The Odyssey: Close to Home

It had been ten years after I arrived at Ogygia, island of the nymph Calypso. I had told myself I had stayed long enough, and would need help getting home. Calypso warned me that getting back to Ithaca would be dangerous, since I am now a wanted man by the gods and I would have to pass through the city of Athena in order to get home. She had told me of someone who could help us. A beast of a man standing over 60 feet up was who she had in mind. She told me only 2 days before our departure of who he was, and what he was like. 1

"He's a giant that goes only by the name of Leonidas, called after that of the lions that roam the mountains at night." she said. Vivid memories of Polyphemus, and him feasting on my men suddenly came back to me.2

"I feel he is the only one who would be able to help us get passed Athens' army, for they are the ones who want to turn you over to Zeus." After a discussion about this monster I was to meet, I finally agreed to let Calypso lead me to him, I had excitement in my mind, but fear in my heart.3

We had set off that morning, wanting an early start in case something were to happen to us. We had made our way through the forests of the isle, hoping to see the other side in just a few more's time. Once on the other side, the main land was in site, and we took a silent boat ride we heard thunder growling in the distance as Helios pulled the sun across the western sky, wile also keeping his eye on me to make sure I wasn't up to no good.4

That night Calypso lead me off the beaches and up a hill in a night darkened field to a large cave hidden by wooded trees.5

"He stays here sometimes," she told me, "So hopefully we'll see him here." I was still uneasy about the whole thing, but if it was to get me home, I'd do it. When we first went into the cave it was dark, but there was a sense of danger emitting all around. Calypso had gone ahead of me and had instructed me to stay close to her, but behind her. Once in deep enough there was a redened glow coming from the right and Calypso told me to stay against the wall. She looked behind her to see where the light came from, then instructed me to follow. 6

"Good evening Leonidas, I wasn't expecting to see you here at this time." She rang. When I came over next to her, what I saw frightened me. sitting behind a large fire in the back of the cave was a giant, dressed in all black, with hair that looked like that of a lion's mane glared at us from under his locks. 7

"Wasn't expecting you either." he rumbled.8

"Leonidas I ask a favor of you," Calypso approached him, unafraid. "My friend here is a wanted man by the Gods, and must pass through Athens in order to get home. But if he went himself he'd surly never make it." The giant rested the cattle he was eating on his sword and leaned back against the cavern wall. His fiery blue eyes spewed hatred upon me. 9

"Why should I go out of my way to help a mere human? I ought to eat the damned thing." 10

"Please Leonidas, you don't need to do much. Only to hold back the Athenian army for us wile we pass." Leonidas leaned his head back, closed his eyes and folded his hands across his belly, "And when do I have to do this?"11

"When ever you're able to, though tomorrow would be best." 12

"What will I be getting out of it?"13

"All you have to do is scare off their army for a little bit, you can kill as many people as you please." Upon hearing this Leonidas leaned forward and looked Calypso in the eye. "Tell me more..." I heard him whisper. Calypso put her hand on the bridge of his nose and stroked it, "I knew you would help us." she said, and kissed his cheek. She then turned to me, "Odysseus, come here and meet my friend..." 14

I took a few steps closer then that mighty lion of the cave started to growl, bearing his fangs at me, until Calypso slapped him in the cheek with the back of her hand. 15

I figured that as long as she had some control over the beast, I'd be able to say something to him. 16

"You know giant," I started, "I'd mind my actions if I were you. Are you not familiar with what had happened to the last one of your kind? He disrespected both me and my men and was payed back by the gods." He looked at me with only fire in his eyes.17

"What are you trying to say human?"18

"Only to watch yourself, or you too could suffer the same fate." Leonidas reached over and picked up his sword, but once again Calypso set him back in his place. Frustrated, he gave one last hate filled glare at me, before laying down behind the fire, and resting his head on his arm. 19

"We leave tomorrow morning, no acceptions." he said, before finally closing his eyes. "Well," I started, "isn't he just a little ball of sunshine?"20

"He just in a bad mood that's all, he's not normally like this." Calypso stroked his mane. I started to move a little closer to them, but once at a fair distance the giant rumbled,21

"Get back human, don't think I can't smell you." I stayed where I was though. It was a long night...22

The next evening we were on our way to Athens. I stayed next to Calypso, while CLeonidas stayed a good distance away from us. Once away from the trees, he was the tallest thing for miles around. He looked like a wild thing with the high winds blowing his hair back and his eyes locked on Athens, waiting. He looked down at us, then nodded his head signaling us to follow him. Once close enough, he stopped, and let Calypso and I go ahead. For a while we thought nobody would even care for us, until an Athens guard recognized me and shouted for more soldiers. Calypso grabbed my arm and pulled me into a run, but stopped when Leonidas had gotten in front of us, blocking the city's army from coming closer to us. He drew his sword and swung it down at the men, trying to fend them off. He leveled his sword and swung again, cutting the first 3 lines of the soldiers in half. But they drew their weapons and aimed for this beast. Arrow and spear alike pierced his arms, but he went on, feeling no pain. He raised his sword high over his head then there was a loud crack. Though there was no cloud that covered that starry sky that night, a thunderbolt came down and hit the tip of Leonidas' sword, and went to his arm. He let out a roar and fell to his knees, dropped his sword and held tight on to his arm. His hair fell in front of his face. His pain filled roar carried through out the city, shaking the ground. He picked up his sword with his other hand and swung at the army again, killing almost half, and the restless survivors ran for their lives. The pain had drained him of his energy and he fell to the ground, taking shallow breaths. Calypso ran over to his side and threw her arms around his neck, asking him if he was OK, if he would make it. I walked up to him and stared down at him. 23

"It was not your fault you couldn't trust me. Though you still must hate me, I wish you only the fastest recoveries." He only nodded at me and closed his eyes, still trying his hardest to breathe. 24

I walked through the now dead streets of Athens, swiftly gliding past the sliced corpses of the men who fought for Athena. Once out of the city and over the hill, I looked back and saw him still laying there. Whether or not he did survive that attack from the god above, I do not know, for I haven't seen Leonidas, nor Calypso since that day. But once out of Athens, I finally did see my home.