morning meal,” he replied with a smile, lifting the pomegranate and admiring it briefly before glancing back at her.
“Oh, good. Enjoy.”
“I intend to.” He extended his free hand. She rose off the divan and reached for it, feeling his fingers wrap around her own. Without a word, he led them outside. She found his grip reassuring, even more so when he gave it a gentle squeeze.
Chapter XXV
o0o
Hades didn't seem to have any particular destination in mind. Before, when they had gone down to the Styx, the path had been rather direct. But now as they walked down the same path – at least Persephone was fairly certain this was the same one they had started on before – she wondered if Hades guided her down a turn she had not noticed. Along the path were black and twisted trees with leaves that appeared to be made of pale crystal, and stretching out at either side was a grim landscape of grays that disappeared into infinite blackness. There was not one sound to be heard except for that faint whispering that she sometimes heard if she really strained her ears.
With Hades's arm draped across her shoulders, Persephone felt safe and warm. She appreciated the comfortable silence between them as she ruminated over her own concerns. She still felt hurt by Zeus's compliance with Hades's decree and by his refusal to even include her in the decision. The mighty King of the Gods couldn't even manage a 'Hey, Kora! How are you? Long time no see! Oh by the way, Hades said he wanted your hand in marriage. He is not a bad guy, really, and he will be a good husband! So he will be here to pick you up in so-and-so months. By the way, tell your mother I said hi!' Would it have been so hard for him to do that? Yes, Mother was fiercely protective of her, but goodness! Zeus was the King of Olympus and the man who had sired her! What if Hades had asked for one of his other daughters? Would Zeus have been so compliant if Hades had asked for Athene or Aphrodite?
She looked up at Hades as he stared forward thoughtfully. Seeing her turn her head, he glanced down at her.
“Hades..... I would like to see Olympus and meet the others gods. After all, they are my family... I mean, I would just like to be able to see them and meet them. You say that knowledge is important. I learn new things here every day. But there are also things up there to know, and you can't learn about everything simply by reading about it or listening to stories.” She hoped she didn't sound too imploring in her request, and felt his hand squeeze her shoulder.
He stared down at her for several moments. The stark, gray sky above their heads made Hades's skin look nearly white.
“It is not an untoward request you make of me,” he finally responded. No impatience, no anger. But he said nothing more. He lifted his arm off her and raised the pomegranate in his other hand. Taking hold of one of the tips of the crown, he pulled it back, revealing seeds that glittered like rubies under the clear sky.
“Eat with me, Persephone. To you I offer my kingdom and my heart. Be my queen.” He fished a seed out of the pomegranate, lifting it to his lips.
“Mmm. Sublime. Like you.” He smirked faintly. “You wish to learn more of the world and of the gods? As my consort you would enjoy the privileges that come with being bound to the Lord of this realm.” He lifted the pomegranate again. “Do not see this as some kind of death sentence, love. It is... merely a commitment to a new life, to me. A life that is more glorious than your old one.”
She stared down at the fruit, considering her options. Finally, she shook her head slowly.
“No.” She looked away.
“Very well. I guess I will have to eat this pomegranate all by myself, then.” Hades ate several more seeds, walking at her side in silence.
“Look, Persephone... I understand
“Oh, good. Enjoy.”
“I intend to.” He extended his free hand. She rose off the divan and reached for it, feeling his fingers wrap around her own. Without a word, he led them outside. She found his grip reassuring, even more so when he gave it a gentle squeeze.
Chapter XXV
o0o
Hades didn't seem to have any particular destination in mind. Before, when they had gone down to the Styx, the path had been rather direct. But now as they walked down the same path – at least Persephone was fairly certain this was the same one they had started on before – she wondered if Hades guided her down a turn she had not noticed. Along the path were black and twisted trees with leaves that appeared to be made of pale crystal, and stretching out at either side was a grim landscape of grays that disappeared into infinite blackness. There was not one sound to be heard except for that faint whispering that she sometimes heard if she really strained her ears.
With Hades's arm draped across her shoulders, Persephone felt safe and warm. She appreciated the comfortable silence between them as she ruminated over her own concerns. She still felt hurt by Zeus's compliance with Hades's decree and by his refusal to even include her in the decision. The mighty King of the Gods couldn't even manage a 'Hey, Kora! How are you? Long time no see! Oh by the way, Hades said he wanted your hand in marriage. He is not a bad guy, really, and he will be a good husband! So he will be here to pick you up in so-and-so months. By the way, tell your mother I said hi!' Would it have been so hard for him to do that? Yes, Mother was fiercely protective of her, but goodness! Zeus was the King of Olympus and the man who had sired her! What if Hades had asked for one of his other daughters? Would Zeus have been so compliant if Hades had asked for Athene or Aphrodite?
She looked up at Hades as he stared forward thoughtfully. Seeing her turn her head, he glanced down at her.
“Hades..... I would like to see Olympus and meet the others gods. After all, they are my family... I mean, I would just like to be able to see them and meet them. You say that knowledge is important. I learn new things here every day. But there are also things up there to know, and you can't learn about everything simply by reading about it or listening to stories.” She hoped she didn't sound too imploring in her request, and felt his hand squeeze her shoulder.
He stared down at her for several moments. The stark, gray sky above their heads made Hades's skin look nearly white.
“It is not an untoward request you make of me,” he finally responded. No impatience, no anger. But he said nothing more. He lifted his arm off her and raised the pomegranate in his other hand. Taking hold of one of the tips of the crown, he pulled it back, revealing seeds that glittered like rubies under the clear sky.
“Eat with me, Persephone. To you I offer my kingdom and my heart. Be my queen.” He fished a seed out of the pomegranate, lifting it to his lips.
“Mmm. Sublime. Like you.” He smirked faintly. “You wish to learn more of the world and of the gods? As my consort you would enjoy the privileges that come with being bound to the Lord of this realm.” He lifted the pomegranate again. “Do not see this as some kind of death sentence, love. It is... merely a commitment to a new life, to me. A life that is more glorious than your old one.”
She stared down at the fruit, considering her options. Finally, she shook her head slowly.
“No.” She looked away.
“Very well. I guess I will have to eat this pomegranate all by myself, then.” Hades ate several more seeds, walking at her side in silence.
“Look, Persephone... I understand
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