my head as each boy approached to kiss my hand and bow to me.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," I said carefully in my best Greek.

Deme walked up behind me, basket in hand.

She told me on the way down to the courtyard all about each boy. Mostly about how none of them have women waiting for them (How many times do I have to tell everyone that I don't want to date?), and how the boys would invite ladies to watch them show off.

"My servant Deme will be accompanying me," I introduced her.

Melas glanced at her but didn't pay her any mind, Cylon, on the other hand, gave her a quick greeting.

"It's a short walk to the horses," Kyros spoke up. "I hope that you do not mind?"

"Of course not," I answered quickly. "Some fresh air shall be good for me."

"Perfect!" Melas said and offered me his arm in escort.

I'm not going to lie, my mind short-circuited. Oh. Ohhhhh. I get why Deme kept pressing me about Melas now. He likes likes me. In my limited amount of etiquette lessons, I've learnt that the gender divide between women and men had this whole weird secret language and an unmarried guy offering an unmarried girl his arm means that he 'wants to get to know her better.'

"Oh." My face felt like it was on fire as I delicately took his arm, letting my hand barely brush the skin of his upper forearm in a very polite turning down of his advances.

Melas barely acknowledged it, nodding in a quiet 'I understand, I'll back off' and continuing onwards.

Unfortunately, Theodron and Diokles absolutely caught every bit of our unspoken conversation and Diokles elbowed at his friend and nodded at me.

Oh dear.

"So, do you do this often?" I asked as we climbed the steps towards the stable.

"Occasionally. We go hunting together more often than charioteering, but it's almost always just us. Leodros is not one for the thrill- the Grey-Eyed Maiden has touched his mind and he refuses to waste such a gift, and Icarious dislikes horses so he only joins if we go hunting." Cylon answered me.

"Oh yes, we swap Theodron with Icarious when it's hunts," Diokles joked to his friends ire.

"I can hunt!" He insisted, then turned to me. "Princess Rhea, I can assure you that I can shoot an arrow nearly as well as the archer twins themselves- I simply find hunts distasteful."

"I am sure." I reassured him, "I also find hunts distasteful if they are not necessary."

He beamed, and I watched Diokles roll his eyes fondly at him.

I heard a whinny, and I shot to face where the sound came from.

There, waiting for us, were two beautiful bronze and wood chariots being pulled by four horses each.

I gasped, "They're beautiful."

The boys preened with pride, though I'm pretty sure Xanthos' was more mocking and Cylon grinned at his friend.

"Hello there," I crooned at the beautiful palomino stallion closest to me.

The stallion reared, and the other joined in surprise and awe as they cried, "My Lady! Lady of horses!"

I smiled, "Well, it's actually more of 'Princess,' but Lady works too."

"Princess! We apologise, princess!"

"That's quite alright. Now, your riders told me that you pull your chariots very well."

"Yes! We are the best chariot pullers in Ithaca! Would you like to see, princess?"

"Wait, you can actually understand them?" Melas asked in wonder.

I raised an eyebrow, "Of course, why would I lie about that?"

All the boys gaped at me.

I smirked and climbed on a chariot, uncaring that it's not very ladylike to ride in one. "Now, are you going to show me your chariot driving skills or do I have to drive it myself? I must admit it's been a while since I drove one, but I did win a race against my fellow demigods."

There was a mad scramble as the boys climbed on their chariots; Melas, Kyros, Deme, and Heirax with me, and Theodron, Diokles, Cylon and Xanthos on the other.

"Hyah!" Melas cried and we were off.

"A horse does not care who is the rider, merely that they have the freedom to ride. Perhaps they should not think so, after all, do you care who your master is? Or do you not know your master?"

Because the chariots were only made to carry three men at most when actually racing, we all got out at the beach when we arrived.

We rode over a small road towards a stretch of beach that was private and there were no boats docking, where the sun shone golden over the ocean and the sand was soft.

Deme set up a small blanket next to some rocks so I could sit, then handed me a shawl to protect against the sea breeze. Theodron settled on the blanket next to me, so did Diokles, and Heirax chose to sit on the large rocks instead.

"Watch," he leaned down to tell me. "Melas and Kyros are the best with the horses, natural charioteers, both of them, but Xanthos and Cylon are older and have more practise."

"Who usually wins?" I asked.

"Melas and Kyros, but Xanthos and Cylon have beat them thrice," Diokles said.

I watched as they lined their chariots up against the sand, side by side, and got ready.

"So, Princess Rhea, I heard that you are from a foreign land in the East?" Theodron awkwardly tried to start a conversation.

"Yes," my eyes tracked every movement of the teens as they put on their helmets. "I am."

"How do you like Ithaca?" He continued.

"It's very different as to how I lived in my own lands, but I like it," I tilted my head as I looked back at him. "Much warmer too."

"And your family? Do you have siblings or perhaps a husband waiting for your return?"

His question was innocent, but I stiffened. The waves crashed noisily against the shore.

