Wanted to put this in its own post so hi again
Penelope and Eurylochus shenanigans :D
"So?" Penelope asks, two days later.
"So?" Odysseus blinks at her. It is still strange having him back here, after twenty years, "What?"
"So," Penelope explains, "When's everyone else getting back? Dont tell me ill have to wait another decade."
Odysseus flinches. It's a small movement, but even after two decades apart, Penelope knows how her husband acts. Well, sometimes.
"They're not dead right?" She asks slowly. She hadn't dared to ask before, and Odysseus hadn't spoken of his journey other than those vague initial statements when he was asking her if she would love him again.
Everyone had hoped that the fleet would just follow their king back.
"They-" Odysseus won't look at her, "They're dead."
(Left a trail of red on every island)
"All of them?" Penelope asks, because she refuses to give up her hope that she will see her best friend and little brother again.
"Yes." Odysseus crosses his arms, "All of them."
(As i traded friends like objects i could use)
Penelope stares at him. Her hands twitch slightly, "What. How?" Odysseus doesn't answer, he just stares out the window besides them, so Penelope keeps talking, "Odysseus, answer me! How did it happen?" She snarls, "What happened to our family?"
Odysseus sighs, "They um- Polites died. First. To a cyclops."
Penelope's heart twists. First. Violently, "And Eurylochus?"
(Hurt more lives than i can count on my hands)
"The crew turned against me, Penny-"
"Don't call me that right now."
"Okay." Odysseus mumbles, "They staged a mutiny. I was asked to choose between me and them."
The queen of Ithaca clenches her fists, "Who made you choose?" She hisses. If she has the power to make them pay then she will- what was left of the crew didn't need to die.
(But all of that was to bring me back to you)
"So you're who Ody can't shut up about." Eurylochus says, smiling wide. He had been surprised- though pleasantly- when he found out that his friend had fallen in love in Sparta.
And Penelope, from what he has seen of her, seems like she will do great things for Ithaca. From Odysseus' letters, he knows that she is incredibly intelligent and funny and kind.
"And you must be Eurylochus," Penelope replies, "I have heard quite a bit about you, too."
Eurylochus shuffles awkwardly on the spot at that, though it makes him happy that his dear friend has been talking about him, "Yeah well." He had been walking in the gardens after training some of the younger men in sword fighting, and hadn't expected to meet Odysseus' future wife, "It's a pleasure to meet you at last, queen Penelope."
She laughs, and it's a bright noise, "I wouldn't dare claim the title of queen quite yet, and please, if we are to be friends then we really can't be so formal with each other. Penelope will do."
"Then do call me Eurylochus in turn, Penelope." Eurylochus holds his hand out for her to shake, which she does.
"I expect I'll be seeing you around, Eury." Penelope says, grinning, and walking past him, back towards the palace.
It is not until she is gone that he realises she called him Eury. Only Odysseus does that.
Penelope paces back and fourth in her quarters, dressed up in her formal wear- even more fancy than what she wore to her wedding, though less flamboyant.
Her wedding. She smiles and twists the new ring she now wears. Penelope really is rather happy that she married Odysseus- though now, right now that is not what is at the forefront of her mind.
It is her official marriage now, where she shall be named as queen before the whole of Ithaca. And Penelope is terrified.
Because what if they don't like her? What if she messes up or says something wrong or- gods forbid- trips. What if she presents a bad first impression?
It is the knock at the door that jolts her out of her thoughts, "Enter." Penelope calls.
Eurylochus pokes his head in. Kind, friendly Eurylochus.
"You good?" He asks, "It's a big day."
"Yeah." Penelope snaps, "Thanks for reminding me." She smooths her skirts down again, and adjusts her crown.
Eurylochus just sighs and walks in, taking her hands in his so she has to stop fidgeting and fussing, "You look great already, Pen."
She immediately regrets snapping at him, "Shouldn't you be with Odysseus?" Penelope asks, "And wasn't Ctimene meant to be here?"
Eurylochus laughs slightly, "Ctimene wanted to see how her brother was doing, and she decided that since you're, and i quote 'cooler and chiller' than Odysseus, you would be fine."
"So?" Eurylochus asks then, letting go of her hands and walking over to where her table is.
"So what?" Penelope questions as he pours water out of the jug and into a cup.
"So how are you feeling?" Eurylochus replies, passing her the cup of water, "Drink."
Scared. Nervous. Happy. Worried. Excited.
"What if it goes wrong?" Penelope blurts out, holding the cup maybe a little too tightly.
Eurylochus blinks, "It's all planned out, it'll go just fine- everyone knows what's gonna happen and what they need to do."
