Morning in Ithaca

by Rosepixie

A series of very short stories about characters from The Odyssey in the morning. There is very little plot, but it is safe to assume that the stories all take place on the same morning, so small connections may become evident. I have no current plans to expand any of these, but may continue to add more of them over time.

3. Odysseus

The ship rocked and swayed in the usual way, reassuring her captain that they were still making progress and nothing was terribly wrong (for the moment). Odysseus laid back in his narrow cot and listened to the sea. He loved the feel of the rocking ship, but he didn't want to journey forever.

The King of Ithaca reached up and scratched at his chin. His face could certainly use a good shave, but it wasn't so easy to stay meticulously groomed while living at sea. He knew that his sweet Penelope would never let him go so long without a shave, but it had been years now since he had seen her, held her in his arms.

The thought of his beautiful wife made him sigh. He missed her more than he liked to let on. He pictured her sleeping peacefully in the bed he built for them, dreaming of his return. He enjoyed his adventures, but nothing compared to the comforts of home and the love of a loyal wife. He worried that she might be growing lonely without him. He had won her in a race, but he had only entered the race after they had fallen in love. Love so strong that she had chosen to leave her father for him. Would she stay faithful to that love or would she choose to leave him as she left her father? He believed she would be faithful, but with even gods against him, he couldn't be certain of what he would find when he eventually did reach home.

A shout rose up on deck, catching the king's attention. Bolting out of his bed and throwing a plain semicircular cloak over his shoulders, Odysseus hastened to discover what the commotion was about. Anything unusual at sea merited immediate investigation (especially when it was the god of the sea itself who had declared himself your enemy).

"Land directly ahead!" shouted a sailor as Odysseus came out onto the deck. The excitement of the sailors charged the very air with energy.

Striding to the railing, the cunning king took the spyglass offered to him by one of his lookouts and peered through it. He could see that there was land ahead - a wooded island. He felt a pang of disappointment that it was not the coast of his beloved Ithaca, but he knew that it would likely be some time before he reached home. At least the island would give them a much needed respite from the journey and allow them to gather fresh supplies.

Perhaps the island would even give them the chance to hunt down a wild pig or two for a small feast!