Persephone looked over her shoulder and saw the dark goddess standing motionlessly. Those dark eyes followed her like two burning stars. Persephone began to weep. Hades did not cry, but no one had ever seen her looking so grim and so lost.
CHAPTER twelve:
Spring
When Hermes reached the entrance of the Underworld, they had come to the shadowy place of the dead and passed the black gates which hold back the souls.
The first thing that greeted the kidnapped goddess was the harsh bright light that filtered through the crooked branches of the trees. Ever since she was spirited off to a sunless world, the earth was in a severe barren state.
Persephone expected to emerge again to the fields where eternal springtime reigned, but all she found was the snow and ice covered the hardened ground, reseeding the poor planet.
The young maiden stared blindly in confusion. The forest that surrounded her was no longer the lively version she remembered. The trees were stripped of their green leaves, draped in glittering frost and ice and snow. The pale gray sky was a strange view to her eyes. Her skin prickled in the biting cold. Oddly, the earth no longer felt like home.
"What happened?" Persephone whispered in disbelief.
"My dear cousin, your absence has created the first winter to mankind," Hermes told her. "Once your mother learned of your missing, she searched high and low to try and uncover your fate. After finding evidence suggesting you had been taken by Hades, Demeter's grief was so great that she cursed the land so that nothing would grow."
It wasn't just the plants and flowers that died out, but the whole animal kingdom that without the maiden's presence they could not survive. It was only fitting that the goddess on whom so much depended on, must be restored to the upper world and that all nature might revive with her return.
But Persephone stared down into the Underworld, and a sharp pang of sadness pierced her heart. All the memory of Hades flooded back into her mind. As dark and foreboding as the goddess might seem, she had a slight hint of sympathy for the dead souls she supervised. She watched over them with tender solicitude, rewarding truth, amnesty, and uprightness, but severely punishing the unjust and the cruel.
Now the young goddess realized that Hades just wanted someone to love her and probably, occasionally play games with her since she alone was unpaired and had long wasted the years in the depressing realm.
"Come forth, Persephone, your mother is waiting," Hermes coaxed to her.
She began to walk, still transfixed and blind by the strange grievous sight. But each step the goddess took, the ice and snow melted and the ground softened, new green grass and flowers began to sprout and grow, blooming lively beneath her tender feet. Soon a beautiful meadow spread and the trees showed their budding leaves.
"Look, the world is rejoicing over you," Hermes said, but the goddess's attention was drawn to a tall green-clad woman. Her heart was beating so loudly that she had to clasp her hands over her chest.
Demeter had lost the brightness of her rosy face, her swelling heart was lashed by sorrows. But the moment she saw her daughter's pale yet lovely face emerged, she was overcome by a mother's joy. The earth goddess went and enveloped her sweet child in her arms.
"Oh, my beloved daughter...my sweet Persephone!" Demeter cried, squeezing her tightly to her bosom.
As her name streamed from the lips of her overjoyed mother, Persephone felt her own heart swell with overwhelming emotions.
They hugged each other and wept for a long moment. Then they pulled away. Demeter stroked her daughter's face with a great pity in her heart.
"Did she hurt you?" she asked, raged burned deep in her green eyes. But Persephone quickly shook her head to reassure her mother.
"Hades did me no harms, mother, I was well-treated in her realm. Don't worry, I am fine," was all she could muster up to answer.
Demeter made a disgusted face and scoffed. Though Zeus had tried to persuade her that Hades—as Zeus's older sister and ruler of one-third of the universe—was not an unfit wife for Persephone, Demeter couldn't shake the thought of how the uninvited and unbetrothed was to ravish her beloved maiden girl. Her whole body filled with rage again.
"It was fortunate that you did not eat anything down there," Demeter said, staring at her child's lovely face. "I would still be weeping bitterly, and there would be no rest in the raging fire of this world had you not returned to me."
Then the goddess turned to the messenger god.