"Yes but what-" Penelope stares angrily at her water instead of looking at Eurylochus, "What if i mess up. Or they don't like me-"
"What did that water ever do to offend you?" Eurylochus smiles, interrupting her, "You won't mess up, Pen, because you've rehearsed, and you're one of the best people i know- just imagine what would happen if it was like, i dont know, Polites in your place-"
He's cut off by Penelope cackling at the mental image of her half brother wearing a dress and being the queen. Gods- she's seen the poor guy trip over his own feet enough, and that's without the long, almost floor-length skirts and dresses that women wear.
"See!" Eurylochus crows when shes quietened her laughter enough for him to speak, "It could be worse!"
"So much worse." Penelope agrees, keeping her voice flat despite the amusement threatening to spill over, "It could be you wearing this dress."
Eurylochus lets out an offended noise that sounds rather like an angry bird, "Why you- i would look brilliant in that dress!"
Penelope snorts, "How about we trade?"
"What- i wear the dress and get crowned queen," Eurylochus starts, "And you wear my formal armour and sword and stand at Odysseus' side the whole time?"
"No one would notice!" Penelope shouts, "It's a flawless plan!"
Eurylochus laughs with her then, and both of them keep adding bits on, and it just keeps getting more and more funny, until they're both doubled over and gasping for breath.
"By the way," Eurylochus places a hand on her arm, "They'll love you. You'll be the perfect queen for this island."
The queen of Ithaca grins at the sound of her friend's voice behind her, "Yes, Eurylochus?" She asks, already very amused at his time of voice and pouty expression.
"I have a problem!" Eurylochus complains, dropping dramatically onto the couch just across from her desk and throwing one hand over his forehead and placing the other on his heart, "It's such a- a problematic problem, Penelope!"
Penelope raises one eyebrow, "And here i was thinking that Ody was the dramatic one." She laughs.
"It's not funny." Eurylochus crosses his arms, glaring at her, "Odysseus laughed at me too."
Penelope cackles at that, "I wonder why."
"Please, Penelopeeee!" Eurylochus cries, "I need help!"
She sighs and rolls her eyes, "Okay then, what's the problem, drama king?"
Oh. Okay. That's new. Penelope blinks once, twice. It takes a moment for her to recover from that statement, but when she does, she grins like a maniac and leans forwards in her chair, "With who?"
Eurylochus groans, hiding his face in his hands, "Ctimene." He looks through his fingers at her, "And I don't know what to do, Pen! Odysseus laughed at me and Polites knows nothing about romance, helpp meeeeee pleeease."
"You are in love with Ctimene." Penelope says.
"And you went to ask her brother and the one person who doesn't do romance what to do about it." She can't stop the laughter from bleeding into her voice, "Really?"
"Yeees." Eurylochus mutters, "How do i tell her i like her? Pen, what do girls like?"
"Well i was rather delighted when Odysseus got me my favorite flowers, for one." Penelope answers, "What's Ctimene's favorite flower?"
"Forget-me-nots." Eurylochus says immediately.
Penelope grins, "Get her some of those! Stay away from poetry though- ask her to dance with you next time there's dancing happening! Buy her jewellery but nothing too extravagant-" she pauses, "You making a mental list?"
"Good!" Penelope smiles, "Take her down into the market one day, or on a picnic- just you two, don't try and do any fancy metaphors about her eyes or anything like that though, it never ends well." She pauses, thinking, "Buy her an axe."
"An axe?" Eurylochus splutters, "Where did that idea come from?"
"This is Ctimene we're talking about, yes?" Penelope smirks, "I've seen her glancing at the weapons stalls and blacksmiths down in the village while other women look at clothes and jewelry."
"You're what?" Eurylochus shouts, staring at Penelope wide eyed. Because, excuse me, what??
"I'm pregnant." Penelope repeats, her mouth twisting into a smile, "I'm going to have a baby, Eury."
"And you're gonna be their uncle, so get ready for many sleepless nights." Penelope laughs at his expression.
"Me and 'Mene are gonna go back to Same."
"You shall not escape the terror of helping raise a child!" The queen of Ithaca yells, lunging for Eurylochus' quickly retreating figure.
"Yes i am!" He tosses over his shoulder, before taking off running, laughing as he does so. Penelope cackles behind him.
Penelope presses her hands against her temples, groaning. She is exhausted, and she has a pounding headache. And Telemachus will not stop screaming.
She just wants some sleep. The worst part is that Odysseus is away on some political thing about alliances with Agamenmon, and she has been left with their screaming child by herself.
"You good over there?" Well, almost by herself. Penelope looks up at Eurylochus, who is standing in her doorway, a frown etched across his face.
"No." Penelope shakes her head, trying not to sob, "No actually, I'm not."
Eurylochus walks over and sits down beside her on the edge of the olive bed, "Is it the screaming?" He asks quietly, rubbing circles into her back with one hand. Penelope nods miserably.
"I can look after Telemachus for a night or two while you get some sleep." Eurylochus says gently, "If you want me to, of course."
