before my eyes
.
I liked how he took care of his queen as I caught glimpses of him, showing her around his lands, new places of the kingdom that she hasn’t seen yet.
It was soothing to see that kind of love, full of affection and protectiveness. So pleasing to witness with my own eyes... that it wasn’t just made belief, a storyteller’s dream,
but something real, so close that you could practically feel and touch it for yourself.
I liked how he took care of his queen.
.
Persephone
The mortals call our curse the great reward.
A life sans end, sans age — just nectar sweet,
Ambrosia fresh. But we on high are barred
From else. I craved uneven metric feet.
My mother pulled the grain up from the earth.
The mortals worshipped her with feasts and prayers
And Love! Real love, fierce hard love born from birth
And hardship, illness, joy among the snares
Of menial life… I called; he took, my blood
Divine ascream for Hades’ shadowed mares,
For dragging down, for fruited seed, for Love.
My mother beat her breast and tore her hair
Because I left the world of heat and breath:
Small price to pay for one caress of death.
Hades Hearts Persephone
There was a myth in Ancient Greece long ago
Of two gods from opposite worlds
One of life and Spring
The other ruled the dead and damned
Until the day the met and ran off together
To be forever wed among the dead
Now some will say that the God of the Dead
Stole the Goddess away and trapped in darkness
Until she agreed to marry and be his queen
But I think this Goddess saw something more
Something lively
Her kindness and touch melted his cold heart
And left willingly to help give him life in a dark world
#fiction #romance #Greekmythology
The True Story of Hades And Persephone
Hades urged Cerberus to run faster down the wide road, trees whipping past at an alarming rate. Hades reveled in his power, feeling the freedom blowing across his body as he raced Helios, riding in his firey chariot across the sky. Chancing a glance upward, a surge of adrenaline and pride filled Hades as he saw the chariot starting to lag behind his hellish steed. Barking out a laugh, he called after Helios, "Does the day need a rest? Should we wait for your elderly steeds to catch their breath?"
A resounding crack of a whip was the only response above him, and Hades's laugh became louder and more defiant. Cerberus burst through the egde of the forest, and they were now sprinting along a steep cliffside, the crashing waves causing a deep rumble from beneath. The salty air filled Hades's lungs, and he could here the lilting of some seaside bird. No, not a bird. Hades called Cerberus to come to a stop, kicking up dirt and rock. Helios raced overhead above him, calling after him, but Hades paid no mind, distracted by the voice he was hearing.
Looking out, Hades spotted a small figure in the distance, bending low to the ground. Hades slid off Cerberus's back and cast an illusion over him to look like a dark black steed. Cerberus neighed angrily at his ridiculous form, but Hades calmed him with a hand, "No, my friend. Just one moment, I ask of you. I must meet the owner of such a lovely voice." Taking up a bridle, Hades walked towards the small figure who he realized was sitting in the middle of a patch of wildflowers.
He must have made some startling sound, because the figure suddenly stood up, turning around rapidly towards him, startled. Hades held up his hands, "Forgive me, I..." The rest of his words left him as he gazed at the young woman watching him. She was a young woman standing nearly as tall as he, dark brown skin the color of chestnuts, large green eyes that would make the flora jealous, and a startling amount of curly white hair that hung clear past her waist. Hades blinked, completely enraptured by her beauty. He hardly noticed the little squeaking field mouse on her shoulder.
Realizing she was staring at him with growing distrust, he cleared his throat and bowed, "Forgive me, Miss. I didn't mean to startle you. I'm simply a soldier on his way home, and I became... lost on the way." He smiled at her to make himself look less fierce. She only continued to glare at him, and surprisingly, she started to stand straighter and look more authorative herself. The little mouse continued its furious squeaking. Hades tried to backtrack, "I realize i must look fearsome to you. I apologize for my appearance. I just left the war off-" "Begone, foul creature of the heavens."
