The Odyssey: Part 3 - A Guest at the Palace

Get Sleep is a production of Samba Studios and is made possible thanks to the generous support

of our sponsors and premium members. If you'd like to listen ad free and access weekly bonus

episodes, extra long stories and our entire back catalogue, you can try out premium free

for seven days by following the link in the episode notes. Now, a quick word from our sponsors.

Score more with the college branded Venmo debit card and earn up to five percent cashback

with Venmo stash. Got paid back? With the Venmo debit card, you can instantly access your

balance and spend on what you want, like game day snacks, gear, tickets, and more.

The more you do, the more cashback you can earn. Plus, there's no monthly fear minimum balance.

Sign up now at Venmo.com slash college card. The Venmo master card is issued by the

bank court bank NA, select schools available. Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at Venmo.me slash

stash terms max $100 cashback per month. Welcome to get sleepy. When we listen, we relax

and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas. Thank you so much for being here.

This evening, we'll continue our relaxing retelling of the Odyssey.

As you may remember from last time, Odysseus built a raft and set sail from Calypso's island.

His journey across the sea didn't exactly go smoothly, but in the end, he made it safely to land.

This is where we find Odysseus at the beginning of tonight's story, as he wakes up in the woods.

Hopefully, the people on this island will give him food and shelter before he continues on his

journey home. A big thanks to Alexandra for writing this series, which I have the pleasure of

reading for you. So, my friends, let's prepare for our story by taking a few moments to settle down

and ease our minds. Whenever you come here to listen, I truly hope you feel a sense of comfort and

reassurance. It's something we've always strived to nurture, and I love the idea that, as many of

you have expressed to me over the years, pressing play on one of our episodes provides you a calming

familiarity to your bedtime routine and a feeling of friendship and care.

Right now, I'd like you to give yourself some comfort and reassurance.

Whatever might be going on in your life and however you're feeling, I know you're trying your best.

We are all on our own journeys of self-discovery and journeys towards goals and achievements.

Sometimes, these journeys feel exciting and life seems to flow easily as we go about our daily

activities. But these journeys always present challenges too, and moments where we make question

ourselves or our circumstances and direction. This is all completely normal and just part of what

it is to be alive. These journeys are ongoing throughout our lives, and they will fluctuate,

twist and turn in unexpected ways, bring us challenges and difficult emotions at times.

So, as you settle down tonight, give yourself some recognition and appreciation.

Many of us tend to default to being self-critical, but we all deserve to fill love and appreciation

for who we are and what we do.

So, perhaps right now, you can internally say to yourself,

I'm trying my best, and that is all I can ask of myself.

Thank you so very much for being here and just being you.

And now, let's help you get a good night's rest.

Speaking of journeys, we're ready to begin the next chapter of Odysseus' epic quest

to make it back to his homeland. So, just listen along, relax and drift off.

Whenever you're ready, let's begin.

So,

Odysseus awoke to the sound of voices as he opened his eyes.

It took him a moment to get his bearings.

But then, it slowly started to come back to him.

The sea voyage, the storm, and his arrival on the island.

Utterly exhausted, he had gone into the trees and found shelter under some bushes.

Then, he fell into a deep, deep sleep.

And now, he was awake, and he could hear loud, high-pitched voices beyond the trees.

Who were they? Nymphs, perhaps, the divine beings who often roamed the mountains, streams and meadows.

The voices seemed to be female.

Whether they were divine or mortal, there was only one way to find out.

Odysseus got to his feet and tore off a branch covered in leaves so he could protect his modesty.

Having lost his clothes at sea, this would have to do.

He then made his way towards the sound of the voices and found himself on the sunlit bank of the river.

A group of young women were running across the grass, shouting and laughing as they tossed a ball around.

But then, they spotted Odysseus. He was quite a sight.

A wild-looking man, naked but for a branch, and still covered in the salty brine of the sea.

The women ran in the opposite direction, all except one.

The goddess Athena gave one young woman the courage to stand still and look Odysseus in the eye.

As they stared at one another, Odysseus wondered what he should do.

Should he grovel at her feet and beg for help?

Or should he keep his distance and speak carefully?

He didn't want to scare the girl, so staying where he was, Odysseus began to speak,

relying on his usual tool of flattery.