"Please." Penelope practically begs.
"Eury!" He looks up at Penelope, who is walking swiftly towards him, "Can we talk?" The queen asks.
Eurylochus nods, "Sure." He says, placing the boxes he was carrying down besides him and waving for Polites and the other few men they'd been with to go on.
"So." Penelope laughs slightly, "You're leaving tomorrow."
"I am." Eurylochus grins slightly, "Though you speak as if I'm never coming back! It'll only be a month or so at most, with all the great heroes we're taking."
"It's still war." Penelope sighs, shaking her head, "You'll make sure my Odysseus comes home alive, right? And Polites? I can't lose my little brother."
Eurylochus smiles and places a hand on her shoulder, "I would never dream of coming home without them, Pen." He says. It's entirely truthful.
She meets his smile with one of her own, "And you." Penelope asks, "You'll make sure you come home too?"
"Y- yeah." Eurylochus nods, "I'll come home."
"Good!" Penelope shouts then, ruffling his hair, "Because otherwise I'll have to come to the underworld and bring you back!"
"And what about you, Odysseus?" Patroclus asks, grabbing Achilles' arm to stop him from saying whatever angry remark he had been about to say, "You have a wife back home?"
Polites groans. Eurylochus laughs at him. Odysseus enthusiastically starts telling Achilles and Patroclus about Penelope.
"What's wrong, Po?" Eurylochus teases, "Don't like hearing how awesome your sister is?"
Polites glares at him, "He's not talking about how awesome she is though- Odysseus' going on and on and on about Penny's beauty and how much he loves her and I don't want to hear it a thousand times." He pauses, leaning closer, "Though it did get Achilles to shut up."
Eurylochus laughs a little louder, "Maybe we should tune in- tell the greatest of Greeks that Penelope is better and cooler than him."
"Ehhhhh." Polites smirks, "My sister's the real greatest of Greeks."
"He has nothing on Penelope!"
Penelope starts, and looks down at where Telemachus is tugging on her skirts, "Yes, dear?" She asks, picking him up. He's four, and that's already too many years with half their family gone.
"Who's-" Telemachus starts, "Why does auntie Mene pick new blue flowers every time the old ones die?"
"Well." Penelope smiles, "Those flowers, they're called forget-me-nots, and they're very special to your auntie, because there's someone that she doesn't want to forget!"
Telemachus grins, "They help you remember?"
"Yes!" Penelope laughs- it's a little forced, "Some people say they do."
"Who does she want to remember?" Telemachus asks, wide-eyed.
"Her husband." Penelope answers, "Your uncle Eurylochus. He went to war with papa-" she turns and starts walking down the hallway, the little boy in her arms, "He is a very kind man, and i cannot wait for him to come home so you can meet him, Pup."
Telemachus looks delighted, "Is he in the portrait?"
"Yep!" Penelope answers, stopping in front of said portrait, "Hes that one, next to papa."
Telemachus stares at the family picture for a long while, and then wriggles until Penelope puts him down, "Im gonna get forget-nots for auntie Mene!" He shouts, running off down the hall, one of the maids desperately chasing after him.
When Polites dies, the second thing Eurylochus thinks of is Penelope. His dear friend, to whom he promised he would bring Polites home.
He wonders if she'll forgive him, as they leave the cave, leaving their brothers' broken bodies behind to rot. Penelope will forgive Odysseus, of course, she loves him, but Eurylochus?
He doesn't think he will forgive himself for leaving bright, sweet Polites to his fate of a half existence, never to reach the underworld proper. It's so unfair.
Eurylochus looks at Odysseus' back as they board the ship, and swears to do better.
This wasn't supposed to happen. Eurylochus made sure Odysseus stayed healthy as one can in these conditions the whole journey. Made sure that even after he sacrificed six souls, even after they mutinied, that Odysseus' injuries were bandaged up, that he was treated still as one of their brothers.
Because he has already broken one promise, and he can't break another.
And now he stares at Zeus, and they were supposed to go home.
He promised Ctimene. He promised Penelope.
If Penelope were a goddess, Zeus would be cowering before his throne. If Penelope had the power- if Penelope- if this, if that.
There is nothing she can do.
("Good!" Penelope shouts then, ruffling his hair, "Because otherwise I'll have to come to the underworld and bring you back!")
Her feet take her to that place on a path in the palace gardens, dappled sunlight filtering through the willow tree above her, a little carved statue of a pig on a stone plinth, a token to Hestia.
Her feet take her to that place on a path in the palace gardens, where she first met Eurylochus.
("So you're who Ody can't shut up about." Eurylochus says, smiling wide.)
Penelope sighs, and sits down right there, uncaring of how the dusty path stains her white dress. She will wear yellow tomorrow- it is hardly an appropriate colour for mourning, but it was his favorite.
