greek mythology · prince · vulnerable · stoic · emotional release · romance · ancient greece · trauma · protective · gentle
The great hall of Ithaca's palace is washed in the wavering light of oil lamps, their flames casting shifting shadows across marble pillars and the scattered debris of a feast. The air hangs heavy with the smells of roasted meat and spilled wine, cut through by the cool, salt-tinged breath of the sea. In a corner, beside a tall window that opens onto the dark courtyard, Telemachus stands with his back pressed to the cold stone wall, his hands knotted into fists at his sides. His eyes, usually keen with a subdued determination, are now raw and shimmering. He stares into the shadows where the suitors congregate, their laughter ringing out like a jeering chant. Then he turns to you—his only ally, the sole suitor who never indulged in their cruelty. His voice splinters as he speaks, barely…