"Penelope!" a voice rang out, and she looked up to see her most trusted maid, rushing towards her. "Have you heard the news?"
"The suitors have conspired! They mean to challenge Odysseus with an archery contest. They're hoping to embarrass and ruin him before the people of Ithaca and prove him unworthy of you."
"They believe him to be an easy target. He was a terrible shot with a bow in his youth, hardly able to nick a target. They aim to use this contest to damage his reputation and heart, undermining my choice." Penelope, hardly surprised, glared at the ground. Scoffing loudly at the audacity.
"Yes, I believe that is what they seek. That is what they have hoped to happen again. This time in Ithaca, in front of his soldiers, his citizens, his family and especially in front of you. They know you love him deeply. His 18th is coming soon, soon you shall be wed and he shall go to war."
"He has not attended such a competition in almost a decade! Do they really think his skills with the bow are so lacking now? What blubbering idiots. Truly. They should simply drop dead."
"My Lady! You cannot say such things!"
"I speak the truth. I will not sit by while they plot against him. If they wish for an archery contest, then let it be so. But do not underestimate Odysseus. Never underestimate my Husband."
…
News of the impending challenge had spread like wildfire through Ithaca, drawing spectators from every corner in the city, it was rare to see their king in such a contest. No one wanted to miss it.
You would think that was it? Ships docked by the ports, filling the Arena with a few dozen more men. If there were anymore Odysseues would think it was an act of war.
A crowd gathered in the Arena, anticipation crackling in the air like the static before a storm.
"I did not think you'd bring such an audience. I wonder how people will view the kings of their own nations once their incompetence is shown on full display." Odysseus laughed as he was dressed in a royal attire. Something not restricting but enough to show his wealth and majesty.
"To do such a thing so close to my day of maturity, my 'hēbōntes' If you had done so sooner, you may have stood a chance."
The 4 other Kings who stood among Odysseus, the only ones who had the power to arrange such a gathering. The wealthiest of the lot, glared at him.
"Look up there." Odysseus demanded, almost in a snarl.
The four kings looked upwards.
A woman who's beauty rivaled if not surpassed the famous Helen of Troy or Helen of the lovely hair as some rather… senseless poets may say. The sun painted her auburn hair with flecks of gold, making her appear ethereal as she wore a wreath of fragrant flowers.
Yet she didn't glance at a single one of them. Her eyes trained only on Odysseus.
"You shall never have her. Of that I am certain." Odysseus said softly as if all the rage within him quickly vanished as he looked towards his future wife.
"Because she doesn't need to look anywhere other than I. For I will not disappoint her, I shall not lose. Especially to the likes of you." Odysseus said calmly, finally taking his eyes off her to face his 'competition.'
The targets were already lined up, they were awaiting instruction from the announcer.
Without warning and with deliberate precision, Odysseus quickly brought his bow up and fired a shot with his bow, far behind the intended line.
*THWACK*
Bullseye.
And the best part? He hadn't even glanced at the target. He shot blindly without preparation.
"To put it simply, all of you are screwed."
…
Odysseus remembered his grueling training with Athena. More than honing his skills, she honed his instincts. He would have thought she was the God of forging instead…
She treated him as a blade to refine, a blade that would have no imperfections when she was done. But perfection takes time, and he wasn't there yet. So she focused on the things that mattered.
That is how Odysseues managed to kill the Mare of Diomedes. He had never used the Bow of Hercules before that moment, yet he had torn the eye out of the back of the creatures head from a hundred or so meters away. He had never even pulled back the string before that moment
He had no idea how the arrow would react… How it would fly.
If he would have ranked it with modern terms…
'Intuition: RANK A'
Even at such a young age, he would have rivaled King Arthur with his instincts. And that is without even stepping onto a battlefield because training with Athena was to put it simply…
Hell…
During his 'Hunting retreats' Which lasted days, perhaps weeks at a time, he was being trained by Athena. Combat, non-stop for at times upto 18 hours a day.
