It's All Over

So its all over, finally. After my ten years in the Trojan War, I had to battle my way home to my family. I fought monsters, and nymphs, and the gods themselves to reach Ithaca once again. I have earned my rightful place as the king of Ithaca, the husband of Penelope, and the father of Telemachus. The suitors are all dead, and no one shall ever speak of them in my home ever again. I have seen my father, and he will be honored as the father of a king. Throughout my ordeal, I thought only of my family and my home. Often, when one wishes for a thing and then is granted it, the reality is so much less than the dream. But my dream is everything that I imagined it to be. My Odyssey has ended, and I am truly the happiest man in all of the world.

Over...

Well, now the suitors have all gone to their rightful places in the underworld. My son Telemachus and I slaughtered them all. The floors of my home ran with the blood of my enemies, and the gods were pleased with their deaths. Those servants who were unfaithful to me were made to clean up the carnage in the hall and dispose of the enemies' corpses. After my home was cleansed and purified, the maids received their deserved traitors' deaths. We hung them in the courtyard as punishment for their lack of loyalty. Peace and order has been restored to Ithaca. My long journey has ended, and my mission is complete.

Suitors

So I've finally decided. I'm going to kill all of the suitors. They have been trying to get with my wife for twenty years and I'm sick of it. They've earned their punishment. The Goddess Athena is going to help me, as she's favored me for my entire life. Even though these suitors are stupid, I'm still going to outsmart them. I hate the way they just assume that I'm dead, without even having a tiny bit of fear. Well, I will teach them to fear. When I am finished with them, they will know the meaning of fear. Although, they will soon all be dead, so I suppose there is no need for me to worry. Dead men tell no tales.

Eumaeus

So I finally made it back to Ithaca, expecting no allies, but then I actually met a pretty cool old guy. His name is Eumaeus, and he is a swineherd. He was always loyal to me, but he believes that I, Odysseus, am dead. I haven't told him who I really am yet, because I'm starting to think of a plan to get my wife and palace back. Anyways, Eumaeus has been a wonderful host. He has slaughtered many pigs for us to eat, although the evil suitors in my palace feast on the hogs. We sit by the fire and tell old war stories. I try to convince him that Odysseus will be home soon, but he insists that the gods have punished me and I am dead. When the time comes, he will see that the gods have not defeated me yet. For the moment however, Eumaeus believes that I am just a wanderer, cast out of my land. Soon I will have my family and my land back, and the suitors will be cast out, and all will be at peace.

Sirens...

I made the men lash me to the mast as we approached the island of the sirens. I had ordered all of them to fill their ears with wax, but I wanted to hear the deadly songs. The men started to row, and I heard the music. It was like nothing else on earth. It is haunting, but still wonderful to hear. It made me feel so strong, but like something was missing. I had to be near that music forever, to die listening to it. When it was over, I felt like something inside of me had gone, leaving lonliness in its place.

Argos...

Argos waited for twenty years to see his master. When Odysseus left home, the dog was strong and fast, a powerful creature. But over the long years that Odysseus was at war and then lost, Argos suffered. He missed his master, who had left so suddenly. Over the years, the dog began to waste away. Truly, he should not have lived so long, because he was so weak and depressed. But the day Odysseus once more walked over the threshold of the palace, Argos was freed. His master had returned, and he could die peacefully and contently.

Not quite...

So much for being saved. Poseidon is such a jerk! I mean seriously, I was almost there. Couldn't he just give me a break once? But no, I guess not. That storm almost killed me. And I wasn't really sure whether or not to trust that nymph, after all, I've had bad luck with nymphs in the past. But I'm glad I took her advice. Without that wimple, I never would have gotten to shore at all. I just took a great nap under some leaves in this forest. I think that now I'm just going to set off and see if I can find someone who will take me to the king. Are those womens' voices I hear in the distance...?