Rain washed over the many corpses now littering Troy; the battle has concluded. But there was still one more fight to win.

   “Odysseus… you can’t seriously think about doing this..” Nefeli follows behind her close friend. Both standing on the walls of the crumbled city. “We have to… or else we will lose everything. Odysseus looks back at her with saddened eyes. “There’s no talking you out of this… is there?” Nefeli's voice cracks like the sky above them. The two Ithicans lock eyes, as they were taken back to much happier times.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   It was a day of celebration in Ithaca, their heir to the throne was about to be born; Telemachus

  Nefeli stood at the queen’s door, guarding Penelope. Unable to help peeking inside; “curious about the new heir, my friend?” The man, Polites, surprised her; causing Nefeli to aim her pear at his neck. “Oh, Polites.. Zeus’s balls man, you startled me.” She lowers her weapon to dramatically grip her chest. Polites has been her best friend since childhood, practically growing up together, despite the two year age difference.

  “And since you asked, I’m more concerned for the Queen. Odysseus hasn't arrived yet, and the heir is on the way. I don’t know how to deliver a child, man! Lams? Yes. Cows? Maybe.. Gods, even horses. But a human baby?!” The short warrior panics slightly, only to be slapped.

   The shock knocked her out of her gibbering state, “focus my friend.” Eurylochus, another childhood friend and brother figure, was doing his best to keep Nefeli from doing anything stupid as usual.

  “Eurylochus, slap me again… And I’ll make sure you see the river styx.” She threatens, and the male in front of her knew better than to challenge her. Polities steps between them, hands at their chests. “Okay okay, calm down my friends. I know we're all just stressed, especially you Nefeli. Since, Penelope wanted you here. You are Telemachus’ godmother after all. Which must be a big weight on your shoulders but, she needs you. Odysseus needs you. So, go on in.. we will guard the door in your stead.” Polities smiles at her and she nods.

“Okay, thank you, I promise I’ll invite you both for a round of wine!” She pats both their backs before heading into the room. “You know, she won't go through with that promise, right?” Odysseus chuckles as he walks past his two friends.

  As he opened the door, he found his wife sound asleep. While, Nefeli was holding his son. “He’s… so small.” She mumbles, knowing her friend would hear her. “That’s how babies are.” Odysseus lightly chuckles as he joins her side. “Telemachus.. that’s the name she gave him.. Is it odd that he looks exactly like you?” She laughs softly, and Odysseus smiles. “Yea… hey.. Promise me you won't teach him anything reckless?” Nefeli shakes her head with a knowing smirk, “you know I can't make such promises.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  “Nefeli!” Odysseus’ yell snaps her out of her thoughts. “Sorry…captain.” Nefeli’s gaze shifts from the baby to the edge of the wall they stood on. “I know what you're thinking my friend..” Odysseus looks at the small baby, who was trying to reach up to him. “H-he thinks you're Hector.” Nefeli sighs deeply, “ Odysseus I can't…” Nefeli’s voice breaks while her friend starts walking to the railing. “I look into your eyes, and I think back to the son… of mine. You're as old as he was, when I left for war…” Odysseus fought his own tears, “will these actions haunt our days? Every man we’ve slain, is the price we pay. Endless pain. Close your eyes, and spare yourself the view…” Odysseus peeks back at his friend, as if ordering her to leave. And she does. Completely breaking down as she exited the room, “how could I hurt you?” He mumbles to himself and the child in his arms.

Nefeli hugs herself, crying as she walks back through the castle alone. Although, she was grateful for Odysseus to spare her from the sight. She still felt guilt settling upon her heart, only for the familiar wings of the eagle to draw her attention. Nefeli looks up at it perched close by, “are you here to continue mocking me? To mock us for the horrible action we’re committing?!” She yells and glares at the bird, “how is the gods will?!” The eagle merely tilts his head in response, “of course you don’t talk now.” Nefeli takes off her helmet, ready to throw it at the damn creature. “Gods… I sound insane..” She sighs deeply, looking away.

  “I’ve seen you many times before… as a child.” She admits, only for her and the bird to know in the empty halls. “Who are you? Why is it that each time there’s tragedy in my life… you’re there? The day my father passed, the night my mother became blind, the day I left for war.. Why do you appear?!” Nefeli yells, stomping toward the bird as thunder raged outside at the same time. She was a little caught off guard, was it her imagination? Ten years of war finally getting to her?

  The creature looks upon her curiously, “I gave you a choice, what happenes next.. Is by your own doing dear. “  The damn thing laughs as it takes flight. Dodging Nefeli’s spear as she threw it, in attempts to impale him. “Coward!!”

   When she looked back toward the door, she saw her friend approaching her. The look of pain and guilt evident on his face, “Odysseus..” Nefeli meets him halfway, “come here.” She ushered him into her arms, hugging him close. His own hands shaking as he hugged her in return. “I-I’m a monster.” Odysseus sobs into her shoulder, “no… your just a man.”