The girl was so tall and beautiful, said Odysseus, that she reminded him of the goddess Artemis.

Or perhaps a tree he once saw on his travels, a lush young palm that grew by a polished altar.

He was quiet in awe, and yet he had no choice but to approach her and beck her to take pity on him.

Odysseus explained that for many days he had been adrift at sea, tossed about in the storm.

But the day before he had washed up here in a land where he knew no one.

Would this gracious young woman help him?

Would she give him some rags and take him to the town?

Although he didn't know it yet, Odysseus was in luck.

The young woman was Norseca, a princess on the island.

And that very morning the goddess Athena had given her the idea to come down to the river to do some

laundry. That way she was sure to encounter Odysseus.

Athena was always looking out for her favorite mortal and trying to help him when she could.

But in this moment, Norseca knew nothing of Odysseus.

She didn't even know his name. All she knew was that this poor man needed her help.

Stranger said Norseca. The gods are the ones who decide what happens to us.

Good or bad? Perhaps your troubles are Zeus's well.

But now that you are here in our land, of course we will help you.

We are the fciations, and I am Norseca, the daughter of King Alcinous.

Norseca then called to the other girls who were watching from a distance.

This man was no enemy, she sent. But a stranger sent by Zeus who must be treated with kindness.

The servant girls provided Odysseus with a fresh tunic and cloak,

along with a flask of olive oil, before leaving him to wash in the river in privacy.

It was quite a relief to rinse the salt from his hair and scrub the brine off his skin.

Then, once Odysseus was clean and dressed, his skin soft with oil, the girls brought him food and drink.

He felt almost reborn.

Meanwhile, Norseca had come up with a plan. She would lead the way in her wagon while Odysseus

followed behind with the donkeys and the servant girls. It was best for them to keep a bit of a distance.

After all, she was a young unwed woman. What would people say if they saw her with a strange man

and a foreigner at that? This island was remote and the fciations were not used to visit us.

So, rather than such tongues wagging, Odysseus and Norseca should travel to town separately.

Norseca would go on ahead while Odysseus waited in a nearby popular grove, not far from the town.

After an hour or so, said Norseca, Odysseus should ask for directions to the palace of King

Alcinous. Everyone here knew where it was, even a child could guide him.

Once Odysseus had arrived at the palace, he should make his way to the great hall.

There, he would find Norseca's parents, the King and Queen.

Norseca's advice was for Odysseus to talk to her mother, to approach the Queen directly and ask for help.

If the Queen took a liking to him, she would surely help Odysseus to return home.

After giving these instructions, Norseca set off in her wagon.

The donkeys trotted at a leisurely pace, so Odysseus could keep up as he followed on foot.

At sunset, they reached the popular grove, a peaceful place with a fountain which was known as a

sanctuary to the goddess Athena. While Norseca and the servants continued on towards the palace,

Odysseus stayed behind. As the sky darkened, he sat on the soft grass and prayed to Athena.

He hoped that the King and Queen would take pity on him and give him a warm welcome at the palace.

After his prayer, Odysseus lay down and rested for a while, soothed by the sounds of the trickling fountain.

When he judged that enough time had passed, Odysseus left the grove and walked solely towards

the town. Athena cloaked him in a silvery mist, so he would go on noticed among the townspeople.

There were no stairs, no inquisitive remarks. Odysseus was invisible.

Only one girl saw him. Unbeknownst to Odysseus, it was Athena herself who had taken the form

of a young girl. She carried a picture of water and stopped right in front of him.

Odysseus explained that he was a visitor and he didn't know the town.

Perhaps the girl could show him the way to the palace of King Alcinous.

Smiling, the girl said that she would take him there. It wasn't far,

but they must walk in silence to avoid attracting attention.

In a whisper, she added that the fiatians were seafarers.

They often travelled in ships that moved as fast as wings, but they were wary of visitors from

abroad. Odysseus followed the girl in silence, still hidden by the magical mist.

As he walked through the town, he looked around in awe, amazed by the grand ships and harbours.

And the walls, he had never seen such walls.

It wasn't long before they reached the palace. The girl turned to Odysseus and told him that

this was the home of King Alcinous and his wife, Ariti.