"My land burned in the war that led me to flee here." I stated blankly, refusing to look at him.

"I apologise, I did not know." He flushed and looked horrified.

"I know," I watched as the horses stomped on the sand. "I do not speak of it."

The chariots were off, racing across the sand.

I understand what they said about Melas and Kyros being naturals- they rode a full two meters ahead of their competition, gaining ground easily as they lashed on the reins. I could hear their whoops and shouts of joy as the adrenaline warmed their blood and Xanthos screamed taunts and insults while Cylon focused on controlling the chariot with perfect intensity.

I gave a cheer as they crossed the finish line- a pair of rocks on the opposite side of the beach- and they slowed down.

They laughed, clapping each others' backs and giving what I can only assume are teasing jokes in the distance.

They rode back towards us.

"So, Princess, what do you think of our chariot driving?" Kylos said with a grin, shaking his brown hair loose from the helmet.

"You are passable," I teased, standing up to help tether the horses.

"Just passable?" Melas grinned.

"Well," I took Cylon's helmet from him. "I think I can beat you easily."

Cylon's eyebrows shot up, "You think you can beat the best chariot racers on this side of the Aegean?"

"Yes," I smiled sweetly.

Deme was glaring at me, the look in her eye clearly means that I have a whole lecture on proper princess behavior when we got back to the palace.

Cylon smiled, "Well, if you say so." He lowered himself down on the blacket, leaning back on Xanthos' chest and into his embrace.

Melas looked at me expectantly and I climbed on the chariot the couple had just vacated.

"Let's race!"

One race turned into two, then three, but I didn't care.

"Hiyah!" I urged the horses forward, projecting my desire for speed.

The wind whipped my hair around my face and made my peplos blow in the wind, but I didn't pay any attention to it as Melas and Kyros' chariot was on my heels.

Is there anything better than racing chariots?

The rocks that signalled the finish line approached, and with single-minded determination, I sped towards them.

"No!" I heard Kyros scream as I whooped in joy.

The horses slowed down as we turned back to the resting spot, and we hopped off.

"I won again!" I beamed, taking off the helmet I borrowed from Cylon.

"That you did," he said, taking his helmet back. "Three times in a row."

Deme was a bit more annoyed than amused like the rest of our peers. "Princess Rhea, perhaps you should stop now? You've messed up your hair."

I gave her a cheeky grin and plopped down on the blanket, "Of course, I still want to watch a few more races and I can't do that if I'm beating them all myself."

Heirax laughed and tossed me his waterskin, "That's true. Now, how about I get a turn?"

We all cheered and jeered as he and Diokles put on their helmets, climbing on the chariot I just clambered off of.

We stayed, racing chariots and hanging out, until the sun hung low over the sea and we had to return to the palace before it got too dark.

This was fun.

"There's no time to sleep when there are worlds to conquer. Dreams are not reality, fight for reality to be better than your dreams and you shall be the strongest of them all."

"I grew up with Clytemnestra and Helen," Penelope spoke. "My cousins were hailed as the most beautiful women in all of Greece, meanwhile I was unwed at 19. Clytemnestra was always fierce, she may care about her hair and clothes, but she also didn't hesitate to stab my brother Perileos when he broke her doll and angered her. Helen, on the other hand, has always been flighty and indecisive and she could barely wield a single dagger without crying about how it hurt her delicate little wrist. I am quite certain that she married Menelaus only because as a second son he inherited no land, so she wouldn't have to leave Sparta, but he also had the full power of Mycenae under him."

She continued, "Compared to my cousins, I wasn't exactly getting many suitors, but that was alright because I was actually turning all the ones that asked for my hand away. My cousins were taught to marry well, but my father taught me to be clever and marry a man who would value that. I was taught to wield a sword, a spear, a dagger; to rule a kingdom without a husband and to make everyone underestimate me."

She looked me in the eye. "And I believe that was a much more valuable education than what my cousins ever got."

She tossed a bronze sword to me and watched me catch it while she twirled her own.

"Rhea, I am going to teach you how to survive in this world of man." Her eyes twinkled as she smirked, "Now, raise that sword and show me what you can do."

A/N

So, Penelope really is from Sparta, and so she would be an absolute bamf. Yes, Penelope's cousins are THE Helen of Sparta and THE Clytemnestra, isn't it funny how they are all related? Odysseus is the cousin/brother in law of Menelaus and Agamemnon!

Did you know that the Greeks didn't ride horses until the late Ancient Era? Greece is very rocky and filled with mountains, so if you did ride a horse, it was for war or for a chariot. This story and the Trojan War are set in the Mycaenean Era (1200-1100bc), which is about a thousand years before Alexander the Great (330bc). Also, since it turns out this isn't common knowledge: there are many different languages of 'Ancient Greek'- Rhea is speaking Mycaenean Greek (the oldest type of greek [not counting undeciperable proto-greek/linear a]) but she learnt Hellenic Ancient Greek (what homer wrote in) at Camp.