Hades stopped and blinked, "I'm sorry, I-" The young stood her full height, "I told you to leave my presence, evil one. I am the daughter of Zeus, and my father will strike you down where you stand if you lay a finger on me." Hades felt his heart stop a moment at the mention of his relative. Zeus may be a lot of things, but he was not merciful. Hades held up his hands again and took a step back, "Of course, my lady. I meant no offense." The field mouse on her shoulder let out a loud squeak, and the young woman turned her head towards it a moment. Just enough that it was barely noticable. She spoke, "Leave your steed and flee from here on foot, or my father will hear of your foul play."
Hades made no motion to leave, "What is the mouse telling you." She blinked. He had caught her, "Is the mouse telling you what to say?" He face flushed crimson, "Do you think I'm so stupid to believe in talking animals? I said begone or-" "If Zeus is your father, then how did he appear to your mother?" She stumbled over her words, "Well-she didn't... he's..." Hades nodded, "You're not Zeus daughter, are you?" She suddenly reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a small dagger, "Maybe not, but who isn't a child of Zeus? I will still leave your share of blood in this field!"
Hades laughed. He really liked the spirit of this woman, "You're a fighter and clever, as well. You almost had me. How did you know I wasn't human?" The squeaking mouse stood up and seemed to be hissing at him. The young woman leaned her head towards him, "My friend says you smell like sulfer and wet dog." Cerberus let out an angry snort, and Hades burst into peals of laughter. The young woman still held out the knife towards him, but it had begun to lower.
Hades patted the steed merrily and turned back to her, "My lady, you are amazing. Not only do you outsmart two beings of the heavens, but you also saw right through our illusion. I go by many names, but you may call me Hades." Her face turned white with fear, and she knelt down on the ground in a penitant gesture, "Lord of the Underworld, please forgive this rude girl. I did not know it was you. Please have mercy." Hades stepped forward and helped her to her feet, "Please, Miss, I'm not my brothers. You may stand and have no fear of..." His voice trailed off. They were standing very close. So close that Hades saw that her eyes were actually a mixture of blue and green, a swirling mixture of life. Hades suddenly realized how dark and damp the Underworld truly was. He hadn't seen such beautiful colors in what must have been an eternity.
The young woman realized she was staring as well, then looked down quickly. Her smell smelled of wild grass and flowers, and it made Hades's stomach flutter in an uncomfortable way. She took a step back, "May I go home, your heavenly grace? My mother is waiting for me to make dinner." Hades corrected, "Please, you must call me Hades. And, of course, you may go home, but I don't even know your name." The young woman smiled wryly and turned away, "Goodbye, Hades." The sound of her voice forming his name made him feel like he could take on the titans in a battle to the death, "I just want to know your name, Miss." She looked back at him with a smile and waved a hand, "I am No One." Hades shook his head in disbelief. She laughed, "Persephone." His mouth shaped the beautiful name, "Can I at least see you again?" She shouted over her shoulder, "Maybe... If you're lucky... I sometimes walk here in the evenings." And she was gone.
Cerberus nosed Hades's shoulder, nudging him out of his stupor. "Sorry, my friend. Do you think she... Isn't she the most lovely girl you've ever seen?" Cerberus sneezed. Hades grimaced and patted his shoulder, "She does not stink. That's what cleanliness smells like." He mounted onto Cerberus's back and rode off back towards the Pit. The entire way his mind was full of the color of the young woman's eyes. He smiled to himself and promised he would return to this field every night until she returned.
* * * * * * * * * *
Hades came back the next evening, and his heart soared to see the young woman walking through the field, picking at the flowers, holding them in a bundle in her strong arms. Hades called out to her, "Alas, I see No One! No One is in the fields!" She looked up, and waved at him, smiling. He rode over to her, not bothering to cast an illusion on Cerberus. The young woman, however, seemed to be delighted with the giant three-headed dog. Hades slid off his back and walked around to see the young woman scratching two of the heads' ears. He felt his stomach do a flip, "You have to do all three," he said, scratching the third behind the ear, "They get jealous." She didn't look towards him, "Such a good dog. Did he make you run all the way out here, again? You poor thing. He must treat you like a slave."
