by M. M. Kin
“Looks like everyone who was given an invitation took it,” he commented as he glanced through the window.
“It's not every day that the Lord of the Underworld gets married.”
“You know many people are simply here out of curiosity.”
“I do.” She shifted the helmet to one hand, resting it against her hip as she touched his shoulder with her free hand. Curiosity was inevitable, so she had planned this wedding with that in mind, working on creating the best impression on her guests.
“I cannot wait for this all to be over, and then I'll have you all to myself,” Hades grumbled.
“It's just today and tomorrow. What are two days to a man who has lived as long as you?”
He chuckled softly. Most men simply wanted a submissive wife, but he liked the fact that she could argue well.
“Let's go outside. I'm hungry, and no one will eat unless you do. Just as you commanded.” She looked up at him. Hades had left most of the wedding plans to her, trusting her decisions, but he had been very firm on several things.
“I never want to see you go hungry.” He reached out to stroke her cheek, remembering all too well her self-starvation.
Hades was aloof as others greeted him, nodding politely and saying a word here and there as he deemed fit. He had seen enough weddings to know what was expected of a groom, but he found some of the comments from the other gods grating, such as back- or shoulder-slapping and compliments on having such a lovely bride, and a few bawdy jokes. The cold glares he directed at those who tried to tease him caused even the most raucous of the men to wilt. He knew that some speculated on how long he would remain faithful to Persephone before finding another lover. If there was one thing that Hades absolutely hated, it was being compared to his brothers.
Persephone would not be an oft-cast aside bride like Hera, nor would he give her any reason to seek attention elsewhere like Amphitrite. When he saw his youngest brother approach him, he stifled a groan but did not retreat into the crowd.
“How are you on this fine day?” Zeus asked, trying to put his hand on Hades's shoulder. The older god jerked away, in no mood to tolerate any more touching than he already did. He was well aware of Zeus's attempts to have his input in the wedding. The younger deity certainly liked weddings, especially those of his own children, and always made them grand affairs. Hades knew it rankled him to be shot down at every opportunity by his sister, daughter, or brother.
And yes, Hades enjoyed knowing that! He shrugged as he regarded his youngest sibling.
“As well as can be, I suppose,” he replied, deliberately sounding nonchalant about his wedding.
“I know you're usually not so excited about anything, but you should show more enthusiasm! This is your wedding, after all!”
“I will act as I please at my wedding,” he shot back coolly.
“Are you not happy to be marrying Persephone?”
“I'm giddy,” Hades stated this in the most deadpan tone he could manage, which was no great feat for the Dark One.
“Haha! Um...” Zeus's laugh quickly died as his older brother maintained his blank expression.
“I'm sure you've waited long enough to eat.”
“Er... Yes?”
“Then sit down.” Hades turned away with a dismissive gesture.
Demeter did not attempt to bite back a smile as she saw how Hades had effectively wilted Zeus's ego. Well, the King of the Gods would re-inflate his ego soon enough – he always did – but it was always satisfying to see the confident deity in a moment of uncertainty.
Demeter had amassed a staff of nymphs to help with the food for the wedding, and she gave them the signal to bring the food to the tables and open the casks of wine.
o0o
Nobody could deny that Hades and Persephone made a striking couple. He looked especially somber next to her, his appearance as Lord of the Dead further emphasized by the fact that his bride looked every bit the personification of the Goddess of Spring.
Persephone noticed him fiddling with the hem of his cloak and rested her hand on his arm. They were seated alone at their own table. It sat upon a dais overlooking the other tables, and she was happy to have the privacy, though at this point their guests were too busy paying attention to the food or one another to intrude upon them.
“Here, try these stuffed dates Hestia made. They're simply wonderful!”
Hades raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her, holding back a smile as he took the proffered treat. She was right – they were good. The stuffing was made of mashed-up fruit, nuts, and honey. Hestia had always had a flair for creating unique and fun recipes with ordinary food.
After he had eaten his fill, he reclined on the divan. The banquet was not to be the entirety of today's wedding activities, since there would be dancing. Ugh. He wasn't a fan of it, but Persephone wanted to have some fun.
There were quite a few gods skilled in the arts of music and dance, so after being given a signal by Demeter, they rose from their seats. Persephone sat back and let them start things off, pleased to be able to witness such skill. The stories told of Apollo and his lyre were not mere myths, but Terpsichore's skill on her own instrument was a close rival, and her song accompanied his beautifully. Thalia started dancing, doing it in a funny way and eliciting chuckles from the audience.
In no time others were dancing merrily around the bonfire while the melody of flutes and drums joined the music produced by the lyres.
“Won't you dance with us, Persephone?” Hermes asked, extending his hand towards the dais. She looked over her shoulder at Hades, and he nodded faintly.
“Just know that I will be watching you, Hermes. And everybody else,” Hades stated, his gaze intent as he regarded his bride and the messenger god. “I trust my wife, but I am well aware of the thoughts you have.” It was rumored that Hades had mindreading among his Gifts, but the God of the Dead did nothing to discourage this rumor. If his astuteness was seen as mindreading, then let it be a lesson to them.