Even then, at times she had to force him to rest. A Coldhearted blow to the head.
Even when he was doing unorthodox training, he didn't complain. A soldier doesn't question orders. All he knew it would benefit him, otherwise Athena would have no other reason to do so outside of her own amusement.
And something in his gut refused to give in. Like basic training would never prepare him for what was coming. When things were tough, he asked Athena to be stricter. To make him the best he could possibly be with such a body.
She controlled his exercise, his food. She would make him into the finest mortal.
And yet, Odysseus would attest it all to luck. Because that is what he thought it was. But in reality…
'Luck: RANK E…'
…
The arrow struck deep into the target at the center, producing a collective gasp from the onlookers. Even his own soldiers looked shocked. They had never known his struggles.
Only Polites had the slightest idea. He shivered remembering the day Odysseues took him to join his training.
'On my life. Never again.' Polites silently remembered his declaration. He didn't even think a Demi-god could handle it. That was his own, silent, opinion.
The field erupted into cheers and he cheered with them.
Except for the suitors, whose faces twisted in disbelief. Penelope couldn't help but smile, a brilliant expression of joy and relief blooming on her face.
"My Husband is far more capable than any of you can imagine." she covered her mouth to hide her pure, unadulterated amusement. She looked at them briefly as if to say.
'How cute'
As if they were toddlers playing a game with their father.
But the suitors quickly regrouped, determination replacing shock. They whispered amongst themselves, plotting to undermine Odysseus in this moment of triumph. They knew they had to raise their game significantly.
The contest continued, arrows flying and striking the target, some of them wheezing with effort while others sailed smoothly toward their mark. Penelope watched Odysseus closely, her heart swelling with pride and love. To everyone's surprise, he had truly excelled before them.
The Boy who could barely string a bow and fire an arrow at the last competition, wiped them all out of the park.
They did not know his own struggles. His own determination to go above his flaws. Even if he was destined to not be able to fire a single arrow, he would strike fate itself in the heart, severing its own string.
One of the kings, whose skill with the bow was unheard of, barely matched Odysseus' score. They were practically neck and neck.
Odysseus' thoughts drifted back to when he had heard of the Archery competition, one that was happening on his soil.
'So I asked for help from one I trusted the most.'
…
"You have got to be kidding me." Athena's face scrunched up in pure annoyance as Odysseues continued to pester her.
"Athena! You gotta help me meet The! Girl of my dreams, I've seen Her! And I need Her! To be Mineee~"
"Believe it! I'm in love and I mean it! Her name's Penelope and I need her to be Mineee~" Odysseus sang as Athena shoved his face.
"Fine should be an easy enough task."
"Here… Your gift is ready." Athena threw something towards him. He couldn't see in the darkness, it was as if he was blind. He caught it anyway.
He opened his palm.
Two rings, bright gold, one of them engraved and the other as if it's glowing.
"How did you know!?! That's like magic! I didn't even tell you!" Odysseus' eyes sparkled at the gift from his Goddess. He felt like although she trained him to be a soldier, he could truly just be a kid in her presence.
"I did not intend for them to be wedding bands, but I suppose it is fitting in this case. Keep the engraved one for yourself. It has greek runes that you will find the use for later.
I shall tell you what the other ring does…"
…
Odysseus took note of the competition. There was only one that threatened him to be the winner.
Odysseus felt he looked familiar. As if he had seen him before. He had not met any of the previous kings. Odysseus racked his brain.
It was odd. He had shot bullseye almost every time and he still kept up with him, even if he was lacking only by a few points.
"The deciding shot! Odysseus vs Eupeithes" The announcer screamed for the audience's amusement.
"Eupeithes? You aren't a king are you? How did you crawl your way into this competition?" Odysseus grinned and spoke down to him like a child.
"Wealth can do many things, my King." Eupeithes spat at Odysseus. Glaring at him since he had since the very start. None of the other kings have enough points to be the victor. Only Eupeithes.
