Persephone & Hades

Chapter Seven

When she was finished bathing and dried off, the two nymphs helped Persephone dress in a white chiton with a beautiful ornamented peplos on top. The peplos was sheer white with golden thread embroidering along the edge depicting asphodel flowers with what looked like ivy weaving in under and over each one. A sheer white veil was then draped over her. It was secured on her head by placing a crown of golden violets. Each flower made of gold was adorned with tiny purple gems, so every flower sparkled in even the dimmest of light. “You look quite lovely,” Eumelia gushed.

Persephone smiled graciously and thanked her. “I’m really quite nervous,” she confessed.

The nymph took her hands into her own. “Oh, you don’t need to be, your majesty! His majesty has been waiting for so long to wed you,” she continued. “All he has done is speak of your beauty and your grace, oh, and your kindness too!”

Two new nymphs appeared at the door to the bath. “His majesty requests your presence in the temple, miss,” she spoke with a monotone voice. “We can guide you.”

She nodded in response, too nervous to speak. Persephone took a deep breath and let it out slowly as the nymphs opened the door to lead her to the large temple in the palace. The corridor was sleek black marble with smokey grey lines flowing through the stone. It looked almost as if the lines were moving like real smoke. She shook her head and proceeded to follow the two nymphs in front of her. Their footsteps echoed down the long hallway. The sound of the nymphs’ whispers and giggles ahead of her were hard to ignore. They were either laughing at her or the nymph who had knocked on the door to Hade’s bedchamber. Persephone felt shame for a moment. If she had known he had been seeing someone when they met, she would not have allowed him to continue to return to the meadow after they first met. She shook the negative thoughts away and reminded herself that Hades loved her and that she was the one he wanted for his bride.

The palace was decorated with an array of flowers: myrtle, daphne and olive wreaths. Everything was so beautiful; she couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed the previous night. Hades was pulling out all the stops to make their wedding as traditional as he could for her sake. She did not know if there were any customs the Gods did differently than the mortals, but she assumed that was why Zeus brought his wife, Hera, with him to the ceremony. Marriage was her specialty, after all, and all unions had to be approved by her.

When they reached the temple, Hades was already there with Zeus, Hera, and a few Gods and Goddesses Persephone did not recognize. Perhaps they were from the Underworld and that was the reason she did not know of them. The Gods and Goddesses of the Underworld tended to make mortals fearful. No one ever wanted it to be them or someone they love’s soul that needed to be collected. Typically, Hermes did this job, but occasionally, when there was a large influx of souls to be collected due to a disaster or an act of wrath from the Gods, Hades would lend a hand to keep things running smoothly.

Zeus met her halfway, taking her hand in his. He looked very similar to Hades but was his opposite in every way. While Hades had eyes as dark as the night sky and hair a deep dark chocolate, Zeus had golden locks and eyes the color of sapphires. Zeus led her to Hades, then, placed her hand into Hades’ while saying, “I give her to you.”

Hera took the wedding torch and lifted it to signify the start of the ceremony. Persephone and Hades turned to face each other. Hera spoke of the importance of marriage and fidelity, while shooting a dark look at her own husband. She then continued with the ceremony with, “Now to bless the marriage, you will lift the veil, Hades. Then you will both say together, ‘I have fled the bad, I have found the better.’”

Persephone’s heart thundered in her chest as Hades slowly lifted the veil to reveal her face. The beaming smile on his face was contagious. This was it; she was going to marry the man of her dreams. She would be out from under her mother’s constant supervision. She would finally be allowed to be who she truly was.

“I have fled the bad, I have found the better,” Hades and Persephone said in unison.

The temple erupted with the cheers of their audience. They were immediately surrounded by people with congratulations. There were so many different names and faces Persephone couldn’t keep them all straight. She had never met so many people at once before. The nymphs who helped in Demeter’s Garden and her mother were the only people she had ever known before this. It seemed like the small group of people who were present when she entered the temple had tripled. Her hand gripped Hades’ hand tightly, trying to tell him she felt overwhelmed without being rude to their guests. His thumb stroked the top of her hand gently. “Let’s move on to the banquet hall,” Hades called to those in attendance. “My queen has yet to see a feast in the Underworld.”

Her husband put his arm out, offering to escort her there. Persephone’s mind was spinning, she was the Queen of the Underworld now. Yesterday, she was just a minor Goddess of Spring in her mother’s shadow. Hades patted her hand clutching onto his large bicep, “We will be able to sneak away shortly after the feast begins to finish what we began earlier,” he whispered to her.

His words caused her face to flush with embarrassment. There would be no reason not to now. If she didn’t, he might doubt her love for him. She had never done those things before, but her husband was experienced with women. What if she failed to please him? Would he continue to be patient with her or, would he seek the company of other women as Zeus does? He must have sensed her anxiousness for his next words were words of comfort. “Remember nothing you are not ready for will happen; I promise,” he whispered.