“Yes, Uncle,” Hermes replied, bowing his head before Persephone followed him off the dais.
Hades was momentarily amused when he saw a barely repressed frown on Aphrodite's face as Persephone twirled around with Dionysus, leaving a lingering odor of flowers and spring along with a mysterious trace of sweet tartness in her wake, an alluring scent that caused the males nearby to give her notice. Persephone was dressed modestly, yet no one seemed to notice the cleavage Aphrodite was proudly displaying. The three Graces that often accompanied the Goddess of Beauty were now dancing around Persephone, and she spun around with them as well, laughing with them.
Aphrodite glanced around before she noticed his distant stare. He had been glancing at a tree behind Aphrodite, but she mistook it as interest. When Hades realized she intended to step up on the dais, he silently summoned shadowy tentacles to bind around her ankles. He flashed a cold smile at her before shaking his head and leaning across the table, whispering in a tone meant only for Aphrodite's ears.
“Persephone wants her wedding to be a happy occasion. You will behave as an honored guest, or there will be consequences. And no, your magic is not working on me. It never has.” He could sense that she was trying to use her Gift to charm him – he certainly wasn't the first married man nor would he be the last she would try to win over – but he had been impervious to it, even upon his first encounter with her. Yes, she was beautiful, but when she tried to seduce him, it actually brought up a deep sense of revulsion. “Now, go sit down and be a good girl.”
He leaned back, smugly satisfied, and watched his bride dance.
o0o
Persephone lay in the small bed as she stared at the lamp. She didn't feel as nervous as most brides would on the night before their wedding, yet she could not help but feel a little apprehensive. When she was younger, she had imagined how her wedding might be, or what kind of man she would marry. After Father died and she realized that Mother was keeping her in the body of a girl, she inevitably wondere
d if she would ever have the chance to marry.
“Persephone? Are you asleep?” Mother whispered as she stood in the doorway. It certainly had taken her mother long enough to accept that name, though Persephone had been patient with her. For a couple of months, Mother hadn't used any name to refer to her, merely calling her 'daughter' or other neutral names.
“No, Mother.”
Demeter slid into the room and sat at the foot of the bed. Persephone pulled her feet up to make room, as the bed barely accommodated her as it was. It was the same bed she had slept in since Mother had moved them here. She couldn't wait to go back to the spacious bed she shared with Hades, but she was willing to bear her current surroundings for the night.
“Did you enjoy yourself today?” Demeter asked.
“Mmm-hm. Everything was wonderful.” The younger woman propped her head up on one elbow. Demeter had to admit that she agreed. Despite a few young deities becoming drunk and stirring up trouble, Persephone handled herself well, and it was a delight to see Aphrodite become flustered as she tried to get a rise out of the Goddess of Spring. Though Demeter would not boast of it, her daughter was strikingly beautiful, even more so than the Goddess of Beauty, and it wasn't just maternal pride that said that. At least Persephone didn't let it get to her head.
The season of spring was a relief to many, the fresh, warm air refreshing after being shut up in their homes all winter long. Persephone was definitely a breath of fresh air in a figurative sense to the Olympians.
It could be worse. She could be stupid, vain, petty, or cruel. And there are plenty of men worse than Hades. It was these thoughts that gave Demeter comfort as she contemplated how much her daughter had grown. It had been so upsetting at first after Persephone returned from the Underworld for the first time, all grown-up and defiant.
“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” Demeter asked gently.
“Not really. I know who my husband is and I know exactly where I'm going and what I can expect. Not many brides can say that.”
Well, there was one positive thing about her daughter growing up, Demeter mused. She had developed an enjoyable sense of humor, and the older woman could not help but laugh a bit. It was too bad Iasion was not around to see this. He would have been so proud to see how his daughter turned out.
She had been dismayed to learn that he had gone to the Lethe River, and knowing of his reason did not make it less painful. She did not blame him, and if the positions had been reversed, she probably would have done the same. Still, it hurt. Would she ever see him again? Would she know him if they countered one another in the future?
“There is one thing I am curious about...” Demeter tapped her chin.
“Yes?”
“Have you and Hades talked about having children?”
Persephone let out a slow breath, looking down at the blanket for several moments.
“Is something the matter?”
“No. It's just that life cannot grow in the Underworld. Hades explained it to me.”
“You mean that you cannot...”
Persephone nodded. Demeter bit back a frown. “And what do you think about that?”
“I don't know. I don't want children right now, but in the future...well, I don't know.”
“Yes.” Demeter hadn't wanted children at first, and it was several hundred years before she became a mother. It had been a wonderful experience for her.
