The Odyssey: Part 3 - A Guest at the Palace

support of our sponsors and premium members. If you'd like to listen at free and access

“weekly bonus episodes, extra long stories and our entire back catalogue, you can try”

out premium free for 7 days by following the link in the episode notes. Now, a quick word from our sponsors. This episode is sponsored by Better Help. It will be international women's day this month, a moment to celebrate women's strength and progress. We, along with the folks at Better Help, want to take a moment to remind women how much they matter and that therapy offers a space for them to take care of themselves in the way they

deserve. I really am blessed to have so many incredible women in my life that inspire me

every day and make me a better man. And I want to live in a world that empowers true equality and care for women everywhere. Part of that is ensuring women have a safe and accessible

“space to get the emotional support they need. With Better Help, all you need to do is”

fill in a short questionnaire to help identify your needs and preferences and they'll match you with a therapist. If you aren't happy with your match, you can switch to a different therapist at any time from their tailored recommendations. Your emotional well-being matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/getsleepy. That's BetterHELP.com/getsleepy. 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 re-telling of the Odyssey.

“As she may remember from last time, Odysseus built a raft and set sail from Calipso'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 words. Hopefully, the people on this island will give him food and shelter before he continues on his journey home. A big thanks to Alexander 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.

A moment's where we may question ourselves or our circumstances and direction. This is all completely normal and just part of what it is to be alive.

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. 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 roam to 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 under 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.

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 polo's altar. He was quite in awe. And yet he had no choice but to approach her and beg 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 of the ones who decide what happens to us, good or bad. Perhaps your troubles are Zeus as well. But now that you are here in our land, of course we will help you. We are the fiatians, and I am Norseca, the daughter of King Alcinois. Norseca then called to the other gods, who were watching from a distance.

This man was no enemy, she said. But a stranger sent by Zeus, who must be treated with kindness. The seven gods 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 softed with oil. The girls brought him food and drink.

He felt almost reborn. Meanwhile, Norseca had come up with a pan. She would lead the way in her wagon,

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 faiitions were not used to visit us. So, rather than set tongues wagging, Odysseus and Norseca should travel to town separately.

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

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

“Everyone here knew where it was. Even a child could guide him.”

Once Odysseus set 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 donkey's trotted at a leisurely pace, so Odysseus could keep up as he followed on foot. At sunset, they reached the popular grave. 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 until the palace. After his prayer, Odysseus laid down and rested for a while, suathed by the sounds of the trickling fountain. When he judged that enough time had passed, Odysseus left the grave and walked solely towards the town. Athena cloaked him in a silvery mist, so he would go on notice 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 writing 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 Alcinois.

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

In a whisper, she added that the violations were sea fairies.

“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 harbors.

Under the walls, he had never seen such walls. It wasn't long before they reached to the palace.

The girl turned to Odysseus and told him that this was the home of King Alcinois and his wife, a rety. 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, though 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.

Meanwhile, 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, scoped it by the god of feasters. Unlike mortal docks, they would protect the palace for all time. As Odysseus entered the great hall, still shrouded in mess, 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 opulence aroundings. Just days ago, he had been a drift at sea. And now, he was standing in this grand hall, where the fiation elite dine on the finest food, and poured offerings to the gods. But now he was here, he must do as the gods had told him.

Approaching the table at the end of the hall, Odysseus knelt 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.

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 fiations would help him.”

The king and queen were so taken aback. The tat fast, 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.

“A sinner is agreed, inviting Odysseus to sit in the chair beside him.”

And with him moments, the servants had brought everything that was needed. A silver bomb, and a picture 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 Alcinoa spoke. The fiations would help their guest, whoever he was. Odysseus was welcomed to stay in the palace, while preparations were made for his departure. But perhaps, Alcinoa's looked thoughtful,

“could it be that their guest was a god in disguise?”

Odysseus assured his host that he was a mortal man. It come 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 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 it spent days at drift 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 Calipso's Island and the journey that followed. He described to 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 Norseca, the King and Queen's daughter.

Hearing this story, I'll send her a smile.

He was pleased to hear Norseca 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 our sinuous. 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 bed on the porch.

It was covered with luxurious purple blankets and soft woolen quilts. Remembering the last place hit set 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's journey. Athena disguised herself as a royal messenger and went about town until she'd gathered enough man 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 fiatians were proud athletes.

They wanted to show their visitor just how strong and skilled they were. So, the men were quick to organize races and resting matches. Odysseus also took part, now that his strength had returned. He knew how to throw a diskus, and as for our tree, 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 liar, demodicus sang stories of the gods. Their rivalries and lover fans. 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 fiatian lord should present Odysseus with a gift. He received pounds of gold, fine clothing, and a sword that dazzled with its silver handle,

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 top.

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 Norseca, 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 Norseca, just as he were 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 to the barn, 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 barn 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 hall fell silent as the demodicus began to sing. He sang of Odysseus, how the Greek hero had had an a group of soldiers inside a huge wooden horse. In order to trick the Trojan's, just as he'd planned, the wooden horse was dragged

right into the heart of Troy. The Trojan's, 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 valley of the horse and launched their attack. The barn described it all in vivid detail,

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. Our sinuous raised his hands and asked the bar to stop singing.

It was a beautiful song, but the guests had been moved too deeply.

They should end the evening in lighter spirits, so Odysseus could enjoy his last night, with the faiations. This was his send-off after all.

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

They still didn't know their guests' 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? Our sinuous had so many questions. The others in the hall were curious too, looking at Odysseus expectantly. For a moment, the room was silent.

“The barred had put down his liah, and the faiations 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 guests had quite a story to tell. "I am Odysseus," he said. "I am Odysseus," he said. "I am Odysseus," he said.

"I am Odysseus," he said. "I am Odysseus," he said. "I am Odysseus," he said.

"I am Odysseus," he said.

“"I am Odysseus," he said, "I am Odysseus," he said.”

"I am Odysseus," he said.

"I am Odysseus," he said.

"I am Odysseus," he said.

"I am Odysseus," he said. "I am Odysseus," he said. "I am Odysseus," he said. "I am Odysseus," he said.

"I am Odysseus," he said. "I am Odysseus," he said.