Hades opened his mouth to retort, but Cerberus gave out a low moan and rolled over for her to scratch his giant belly, which she did with a burst of giggles, "Who's a good hellhound? Who's such a good good dog?" Cerberus's tail shook the ground as it hammered back and forth. Hades just stood in disbelief, "He's never done that for a stranger before." The young woman stood up and looked him in the eye with a mischevious glance, "I'm excellent with animals. Ever since I was very young, I've always been able to speak to them, and they to me. My mother is a minor goddess. I guess I get it from her side of the family."
Hades swallowed a hard lump in his throat, "So... that's why you could understand the mouse?" She nodded, her smile making his knees weak, "And what does my dog say about me?" She looked to the happy beast with a doggy grin, still laying on his back. She giggled and gave him a coy look, "He says some very nice things about his master. Particularly about how you thought I smelled nice." If Hades had the ability to blush, he would have in that moment. His heart pounded, and he felt like he wanted to find a giant rock and hide beneath it. He suddenly noticed a bruise on the upper part of her arm. She saw him notice it and readjusted her sleeve, "My mother bought me a bracelet but it was way to small. It got stuck on my arm." Hades nodded and forgot all about it.
The young woman stopped teasing him and invited him to walk with her awhile. Together, they walked through the fields, chatting pleasantly about this and that, interesting things they came across, and how it must look ridiculous to be followed by a giant three-headed dog. This continued for many evenings, the two of them meeting at the edge of the field and walking together. They never seemed to run out of things to talk about. Hades learned that she was wicked smart, knew how to write and draw, and had read several of the great epic poems in both greek and the original languages. The more he learned about her, the harder he fell in love with her. But for all his exapnsive knowledge of humans, he couldn't figure out if she felt the same.
The sun began to sink, and the young woman let out a sigh, "Forgive me, but I must get home to mother. It's been wonderful to see you, again." Hades felt his heart sink, "As for me, as well. If it's alright with you, may I meet your mother? If she is a minor goddess-" "No!" She suddenly shouted. Hades was shocked, never having heard her raise her voice like that. Persephone held up her hands, "I'm sorry, no. You can't meet my mother. She's not.... It would be better if you didn't..." She looked back and forth, searching for an answer.
Hades took her hands and was amazed that she didn't jerk away, "It's alright, Persephone. You can be honest with me." Persephone's eyes refused to meet his, "It's not that I'm trying to be dishonest, it's just..." She let out a long sigh and finally met his eyes, "My mother is the goddess Demeter." Hades felt his hands tighten at the recognition of the name. Demeter was known to be a cruel and possessive god. Her followers would build her temples and altars, but she would ultimately find something wrong with them and harshly punish them. Hades's voice was low, "Does you mother know about you talking to me?" Persephone laughed in a awkward way, "My mother doesn't even know I go out for walks. She thinks I'm polishing her idols in town."
Hades guffawed, "Surely, you would be in danger if she found out." Persephone shook her head, "I've been coming out here for years. It's the only time I can have peace and quiet to myself. She's very... aggressive in her discipline." Hades remembered the bruise he had seen on her arm. He nodded to her, "So, the bruise wasn't from a bracelet?" Persephone grimaced, "I had dropped a plate of food. Mother had grabbed me to whip me, then locked me in my room for the night." Hades felt a rage build within him, "We must do something." Persephone let go of his hands and had placed them on his chest, a strangely intimate gesture, "No, Hades!" Her eyes began to fill with tears, "Please, she will know that I have been sneaking out. And if she knows I was out here with a man, then she would hand me over to the gods for retribution."
Hades looked down at her, and felt her breath ruffling his hair. Hades, in a fit of courage and compassion to comfort her, wrapped his arms around her waist. Persephone stiffened for a moment, but then buried her face in his chest, crying quietly. They stood their a moment, embracing one another. Hades told her, "I don't want you to be hurt or controlled by such an evil woman." Persephone lifted her head off his chest and looked up into his eyes, their faces barely a few inches apart. She sighed, "And I don't want to be separated from you ever again." Hades felt a swell of heat and emotion climb into his chest, like a lion roaring in victory. He leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers, and Persephone eagerly kissed him back.
