Twelve Faithless Maids

It took several clever ruses to get rid of the suitors. Afterwards he was at last able to enjoy a homecoming and take back his own kingdom. But some of Penelope's maids had been sleeping with the suitors and spying for them. They had conspired with the suitors in a plan to murder Telemachos. One had even helped Eurymachus catch Penelope, unraveling the shroud she had spent the days weaving. But with Odysseus home and the suitors dead, Telemachos was ready to dispense justice on these faithless girls.

Eight of the twelve made no excuses. But one protested her innocence, and three more offered excuses for their behavior. These four claimed the right of judgement by the king. Telemachos locked those four in a storage room until Odysseus could judge them. He told the remaining eight to strip naked, tied their hands behind them, and stood them facing each other on two benches in the atrium. This put their heads level with six crossbeams that helped hold the roof over the main part of the house.

Telemachos tied a rope to the first beam, looped it around one girl's neck, over the second beam, around another girl's neck, and so on to the last beam. He looped it several times around this last beam, then back around the other four girl's necks. He took all the slack out of the rope. Then he knocked over the benches.

The rope snapped tight around the girl's necks and they began to struggle. The girls' necks hurt horribly. Some girls tried to get their hands up to loosen the ropes around their necks, but the bonds were too tight. A couple kept pulling anyway, rubbing their wrists raw but their hands stayed bound. They began dancing, first reaching down with one leg but not finding any support, then the other, again and again. Soon the air in their lungs grew stale and they began thrashing wildly, kicking in all directions, sometimes hitting each other's legs.

One girl accidentally discovered that she could get a moment's respite by pulling her legs up to her chest and thrusting down hard. This propelled her body into the air and she was able to snatch a quick breath. But when she fell back down she jerked the rope even tighter around her own neck -- and also the necks of all the other girls. These sudden pulls woke a couple of the other girls from their pain and panic, and they started copying her.

They might have lasted longer if they could have synchronized these maneuvers, but each one struggled in her own blind panic, so sometimes one would be falling as another was propelling herself upward. Then the first girl's fall would undo the benefit of the second girl's jump, so she didn't get any air.

It was a doomed struggle in any case. It took more energy than the poor girls could keep up for very long, and the effort required even more air, so they got further and further behind in their efforts to breathe.

Soon all of the girls were reduced to feeble, uncoordinated twitches and kicks, then to a sort of trembling motion of the limbs. It appeared that they had been bothered by hanging at first but had now gotten used to it. Soon they had all stopped moving and just hung there, muscles tense but unable to move. And soon after that they were limp, all muscle tone gone.

Telemachos was well-avenged on those eight, and went off to spend the night with a pliant wench from among the nearby villagers.

Penelope and Odysseus were in an adjacent chamber and heard the crash of the benches falling. They peered through chinks in the wall and watched the eight maids in their final dance. Then Penelope led her husband off to her private chamber for a proper hero's welcome home.

All three were much refreshed in the morning. As soon as they had broken fast, they decided to deal with the remaining four maids. As these girls had begged the king's justice, Odysseus had servants bring them to his audience chamber to plead their cause.

Ino was the first. "Lord, these tales are untrue. I have never bedded your enemies willingly but was taken by force, and I have never conspired against Penelope, Telemachos, or yourself. I swear this. By ever-dying Zeus I swear."

As these words came out of her mouth, she realized what she had said, turned pale, and started to run. But Odysseus just reached out and grabbed her by the arm.

"Wench, you stand convicted by your own words!" he growled. "Only the Cretans say that Zeus dies, and all Cretans are liars."

As we know from the story, Odysseus was extremely strong. No one else in Ithaca could string or even draw his bow. He forced Ino to walk over to the noose that was already prepared. He pinned her against his chest with one arm and drew the noose around her neck with his other hand.

Ino knew she was doomed. She began to plead. "Please master! Mercy! Don't hang me. If I must die, at least grant me a swift death."

But Odysseus was unmoved. "You are a faithless, lying wench and deserve a worse fate than this. Hanging you _is_ merciful. If you are wise you will use the time of your dying to pray to Hades for _his_ mercy; you will get none from me."

