Aliknoos arose me the next morning, and we went down to the sea shore to sit down on the stone benches there. Athena, disguised as the town crier, assembled a crowd of the townsmen around us, and when they were all seated and hushed, Alkinoos stood up and addressed them. His deep voice carried across the crowd of people as he told them of my presence, journey, and need for a crew to sail me back to my homeland. He asked for the greatest sailors to take the job, and when he was finished, the princes of the city and I followed him into the feasting halls where we feasted on sheep, tuskers, and oxen as the blind man of song (with the gift of the Muse) told stories of the clash between Odysseus and Akhilleus. The tales of me brought back memories I had tried to push away into the unconcious realms of my mind, and I wept silently into my cloak so that no one could see my tears. But Alkinoos saw my tears and asked for the musician to stop the tales. Instead, he called for a mini-olympics to be held so that I could go home and tell of the amazing athletic feats of the Phaiakians. The servants cleared the area, and the greatest Phaiakian athetes were called to the arena to show Odysseus their amazing strengths. Some of the younger princes asked me to join in, but I was tired from days at sea, and would rather just watch them. And one of the princes was cocky enough to stand up to me, telling me that I had obviously not learnt a sport, and so as not to embarrass myself, I wasn't going to join in. I replied to the naive young man that I was way more skilled in athletics than he was ever going to be, and that I had gone through so much in the past years that he should sit down and hold his tongue. With that argument argued, king Alkinoos decided that more music should be played, so the Muse's favorite was called, and he sung the tale of Aphrodite cheating on Hephaestos with Ares, and how Hephaestos captured them in chains and only let them go once Poseidon had given a reason for him to. Once his song was over, I stood up and praised the Phaiakians, and told them how I would tell my country of the amazing songs and dances of them. Alkinoos ordered the princes to send me off with as many great gifts as they could. As a make-up present, the young prince gave me his best sword and wished me a good journey and his respects. I gladly took what he offered and thanked him as Alkinoos ordered Arete to bring me a chest with a clean cloak and tunic, and a warm cauldron for me to bathe in. I bathed, and tied the chest with the best knot I could, when that was done, I went to the sacrificial feast. As I was walking there, princess Nausikaa asked me to remember her always, and I told her I would, because who could forget the person who saved them? We feasted as the musician told of the war of Troy, and as I listened, I once more started to weep at the memories. Again, Alkinoos noticed me crying and asked the musician to stop playing, but this time he asked me to tell all who I really was, because even though I had been at the palace long, I still hadn't told anyone my name. I left the question to be pondered for some time while we feasted some more...
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