They stayed locked in their embrace, gently kissing one another until the sun had completely set. Persephone pulled away, her eyes still damp from tears, "If I don't get home soon, I'll be in major trouble." "Run away with me." Hades had said the words before he even thought about them. Persephone's eyes widened, "I... I..." Hades urged her, taking her hands again, "I will protect you. I will keep you safe. I will give my life to make sure you never have to speak to that monster, again. Please, come with me." Persephone's smile seemed to light up the night, and she kissed him again, "Hades... She will find us." Hades shook his head, "We will be long gone. The Gatekeeper will keep her from entering my domain. You will be free." Persephone looked away, appearing as if she was about to deny him, but her usual fierceness entered her face, "Ok. But not tonight. I must go home a get a few things before we leave." Hades argued with her about urgency, but he relented in the end. He swore he would be standing in this spot tomorrow evening and would take her away. He felt a hard pit developing in his stomach.
* * * * * * * * * *
Hades thought about heading towards the Pit and returning, but he couldn't bring himself to leave the spot she had left him in. He knew he was being ridiculous, a powerful god sitting on the cold, hard ground, but any time he resolved to leave, he would become overcome with anxiety about missing her or her coming and thinking he didn't wait for her. For hours, he sat on the ground, head resting in his hands, staring in the direction Persephone had left. Cerberus had even laid down and placed his three enormous heads next to him, whining every once in awhile. Hades would pat him, "I know, my friend. But she will be here soon."
Evening came and went. Hades stood up and began pacing, very agitated. Something was wrong. She should have been here by now. Something had gone very wrong. Hades was nearly out of his mind with anxiety when he heard Cerberus let out a warning growl. Hades stood up abruptly. There were intruders nearby, but it wasn't Persephone. Cerberus would never growl at her.
Hades crouched down and hushed Cerberus. They knelt in the grass, listening for any footstep of approach of an invader but heard nothing. Hades propped himself to stand, when he heard the distinct woosh of an arrow going past his head, "Cerberus! Guard!" The giant dog let out a menacing bark and rushed forward to stand as a barrier between Hades and the enemy, his thick hide protecting him from the arrows. Hades rushed out from under his beast and, unseathing his sword, cut down the shooter with deadly accuracy. A rush of wet warmth over his hand told him his victim was dead. Pivoting, Hades saw the top of a helmet rushing away. With a war call, he punced on the second shooter, stabbing him several times in the back until he was motionless.
Hades stood and saw a third helmet rushing quickly back towards Persephone's home, "Cerberus! Fetch, boy!" Even though the last shooter was almost a half mile away, Cerberus leapt with his giant body, and pounced on the assassin, taking him up in his slathering jaws. With the man screaming for mercy, the giant dog brough back the shooter, a man dressed as a soldier looking every bit liked a terrified rabbit, "P-Please! Please! I will d-do anything! I will serve you! I keep your temples! I will be your slave! Just d-d-don't k-kill me, master!"
Hades walked forward and slapped the blithering man across the face, "Why did you attack me." The man seemed to be eager to give Hades a reason to let him live, "Demeter found her daughter sneaking food from the kitchen. She whipped and beat her until Persephone confessed to meeting someone here. She wouldn't say who, though. Only that Demeter no longer had control of her. Her heart belonged to someone else. Someone who was greater than Demeter. Blasphemy!" And the man spit on the ground. Hades stood for a long moment, staring at the man, "You tried to kill me." The man stuttered, "O-Oh, no! I was only following orders! I will serve you, oh great heavenly power! I will serve you until I die!" Hades leaned into the man's face, "All who die serve me. Do you know who I am?" The man's eyes grew wider and wider, "No! No! NO!" Hades snapped his fingers and Cerberus bit down hard on the man's body, biting him clean in half. The following quiet was heavy with tension and the smell of blood.
