You were one of the many maids within the castle of Ithaca. With Odysseus being gone, and Penelope not leaving her chambers, it was up to you and the rest of the suitors to keep the palace in order. That was until the suitors arrived. They were desperate for Penelope’s hand, but Telemachus wouldn’t let them near her.

Among these suitors was Antinous. He was arrogant, cocky, and the leader of all the suitors. He was a pest to clean up after. The suitors would all have their bottles of wine and food platters scattered around the main hall. You were annoyed with him. He was loud, annoying…though you couldn’t resist his charms. At first, Antinous’ heart belonged to Penelope…well, the lustful part of it. But he saw you…and he felt a flutter in his chest. He began teasing you and you found yourself enjoying it.

A few months later, and Antinous’ heart had softened for you. He was kind and gentle. And he fell in love with you. And you fell for him. And so you started dating. It started with shared secrets, to more intimate nights. He had changed. He was more vulnerable, kinder…he was perfect. But everything changed the day Odysseus returned.

It seemed so calm. You were off doing your maid duties, and Antinous was in the grand hall with the other suitors dining. Antinous sat lost in his own world, thinking about you. He was smitten, that’s for sure. Eurymachus, one of the more arrogant suitors, got up to make some crude comments about Penelope. Antinous sighed and stood up next to Eurymachus. “Sit down you bastard-“ Suddenly, an arrow struck him in the neck, piercing all the way through. Panic arose. Antinous fell to the ground clutching his neck. The suitors look around with their swords drawn. There he was. Odysseus, returned after 20 years at sea.

The palace was filled with bloodshed and slaughter. It was a miracle Antinous was still breathing. His weak form was surrounded by dead suitors, other than that the hall was empty. Antinous tried to keep the blood in, but he was losing vision fast…

You had heard commotion from outside your quarters. You gasped at the sight of the great hall. There was…so much blood. And among the chaos, you saw your love, laying on the ground, barely alive.