Persephone & Hades

Chapter Five

Persephone spent most of her day working in the fields of flowers and orchards hoping he would somehow know she was alone and would come see her. She waited until well after midday to finally lay a blanket out to rest on. The sun warmed her skin and she plopped a large olive into her mouth. She savored the rich flavor as she chewed lazily. The day had been long and lonely with none of her nymph friends to talk to. The decanter filled with wine cut with water was still nearly full, she had packed more in hopes he would show up. Persephone started packing things away in her basket, finally ready to give up when he called her name. Her head shot up, her eyes searching for his figure. When he appeared before her, she leapt to her feet and ran to him as fast as her feet would carry her. He scooped her up into his arms, showering her with several kisses. “Not that I’m complaining but what are you doing back so soon?” she asked.

The smile that graced is features was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. “It’s time. We must go together now before your mother returns,” he proclaimed.

Persephone was frozen with shock. “W-hat do you mean?” she asked.

“Zeus finally agreed to our marriage. We can finally be together,” he explained.

She cried out in delight, “Oh, you really mean it? I’m going to be your wife?”

“Yes. Now I can tell you who I am…Hades, King of the Underworld,” he told her with urgency. You, Persephone, will be my queen. We have to go quickly.”

Before she could even open her mouth, the ground opened beneath their feet and sucked them down below. The ground rushed past her, falling deeper and deeper into the Earth’s depths. Her surroundings got darker until she could see nothing, only feel herself continuing to fall. She clung tighter to Hades, closing her eyes tightly. Just when she thought they were going to fall forever they suddenly stopped. Persephone slowly raised her head and looked around her. Her mind was still spinning trying to wrap it around her head that the man she had been in love with for three years was the King of the Underworld and they were now going to get married.

The palace was much grander than she thought it would be. She had always imagined the Underworld to be dark and dreary, but it was beautiful like the nighttime sky in the mortal realm. The palace itself was adorned in gold and jewels. When she was a child, she thought Hades’ throne would be made of the bones of those who were damned by the Judges to eternal torment. His throne was made of black obsidian adorned with gold and emeralds of the deepest green. Next to it was a similar throne similarly draped in gold but with violet-colored gems instead. She had never seen gems like it before. “That is where you will be ruling the Underworld with me by your side,” he said gesturing towards their thrones.

She gazed at him in wonder. If this was going to be her life from this point forward, it was going to be a very happy one with a man like Hades to care for her. Persephone just hoped she was going to be an adequate queen; she did not want to disappoint her betrothed. The Underworld was nothing like the mortal realm.