Hades mounted up on Cerberus and spot to him quietly, "The one to whom my heart belongs is trapped and tortured. Cerberus, Death is coming." The giant beast reared back and let out a series of thunderous barks that shook the air and ground. Hades felt the creatures and beings of the fields surrounding them begin to stampede away in fear. Black clouds gathered in the skies and the night was plunged into an almost impossible darkness. Hades let out a guttural war cry and charged Cerberus forward, running at a dead sprint towards Persephone.
* * * * * * * * * *
Persephone sat curled up on the small cot in her tiny room. She cried quietly, craddling her bruised and broken arm where her mother had grabbed her and twisted it until she heard it snap. No, not her mother. Her captor. Her torturer. For years, Demeter had manipulated and tortured her, and Persephone had come so close to freedom. But now she would never see Hades, again. She would die in this tiny room, and Hades would never know how much she wanted to be near him... to hold him... to start and end every day with him... to tell him that-
An ear-splitting burst of thunder shook the house, rattling it to its bones. Persephone leapt up out of bed, grimacing at the pain in her legs and broken arm. That sound? It wasn't thunder. It sounded like-! Another enormous rumble burst through the air like an explosion, and she saw the rolling dark clouds come towards her home and heard the shrieks of the farm animals in the yard as they tried to flee, "Death is coming! Death is coming! No one will survive!" Persephone felt a burst of hope, "Hades?"
On the horizon, she saw a shape rushing in her direction. She heard her mother's soldiers begin to take up ranks at the gates, shouting orders and lighting torches. The figure grew larger and larger until it was unmistakeable. It was Cerberus at an unwordly pace, galloping full pace towards them. The courageous beast let out another explosive bark, fangs gleaming, drool dripping, and eyes the color of enormous hot coals. And on his back...
"Hades! Hades!" Persephone yelled to him, but he must not have heard her. The three-headed dog had leapt forward and landed on the gate, smashing it to bits, biting and swallowing soldiers whole. Hades was attacking the soldiers while on Cerberus's back, swinging and stabbing with his glittering sword. "He came for me," Persephone said through joyous tears, "He came for me. HADES!" She yelled as loud as she could. Hades's head whipped up in her direction and recognized her. He turned Cerberus towards her and the great dog leapt up and landed on the roof of the house. The dog dug with his claws until the shingles and roof supports were torn away, and there was Hades with the fury of battle in his eyes, reaching for her, "Come with me!" He yelled.
Persophone grabbed his hand with her good arm, and he easily brought her onto Cerberus's back, holding her tight in front of him. Just as they were about to flee, the bedroom door burst open, and Demeter stood there in an unholy fury. She yelled out like an animal and rushed for Persephone, hands out like claws. "Cerberus," Yelled Hades, "Home!" The giant dog leapt from the destroyed home and ran towards the horizon. Demeter's shouts could be heard dwindling in the distance. Persephone turned to so she could see Hades's face, "You came for me?" Hades smiled, "And I always will." With her good arm, she embraced him around the neck and kissed him with such passion that she nearly knocked them off Cerberus's back. Laughing at her clumsiness, he returned her kiss with equal passion.
* * * * * * * * * *
For years afterward, Demeter searched the world for her daughter, spreading viscious rumors that she had been kidnapped by death itself. She told anyone who would listen that Hades had defiled her daughter then captured her in the dead of night, forcing her to become his bride. Meanwhile, in the Underworld, the dead and the Underbeings grew to love Persephone and her gentle, yet bold nature. Her knidness brought peace and happiness to what once was a bleak place. For the first time, Persephone was free to be herself, and Hades found someone to share eternity with.
However, Hades recieved a message from Zeus that Demeter's rage was unquenchable until she had the return of her daughter. After many refusals, Persephone finally agreed to meet with her former captor. At the council of the gods, Demeter was the picture of a mourning mother, wearing dark clothing, covering her face, and sobbing for her sweet little girl to come home.
