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stash terms max $100 cashback per month. Welcome to get sleepy. When we listen, we relax
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and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas. Thank you so much for being here.
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This evening, we'll continue our relaxing retelling of the Odyssey.
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As you may remember from last time, Odysseus built a raft and set sail from Calypso's island.
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His journey across the sea didn't exactly go smoothly, but in the end, he made it safely to land.
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This is where we find Odysseus at the beginning of tonight's story, as he wakes up in the woods.
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Hopefully, the people on this island will give him food and shelter before he continues on his
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journey home. A big thanks to Alexandra for writing this series, which I have the pleasure of
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reading for you. So, my friends, let's prepare for our story by taking a few moments to settle down
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and ease our minds. Whenever you come here to listen, I truly hope you feel a sense of comfort and
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reassurance. It's something we've always strived to nurture, and I love the idea that, as many of
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you have expressed to me over the years, pressing play on one of our episodes provides you a calming
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familiarity to your bedtime routine and a feeling of friendship and care.
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Right now, I'd like you to give yourself some comfort and reassurance.
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Whatever might be going on in your life and however you're feeling, I know you're trying your best.
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We are all on our own journeys of self-discovery and journeys towards goals and achievements.
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Sometimes, these journeys feel exciting and life seems to flow easily as we go about our daily
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activities. But these journeys always present challenges too, and moments where we make question
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ourselves or our circumstances and direction. This is all completely normal and just part of what
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it is to be alive. These journeys are ongoing throughout our lives, and they will fluctuate,
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twist and turn in unexpected ways, bring us challenges and difficult emotions at times.
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So, as you settle down tonight, give yourself some recognition and appreciation.
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Many of us tend to default to being self-critical, but we all deserve to fill love and appreciation
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for who we are and what we do.
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So, perhaps right now, you can internally say to yourself,
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I'm trying my best, and that is all I can ask of myself.
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Thank you so very much for being here and just being you.
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And now, let's help you get a good night's rest.
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Speaking of journeys, we're ready to begin the next chapter of Odysseus' epic quest
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to make it back to his homeland. So, just listen along, relax and drift off.
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Whenever you're ready, let's begin.
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Odysseus awoke to the sound of voices as he opened his eyes.
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It took him a moment to get his bearings.
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But then, it slowly started to come back to him.
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The sea voyage, the storm, and his arrival on the island.
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Utterly exhausted, he had gone into the trees and found shelter under some bushes.
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Then, he fell into a deep, deep sleep.
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And now, he was awake, and he could hear loud, high-pitched voices beyond the trees.
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Who were they? Nymphs, perhaps, the divine beings who often roamed the mountains, streams and meadows.
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The voices seemed to be female.
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Whether they were divine or mortal, there was only one way to find out.
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Odysseus got to his feet and tore off a branch covered in leaves so he could protect his modesty.
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Having lost his clothes at sea, this would have to do.
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He then made his way towards the sound of the voices and found himself on the sunlit bank of the river.
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A group of young women were running across the grass, shouting and laughing as they tossed a ball around.
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But then, they spotted Odysseus. He was quite a sight.
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A wild-looking man, naked but for a branch, and still covered in the salty brine of the sea.
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The women ran in the opposite direction, all except one.
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The goddess Athena gave one young woman the courage to stand still and look Odysseus in the eye.
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As they stared at one another, Odysseus wondered what he should do.
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Should he grovel at her feet and beg for help?
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Or should he keep his distance and speak carefully?
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He didn't want to scare the girl, so staying where he was, Odysseus began to speak,
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relying on his usual tool of flattery.
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The girl was so tall and beautiful, said Odysseus, that she reminded him of the goddess Artemis.
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Or perhaps a tree he once saw on his travels, a lush young palm that grew by a polished altar.
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He was quiet in awe, and yet he had no choice but to approach her and beck her to take pity on him.
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Odysseus explained that for many days he had been adrift at sea, tossed about in the storm.
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But the day before he had washed up here in a land where he knew no one.
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Would this gracious young woman help him?
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Would she give him some rags and take him to the town?
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Although he didn't know it yet, Odysseus was in luck.
