Odysseus: Novel Summary: Chapters 7-8

Chapter 7: Nausikka returns to her house, and Odysseus waits in a forest outside of town until she has arrived, and then Athena, in the form of a little girl, protects Odysseus as he walks to the palace. He is covered in a mist until he reached the feet of Alkinoos' wife Arete, and begged for mercy and hospitality. Odysseus is given a seat at the table, and during dinner, he tells the king and queen how he escaped from Calypso and was shipwrecked. Alkinoos agrees to help Odysseus return to his home, no matter where it is.
Chapter 8: Preparations are made to procure a ship to take Odysseus home, although no one else knows where he is from at this time. Odysseus hears stories of the Trojan War, and cries when they are told. Games are arranged to cheer him up, but he is sad and refuses to compete. Then, Euryalos, a young man, insults Odysseus, and so Odysseus decides to compete out of pride. Odysseus excels in throwing a discus, and everyone adjourns to a festival with singing by Demodokos, a superb harp-player. Demodokos sings about the love affair of Ares and Aprhodite, and afterwards, Eurylaos apologizes for his insult.
Odysseus is made ready to leave with provisions and a crew, and he says goodbye to Nausikka. She is sad that she cannot marry him, but she understands. Only then is he asked his identity and the rest of his story.