Day 11

The Phaeacians did prove themselves as musically talented people. They were exceptional! The king was so pleased with my remark that he even said this. "Hear me, my lords and captains of Phaeacia, our guest is a man of real taste, I’d say. Come, let’s give him the parting gifts a guest deserves." The Phaeacians were also very gracious as well. They gave me gifts fit for royals such as the bars of precious gold. Broadsea was the one that stood out over the course of the gift exchange because he gave me a silver studded sword along with freshly carved ivory around the sword. I felt undeserving of these wonderful gifts and offerings the Phaeacians gave me. But before I left the island and started my journey on sea, I wanted to hear the song from the blind bard one more time. He accepted my request and I broke down again. I couldn't handle the memories I had in the past, I just couldn't.....

Day 10

We continued into the games and sports, events that personally fit me best. I had wanted to compete in the events to show the Phaeacians that I am not a stranger, that I am one of them now. With my current mood however, I refused to play. I didn't want to become too emotional or over aggressive, so decided to act as a spectator instead of as a competitor. However, one competitor by the name of Brodeus mocked me by saying this. “I never took you for someone skilled in games, the kind that real men play throughout the world. Not a chance. You’re some skipper of profiteers, roving the high seas in his scudding craft, reckoning up his freight with a keen eye out for home-cargo, grabbing the gold he can! You're no athlete. I see that." This reckless fool had aroused my aggressive fighting spirit. I decided to take it a step further by challenging all of Phaeacia because I knew that no other mortal coul beat me. I guess I took it way too far because King Alcinous had to interrupt and stop the games. Instead of the games, he invited me to another banquet just to prove to me how good the Phaeacians are at music. As long as the blind bard didn't play another song about Odysseus, I would be completely willing to stay for this banquet. 

Day 9

The next day arose, the day I was to depart from the shores of Phaeacia. Before I was to depart, King Alcinous had planned a big banquet and a special time of games, just for my departure. First was the banquet, for it was no different than my arrival at the palace. Well into the feast, a blind bard came to join the feast and even sung songs for the banqueters. However, I didn't think that the song would become so saddening for me. It was joyous for everyone else, everyone else but me. The song sung by the blind bard was about the "Strife between Odysseus and Achilles." No one knew my true identity at the feast, not even the king! Therefore, no one knew why I was crying and was not pleased with the the song. The reason why I cried was because it reminded me of my past, my painful past. A past that I would like to forget. The king must've heard my uncontrollable breath and seen the tears that rolled down my cheeks because he ended the feast early and didn't hesitate to move onto the games. I feared that at this moment, King Alcinous knew who I truly was.

Day 8

As I told them my full story, I had to make sure that I didn't give away my identity. For if I did, they can use it as a "weapon" against me if they catch me not telling them the full truth. When I finished with my story, from my encounter with Calypso to how I came upon Phaeacia, I knew I told him the truth. There couldn't be a single lie within my story and Alcinous didn't find a single lie. However, he did find something that didn't match up in my true story. He responded with, "Her good sense missed the mark, this daughter of mine. She never escorted you to our house with all her maids but she was the first you asked for care and shelter.” I quickly responded by saying,"Your majesty, don’t find fault with a flawless daughter now, not for my sake, please. She urged me herself to follow with her maids. I chose not to, fearing embarrassment in fact— what if you took offense, seeing us both together?" He then shocked me when he offered me to take his daughter, Nausicaa, and marry her and become prince of Phaeacia. But I couldn't accept the offer. I have a wife at home, a wife that is waiting for her husband, her king, for many years. This made me even more determined to reach home.

Day 7

I prayed to the gods so that I can somehow convince Alcinous that I am in fact mortal, so that I may be able to travel back home safely. "I’m nothing like the immortal gods who rule the skies, either in build or breeding. I’m just a mortal man. Whom do you know most saddled down with sorrow?" Even after saying this I knew that it wasn't enough. I had follow up with something that would truly touch his heart and when I said, "How much I have suffered. Oh just let me see my lands, my serving-men and the grand high-roofed house— then I can die in peace", I knew that I was able to convince him that I was a mortal. This also guaranteed me a trip back to my home, my real home. After my statements the guests applauded and began to disperse. Soon after it was just me, Alcinous, and Arete. I wasn't expecting more questioning from the king or queen, yet there was still something that didn't seem right in their eyes. "Who are you? Where are you from? Who gave you the clothes you’re wearing now? Didn’t you say you reached us roving on the sea?” Arete asked me. The third question she asked me made me understand as to why she questioned me yet again. They were wise rulers as well, so if I tried to hide something from them they would realize that I'm not telling the full truth. Once again, I found myself in deep waters.