“Don't worry about it. Really.” Persephone wished her mother hadn't brought up the subject. “I'm happy with Hades.” She wasn't simply saying that to placate Mother. She was a powerful goddess in her own right, Queen of the Underworld and the Goddess of Spring. She could enjoy both realms. How fortunate that she had been able to bargain with him! Would any other god have been so agreeable?
o0o
The clothing she had chosen the day before represented her role as Goddess of Spring, but her attire today reflected her status as Queen of the Underworld. She was garbed in black silk sprinkled with tiny diamonds that glittered like stars. Accompanying her clothing was a diamond-studded silver crown and matching wristbands. The effect was almost startling, especially to those who had seen her as the Goddess of Spring, but she was no less beautiful.
Attached to her crown was a veil of the same fabric, only thinner, lending a mysterious air to the Queen of the Underworld. She could feel many pairs of eyes on her – many looking at her with admiration, a few with jealousy – but she kept her focus on Hades. He had clothed himself to complement her attire, wearing black and deep blue-purple with silver accessories.
She smiled at him, her expression visible under the gauzy material that covered her face before she looked up at her mother. Demeter's hands were strong and warm, and Persephone took comfort in the gentle squeezing that her mother was giving around her hands. When she was little, she had always been comforted by Mother's embraces, and even now, she continued to feel the same way.
“Lord Hades, I give you my daughter to protect and keep,” Demeter stated. These words were purely ceremonial and fathers usually said something along this vein when giving their daughters away. Persephone would not even consider having Zeus say these words. It was her way of showing her displeasure for the trouble he had caused, and besides, he had not been a father figure in her life. So why should he assume the role of one at her wedding? Perhaps later on, she would get to know him better and familiarize herself with the man who had sired her, but right now, she preferred to focus on more important things.
“I accept her with pleasure.” Hades held out his hands, and Persephone gently slid her own out of her mother's grip, the older woman reluctantly yielding. Persephone smiled at her mother reassuringly before giving Demeter's hands a squeeze. Before Hades could take her hands, Demeter suddenly pulled her into a fierce hug.
Hades waited patiently for Demeter to relinquish her hold on her daughter before taking Persephone's hands.
Hera glanced at the couple wistfully, seeing a long and happy future ahead for them. She wished she had been able to see her own future with Zeus, but he had charmed her so well that if she had any bouts of prescience regarding the matter, she hadn't paid attention to them. Well, I was young and stupid, not fully trained in my powers, she reminded herself. Nonetheless, she wished Hades and Persephone the best. Faithful, lasting bonds were rare among mortals, and even more so among the gods.
“Ah, this reminds me of our wedding day.” Zeus whispered into her ear. Since Kronos had been deposed, it was Rhea who had given Hera away at their nuptials.
“But this marriage will be happier than ours has been,” Hera shot back in a pointed whisper. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his dejected expression. Ever since that night when he had come for dinner and tried to seduce her, she had given him only cold aloofness. She knew that she would eventually warm up to him, because they did care for each other – though Zeus could be really terrible at showing that oftentimes – and he could be so damned loving, but she was determined to put that off as long as she could. Besides, it was fun to see him grovel and try to win her favor. He still had a long way to go before she would consider intimacy with him, and she was going to make the most of it.
Hades's chariot awaited the royal couple, and the Lord of the Dead led his bride to it. In the glow of the sunset, the couple made a striking image of light and shadow. With a bow of his head to Demeter, he climbed into the chariot and flicked the reins, the horses galloping off.
o0o
Instead of going to the Underworld, Hades honored his wife's request to take a ride through the woods. Like Persephone, he could feel the difference between the world of the dead and the living. The Underworld was so... quiet, compared to this forest with its animal noises and the rustling of leaves as the wind blew through them. For one who spent most of his time in the Underworld, stimuli like these were sometimes overwhelming. At least the sun had just gone down, because he was especially sensitive to light.
“Let's stop here.” Persephone said as she sq
ueezed his hand. Obligingly, he tugged the reins, signaling for the horses to stop. She squeezed around him and stepped off the chariot. The forest was beautiful under the light of an almost-full moon, the grass taking on a rich emerald hue. To her right was a patch of daffodils, deep gold under the muted light, and here and there were crocuses where there were small clearings in the forest. She had always loved spring and seeing the flowers and plants bloom after being dormant all winter.
Hades stepped off his chariot, glancing at her with curiosity. He wanted to return to the Underworld, but it was so peaceful here that he figured he would oblige her for a while. As he turned around, he realized that Persephone was missing. Now, where had she gone off to?
“Seph?” he called out. A soft giggle met his ears, and he turned in its direction. There was a rustle of undergrowth, and he darted off in that direction. He had always found it so easy to chase and capture her, but this time, she remained elusive, baiting him on with a giggle or whisper of his name.
“Damnit! Where are you?” he asked with a playful growl, catching a whiff of her scent. He could hear her footsteps, but she remained out of sight, and he knew that it was more than just the shadows that hid her. Critically, he scanned his surroundings, looking for any hint of her presence; a glitter of diamonds in the moonlight or her skin against the darkness of her clothing and surroundings.
“You'll just have to come and find me, Aidon!” Her sing-song voice came from behind him, and he spun in her direction, only to be confronted with the sight of the forest and nothing else. He could sense her presence... so where the hell was she?