By this time the sun had risen and Odysseus and Eumaios were making breakfast in the hut. While they were eating, Telemachus approached the hut and was soon standing on the porch looking into the hut. The swineherd, dropped the cups he was holding in amazement, and went to greet his young master. Eumaios was over joyed and brought him inside for him to meet the new stranger. Telemachus entered and asked about his mother. Eumaios said that she still refused to marry and spent her nights crying. As Telemachus entered the house, Odysseus rose to give him a seat, but Telemachus declined it. Instead, Eumaios made him a seat of green twigs and a blanket. Everyone continued to eat, and when they had finished, Telemachus asked where the stranger had come from and how he got to Ithaca. Eumaios gave Telemachus a brief story about Odysseus' fabricated past. Eumaios said that Odysseus was asking for shelter so Telemachus could either take him to the palace, or leave him here with the swineherd. Telemachus said that the beggar would stay with Eumaios and Telemachus would send a fresh set of clothes for the stranger. Odysseus then said that it made him sad to see the suitors ruining the great Odysseus' home. Odysseus offered to try to send off the suitors for Telemachus, or die in the process. Telemachus turned down the offer and told Eumaios to go straight to Penelope to tell her of Telemachus's return. The swine herd asked if he should also tell La, but Telemachus said no, tell no one of his return but his mother.
The swineherd left, at which point Athena appeared at the edge of the woods surrounding the hut. Odysseus saw her and walked out to meet her. Athena said to him that this was the time to speak to his son and plan revenge against the suitors. Athena turned Odysseus back into himself, and he went back into the cabin. Telemachus was astounded and said that he must be a god to be able to change shapes like that. Odysseus said that, no, he was not a god, but Telemachus's very own father. However, Telemachus still didn't believe Odysseus. He insisted that the man standing in front of him was only a mirage, sent to cause him more pain. Again, Odysseus repeated his claim and said that Athena had helped him return to Ithaca after 20 years lost at sea. Telemachus hugged his father, glad that he was finally home, until he asked his father how he came to Ithaca. Odysseus said that the Phaiacians had brought him, though he slept through the entire voyage. When he had woken up, he was on Ithaca's shore. Odysseus then suggested that they talk about how to drive the suitor's from their house. He asked Telemachus to list all of the men that are there. Telemachus said that there were too many people for just the two of them to take on. The suitors outnumbered Odysseus and Telemachus but a lot and that the suitors were not just from Ithaca, but also the surrounding countries. Odysseus asked if Athena and Zeus would be good enough allies in this fight, or if they would need more help. Telemachus agreed that this would be sufficient, and so the two turned to planning their strategy for the fight.
Odysseus suggested that Telemachus go home and mingle with the suitors as usual. Odysseus would come later, led by the swineherd and dressed as a beggar. Odysseus said that Telemachus should prepare himself to see the suitors torment and tease Odysseus. When Athena was about to reveal Odysseus in his true form, he would nod at Telemachus. At this point, Telemachus should take away the swords and shields of the suitors and put them away in a room upstairs. If someone asks why he had moved them, he should reply that the smoke from the fire is destroying the weapons. Telemachus should leave two swords and two shields for Odysseus and himself for the fight. Odysseus told Telemachus that he should make sure that no one else knows that he has come home; not even Laerties or Penelope.
While the two were talking the ship that brought Telemachus home from Pylos arrived in the harbor. The servants carried all of the gear back to Odysseus's palace and a messenger was sent to notify Penelope of Telemachus's return. On his way to Odysseus's house, the messenger met the swine herd. The messenger relayed the message before the entire house, but the swine herd told Penelope all of the details. The suitor's were very disappointed to hear the Telemachus had not ben killed in the ambush that they had planned.
At this moment, the suitors saw another ship come into the harbor. This is the ship carrying the suitors who had tried to kill Telemachus on his journey home. All of the suitors went down to the shore to meet the ship. Antinoos addressed the crowd saying that Telemachus must have had help from a god to be able to get home. He suggested that this time they should plan to kill him in Ithaca and quickly before he summons a meeting. Amphinomos said that he didn't want to kill Telemachus without first asking the gods. If the oracles gave their consent, he agreed to kill Telemachus himself. But if the gods forbid it, than Amphinomos said that he would rather just sail to his home. Everyone agreed to this suggestion. However, Penelope decided to have a say in the matter. She came into the hall and spoke to all of the suitors. She reprimanded for being so violent to the family of a very generous man, and she ordered the men to stop plaguing her family. Antinoos assured Penelope that they would never do anything to harm Telemachus, but while he said this, he started to plan the boy's very death.
That evening, the swineherd returned to the hut where Odysseus and Telemachus were staying. Athena made Odysseus an old man again, but made him look different enough so that the swineherd would not recognize him. Te asked Eumaios what the talk of the town was and if the suitors had returned from trying to kill him yet. Eumaios answered that he hadn't stayed long enough to find out about the suitors and their endeavor, but as he was leaving, a ship came into the harbor full of men and weapons. But, he didn't know if these were the suitor's. After this conversation, they had dinner and went to bed.
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