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The young woman was Norseca, a princess on the island.
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And that very morning the goddess Athena had given her the idea to come down to the river to do some
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laundry. That way she was sure to encounter Odysseus.
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Athena was always looking out for her favorite mortal and trying to help him when she could.
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But in this moment, Norseca knew nothing of Odysseus.
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She didn't even know his name. All she knew was that this poor man needed her help.
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Stranger said Norseca. The gods are the ones who decide what happens to us.
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Good or bad? Perhaps your troubles are Zeus's well.
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But now that you are here in our land, of course we will help you.
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We are the fciations, and I am Norseca, the daughter of King Alcinous.
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Norseca then called to the other girls who were watching from a distance.
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This man was no enemy, she sent. But a stranger sent by Zeus who must be treated with kindness.
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The servant girls provided Odysseus with a fresh tunic and cloak,
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along with a flask of olive oil, before leaving him to wash in the river in privacy.
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It was quite a relief to rinse the salt from his hair and scrub the brine off his skin.
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Then, once Odysseus was clean and dressed, his skin soft with oil, the girls brought him food and drink.
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He felt almost reborn.
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Meanwhile, Norseca had come up with a plan. She would lead the way in her wagon while Odysseus
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followed behind with the donkeys and the servant girls. It was best for them to keep a bit of a distance.
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After all, she was a young unwed woman. What would people say if they saw her with a strange man
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and a foreigner at that? This island was remote and the fciations were not used to visit us.
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So, rather than such tongues wagging, Odysseus and Norseca should travel to town separately.
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Norseca would go on ahead while Odysseus waited in a nearby popular grove, not far from the town.
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After an hour or so, said Norseca, Odysseus should ask for directions to the palace of King
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Alcinous. Everyone here knew where it was, even a child could guide him.
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Once Odysseus had arrived at the palace, he should make his way to the great hall.
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There, he would find Norseca's parents, the King and Queen.
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Norseca's advice was for Odysseus to talk to her mother, to approach the Queen directly and ask for help.
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If the Queen took a liking to him, she would surely help Odysseus to return home.
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After giving these instructions, Norseca set off in her wagon.
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The donkeys trotted at a leisurely pace, so Odysseus could keep up as he followed on foot.
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At sunset, they reached the popular grove, a peaceful place with a fountain which was known as a
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sanctuary to the goddess Athena. While Norseca and the servants continued on towards the palace,
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Odysseus stayed behind. As the sky darkened, he sat on the soft grass and prayed to Athena.
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He hoped that the King and Queen would take pity on him and give him a warm welcome at the palace.
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After his prayer, Odysseus lay down and rested for a while, soothed by the sounds of the trickling fountain.
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When he judged that enough time had passed, Odysseus left the grove and walked solely towards
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the town. Athena cloaked him in a silvery mist, so he would go on noticed among the townspeople.
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There were no stairs, no inquisitive remarks. Odysseus was invisible.
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Only one girl saw him. Unbeknownst to Odysseus, it was Athena herself who had taken the form
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of a young girl. She carried a picture of water and stopped right in front of him.
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Odysseus explained that he was a visitor and he didn't know the town.
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Perhaps the girl could show him the way to the palace of King Alcinous.
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Smiling, the girl said that she would take him there. It wasn't far,
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but they must walk in silence to avoid attracting attention.
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In a whisper, she added that the fiatians were seafarers.
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They often travelled in ships that moved as fast as wings, but they were wary of visitors from
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abroad. Odysseus followed the girl in silence, still hidden by the magical mist.
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As he walked through the town, he looked around in awe, amazed by the grand ships and harbours.
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And the walls, he had never seen such walls.
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It wasn't long before they reached the palace. The girl turned to Odysseus and told him that
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this was the home of King Alcinous and his wife, Ariti.
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She then gave him the same piece of advice as Norseca.
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That Odysseus should approach the queen first and ask for her help.
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She was a kind, clever woman, and she helped those she liked.
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If Odysseus wanted to see his homeland again and be reunited with his loved ones,
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he must talk to her.
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The girl then added that Odysseus should enter the palace without fear.
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The brave were sure to succeed.
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After giving this advice, the child turned and walked away.