"I wonder how you're pulling this charade off. I know you. You have nothing to your name but wealth. You have no skill with the bow. And yet today it is as if you have the blessing of Apollo." Odysseus mused, glancing at Eupeithes rapidly draining color.
"If that was the case, I truly wonder what you had given up. Wealth can do many things indeed but only something of sentimental value can draw a God's gaze."
Eupeithes without warning shot first. He hit a bullseye.
Eupeithes grinned triumphantly. It was dead perfect.
"It seems I shall be leaving with your Fiance's hand today. Actually I misspoke, my King. I meant MY Fiance's hand" He chuckled almost perversely.
Such a thing did not bother Odysseus. He would not let his mind succumb to his emotions.
That would be how he'd lose.
"You know, today I thought one of you would intentionally injure me, leaving me unable to shoot a bow. I even had this amazing trick with my legs. Shame. Perhaps I'd have to show Penelope in private, I worked really hard on it." Odysseus laughed as he pulled an arrow from his quiver.
His amusement from his opponents' unending rage, immense.
"After all, You never know the result until the last second." Odysseus grinned as he closed his eyes in focus. He couldn't afford to lose.
The world went black around him. He emptied his mind.
Just him and the target.
It was as if he blended into his surroundings, becoming one with it.
He let go.
*SPLINTER*
His arrow tore Eupeithes's to shreds. His arrow split the other, straight down the middle. Becoming the only arrow on the board.
He opened his eyes and grinned victoriously at the result.
"I suppose that you mean have 0 points now right? After all, I don't even see your arrow on the target! Wouldn't that make you dead last? Not even a basket of fruits as a consolation prize."
It was only at that moment he realised the stadium was silent and then he felt something crash into him, hugging him tightly. It was Penelope. She had vaulted the closed wooden box and rushed down the stairs.
'Apparently she was more worried than she cared to admit.'
"""""ODYSSEUS!"""""" """""ODYSSEUS!"""""" """""ODYSSEUS!""""""
The stadium cheered fiercely for Odysseus. Penelope hugged his arm so tightly that she almost made Eupeithes cry in jealousy and anger.
He did not need a gift of sentimental value to gain such a blessing. The piles of gold that he had, was enough. If he were to compare the pile to a mountain, then his left over gold is but a small hill.
Enough to make him wealthy, but only about the same as other nobles. The edge he had was simply gone. Who would have thought the boy who couldn't fire an arrow could contest with Apollo's blessing?
Odysseus glanced at him only for a moment before silently slid the ring he was given onto her finger as he kissed her hand.
"This ring connects us, no matter the distance. As long as it retains its gold luster, It means I am alive. If it turns as black as coal, it means that I was not fortunate to make it back to your arms." Odysseus said somberly, explaining the gift from Athena.
He was curious why Athena made such a gift and it was a simple reply in kind.
'I know what you want best, Odysseus.'
It was a gift to make sure my Kingdom knew that I was alive, that my friends knew that I was still fighting for them. It was so that my Wife and Mother knew that I will return, even if it takes years.
As cheers continued to resonate in the Arena, Odysseus stepped forward, enveloping Penelope in an embrace that sparked a thrill deep within her, even after the thought of his death weighed heavy in her mind.
Then she realised that as long her ring remained gold, she would never worry again.
Because no matter what, he will return home.
In that moment, the shadow of war felt far away, the warmth of his embrace being the only thing that mattered to her in that moment.
As they stood together, Penelope realized that love was a battle worth fighting. A contest that no arrow could ever breach.
She decided that no man other than Odysseus shall pierce her heart.
…
Athena, who wouldn't have missed the competition for the world, only felt concern for her student.
Odysseus had disappeared right then and there. She witnessed it and she didn't know how. He didn't physically disappear, it was like his entire presence just vanished. For her, who is the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom, for the first time in a while, she felt clueless.
She didn't know what to think. Even the divine energy within him had flickered into nothingness for that brief moment.