She then gave him the same piece of advice as Norseca.

That Odysseus should approach the queen first and ask for her help.

She was a kind, clever woman, and she helped those she liked.

If Odysseus wanted to see his homeland again and be reunited with his loved ones,

he must talk to her.

The girl then added that Odysseus should enter the palace without fear.

The brave were sure to succeed.

After giving this advice, the child turned and walked away.

Once she was out of eyesight, she shifted back into her divine form.

It was time for Athena to cross the sea. She had business to attend to in Athens.

Meemaw Odysseus stood by the palace threshold, looking around in wonder.

Everything was made from bronze or gold and shone like the sun.

The doors were guarded by silver docks, sculpted by the god Herfiestas.

Unlike mortal docks, they would protect the palace for all time.

As Odysseus entered the great hall, still shrouded in mist, he gazed at the scene before him.

Men and women feasted together at long tables, and the hall was lit by blazing torches.

Each torch was held by a lifelike statue made of gold.

For a moment Odysseus hesitated.

After all he'd gone through in the past years, he felt out of place here in such opulent surroundings.

Just days ago he had been adrift at sea, and now he was standing in this grand hall,

where the fiatian elite dined on the finest food and poured offerings to the gods.

But now he was here, he must do as the girls had told him.

Approaching the table at the end of the hall, Odysseus snouted down in front of the queen.

The silver mist disappeared, and a hush descended on the hall as everyone stared in astonishment.

Who was this man?

But Odysseus did not introduce himself.

In few words, he explained that he had come to ask for help.

All he wanted was to return home.

He missed his family and hoped the fiatians would help him.

The king and queen were so taken aback that at first they did not speak.

Odysseus remained kneeling on the floor until another man spoke.

He urged the king to give Odysseus a chair, and to offer him food and wine.

It was the right thing to do.

Osinua so greed, inviting Odysseus to sit in the chair beside him.

And within moments, the servants had brought everything that was needed.

A silver bowl and a pitcher of water so the guest could wash his hands.

A plate piled high with food and a cup of sweet wine.

Odysseus was delighted.

Though he had eaten earlier at the riverside, his long journey had left him ravenous.

As he ate and drank with pleasure, King Osinua spoke.

The fiatians would help their guest, whoever he was.

Odysseus was welcomed to stay in the palace while preparations were made for his departure.

But perhaps, Osinua slept thoughtful.

Could it be that their guest was a god in disguise?

Odysseus assured his host that he was a mortal man.

It came here to eat and drink to replenish his strength, and then with some help to return home.

All he wanted was to live out the rest of his days in peace.

Once the feast was over, the others left to the hall, leaving Odysseus alone with the king and queen.

As the servants cleaned up the dishes, the queen looked at Odysseus thoughtfully.

He wore such elegant clothes, and she couldn't help but notice his shirt.

It looked like one she had woven herself.

Full of curiosity, the queen asked Odysseus who he was, and who had given him those fine clothes.

They were fine indeed, for a man who said he'd spent days adrift at sea.

Odysseus didn't want to reveal his identity, but neither did he want to be dishonest.

He knew he had to earn the queen's trust, so he decided to share a version of the truth.

He told the story of his time on Calypso's island, and the journey that followed.

He described the storm, his swim for survival, and his arrival on the island of the fiatians.

Then, choosing his words carefully, Odysseus explained how he had met Norsica, the king and queen's daughter.

She had been so kind, giving him food and drink, and the very clothing he was wearing now.

Hearing this story, Alcinous smiled, he was pleased to hear Norsica had treated Odysseus with such

kindness. But why did she not bring him to the palace herself?

Wanting to be tactful, Odysseus said that it was he himself who had insisted on coming separately.

He wasn't sure what the king would think, seeing his daughter with a stranger.

But fortunately, it seemed that both king and queen were quite happy with their guest.

In fact, said Alcinous, if Odysseus didn't have a family of his own to get back to,

they would invite him to stay longer. He might even become their son-in-law one day.

But Odysseus had been quite clear about his intentions.

The king agreed that in the following days, they would prepare a ship to take him home.

But for now, it was time to rest.

The servants swiftly prepared a comfortable bat on the porch.