"Hermes, if you see my sister again, tell her that she will never get my child back to the dark filthy kingdom of hers," she said with high determination then looked back at Persephone again. "My girl will never be the queen of the dead nor the bride of Hades."
Hermes bowed at the older goddess and flew away.
And now that her daughter was safe, the golden-skinned goddess rejoiced and her grief vanished. Yet the mother noticed some subtle changes after receiving the girl back from the black veil of the Underworld. Persephone had gone to Hades's realm as an innocent sweet child and come back a grown woman. Her eyes like the dew or the raindrops reflected such a depth her mother had never seen. But the joy of seeing her daughter distracted her, and she thought nothing of it. Then the reunited pair boarded their swift drakon-drawn chariot and journeyed back to their home.
~*~
In the world below, Hades sat slumped on her black throne. Her head in her hand with a deep mourning frown. It was no doubt that Persephone's departure had brought her more sadness than ever.
The dark goddess reckoned the golden girl for the first time in the great hall of Olympus, and what she felt when she saw that stalk-slender child in her flowing tunic and green shoes moving under the sunlight, with her paint-pot among the dancing flowers, and of the fever that ran in her blood when she first put her arms around that maiden's waist, and how she silenced her cries with her cold lips and tasted her tears, of how happy she was in the blooming garden as they exchanged passionate kisses.
Now the grief and sorrow struck upon her as she lost her again to her mother by Zeus's decree.
When Hades let out yet another long deep sigh, Minos came in and informed her that Ascalaphus, the gardener, wished to speak to her.
"Let him in," she said.
Ascalaphus drifted into the hall like a pale shadow, his hand holding a split pomegranate. He knelt down and proffered the proof of Persephone's deed to Hades. After hearing that the maiden of her heart had eaten six seeds of the pomegranate, the goddess's eyes sparkled with new hope. She wasted no time and ordered Minos to mind her court while she would pay her brother Zeus an urgent visit.
At home with her mother, Persephone was pampered by the wood nymphs. Her mother was so overjoyed to have her back, that the earth was released from its infertile state. The fields came alive with its lush green hue, bushes of all sort popped with golden and crimson flowers, growing with life. Frozen rivers began to flow and wild birds started singing once again, for spring had begun.
But while Demeter was braiding her daughter's flowing hair, she noticed a sad look on Persephone's face through the mirror. Her child's distress surprised her.
"In spite of your being here, you don't seem to share my joy, Persephone," the goddess said, "Tell me what is troubling your mind?"
"Nothing, Mother, forgive me as I still adjust my mind to the new scenery," she said.
"New scenery? This is your true home, my dear," Demeter said, "My poor girl, you must be so sad and miserable being starved and confined in the dark palace below, and now you forget what joy feels like in the upper world."
Persephone quickly shook her head vehemently and went on a long protest against her mother’s belief.
"No, mother, it’s not really true,” she said, “There are so many things in the boundless Underworld to explore. During my time there, I have seen so many fascinating people and places. Did you know there is the Pool of Memory that rests under the shade of a white poplar tree near Hades’s palace? The pool represents th
e aspect of memory in physical forms for those who miss their loved ones. And there is also the Vale of Mourning for those who died of a broken heart. I found it intriguing that Hades even had the Acherusian Lake where the souls would cry out to those they had wronged, asking for forgiveness—"
"Stop it now, Persephone, I don’t want to hear any of it," Demeter hushed her sternly, "I have suffered through so much to bring you back and now all you can talk is about the dead. Did your stay in Tartarus made you go mad? You sound just like the grim spirited goddess who only listens to men swearing oaths and invoking curses in her name."
"Mother! Hades is not as frightening as everyone thinks of her," the young maiden objected, "In fact, she is the least evil of the entire pantheon. Pushing a rock uphill forever, having venom slowly dripping on one's face for eternity, having a bird eat one's liver alive every day, that was all Father Zeus's decree!"
"Enough!" her mother growled in rage, Persephone had never seen her mother so angry. "I will hear no more of that woman who tried to pollute my daughter, do you heed me?"