Ino expected to be bound and forced onto a chair or bench for her hanging, but it was even swifter than that. Odysseus grabbed both of Ino's wrists in one huge hand. Then he grabbed the rope with his other hand and lifted her into the air at arms length.

Her gasp was cut off as the noose tightened around her neck. She tried to pull her hands free, but his grip was like iron. Within a few seconds she began running again, her feet windmilling in the air. She tried to kick Odysseus in the groin, but he just turned his body to one side and let his thighs take the abuse.

Ino felt as if her neck were being crushed by the rope. She kicked wildly, struggling for any support, any relief. But there was no relief for her. Her throat hurt horribly and she couldn't breathe. She didn't realize it, but her own struggles pulled the noose even tighter. Her face turned red and her eyes bulged with the effort of her struggles to breathe.

Odysseus held her in mid-air while she kicked and fought. Her chest muscles heaved and her back arched, her legs kicked out uncontrollably. Eventually she grew weak and her struggles lessened. The rope around her neck forced her tongue out as her mouth gaped trying for air. She heard a roaring sound in her ears. Her fighting was reduced to a few random kicks and jerks. Then to a rapid quivering of her legs and arms. Her eyes glazed over, her face developed a bluish cast and she hung limply.

Odysseus felt his arm growing tired from supporting her weight, so he let go of her wrists and grabbed the rope with his other hand. He held her up in the air like that until her face was nearly purple, her head hung limply on her chest, and her swollen tongue filled the space between her lips. At last she gave a few spasmodic kicks and was still again.

Odysseus continued holding Ino in the air for a little longer, then laid her body down on the paving stones. He detailed two servants to carry her body away.

Now they turned their attention to Megera. She had a different story to tell.

"Master, it is true that I tried to get your wife to remarry. Also that I had congress with Biton while he was chasing after Penelope. I deny only the rumor that I conspired toward the murder of Telemachos. I would never do such a thing.

"But I must confess to yet another sin, that you may understand why I committed these sins. I have lusted after your wife Penelope since before I began serving her. If you check the northwest corner of her chamber, you will find a small chink there. I discovered this some years before you left. Whenever I could, I would peek through from the storeroom and watch as you and Penelope disported yourselves in love. As you caressed her body, I imagined myself in there, kissing her and caressing her just as you were doing.

"After you left I was deprived of this solace, so I chose to advance the cause of the suitor who looked most like me, hoping to watch her in bed with him. For it is true that I had given up all hope of you returning. Also I allowed Biton to know me because I could no longer watch Penelope and dream about possessing her.

"I swear to you that my perfidy arose, not from loving my mistress too little, but too much -- and not wisely. Now, therefore, I submit myself to your justice."

Odysseus glanced at his wife, saw how her pupils were dilated and her eyes were shining. She gave a tiny nod, which he returned. He beckoned Megera to come over and they conversed in low tones.

When they had finished, she said only, "Oh, master!"

Odysseus motioned two trusted guards to stand by the door, although it seemed unlikely that Megera would try to run.

Megera began a sensuous dance, slowly shedding her clothes. First she displayed one shoulder to her mistress, then an ankle. Then the other shoulder and part of a breast, slinking slowly back and forth in front of Penelope. Soon Megera had rearranged her clothing so she was covered only from her hips to her nipples. Then she let the cloth slip further, exposing full red nipples, already erect, with crinkled brown areolas around them. She continued her dance, sometimes back and forth, sometimes dancing a full circle around her mistress. The musicians accompanied her on drum and panpipe as she stretched the dance out.

Penelope's lips were parted and glistening by the time Megera's hard belly and more private regions were revealed. Odysseus and Telemachos were also affected by the performance.

Megera signaled the musicians and the music sped up. She danced feverishly for her mistress, communicating the lust she felt to all who watched. The water clock, over half full when she started her dance, was nearly empty by the time she collapsed, panting, at Penelope's feet.

There was silence for a time. The performance deserved cheers and whistles, but they seemed inappropriate just then. Megera pulled herself to her feet, knelt before her mistress, then climbed onto a couch and put the noose around her neck. She put her hands behind her and Telemachos bound them tightly.

Penelope stood up and walked to the couch. Her hands felt the smooth skin of Megera's back and caressed her rounded buttocks. Megera, feeling her mistress' caress, stood even straighter, but Penelope could hear her quiet gasp.