It was covered with luxurious purple blankets and soft woolen quilts.

Remembering the last place hid such out in the woods, Odysseus was deeply grateful.

As he settled down, listening to the comforting echoes of the portico, he let out a sigh of contentment.

And in no time at all, he was fast asleep.

Over the next few days, preparations were made for Odysseus' journey.

Athena disguised herself as a royal messenger and went about town until she'd gathered enough men

for the crew. But the king didn't want to send off his guest just yet.

There must be feasts, sacrifices to the gods, and a contest or two.

The fiations were proud athletes.

They wanted to show their visitor just how strong and skilled they were.

So, the men were quick to organise races and wrestling matches.

Odysseus also took part, now that his strength had returned.

He knew how to throw a discus, and as for archery, he was up there with the best.

After the games, more festivities followed. A sacred dance and a performance by the barred

demodicus. As he strummed his lire, demodicus sang stories of the gods, their rivalries and love

affairs. Odysseus was thoroughly entertained. And as if all this wasn't enough, there were gifts too.

In a gesture of hospitality and friendship, the king had decided that every fiation lord

should present Odysseus with a gift. He received pounds of gold, fine clothing, and a sort that

dazzled with its silver handle and ivory scabbard.

The king and queen also had gifts of their own to give, a magnificent golden cup and a beautifully

carved chest. Inside, carefully folded were a new cloak and tunic.

After this display of generosity, Odysseus was invited to take a bath.

A huge bronze cauldron was heated up on the fire and used to fill the tap.

Delighted by the steaming water, Odysseus enjoyed a long leisurely bath.

And then, once his skin was oiled and he was dressed in his fine new clothes,

it was time to make his way to the great hall for yet another feast.

As Odysseus entered the room, he caught sight of a familiar face.

Standing beside a pillar was Norseka as beautiful as a goddess.

The princess smiled when she saw Odysseus.

Always remember, she said, that I was the first to help you.

When you finally get back home, think of me.

Of course, said Odysseus, if he were lucky enough to return to his native land,

he would pray to Norseka just as he would to a goddess.

She had saved his life.

Odysseus then went to take a seat beside the king.

Already, the table was laden with the most wonderful food and wine.

As Odysseus sat there, glancing around the room, he noticed the barred demodicus.

Odysseus took a slice of the best cut of meat and asked one of the serving boys to bring it to

demodicus. He wanted to pay his respects to the poet. Later in the evening, when the feast was

coming to an end, Odysseus spoke directly to demodicus.

He praised him for his skill as a poet and storyteller.

When the barred sang songs of the Trojan War, it was as if he had been there himself.

So, Odysseus had a request, the story of the wooden horse.

The whole fell silent as demodicus began to sing.

He sang of Odysseus, how the Greek hero had hidden a group of soldiers inside a huge wooden horse

in order to trick the Trojans.

Just as he'd planned, the wooden horse was dragged right into the heart of Troy.

The Trojans, of course, had no idea what was inside.

They doomed themselves, bringing their enemies into their own citadel.

That night, the ambush began. The Greek soldiers, led by Odysseus,

slipped out of the belly of the horse and launched their attack.

The barred described it all in vivid detail. The plotting, the fighting, and the triumph of the Greeks.

With the help of the goddess Athena, they won the battle.

As Odysseus listened to the song, the memories came flooding back.

He couldn't help but weep.

No one but the king, who was sitting right beside him, noticed Odysseus's tears.

Alcinous raised his hands and asked the part to stop singing.

It was a beautiful song, but their guest had been moved too deeply.

They should end the evening in light of spirits, so Odysseus could enjoy his last night

with the fiatians. This was his send-off after all.

And yet, the king could no longer restrain his curiosity.

They still didn't know their guest's name or where he came from.

They knew little of his travels.

And why had he been so moved by the song?

Had he known someone at Troy?

Alcinous had so many questions.

The others in the hall were curious too, looking at Odysseus expectantly.

For a moment, the room was silent.

The bard had put down his lyre, and the fiatians were all waiting for an answer.

Odysseus took a deep breath before introducing himself at last.

I am Odysseus, he said.

And then, it was clear to everyone that their guest had quite a story to tell.