She was not the same crying maiden anymore. And deep within her heart, Persephone knew her destiny would forever be bound to Hades's.
At last, Persephone bade her mother farewell and let the flying god take her back to the entrance of the Underworld.
Once she arrived with Hermes at the gateway of the afterlife, she had a glimpse of the dark monarch herself at the mouth of the entrance. Hades was waiting for her beloved maiden on her swift golden chariot. With one hand held onto the rein of the majestic black stallions and her long silk robe flowed in rippling black folds, the goddess stood silently with her dark eyes shone through the shadowed passage of her kingdom.
Persephone felt her breath hitched in her throat. It wasn't from fear, but she did not expect such an anticipation from her demure self, but all she ever wanted in that moment was to run towards the beautiful goddess and have her arms enfolded around her. But Hades's fierce presence always made her hesitate. She was still not used to the prospect of being her life partner and her rightful queen. Obviously, Persephone needed more time to adjust to her new reality.
"Go on, cousin," Hermes urged her, "Hades is not always a very patient goddess. Enjoy your time while it lasts. We shall meet again for another half of the year."
The winged-god then turned and flew back to Olympus, leaving Persephone by herself.
She gingerly went in, wondering what she was going to say to the mistress of her heart. She could hear the roaring of the river Styx. The air coming from the Underworld was cold and eerie, like the brush of a ghostly butterfly upon her skin. Her heartbeat was racing faster and louder the closer she got to the goddess. Her mouth felt so dry. She licked her plump lips and swallowed hard.
But when she looked up at Hades again, she saw a soft smile lingered on the dark goddess's lips. Persephone felt the instant relief flooded through her.
She could feel the bright sunlight faded away behind her as the entrance began to close, and the last to go was the fresh upper current of air that blew through the crevasse from the upper world. But Persephone did not regret giving up her life on earth and traded it for the time with Hades again. To her, the dark goddess was worth giving up the sun and the moon, and every star in the sky.
Persephone shyly stopped before Hades. Her face blushed under the steady black stare. The tall goddess had been waiting for this day. Now that the golden maiden had returned to her and no longer the unwilling captive, she felt her love intensified and the golden ichor coursed hot in her heightened heart.
Hades got off her high steed and walked slowly towards her lovely betrothed.
Then without a word passed between them, Hades wrapped her arms possessively around the goddess of spring. Persephone's cheeks burned hot at their closeness and her own heart melted with untamed joy. She hadn't realized how much she craved Hades's passion.
They looked at each other's faces, savoring the blessed moment in silence. Persephone unknowingly placed her palm upon Hades's cold pale cheek. She traced her thumb gently over the upturned corner of her bright red lips.
"I know I have deceived you with my stubbornness and lie," Persephone whispered apologetically, "I had hoped I might, by keeping away from you, cease to long for you. My great misery for vividly your image is impressed on my mind. After what happened, I cannot tell if your passion for me has grown cold. Do you not need to tell me your resentment against me?"
Hades's eyes dimmed softly, remembering her heartache of having her love departed.
"What bitter feelings can I ever have over you, Persephone? I can't change my heart's desires," Hades said in a gentle tone. Her gaze caressed the maiden's blushed cheeks. Her hands stroked her golden hair. "During those long miserable months, I have to my great grief been obsessed by thoughts of you. Now you're returned to me, my sorrows are all gone."
"Oh, Hades," Persephone breathed and burrowed herself into the soft embrace of the black-robbed woman. Hades tightened her hold and kissed the top of her lover's head. Afterward, she pulled away and took a step back from Persephone. Then the dark goddess of the dead kneeled down to the ground ever so gracefully as her maiden watched in astonishment.
"Persephone," Hades whispered, "will you come with me to the Underworld and sit beside my throne? Will you be my queen, my wife, and eternal companion?"
Persephone looked at Hades in awe. Her sparkling eyes filled with tears, which then streamed down her cheeks. With a quivering joyful voice, the goddess answered.
