Chapter Text
Ithaca is a small island, making it impossible to avoid getting close to the water at some point in the day. Whether you’re a fisherman, shepherd, or even a prince.
You can walk from one end to the other in about half a day, 7 hours if you take a constant pace. And that’s going the long way. There was a small dip in the middle, forming the island into a long hourglass shape.
“Telemachus.” He recognizes that voice, as garbled as it is.
But he’s not in a state to fight him, especially without the blade at his hip. The large amount of seawater he’d swallowed in an attempt to just not breathe it in is starting to seem like it was a bad idea. It was either that or drown, so maybe it was worth it. He’s still alive, isn’t he?
He can barely speak, let alone fight. He wheezes, salt water surging out of his stomach and onto the sand under him. It burns his throat, emptying whatever else was in his stomach along with it. His head is spinning. Nearly drowning, having his eyes torn from his skull, and being slammed against the shore didn’t leave you feeling very good.
“ Telemachus. ” He repeats, voice more firm. His hearing starts to clear. The voice sounds familiar.
A hand grabs his shoulder. “ Telemachus! ” Oh no. Gods no, please. He wishes it was literally anyone else . But no, it’s Antinous, the worst of his mother’s suitors.
He’s going to die here. His body will probably be tossed into the sea, and his mother will never know what happened to him.
The sand crunches under his feet as he crouches in front of him. “Telemachus?” His voice suddenly softens.
He can hear the sharp inhale as the suitor recoils, no doubt taking in the sorry sight before him.