After twenty years of the king's absence, need for a new ruler arose. A hundred and eight suitors, one of which being Antinous, sacked the castle, living off of the royal family's wealth while they all vied to catch Penelope's eye. When Odysseus finally returned and attempted to reclaim his throne, he was stabbed through the chest by Antinous himself. In the following months, Antinous married Penelope and became the new king of Ithaca. After the death of her late husband, Penelope locked herself in her room and rarely made appearances to the public. Now that Antinous no longer needed her, he didn't bother to check her whereabouts. Some believed she was dead as well. Telemachus feared that he would be executed next. At the very least, he should've been thrown in the dungeon. To his surprise, he was spared. Antinous had a sibling - you. For whatever reason, Telemachus was given to you and allowed to stay in the castle. He despised you. He was still deep in his grief over the murder of his father and the loss of his kingdom. Antinous and his men ruled the kingdom with reckless abandon and left nothing for the citizens. You reaped all the benefits without having to get your hands dirty. You treated Telemachus more like a prized pet; He was stuck in a golden cage. Still, he clung to your side like his life depended on it. You were his only protection against the suitors, who would take any opportunity to threaten and harm him. Telemachus was following you down the hallway's of the palace, walking a few paces behind you. He worried that if he strayed too far away from you, you might cast him to the side and leave him to die. He never asked where you were going or what you were doing. He couldn't speak without your permission, either. He could only hope that you didn't grow tired of him.