"Yes, my sweet Hades, I surely will," Persephone replied, and she leaned down with her head tilted to plant a loving kiss on those tender lips. The dark goddess stood up again and deepened their kiss. They kissed slowly and deeply with a great yearning of one another.
After they parted, Hades reached her hand out for Persephone. The maiden took it in hers with no more hesitation. They got onto the chariot, and the two of them descended to the lower world together.
The dread furies flew beside the fierce pairs of wild stallions, following the golden chariot-wheels as they grazed Acheron’s banks. They escorted the godly pair through the dark meads of Erebus passed the overjoyed three-headed Cerberus by the palace's gate.
Inside the throne hall, everyone gathered to pay respect to Persephone.
Hades led the golden-haired maiden by the hand towards the elegant throne. The beautiful black crown sparkled brightly upon Persephone's head. The tail of her wedding gown dragged through the hall like a shiny comet across the dark sky.
Indeed that night, Persephone was regarded as the most beautiful of all the immortals. The only one who could bring the fearsome Hades to her knees. She was given many gifts by the other gods. The fields of Sicily were given to her at her wedding day, and two festivals were celebrated in her honor, the one at the time of sowing, and the other at the time of harvest. The Temples of Persephone were dedicated to her alone at Athens, Corinth, Megara, and Sparta.
But among all the gifts, Hades gave her the most valuable ones. She gave her the power to rule her kingdom as her own. Thus, Persephone, the goddess whose very name means "she who weakens the darkness" was pronounced wife of Hades, the Iron Queen. As the formidable, venerable majestic queen of the souls, she shall carry into effect the curses upon the dead or guide them through the Underworld to a more enjoyable afterlife.
Along with Hades, Persephone shall hold an ancient role as Goddess of the Underworld and the Goddess of springtime, vegetation, and maidenhood.
CHAPTER fourteen:
marriage bed
In the final resting place for departed souls where bodiless ghosts flitted across the dark Fields of Asphodel, joy filled the grey land and the valleys. The Underworld held high festivals, and the ghosts amused themselves at the nuptial feast. A joyous banquet and singular songs broke the gloomy silence since the wailing and moaning were hushed for once.
No longer was Sisyphus’s stone rolling downhill, nor the water and fruit withdrawn from Tantalus’ lips. Charon crowned his uncombed locks with sedge, and he sang as he worked his weightless oars over the great Styx. By the Gate of Hell, the three-headed beast, Cerberus, indulged himself with some nice juicy bones. Even the vicious Furies with all their snaky hair made ready their wine-bowls and drank themselves forgetful of crimes and dread wrath.
After the celebration was over, the palace maids hastened to assist their holy mistresses. Some held back the curtains of the doorway. The chamber was decorated with crocus, violet, iris, and lily blooms like a springtime meadow. They had also fastened the branches of white cypress and embroidered hangings in the bridal chamber. In chaste bands, the matrons of Elysium honored their new queen with songs before the newlywed goddesses went to their secluded room.
Through the open windows, the breeze from the five rivers carried the sound of hissing waves dashed against the thirsty black shores. Inside the chamber, a bronze brazier burned away with its brilliant flames. The flower-scented space was finely lit like a dream. Their marriage bed was neatly made for them with red petals of roses
laid beautifully.
With genial and kindly fashion, Hades induced her young wife to sit on a soft cushioned seat beside herself.
The two deities then proceeded to drink the sweet nectar from their golden cups and enjoyed a rich repast befitting their godly status. It was quiet after the ceremony; nevertheless, Hades’s heart kept marveling over the joys of this wedlock, for without her Persephone, all she could foresee was the eternal gloom of her world and the never-ceasing despair of her heart.
With her coal-black eyes gazing so tenderly at her young beautiful bride, the stern goddess felt her inside grow warm with love like the sun’s fierce heat over the dead winter. Just the sight of the maiden in her wedding dress and queenly crown for the first time was enough to reign over Hades's steely heart forever.
