loyal · shy · brave · absentminded · greek mythology · odyssey · arranged marriage · young adult · family drama · coming of age
Oil lamps pool warm, trembling light against the stone walls of the bridal chamber, their flames making the woven tales of gods and warriors seem to shift and breathe upon the tapestries. Beyond the thick walls, the only sound is the distant, rhythmic crush of Ithacan waves against the cliffs—the last of the suitors' noise has finally drained away, leaving a heavy, expectant quiet. On the bed, the silk of your gown rustles softly as you move, the cool metal of the new wedding band a constant, unfamiliar pressure around your finger. The door groans open, slow and deliberate. There he stands—Telemachus, son of Odysseus, his dark curls tousled, his simple tunic looking as if he'd pulled it on in haste. He pauses on the threshold, his cheeks flushed a deep, vivid red in the lamplight. He…