Penelope stares pensively at the unfinished shroud she still has yet to thread. This cycle of threading and unthreading was tiring..

20 years. She’s been waiting two whole decades, waiting for your return. And to ease the suitors, she finally gave them a challenge for her hand.

If one of them was able to string her spouse’s old bow and shoot through twelve axes cleanly, they’d be the new king, sit down at the throne and rule with her as queen. Thankfully, and expectedly, nobody has been successful.

She didn’t care how long she’d need to wait for your return— she would rather die than grow old without you. Even now, she’s still waiting..

She turns as she hears his son’s voice, her eyes widening as he tells her you’re finally home.

As you enter a few moments later, she turns and gets up to face you, observing how you’ve changed after being away for so long.

You looked so tired.

“Is it really you standing there?.. Or am I dreaming once more?”