Day 6

I found myself right in front of the the king and queen of Phaeacia not knowing what to do. But then I remembered what Nausicaa had instructed me to do. I flung my arms around Arete's legs and pleaded, "Here after many trials I come to beg for mercy, your husband’s, yours, and all these feasters’ here. May the gods endow them with fortune all their lives, may each hand down to his sons the riches in his house and the pride of place the realm has granted him. But as for myself, grant me a rapid convoy home to my own native land. How far away I’ve been from all my loved ones—how long I have suffered!” I also sank down next to the fire, but King Alcinous offered me his hand and gave me hisson's royal seat. After all of this, all in the room feasted and drank until our stomachs could not hold anymore. At the end of the feast, King Alcinous addressed the people that, "At dawn we call the elders in to full assembly, host our guest in the palace, sacrifice to the gods and then we turn our minds to his passage home, so under our convoy our new friend can travel back to his own land—no toil, no troubles—soon, rejoicing, even if his home’s a world away." However, he followed up this statement with the suspicion of me not being a mortal. I just hope that his suspicion doesn't prevent me from going on my travel back home. 

Day 5

Nausicaa was already back in the palace as I started the second part of my journey to her palace after praying at the grove of Athena. I was rather surprised because not a single Phaeacian approached me or harassed me. However, Nausicaa said to expect some of her own people to approach me on my path to the palace. Only one person had actually approached me. That one person was a little girl who helped me reach the queen, Arete, in her palace. She also gave me a similar warning, almost identical to Nausicaa's. "Come, quietly too, and I will lead the way. Now not a glance at anyone, not a question. The men here never suffer strangers gladly, have no love for hosting a man from foreign lands" she said. Again however, no one, not a single soul approached me nor confronted me. Something was rather odd about the girl as well. Nevertheless, she led me to the palace safely and she quickly left before I was able to thank the kind soul for her actions. But as I approached Arete and Alcinous, I knew that the little girl had to be Athena. Athena had actually answered my prayers! Hopefully she is still with me right now as I approach the king and queen of the Phaeacians....

Day 4

After the very warm welcome with new clothes and the delicious food provided by Nausicaa, she came to me and said, “Up with you now, my friend, and off to town we go. I’ll see you into my wise father’s palace where, I promise you, you’ll meet all the best Phaeacians." I was extremely excited to finally have a place to eat, sleep, to talk to people; being lost at sea made me forget what it was like to be human again. As we were prepared to leave the stream and journey back to her home town, she told me nearly everything about it. She told me about the good people and the bad people. She even told me how to see the day of my return and rejoicing. She descriptively said, "She leans against a pillar, her ladies sit behind. And my father’s throne is drawn up close beside her; there he sits and takes his wine, a mortal like a god. Go past him, grasp my mother’s knees—if you want to see the day of your return, rejoicing, soon, even if your home’s a world away. If only the queen will take you to her heart, then there’s hope that you will see your loved ones, reach your own grand house, your native land at last.” I was willing to do as she said because this may be my only chance of reaching back to my family, whom I miss so very much. As we went on with our journey back to her hometown, we passed by the hallowed grove, which was sacred to Athena. At that place I said a prayer to Athena, "Grant that here among the Phaeacian people I may find some mercy and some love!” I truly hope that she heard my prayers.

Day 3

I fell into a deep sleep shortly after I reached land, but I was woken up by the screams and shouts of what sounded to be savages. The screams wouldn't stop, so I became curious and said to myself, "Whose land have I lit on now? What are they here—violent, savage, lawless?" When I came out of the bushes, I saw women, beautiful women. However, only one of them caught my attention and that was the princess. I briefly explained my story of how I ended up on her island and begged her to take me to her town. She responded generously and was willing to escort me around the town. However, the other girls with her didn't think like the idea of allowing a stranger into their town. I suppose it was understandable for them to not agree and be afraid since the town is very isolated; I suppose it was also my nakedness. But before I was led to their town, the lovely princess offered me to bathe in the river. AND MY GOD!! How pleasing it was to feel fresh clean water. However, it was not the bath itself that caught my attention. It was what the princess said, "At first he seemed appalling, I must say— now he seems like a god who rules the skies up there! Ah, if only a man like that were called my husband, lived right here, pleased to stay forever." I just hope that she doesn't turn out to be another Calypso.....