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Once she was out of eyesight, she shifted back into her divine form.
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It was time for Athena to cross the sea. She had business to attend to in Athens.
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Meemaw Odysseus stood by the palace threshold, looking around in wonder.
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Everything was made from bronze or gold and shone like the sun.
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The doors were guarded by silver docks, sculpted by the god Herfiestas.
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Unlike mortal docks, they would protect the palace for all time.
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As Odysseus entered the great hall, still shrouded in mist, he gazed at the scene before him.
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Men and women feasted together at long tables, and the hall was lit by blazing torches.
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Each torch was held by a lifelike statue made of gold.
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For a moment Odysseus hesitated.
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After all he'd gone through in the past years, he felt out of place here in such opulent surroundings.
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Just days ago he had been adrift at sea, and now he was standing in this grand hall,
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where the fiatian elite dined on the finest food and poured offerings to the gods.
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But now he was here, he must do as the girls had told him.
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Approaching the table at the end of the hall, Odysseus snouted down in front of the queen.
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The silver mist disappeared, and a hush descended on the hall as everyone stared in astonishment.
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But Odysseus did not introduce himself.
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In few words, he explained that he had come to ask for help.
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All he wanted was to return home.
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He missed his family and hoped the fiatians would help him.
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The king and queen were so taken aback that at first they did not speak.
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Odysseus remained kneeling on the floor until another man spoke.
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He urged the king to give Odysseus a chair, and to offer him food and wine.
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It was the right thing to do.
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Osinua so greed, inviting Odysseus to sit in the chair beside him.
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And within moments, the servants had brought everything that was needed.
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A silver bowl and a pitcher of water so the guest could wash his hands.
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A plate piled high with food and a cup of sweet wine.
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Odysseus was delighted.
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Though he had eaten earlier at the riverside, his long journey had left him ravenous.
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As he ate and drank with pleasure, King Osinua spoke.
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The fiatians would help their guest, whoever he was.
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Odysseus was welcomed to stay in the palace while preparations were made for his departure.
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But perhaps, Osinua slept thoughtful.
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Could it be that their guest was a god in disguise?
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Odysseus assured his host that he was a mortal man.
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It came here to eat and drink to replenish his strength, and then with some help to return home.
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All he wanted was to live out the rest of his days in peace.
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Once the feast was over, the others left to the hall, leaving Odysseus alone with the king and queen.
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As the servants cleaned up the dishes, the queen looked at Odysseus thoughtfully.
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He wore such elegant clothes, and she couldn't help but notice his shirt.
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It looked like one she had woven herself.
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Full of curiosity, the queen asked Odysseus who he was, and who had given him those fine clothes.
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They were fine indeed, for a man who said he'd spent days adrift at sea.
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Odysseus didn't want to reveal his identity, but neither did he want to be dishonest.
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He knew he had to earn the queen's trust, so he decided to share a version of the truth.
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He told the story of his time on Calypso's island, and the journey that followed.
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He described the storm, his swim for survival, and his arrival on the island of the fiatians.
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Then, choosing his words carefully, Odysseus explained how he had met Norsica, the king and queen's daughter.
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She had been so kind, giving him food and drink, and the very clothing he was wearing now.
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Hearing this story, Alcinous smiled, he was pleased to hear Norsica had treated Odysseus with such
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kindness. But why did she not bring him to the palace herself?
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Wanting to be tactful, Odysseus said that it was he himself who had insisted on coming separately.
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He wasn't sure what the king would think, seeing his daughter with a stranger.
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But fortunately, it seemed that both king and queen were quite happy with their guest.
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In fact, said Alcinous, if Odysseus didn't have a family of his own to get back to,
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they would invite him to stay longer. He might even become their son-in-law one day.
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But Odysseus had been quite clear about his intentions.
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The king agreed that in the following days, they would prepare a ship to take him home.
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But for now, it was time to rest.
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The servants swiftly prepared a comfortable bat on the porch.
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It was covered with luxurious purple blankets and soft woolen quilts.
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Remembering the last place hid such out in the woods, Odysseus was deeply grateful.
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As he settled down, listening to the comforting echoes of the portico, he let out a sigh of contentment.