“J-Just a man…” He repeats in a hushed whisper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   Ten long years away from home; after a ruthless fight, bloodshed, and sins. Finally, the army of six hundred men and one woman were sailing back home.

  However, the reminder of what happened in Troy still plagued Nefeli’s mind. The guilt weighed heavy on her heart, but she was also relieved.  “Finally, we’re going home.” She looks to the restless waves, balancing upon the railings of the ship. “Hey idiots!!” Nefeli yells to the neighboring ships, waving to her siblings. “Don’t annoy the captain too much!!” Polimites yells back with a laugh, waving back while his other brother; Jager, steers the vessel. “I won't! Don’t get bored without me!!” Nefeli laughs in return, only to be interrupted by Eurylochus. Who stepped into her field of view; arms crossed with his usual deep frown. “Oh… shit.. Please don’t start scolding me right now.” Nefeli easily jumps off the railing to stand next to her friend.

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing that? The wind is unstable, and we won't go rescuing you if you fall over.” Eurylochus warns, “tch… Calm down Eury, can’t I have a little fun? Besides, the waters aren’t that bad. Maybe Poseidon is on our side today… anyways.. I wanted to check on my brothers.” Nefeli gives her friend a coy smile, “so. Is the captain lost in his ‘Penelope’ thoughts again?” She teases, rolling her eyes playfully. “I swear, if he mentions her again. I’m throwing him overboard.”

Eurylochus only sighs and shakes his head, “onto other matters… Nefeli… did you eat the last piece of bread?” Nefeli hums, “nope. The owl did.” Whistling to play off her supposed innocence, “who?” Nefeli laughs as she quickly poked his nose, “there.. the owl” Before running away with Eurylochus chasing her, “come back here you little shit!” The rest of the crew laugh, a more lighthearted mood falling upon them.

Eventually, Eurylochus captures the small woman in a headlock. Dragging Nefeli beside him as the two approach Odysseus. “Captain.”

“Eurylochus… and Nefeli. Let me guess, she annoyed you again.”

Eurylochus huffs and shakes his head, “we have six hundred men and a rat, with big mouths to feed. And we’ve run out of supplies to eat.” Nefeli bites his hand, causing him to let her go, “hey!” Eurylochus frowns as she giggles, hiding behind Odysseus. The other man chuckles, “watch where the birds fly. They will lead us to land. They will hunt for food, my second in command. Now full speed ahead!”

Nefeli took advantage of Eurylochus being distracted, sneaking off to the other side of the ship. Soon, seeing a familiar soldier; the one she had saved. “Polydeuces! It's good to see you again.” She approaches him, smiling gently. This man had become another close friend of hers, having spent these last ten years by his side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

           It was a rather curious night for young Polydeuces, the forest around him seemed rather lively. Fireflies mindlessly guided his path as the grand moon glowed overhead. He was in search of someone, a warrior named Nefeli Targaryen, as requested by the king. Upon his traversing he stumbled upon a lake, the surrounding sounds of insects and other creatures seemed to grow quiet as he saw a lone girl.

  Said girl was fighting something, or rather, herself. It was hard to tell, maybe if he moved in closer? *snap* Nefeli lifts up her head, and in an instant, Polydeuces was tripped. Pinned to the ground by the small womens large spear. Forced to look up at the woman as she scowls down at him. “Who are you?! Why were you spying on me?!” Her rage seemed to be fueled by an owl, one that landed on her shoulder. Fluffing up its feathers as it hissed at him, seemingly, encouraging her to kill him.

“I-I’m sorry, but the king wanted me to find you.” Polydeuces said quickly, covering up his blushing face. For such a small woman, she was able to overpower him so easily. Was she a goddess in disguise? Strong… beautiful..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Polydeuces was shaken from his thoughts by Nefeli nudging his shoulder. “Hey man, you were staring. I know, I’m lovely but I’d hate to have Aphrodatie see me as competition.” She teases him, making the male blush more. “Oh shut up, I was just.. Lost in thought about home… I wonder if they think we’re dead..” He sighs, “I’d… rather not think about it, but.. I sometimes wonder too. But, I know for sure my mother hasn’t lost hope. So, cheer up.” Nefeli smiles brightly, shaking her friend gently. “We won the war, we’re going home. We can finally take a breath and enjoy the ride.” Nefeli nonchalantly lets her friend go to lean against the railing, only to almost fall over.

“I warned you!” Eurylochus yells from the other side of the ship.

  “Nefeli, please be careful.”  Polydeuces says a bit worryingly, “what? Would you miss meeee~?” Nefeli was right back to teasing him once more. “N-no.” Polydeuces blushes and looks away.

  Polities smiled as he watched the two from afar, pointing at them with “Finally, talking to other guys I see~” He teases as Odysseus chuckles, the scene reminding him of Penelope. “Give them a break my friend. Ten years of war and fighting together.. That can bring just about anyone together, now come on, we need to sail to the island in the distance. Polities, Nefeli, and Polydeuces gear up. We’ll go on ahead. Now, full speed ahead!”

“Yes sir!”

(Edited-)