Persephone & Hades

Chapter Three

The next morning began like any other, Demeter and her nymph companions had already made breakfast and were sitting at the dining table. Persephone greeted her mother with a kiss on the cheek, “Good morning, Mom” she sang. “It’s a beautiful day for harvest, don’t you think?”

“I’ve been summoned to Mount Olympus for an urgent matter. I’ll need you to do you duties alone today so Kissos, Ianthe and Rhodeia can help Nomia and the others to get ready for the harvest. Can you handle working by yourself today?” Demeter asked her daughter.

Persephone placed two teganites, food similar to a pancake, on her plate. “Mount Olympus? Did they say why?” she asked, ignoring her mother’s question.

“No. Do I have to have to have someone assist you today or can you handle doing the work by yourself?” her mother repeated.

Persephone topped one teganite with soft goat cheese and the other with a drizzle of honey. She loved the contrast in flavor of salty and sweet together. “Of course, I can, Mother. We would have finished before midday today as a group, I should be able to finish by dinner alone. There’s no reason to worry,” she reassured Demeter.

Maybe The Fates would be on her side that day and allow her to see Him two days in a row. She silently prayed to the Gods he would come again. They would have plenty of time to themselves to get to maybe even get to explore each other on a more intimate level. Just the thought of their bodies becoming entangled and joining together produced a deep ache inside her. “I know you’ll do a wonderful job,” her mother encouraged her, pulling her away from her impish thoughts.

Her mother dipped hard bread made of barley in a glass of watered-down wine, “If you like, I could pack a basket for you so you will have lunch,” Persephone offered.

This brought a smile to her mother’s face. “That would be lovely.”

Persephone finished eating her breakfast and made her way to the kitchen to pack baskets for her mother, the nymphs, and herself. She cut slices of bread and cheese, wrapped them neatly in a small cloth to keep them from drying out. Next, she placed salted fish into small clay containers with lids and into each basket. After that, were olives and figs placed into glass jars topped with cloth and tied with twine. Each basket was topped with a blanket they could sit on while they enjoyed their midday meals.

She presented Demeter with the basket she had put much thought and effort into. “Have a safe journey,” Persephone said as she kissed her mother’s cheek.

“And you stay focused on your work today, young lady,” her mother teased as she exited the kitchen. “I love you. I will be back this evening.”

“I love you too, Mom,” Persephone called after her.

An entire day without her mother or the flower nymphs by her side? She had been alone for a few hours but not an entire day before. Something serious must have happened for her to be away for so long. “You’ve been acting strangely,” Ianthe’s voice whispered in her ear. “You’re hiding something.”

“W-what? What are you talking about?” Persephone stammered.

Ianthe eyed her with a knowing expression. She was two years older than Persephone and had enjoyed the company of several men already. Although Persephone would never admit it, she liked listening to Ianthe tell her sister Rhodeia about the different rendezvous and imagine that it was her and the man she loved. She winked at Persephone as she picked up the larger basket for the group of nymphs. “Your secret’s safe with me,” Ianthe whispered before also exiting the kitchen.

Persephone collected her items and began the walk to the orchard. It was time to start preparing the already harvested plant life for the next spring. Considering it was still the early stages of the harvest season Persephone did not have much actual work to do. This was the time she helped the plants germinate so they would bloom the upcoming spring. She loved her role as Goddess of Spring, helping beautiful things grow brought so much joy to her life. Everything around her bloomed and grew because of her hard work and dedication.

As she walked the rows of olive trees, Persephone touched each one, blessing them all to bloom and grow. It felt like warm waves emanating from her soul, flowing down into to the deepest roots beneath her and up to the highest branch. Her golden, rosy hair swirled and billowed around her, riding on the waves of her power. Her eyes transformed from their usual hazel color to a glowing jade. The trees altered immediately, browning leaves were replaced with blossoming buds and the branches stretched even higher towards the sky. Each season had a harvest, fruit trees could be harvested in every season except the cold months of winter, with Persephone’s help.

The power she had inside her had grown so much since she met her mystery man. Perhaps it was just growing with her age, she couldn’t be sure. Part of her wanted to believe it has something to do with him and the confidence he brought out in her when he was around.

The first time she met him she was at her absolute lowest, her powers weren’t growing and she couldn’t even bring a plant from hibernation to blooming. No matter how hard she tried, they always died. Her mother did both of their jobs for so long while Persephone sat at her side just watching, feeling useless. Each day she could see the worry growing on Demeter’s face and the furiously fast letter writing after. Was she writing Zeus to tell him she was just a weak Goddess, not really of any importance and no more powerful than a nymph. She felt like a failure to all the Gods and Goddesses on Mount Olympus.

This time, she had managed to kill a simple dandelion. How pathetic can I be, she thought to herself. I can’t even able to make an invasive species grow. She threw the clay pot her mother had been growing it in for her to practice on. Before she knew what she was doing her feet were carrying her across Demeter’s Garden. She ran into she could barely breathe, and her knees went week. Persephone collapsed to the ground, crying out to The Fates. Maybe her gift wasn’t even a gift at all, perhaps it was a curse to ruin anything she touched. Her hand smacked he ground is frustration, even in her time of misery was still conscious not to use a closed fist and harm the mother of the Earth, Gaia. Tears continued to stream down her face as she sobbed, crouched on the ground. “What is wrong with me?” she called out to no one in particular.

“There is nothing wrong with you, my sweet girl,” a soothing voice answered.