The young girl lowered her head and nodded. But a single tear quietly dropped to her white tunic when she thought of Hades.
They did not know for now the Lady of Erebus was pricking her way through the dim labyrinthine Underworld, crushing the steps of Zeus’s palace with the weight of her massive chariot-wheels and monstrous horses.
~*~
The next morning, they heard the flapping sound of the wind and the same shrilling herald. Hermes had flown down from Olympus, carrying yet another message.
"O blessed Demeter, my apologies to interrupt your sweet reunion," he said with a bow. "But Father Zeus has summoned you to his court right at this moment."
The earth goddess groaned and snarled at once.
"What business does he have with me now?" she asked, exasperated.
"You will see for yourself, my lady," he said, "But you best bring Persephone along."
Demeter turned to her daughter with a questioning look. The young maiden's face blushed and dropped her eyes to the ground.
Once they arrived at Olympus, the goddess of harvest moved rigidly with her girl, hastening by the paths of high heaven with despondent steps.
By the time, they reached the throne room, Hades had already presented her case to their brother. With a glimpse of the pomegranate in Hades's hand, Persephone's heart almost jumped out of her chest. And when those onyx eyes found hers, she felt her body flushed all over. Stood frozen beside Hades was Ascalaphus. Hades's face showed a blush of joy that remained from when she learned that her love had eaten the seeds of the pomegranate.
"What do you want?" Demeter growled - anger filled her voice.
"Calm your temper, sweet sister," Zeus said, "It has come to light that Hades has found that your daughter already ate the food in her world."
"What?" the golden-haired goddess squeaked, "Liar! Persephone did not do that."
"Hades has a witness, her gardener Ascalaphus saw it all," the king of gods spoke.
Demeter looked at Persephone in shock. "Is it true?"
The girl looked between her mother and Hades. Then slowly she nodded.
"Yes, it is true, mother," she said. "I was too hungry to resist and had eaten six seeds of the fruit in Hades's land."
Her mother let out a tearful scream when she heard it. Persephone rushed to hold her and support her from collapsing in despair.
"Now that your daughter has eaten six seeds of the pomegranate, she would have to spend six months with Hades each year without fail."
"No!" Demeter cried.
"Never mind, Mother," said Persephone soothingly, "Don't cry. We must be happy for the time that I am here. I will still see you half of the year."
"But I suffer!" cried Demeter. "I suffer! Here...Here - in my mother's heart." She struck herself on the chest. Then the goddess sent a sharp glare at Zeus and Hades. "And if I suffer, then everyone else shall suffer with me. Your clever trick has robbed my daughter from my arms, but for the months that she spends below the earth, no grass will grow, no flowers will bloom, no trees will bear. So long as she is with Hades, there will be desolation everywhere."
Demeter's anger then flared at the poor gardener for he alone was the cause of her loss.
"And you! You will suffer, too!"
She turned him into a creature with a beak and feathers and enormous eyes. Reshaped, Ascalaphus wore great tawny wings, his head swells huge . . . a loathsome bird, ill-omen for mankind, a skulking screech-owl, sorrow's harbinger. That tell-tale tongue of his no doubt deserved the punishment.
CHAPTER thirteen:
queen of the underworld
After Zeus declared his judgment, Persephone was content to let matters drift as time passed by. Even though the confusion and sadness continued to exercise her mind, she tried to settle down to her old life with her mother for the remaining time. She was sad that she had to part way with Demeter yet confused that she found the thought of being back in the Underworld more tempting to her heart.
There was only one mountain-laurel remaining in full bloom as the end of the season drew close. In the water of the clear spring, Persephone's slender figure was the reflection of a beautiful young woman, no longer a child maiden. Watching her wood nymphs played in the fields while she was resting under the shade of an olive tree, the goddess found herself more and more disinclined to join her friends like she used to.
