Telemachus thought that Athena and Zeus would not help mere mortals. Also he thought that there were to many suitors to handle. But as any reader would know by now Odysseus is smart. Odysseus's plan was since the suitors were trying to kill Telemachus he was going to wait till the suitors try to ambush Telemachus and that's when Odysseus would come in and with the help of Zeus and Athena he would get rid of the suitors.