The dark goddess brought her long slender fingers to trace that lovely sweet cheek, causing a glowing blush to mantle Persephone's clear face. With a mounting passion suffused her own fair countenance, Hades could not have enough of her. The goddess leaned forward and planted her cold wet lips upon the maiden’s forehead. Persephone shivered from the effect and blushed harder, but this very gesture, the dark goddess sent her a wordless pledge that as long as she was known as her wife, Persephone would always be protected and valued above all things.
It wasn’t so long ago when Persephone was only the child of the corn-bearing goddess. Until the day, she was burned with a fierce desire to gather flowers and so filled with the spoil of the blooming fields that everything changed. From the day Hades watched surreptitiously from her dark realm as the young girl skipped with her flashing ankles and her garlands of flowers, it was set that their fates must mingle together.
Now, Persephone was made the third realm's queen. Her words would be laws and her tears could master even that unbending Goddess of the Dead.
Unmistakably so during their marriage vow, Hades, the Lady of Avernus, promised her bride no small things, “A prouder scepter shall be yours, my darling Persephone, for I am the goddess, who rules the framework of the universe and whose power stretches through the limitless void. This is my true oath by the holy Styx. Think not you have lost the light of day as other stars are yours and a purer light you shall enjoy under Elysium’s sun. There is, too, a precious tree in the leafy groves whose curving branches gleam with living ore — a tree consecrated to you. O Persephone, you are the queen of my heart, my blessed spring. Whatever the sparkling heaven embraces, whatever earth nourishes, the seas sweep, the rivers roll, and the marsh-lands feed, all living things alike that journey from the mortal world to the land of death shall yield themselves to you. All — I say — that dwell beneath the orb of the moon and the seventh planet shall bow to your feet. You will give doom to the guilty and rest to the virtuous. Before your judgement-throne and mine, the wicked must confess the crimes of their evil lives. Whenever you step foot in my kingdom, may Lethe’s streams obey your words and the Fates be your handmaidens.”
Hades’s sacred oath had moved Persephone to tears, and she had smiled and acknowledged the dark goddess as her rightful wife.
Now clad in starry raiment, Persephone quietly rose from her seat and turned towards the bed blessed by the union of their marriage. Hades remained where she was, but her piercing dark eyes followed the maiden’s every move.
The young goddess stood in silence for a moment before she slowly unfastened her brooch, which was cunningly used to support her thick cloak studded with purple jewels. Then she loosened the splendid bodice that held her plump maiden’s breasts and freed her radiant body. Her golden hair, secured only by a Cyprian pin, parted into many locks as the braid came loose around her bare shoulders. Left behind just a shawl from the loom of Athena— her wedding gift, she let Hades’s eyes feasted on her whole virgin form.
Her charming, ambrosia-like complexion intimated even the earlier Aphrodite when that goddess was still a blooming maiden.
The gracious flush of her skin and those nimble limbs stirred a coursing fire in Hades’s veins. Her stare darkened further. With such an unblemished beauty by appearing naked and unclothed except for a thin silken garment veiling her entrancing lower parts, Hades secretly wished a gust of wind would have blown that garment aside, so that it would reveal her virgin bloom; but she was also glad that she was the only one, who would breathe directly upon it and wantonly savor the scent of her pleasurable flower.
And at last, Hades rose from her seat and approached her beloved wife.
Persephone turned to face the tall goddess, and they stood, admiring the strength and grace of the other.
“Forgive me for such a modest event,” Hades spoke softly, “I know you would expect the marriage and festal torches and a wedding-song to be sung in heaven, but I promise you, I will treat you like my glory, my comfort, and my one true queen.”
Persephone smiled and brought her soft palms to Hades’s face, tracing her smooth skin with her thumbs. Now that their love coursed like two converging streams, she was emboldened to touch her with her own passion.
“The highest bliss for me would be to live with you even though it was in the humblest thatched cottage and not a grand celestial palace. You must know that this long separation has caused a great current of yearning I had never known.”
Then Persephone encompassed her arms around Hades's tall frame.
"O sweet Persephone," the raven-haired goddess sighed in contentment. For a long moment, they simply stood, savoring the euphoric feeling of each other's company.
Persephone looked up and her bright eyes bore deep into her lover's.
