I wondered what she looked like now. When I left she was nearly 20, and still glowed with youth. I was sure she was still as beautiful as ever, but it left me curious. I was still not nearing land and the sea still tossed me. So I continued on, unsure of what I should do.

The feasting and merriment went on through the next day. I walked into the hall once again, to find that the suitors had returned once again, with more wine. I saw Penelope, looking fearfully at her cousin, prepared to protect her from any suitor that went too far. But Helen seemed to be enjoying the attention. I caught no sight of Tyndareus, so I approached Penelope.

"Hello, Penelope. Any more apologies for nothing in particular you'd like to address."

"I no longer fear you. I never really did. And I won't take mockery from you, King or no."

"Forgive me, fair Penelope," I said sarcastically, "I don't know my place."

I swept into a bow. She shoved me playfully.

"I'll have no more mockery," she said, "and how do you call me fair?"

"I do not know what you mean."

"How do you call me fair when I am far from it?"

A drunken suitor staggered up to her, "I don't now, Herodes, with a little more wine, she's all right," he slurred, calling over to his friend.

Herodes looked at her, "I don't know, Galenos. More like a lot more wine."

"Hey, Pelenenope, whose your friend?" said Helen, obviously more intoxicated than the night before.

"I'm the one you crashed into last night," I said, annoyed with her constant drunkenness.

"Oh yeah... he's crazy Pelene- hey how does that name go again?"

"They get it wrong all the time. It's almost funny," she whispered to me.

"Try saying Odysseus with a few more glasses of wine."

"True," she said, looking up at me, "Do you want to get out of here? Because I'm leaving this madhouse."

I nodded gratefully and followed her out.

"Hey, wait Pene- whatever. You're getting prettier with every drink," said a suitor.

"Just give us a couple more bottles."

She slammed the door behind her.

She looked at me with the utmost serious before bursting into raucous laughter. It was a loud laugh, but not unpleasant.

"Does this happen often?" I asked her.

"It's happened nearly every night so far. One went as far as to confuse me for Helen. It was flattering, but VERY uncomfortable."

"You seem to be good at fending off drunks."

"Thank you?"

She looked at me as if she were thinking of something.

"How tall are you?" she asked.

"I don't remember."

"It's just that you are one of the few people I've seen in a long while that may surpass me in height. That's part of the reason why no suitor will ever lay eyes on me. It bothers them that a woman could be taller than them."

She came very close to me, our faces less than an inch apart. My heart beat faster than ever. She was even more beautiful up close, and it took all my self control to stand completely still as she looked up. Our eyes met, and once again her pupils dilated then contracted. After what seemed like the longest few moments, she slowly stepped back, blushing.

"Just as I suspected, you ARE taller than me," she said quietly.

This went on for nearly ten days. I would awake and catch not even a glimpse of Tyndareus, and leave the hall full of drunken suitors with Penelope. She never ceased to amaze me. For such a strong woman, she had a very low level of self worth. Her uncle and cousin insisted that she was hopeless, and she began to believe them. She saw things in a different light, a trait that would intimidate most men, but left me wanting more.

At last a morning came when I walked into the hall and didn't see Penelope. I went up to Helen, who was at the moment on one of the suitors' laps, giggling like an idiot.

"Where is Penelope?"

She hiccuped, "I don't know. She should be here with the wine. Menelaus, have you seen her?"

He shook his head.

"What do you mean she should be here with the wine."

"Well she is a slave now. She ought to act like one."

"Wait, did you just say she was a slave? What are you talking about? The wine has surely gone to you head if you think that-"

"-No. She is right."

I turned around to see Penelope look directly into my eyes before stealing out the door before anyone could stop her. I ran out after her.

"Penelope!" I shouted at her fleeting form. She stopped and turned around.
"Odysseus, leave me be. I know you mean well but I do not need your pity."
She had dark circles under her eyes, indicating that she had been crying all night, and was dressed in a shabby, formless gray frock that was given to their slaves. Nevertheless she was still beautiful.
"What happened to you," I said, looking her up and down.

She sighed, biting her lower lip. "Is it not obvious? I am no longer wanted. I should have known long before that this would happen. They finally gave up and decided that my only use to them was as a slave. I suppose that is my only use to anyone."

I could only watch her in silence. It took a few moments before I could say anything.
"To where do you plan to fly?"

"I know not. Just... away from here. I leave my fate to the gods and the sea. They will either take me to a land where no one knows my name, where I can begin again, or else Artemis will come and lead me to the afterlife. I pray for either, though the choice is not mine to make. I only hope they are swift and merciful."

I knew not what to say. I simply stared at her for what seemed like an eternity, a million thoughts running through my mind. What would I say? A simple no would not suffice for her, she was too headstrong for that. What was one supposed to say when the woman he loved basically told him her method of suicide? It was not something a future king felt the need to know. My mind was filled with nothing but the feeling of panic. Logic and words escaped me. So I abandoned them, throwing caution to the wind.

I kissed her.

And all the tension of the past ten days with her seemed to be released. My shock was transferred to her. She stood stock still for a moment, surely not registering what was happening. But soon she returned the favor, wrapping her arms around my neck. I ran my fingers through her hair. It was tangled, but still was pleasing to the touch. Then I released her, fearful of her reaction.

"... What? What was that?" she said, so quietly it was almost a whisper.

"I love you."

She looked down at the ground and bit her lip. She could only nod in reply.

I kissed her again, growing more confident. I didn't want to let her go, for fear of what she would do. She was so tense, as though she were going to explode any second, and I was the only thing keeping her from it. That only gave me an excuse to hold her tighter. She began to gradually relax until she went nearly limp in my arms. After a while we reluctantly broke apart. She smiled. I think that is what I miss most of all about her. It made her whole face light up, and was incredibly contagious. It was a shame that she didn't smile more often...

Suddenly the tension returned, and fear filled her eyes. I saw a figure walking up to her from behind, and judging from her expression, she knew exactly who it was.

Tyndareus.

"Odysseus, my boy," he said jovially, "How do you fare."

"I have been better," I said coldly. I had only disdain for him now.

"I see you've met Penelope. She is one of my servants, who should be working!" he said, his voice turning icy as he glanced at her. "Well, go on," he said, shooing her toward the back door of the palace.

I watched painfully as she walked away, glancing back at me before walking on, keeping her head down.

"I'll be back," I whispered to her. She nodded faintly and kept walking, still looking at the ground.

I dropped all pretense, "Why did you summon me here and wait ten days to finally speak to me?"

"I will explain this all to you, and you will be so amused by my cleverness. I'm surprised you haven't figured it out by now, Great Tactician. Come now, there is much to be said," he said, beckoning towards the door.

I followed him warily into the palace, all the while thinking only of her.