Megera felt Penelope's hand caress her breast, lingering on her broad areolas. Then Penelope walked behind her and she felt a delicate touch on her thighs. A few more caresses and Megera was wriggling, pride and dignity forgotten, trying to get a more intimate caress.

Penelope nodded, and Telemachos pulled the couch away. Megera fell a few inches, then the noose stopped her fall with a sudden jerk at her neck. She tried to scream but only a quiet gurgle came out. Then she felt Penelope's hands on her body again, caressing her inner thighs.

Megera concentrated on the caresses and managed to hang quietly for a time. Her willpower was rewarded when she felt the hands separate her legs and caress the pink area between them. Her gasp of pleasure was suppressed by the rope around her neck, but she fought off panic and just swayed gently.

Penelope caressed Megera's rosepetal, then pressed two fingers against the little bud hidden within. And waited. Within a few more heartbeats, Megera could no longer control herself. Her need for air was too great. She began stretching one leg toward the floor, then the other. Her feet met no resistance, and she tried again, faster, more desperately. Then she began kicking wildly, forward, backward, sideways. Her hands struggled against the bonds, trying to loosen the rope choking the life from her. Her body writhed, anything to get a breath of air.

But Penelope merely turned sideways so most of the kicks missed her, and kept her hands on Megera's rosebud. After a little, the kicking grew weak and sporadic. Megera still couldn't breathe, but it didn't seem to matter so much. She couldn't see much through the gray haze in front of her eyes, and there was a roaring sound in her ears. Then she became aware again of the two fingers on her clit, and a spasm shook her body. The world was swept away by the roaring in her ears before the pleasure was done, and she knew no more.

Megera swung, twisting and swaying a little, a slight movement of her chest muscles the only indication that she was still alive. At last even that stopped and her muscles relaxed even further.

Telemachos waited a little longer, then untied the rope and lowered Megera's body to the floor. He removed the noose from her neck and set it back in place above the couch.

Doris stepped forward as soon as they took Megera's body away. "I see there's not much mercy to be had in Ithaca. I don't need an agonized confession of sin. I fell in love with what turned out to be the wrong man, so now you're going to hang me. What I want to know is, do I get treated as well as Megera? Do I get my choice of someone to caress me while I hang?"

Odysseus looked at her a moment before speaking. "Provided they are willing, yes."

"Master, I want you."

"Granted."

Doris didn't bother with a striptease; she removed her clothes and folded them up, then climbed up on the couch and waited.

Odysseus bound her hands tightly behind her, then fit the noose around her neck. He drew the knot snugly under her left ear. Then he began running his hands up and down her body. His fingers were rough from years wandering the sea, but this didn't appear to bother Doris. Quite the contrary, she began moaning as his hands kneaded her breasts.

He ran his hands over her face, and along her neck. He opened his hand into an Upsilon along her vulnerable throat where the noose already rested, and farther down, along the soft spot at the base of her throat. Once again he ran his hands along her lower ribcage, then under her breasts and along her smooth belly. Her gripped her knees and inner thighs, then touched her lower lips and slipped a finger between them. He found her wet, and flicked her little button with a coarse fingertip.

Doris moaned out loud.

Odysseus knocked the couch over and Doris screamed as she fell. She dropped almost to the floor before the knot tightened around her neck. The noose forced her head over to one side and she couldn't breathe. She began kicking out, forward and back, struggling against the noose.

But Odysseus merely stood on one side and grabbed her breasts. He mauled them roughly, then began pinching and twisting her nipples. Her back arched as she tried to press her tits into his hands, but her legs continued to kick uncontrollably.

But after a short time Doris's struggles began to weaken. Instead of kicking vigorously out, her feet gave a little flutter and were still, fluttered and were still, again and again.

Odysseus stepped in front of her and put a hand between her legs. His hardened fingers rubbed in between her labia, spreading the moisture around. Then he put his other hand on her ass and forced his fingers into her wet cunt. Her pelvis arched into his hand and she made humping motions on his fingers.