“Hades,” she whispered. “My full heart urges me boldly to share the marriage bed with you this very night.”
A spark ignited in Hades’s obsidian eyes. She felt a flutter in her stomach. The mere thought of claiming Persephone's maidenhead tonight made her mind spin.
Hades stepped closer and lifted her hands to untie the knot of that remaining silk. She let the fabric fall to the floor. Her fingers trailed over that delicate skin, feeling their ways over Persephone's divine form.
Hades was in awe of Persephone, for in her heart, storms of unsleeping desire raged without ceasing.
Doffed off her queenly robe, the young maiden was more radiant like the rosy dawn, in which the Underworld was deprived of.
And when they both lay themselves onto the bed, their hearts pounded against one another. Hades tipped her wife’s chin up and proceeded to taste those sweet supple lips. The nectar juice mingled with the taste of their divinity. Hades undid her own robe, and Persephone helped push it out of the way. Her breath came out uneven and short and desperate. As she stared at her wife’s nakedness for the first time, an excited lump stuck in her throat.
Hades was beautiful beyond description. An older goddess of the Olympians, daughter of the Time Lord Cronus and the Titaness Rhea, no doubt Hades's unearthly beauty was frighteningly radiant and timeless. Persephone was certain that if any mortal ever set their eyes upon her true form, their fragile lives would be burned to ashes. Even she, herself as a deathless goddess, felt immensely overwhelmed by Hades's perfection. Her eyes lingered at the elegant throat of the older woman, at her desirable beautiful breasts, a marvelous sight, and then back to her eyes that were shining like the deadly Styx.
With a floaty movement, Hades climbed atop her maiden, getting in between her shapely legs, causing every sensation to intensify. Hades buried her face into Persephone's neck and breasts. It sent a wave of shocking pleasure once their skin made contact. The maiden craved for Hades more than ever. She enjoyed the goddess's weight above her, the thrilling touches on her skin. It was both delirious and surreal —like a dream within a dream.
“I love you, Hades,” she blurted, but she did not regret saying it. The goddess’s amorous words were hot against Hades's lips, branding them upon her skin. "You are my first joy and my last."
Hades’s heart swelled with joy, and she was rendered speechless with that sincere, unadulterated declaration. Because why
should the nether kingdoms know not love? When one had to cross between worlds to be with the other, the purest form of love bloomed and flourished even in the darkest place of Erebus.
Hades kissed Persephone on the mouth so deeply; drawing on her beautiful scented breath like it was her own. Leaving the maiden gasping for air, she licked her way down Persephone's chin and burrowed her face into her firm round breasts. The dark goddess squeezed and devoured the hardened nipples earnestly. It made Persephone’s heart leap against her ribs, and she gripped the silk on the bed and arched her dainty form. Her lovely face contorted with a strange new pleasure. Hades’s hot tongue scorched her skin like melting lava. The goddess pressed her lips down Persephone’s stomach and farther down.
Hades felt the maiden’s shaking fingers laced through her raven hair with anticipation, and her lovely legs parted open on their own accord. With that silent welcome, the impatient goddess made no delay. This was the moment she had been dreaming of since the day they met. The sight of her lovely wife’s wetness glistened deliciously sent her mind reeling. She felt the throbbing sensation stir up in her own belly.
Hades could not wait another moment to claim what now belonged to her alone.
Between the virgin’s legs, the mistress of souls bent down and gently traced the tender region with her long fingers and tongue, tracing the slick entrance sensually and kissing it with her lips. Then she started nibbling every inch of Persephone’s delicate rosy petals, eliciting a moan and a sweet whimper. Hades was shocked at how wonderful the maiden tasted. Persephone was sweeter than all the nectar in heaven. She wanted nothing but to suckle more and more of that life-giving juice like a butterfly sipping from a full bloom. As she was enjoying Persephone with a hungry open mouth, the young goddess bit her lips from moaning too loudly. The rich-haired goddess rolled her hips as if she was trying to escape the carnal torture but at the same time aching for more.
Hades: Goddess of the Underworld (Lesbian Version) Page 8