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And in no time at all, he was fast asleep.
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Over the next few days, preparations were made for Odysseus' journey.
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Athena disguised herself as a royal messenger and went about town until she'd gathered enough men
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for the crew. But the king didn't want to send off his guest just yet.
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There must be feasts, sacrifices to the gods, and a contest or two.
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The fiations were proud athletes.
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They wanted to show their visitor just how strong and skilled they were.
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So, the men were quick to organise races and wrestling matches.
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Odysseus also took part, now that his strength had returned.
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He knew how to throw a discus, and as for archery, he was up there with the best.
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After the games, more festivities followed. A sacred dance and a performance by the barred
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demodicus. As he strummed his lire, demodicus sang stories of the gods, their rivalries and love
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affairs. Odysseus was thoroughly entertained. And as if all this wasn't enough, there were gifts too.
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In a gesture of hospitality and friendship, the king had decided that every fiation lord
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should present Odysseus with a gift. He received pounds of gold, fine clothing, and a sort that
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dazzled with its silver handle and ivory scabbard.
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The king and queen also had gifts of their own to give, a magnificent golden cup and a beautifully
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carved chest. Inside, carefully folded were a new cloak and tunic.
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After this display of generosity, Odysseus was invited to take a bath.
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A huge bronze cauldron was heated up on the fire and used to fill the tap.
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Delighted by the steaming water, Odysseus enjoyed a long leisurely bath.
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And then, once his skin was oiled and he was dressed in his fine new clothes,
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it was time to make his way to the great hall for yet another feast.
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As Odysseus entered the room, he caught sight of a familiar face.
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Standing beside a pillar was Norseka as beautiful as a goddess.
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The princess smiled when she saw Odysseus.
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Always remember, she said, that I was the first to help you.
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When you finally get back home, think of me.
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Of course, said Odysseus, if he were lucky enough to return to his native land,
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he would pray to Norseka just as he would to a goddess.
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She had saved his life.
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Odysseus then went to take a seat beside the king.
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Already, the table was laden with the most wonderful food and wine.
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As Odysseus sat there, glancing around the room, he noticed the barred demodicus.
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Odysseus took a slice of the best cut of meat and asked one of the serving boys to bring it to
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demodicus. He wanted to pay his respects to the poet. Later in the evening, when the feast was
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coming to an end, Odysseus spoke directly to demodicus.
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He praised him for his skill as a poet and storyteller.
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When the barred sang songs of the Trojan War, it was as if he had been there himself.
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So, Odysseus had a request, the story of the wooden horse.
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The whole fell silent as demodicus began to sing.
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He sang of Odysseus, how the Greek hero had hidden a group of soldiers inside a huge wooden horse
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in order to trick the Trojans.
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Just as he'd planned, the wooden horse was dragged right into the heart of Troy.
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The Trojans, of course, had no idea what was inside.
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They doomed themselves, bringing their enemies into their own citadel.
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That night, the ambush began. The Greek soldiers, led by Odysseus,
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slipped out of the belly of the horse and launched their attack.
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The barred described it all in vivid detail. The plotting, the fighting, and the triumph of the Greeks.
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With the help of the goddess Athena, they won the battle.
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As Odysseus listened to the song, the memories came flooding back.
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He couldn't help but weep.
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No one but the king, who was sitting right beside him, noticed Odysseus's tears.
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Alcinous raised his hands and asked the part to stop singing.
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It was a beautiful song, but their guest had been moved too deeply.
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They should end the evening in light of spirits, so Odysseus could enjoy his last night
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with the fiatians. This was his send-off after all.
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And yet, the king could no longer restrain his curiosity.
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They still didn't know their guest's name or where he came from.
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They knew little of his travels.
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And why had he been so moved by the song?
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Had he known someone at Troy?
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Alcinous had so many questions.
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The others in the hall were curious too, looking at Odysseus expectantly.
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For a moment, the room was silent.
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The bard had put down his lyre, and the fiatians were all waiting for an answer.
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Odysseus took a deep breath before introducing himself at last.
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I am Odysseus, he said.
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And then, it was clear to everyone that their guest had quite a story to tell.