Persephone gripped her loving husband's hand and addressed her mother, "I would come with you, dear mother, but I have my duties in the Underworld as queen and wife. I cannot return to you except for a few months. Hades had first interjected, and her mother threw herself on the ground in a fit, claiming that Hades had brain-washed her daughter to hate her, but Persephone was clever, "Dear, Mother. How my heart breaks for you. But please know my beloved husband only wishes for me to be safe. If I would return to him after being home with bruises or broken bones or tales of being tortured..." she was silent a moment, "There's just no telling how his fury would destroy everything you own." Demeter glared up at Persephone, hatred at being threatened and being unable to react or make herself guilty. Persephone only smiled, "I will return with you, mother, for only a few months out of the year. But then I must return home to my husband, safe and sound, since it is my right and my will as queen to do so."
The other gods agreed to such a compromise, and Demeter left in a rage, punishing her followers for no reason. Hades and Persephone hated to be separated, but it was the only way they could be free of her mother's wrath and constant manipulation. At least this way, Persephone will be safe as long as Demeter remembered that Hades would destroy her if she hurt his wife. So, every year, Persephone returned to her childhood home to serve, and her mother remembered to pay a little more respect to her daughter. And on the longest and darkest day of the year, Hades would wait in the field for his wife to return to him, and they would return home together astride Cerberus.
My Darling Hades
Not his darkness did I fear
But the beating of his heart
that I could hear.
His mystery, his laugh, his smile
tugged at my heartstrings all the while
With him I’m free
no longer a bird in a cage
Alone in his arms allowed to give him all my rage, our passions match setting the stage,
as he takes the wild animal I become
loving all that I am two lovers into one.
His tender kiss, his gentle hand he
always meets me where I stand.
He knows how to reach me
He has so many exciting things to teach me.
All I know is I have never felt more alive
and that I am lost without him.
And that was the beginning of our great
adventure together.
Hades & Persephone
It's not all black and white
It's not all you and me
She and Him
Flowers in her hair, flowers where she walked
Life.
Darkness and bone chilling cold, skulls broken, empty
Death.
Spring.
Winter.
Persephone
Hades
Opposites, those meant to be kept apart
The very epitome of one cancels the other out
Longing must be staunched, the candle blown out
It's not all black and white.
They weren't supposed to fall in love.
Upside Down Flowers
Persephone cupped the dying lily in her small, rosy palms. The patch of lily of the valley had wore out its blooms and bowed before the changing season. "Who is the god of Death?" she turned to her mother. The innocence in her raised eyebrows and wide green eyes made Persephone look young for her age. "You've spoken to me about all the other gods but him."
Demeter's sweet corn colored hair turned flint brown. "Hades is not like us, dear one. Not like you. Everything he touches will wither and die. He will never know life."
Dew drops formed in Persephone's eyes, glistening like diamonds under the spring noon sun. "He sounds awfully lonely." Her sadness lingered in the air, a sillage like the scent of orange blossoms on the wind.
"Think on him no more," her mother sliced through the wind and the reverie. Demeter bustled about, sowing the earth nearby with summer crops and flora. She shook her head one more time at Persephone before bustling off to the next patch of field.
Persephone turned her attention back to the dead lily, and wondered about the man, who had stolen its life. She imagined a dark sort of man, wrapped in a coat of the crinkling, decaying leaves of wilted lilies. She thought of him, perhaps standing under the earth, beneath her body, as she laid in the grass. Maybe he secretly yearned for the warmth of a growing thing. Persephony brushed her fingers over the eart,h her goddess powers swirling sparkles around her fingers.
Another lily began to grow, this one pink and spotted and fragrant. But unlike the other flowers that Persephone tended, she only saw the roots growing. Instead, the flower stretched downward, deep into the belly of the earth. A glimmer of life and color glowed in the underworld, hovering above the outstretched hand of Hades. He marveled at it, delicate and beautiful like the giver. His black dead eyes flashed with life, and then turned upward. They seemed to pierce through the earth, to gaze at Perseephone. And then, surprising himself, he smiled, not feeling lonely any more.