Doris could no longer see or hear anything. Her whole world had shrunk to the awful constriction around her throat, her chest which felt like it would burst, and the fingers in her cunt. Then she felt the fingers withdraw and tried to cry out her frustration, but nothing could get past the noose. Then she felt his hand rubbing her again, and felt three fingers jammed into her and a thumb on her clit. His other hand, still wet from its exploration of her cunt, now rested against her rear entrance. Slowly a finger wormed its way into her anal passage, then a second.

Doris's body arched as an orgasm shook her; her legs stretched straight, pointing her heels toward the floor only inches below. She remained like that for 20 or 30 heartbeats, then the spasms of pleasure faded. Her orgasm was over, but she was still conscious. She wailed in despair, but the sound was confined to her chest and nobody else heard it.

But her despair quickly faded, the pressure on her neck and in her chest stopped bothering her, and she fell into a place where these were unimportant. A tingling spread through her body, a rushing sound filled her ears, and everything went red, then black.

Doris swung quietly by her neck, all pleasure and pain and other concerns gone. Only a slight motion in her chest muscles showed that she still lived. Only a little more water drained out of the clock before even that ceased.

At last Doris's body hung still and dead, and it was Chione's turn. She seemed emboldened by Megera's and Doris's speeches, and began her own confession.

"My Master, I too have done wrong. I lusted after your son, but I was too ordinary, there were too many beautiful women willing to share his bed. I tried to gain his interest, but he never really looked at me. Finally, in my frustration, I took another lover. Woe for me, the only other young men present here were those rascals wooing Penelope. I should have known better, but that is what I did. But never did I help him plot against Telemachos, though he refused me his bed. They had me whipped when I refused to spy on my mistress, and so I ended up with neither my honor nor the bedmate I had sought.

"I have nothing. Now I am ready to die."

Odysseus summoned Telemachos to converse quietly with him, then summoned Chione and the three had a quick, whispered, discussion.

Chione dropped her chiton and unwound her undergarments. She stepped up onto the couch and put her head into the noose. Telemachos bound her hands and climbed onto the couch. He ran his hands over her naked body, cupping her soft, conical breasts, her full luscious hips, and at last in between her legs. He brushed her neck with his lips, then her nipples. Soon she was panting hard and her nipples stood up. She spread her legs further apart.

He bent his knees and slid into her. They rocked back and forth for awhile, each thrust forcing her back until she was leaning against the noose, then allowing her to recover before the next one. She seemed to enjoy this in spite of the repeated reminders of her fate, and soon she was keening her pleasure for all the court to hear. Her face was flushed and her breathing coming in quick gasps.

Telemachos wrapped his arms tightly around her and kicked the couch out from under them. His weight was added to Chione's, crushing her windpipe like a python. Her breath was cut off in the middle of a gasp, but she didn't seem to notice at first. Her legs pulled him into her sheath; her hips rocked on his in a frenzy. Her head was thrown back and her legs stretched out.

It seemed to the audience that this went on for a long time, but at last Chione noticed that she couldn't breathe. Her arms twisted in the ropes, and her legs windmilled as she struggled in the noose. Her back arched and her hips bucked. Telemachos held onto this wild ride as long as he could, but at last he could no longer hold back. He threw his own head back and howled as he pounded into Chione's sheath.

Telemachos held on tight to Chione's shoulders and managed to stay within her. He was soon rewarded as her frantic movements brought him to full hardness again. Chione continued to heave and kick for a little while longer, but there wasn't much fight left in her. Her kicking grew slower and seemed to lack purpose. Her chest muscles still moved but her back and shoulder muscles relaxed. Her eyes glazed and her tongue protruded slightly. She hung nearly limp, her chest moving slightly. Her face, already red, grew slowly purple.

Telemachos moved slowly within Chione. He could feel the small movements of her chest against him but there were no other signs of life. This went on for a long time, then Chione pulled one leg up and lowered it slowly, then the other. This was repeated a few times, then Telemachos was rewarded as a flurry of fluttery kicking pushed him over the edge and he came into Chione as her body relaxed one final time. He collapsed, satiated, onto the floor.

When Telemachos' breathing returned to normal, he ordered that Chione's body be cremated in accordance with tradition. Odysseus ordered that the other 11 bodies be thrown to wild beasts. Then he stood, indicating the day's audience was at an end.

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