Before it would move her to tears with the feeling of tearing herself way from home. Now the place she did not wish to leave seemed different. Everything seemed to change so subtly she didn't know what it was. Her mind kept wandering back to the dark mistress of the dead below the earth.
For the first few weeks, before Persephone was to have gone back to the Palace of Hades, Demeter kept herself secluded in her bower, weeping over her daughter's fate. Persephone tried to console her that she would return home every year, and it would be as if they had never been apart. Yet, Demeter's heart was still plagued with grief to see her beloved girl going away.
On the tenth day of the last month, the time for Persephone to leave the earth seemed to approach too slowly, for it was her mind alone that was hurrying on. Persephone did not know how or when the Underworld had become a sanctuary of her soul. And despite her mother's grief, her heart pound and skipped at the thought of meeting Hades again.
As she sat by the clear spring that afternoon, the golden-haired Demeter observed her darling daughter with steady eyes. The older goddess had noticed all the subtle changes, which only a mother could tell.
One night, as the two of them sat down by the fire, Demeter looked at Persephone for the longest moment before she asked the question that had been nagging her mind.
"Persephone, tell me truly, are you in love with Hades?" she said to her daughter in a clear voice.
Persephone wished she had prepared for the question. The young goddess lowered her gaze to the ground. Her golden lock hid her face as her hands kept twitching nervously.
"Mother, why did you ask me so?" she murmured back.
"Do not fear me, daughter," Demeter told her, "Tell me naught but the truth. Tell me the unsaid things that you have buried within you."
Since there was no time and reason to avoid it out of shyness or fear anymore, the maiden told her mother as honestly as she could.
"The strange feeling I have for Hades now is stronger than fear and rancor, mother," Persephone admitted. "Whenever I looked back on our unexpected meeting, it seemed like an unreal mysterious dream that haunted my heart. While I am here, overjoyed to see you again, I still could not forget the thought of the dark tall woman who also seems to have claimed my soul. Yes, Mother Demeter, I do love Hades. I did not know when or how, but I do love her very much so."
"Oh sweet girl, you have grown and experienced too soon the sting of passion," Demeter said mournfully, "But I shall interfere no more. Be happy, dear lass, dearer than heaven to me. I must compose myself and entrust you into H
ades's care. You are my sole joy, loved fruit of my labor, be happy as you can be."
After the heartfelt moment, the mother and daughter then went to embrace each other, weeping for the longest time.
~*~
It was settled that Hermes would take Persephone back on the last day of the sixth month. The sun rose high up in the deep blue sky, and the earth's songs echoed pleasantly before the next winter enveloped the world once again.
Persephone was wearing a set of two robes with gold reeds and a pattern of ivy in purple around the hem. Over it, she also wore a cape of light white silk, hanging loosely from her shoulders. It was a bridal gown her mother and the nymphs helped her adorn before the departure. With the fragrant flowers in her hair, she turned to her mother with saddened eyes.
Demeter whispered her blessings to her beloved daughter. Though she had always been against the cruel fate that separated them, it was her daughter's happiness that mattered most.
"Take care of yourself, my sweet girl," Demeter said, "If she ever mistreats you in any manners, I will come charging down the Underworld for her."
Persephone nodded and hugged her mother tightly one last time.
"Goodbye, mother, I will see you again another time," Persephone replied sadly. They parted from each other's arms with tears in their eyes.
Then they saw Hermes flying down to meet them.
"Bless the gods, Persephone, you look splendid!" the messenger god exclaimed. "You will no doubt make a great queen in the court of Hades. Come with me now, it's time to leave. She is waiting for you by the Gate."
Persephone's heart swelled upon hearing that. She imagined seeing Hades again. It made the golden blood run hot in her veins. She had secretly longed to see that enigmatic face. Her curious adventures at the goddess's realm had set her feet on a new path of life, and for that reason, she had come to regard it as a happy incident. But Persephone was rather nervous, for this time the meeting with Hades was quite different.
Hades: Goddess of the Underworld (Lesbian Version) Page 7
