Odysseus' raft is wrecked, not having fared well during the final battle with Poseidon. The mast was snapped, and many planks had come loose and drifted away. The raft was basically just driftwood at this point.
Nonetheless, determined to get to Ithaca as it was still within sight, he found a broken off piece of the raft and used it as a makeshift paddle and slowly, fighting the current, made his way.
Hours go by, and he's barely made progress. Worst still, he's continuing to lose strength, but worries that if he gives up, the current will take him far way.
He almost laughed at the cruelty of it. Before, when he still had the majority of his men, they had been closer, nearly at port when the wind bag had been opened, snatching them away, betrayed by the man he thought his friend and brother. Now they were all gone, either by their own actions, or by his. He had survived multiple battles with gods and monsters, using his wit and strength to persevere. Been held captive on an island with a goddess who did not understand love but yearned for it. Finally after 7 years, he was set free, with the one stipulation that he not open the wind bag. He was able to make it past the sea monster Charybdis, dodging it's whirlpools. And just when he thought he was finally in the clear, he was met once again with the god of the sea, Poseidon. Barely winning the battle, having to open the wind bag and unleashing the storm, he used it to fight back against the vengeful god, forcing him to bend to his will and call off the storm.
He had gone through so much, and now, he was leagues out, no one to stop him, no one to get in his way and yet he lacked the strength needed to make it in himself.
Just when he thought he was going to pass out, he hears a horn blast from behind.
Turning to look, he sees a ship headed his way. As it drew close enough, he's able to make out the figure at the stern, pointing at him, and gestures some commands at the men. The ship pulls up alongside Ody, and drops a ladder down to him.
Relief washed over Odysseus, and he summoned the last of his strength to pull himself up onto the ship, passing out before he could thank any of them.
A few hours pass as the ship continues on its way to Ithaca. The young man in charge had instructed a group of attendants to take care of the drifter, cleaning and binding the wound on his chest and stomach and doing what they could to re-hydrate him.
Finally, they pulled into port. The young man started giving orders, instructing where to take the supplied and having one of his men fetch a healer for the drifter, but was distracted when a man called his name from the beach.
"Welcome back, Prince Telemachus! We have news from the palace!" the man on the beach called. A sense of unease came over the young man. Turning to his second in command, the he instructed him to take over while he went to talk to the men on the beach.
Hearing the name stirred Odysseus and he came to, just in time to see the young leader disembark.
Not daring to believe, but hoping still, Odysseus pushes himself up and away from the attendants, must to their annoyance and makes his way to the bow, and watches as the young man approaches a group of three men on the beach, his posture calm, but guarded.
As he watched the men talk to the young man, he sees two of the men get into position to restrain him from behind.
Odysseus moves before he can think.
Before the young man realized what was happening, the two men kicked at the back of his knees, forcing him off balance while grabbing and restraining his arms, and forcing him to his knees. He tried struggling, but despite no longer being the weak boy he had been a few months ago, the men were still stronger, and held him fast, while the third pulled a knife from his belt.
"Antinous sends his regards, Little Wolf." The man said, positioning himself at Telemachus' back, bringing the knife to the young man's throat.
Just before the knife could meet the flesh of his throat, another knife, stolen from one of the other men's belts was shoved into the back of the third man.
Using the moment of shock, the Telemachus was able to break free from the two that held him down, and drew his sword, and pivoting on his knee and using the momentum to cleave the head off of one of the men, while the drifter swiftly stabbed the other with the knife in the armpit.
As the three men lay dead and dying, Telemachus sheaths his sword and looks at the drifter in shock.
"You saved me!" the young man says, holding his hand out in thanks.
"Of course I did." Odysseus said, gripping the mans hand in a firm, almost desperate shake, looking the man in the eyes. Now that he was looking at the young man, there wasn't a doubt in his mind. "I have done everything, and would do anything, if it meant saving my son, Telemachus."
Realization hits Telemachus and he looks closer at the man, the drifter he just so happened to spot on the wrecked raft. His hair had grown to past his shoulders and he had a thick beard, and while he's cheeks were a bit more gaunt, and skin a bit darker, Telemachus now saw the resemblance to the man on all the tapestries and paintings he'd grown up with.
"Father…?"
"My son… I'm finally home."