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It was April. Now, that may not seem important, but truly it was. And here's why: It was snowing! Some might just call it bad weather, bad luck even, but I knew the real reason why it was like this. My mother was still grieving over me. I don't know why I decided to stay an extra month, but I did.

"Sister, please. If you would just listen." Hermes, my brother and messenger of the gods spoke. "The world is still feeling Demeter's pain."

"I do not care." I tried to sound confident and powerful, but he didn't seem to be fazed by my change in attitude.

"I don't understand dear sister. Why is it you stay with him when you have a loving mother who actually cares about you up there in the upper-world?"

"You don't understand." I said in almost a whisper. "No one ever will."

"Don't tell me-"

"I love him, Hermes!" I interrupted, "Go and tell my father and my mother and all of Olympus! I love him. And I will not return with you. I cannot."

"Lady Persephone-"

"Go! And be sure to give Zeus my message."

Hermes bowed slightly. "Of course," and he was gone.


"Persephone!" My husband called to me. "Persephone, dear, where are you?" I stopped tending to the flowers of the underworld and walked in the direction of his voice.

"I'm coming!" I yelled back, hoping he could hear me. I walked into our throne-room and kneeled down on one knee. "My lord, you called for me?"

Hades gave a slight smile, which is extremely difficult to get him to do, and spoke. "There is no need to bow before me. You are my queen after all, or have you forgotten?"

I smiled as well. "Of course not. How could I forget such a wonderful thing?"

"Something is on your mind." It wasn't a question. He knew the way I spoke and thought. If something was on my mind, apparently I spoke differently. I had never noticed it, and when I asked my mother about it she said she had never noticed it either.

"Yes my lord," I responded, "I was just thinking about what happened while you were away this morning."

Hades looked at me, a more than serious tone to his voice. "Why?" He asked, "What happened?"

"It's nothing too serious. Hermes stopped by today. He told me that Zeus was furious with you, and Demeter was grieving even worse than normal. He came to take me back to the upper-world."

"And you didn't go?"

"I couldn't. You would have gotten furious with your brother if I had left without consulting with you first."

He sighed. "You can make your own decisions Persephone. Have Hermes tell me, when I am not here."

"You want me to leave?"

"You misunderstood. Don't let me hold you back from what you want. It is past time that I send you back to your mother, yet you choose to stay."

"Only because you asked it of me."

Hades sighed again and remained silent. When Hermes came to bring me home for the spring and summer, Hades has grabbed my arm and quietly asked me to stay. Please, my dear, don't leave me. Not yet. It was funny to think that the god of the underworld cared for me, but he did. He really did. No one would ever understand. They simply don't understand anything. When my mother asks me about my winter in the underworld, I can only reply with "It was dark. It was cold. I missed you." I couldn't tell her how much I loved it down here. She is just so used to the upper-world that she wouldn't understand how happy I was.

"Persephone. You're staring off into space again, my dear."

I shook my head, freeing myself from my thoughts. "Oh. Was I?"

"You were. What was it that you were thinking?" He stared at me with his cold, dark eyes. Those eyes that never frightened me, but still put me at a loss for words.

"Nothing, my lord. Just thinking about my…" I trailed off. I knew Hades didn't like my mother much, so I always tried not to talk about her.

"Your mother?" He asked. Again, he knew me so well. Of course I was thinking about her. But I really didn't miss her all that much. "Do you wish to go see her now? I will allow you to leave."

"No!" I blurted out, "I-I mean, I don't have to leave… If you want me to stay…"

"Decide yourself." It wasn't an order. It was more of a suggestion.

"Lord Hades. A message from Zeus!" Hermes was back again.

"How dare you storm in here unannounced!" My husband yelled furiously, standing up out of his throne.

"My lord, do calm down. Please tell us your message, Hermes." Hades sat back down, but didn't seem to be calmed.

Hermes stayed silent for a moment until Hades yelled again. "Do not anger me more, thief! Speak now!"

Hermes, unfazed by my husband's outburst, spoke in a calm tone. "Lord Zeus has ordered you to release the Lady Persephone from her captivity and return her to her mother Demeter immediately."

Hades smirked. "How I would love to follow my brothers orders," he said sarcastically, "But the choice is up to the queen." He looked at me. "My dear. Would you like to be released from your captivity?"

I stayed silent for a moment. I'm sure my mother missed me greatly, but Hades would miss me as well. I truly did feel sorry for him. Eight months of the year he is left alone in the underworld, forced into keeping peace among the dead. The first time he had brought me here I was horrified. I was so frightened. Everything was dark and cold and nothing like the upper-world. I thought Hades was a horrible god. He kidnapped me and forced me into marrying him. But over the years I grew to like him, a little more each year. He was kind toward me. He gave me jewels, indescribable and beautiful riches. He even gave me my own garden of flowers that would grow in the dark. I had no idea what I should do. True, the deal between Zeus, Demeter, and Hades had been broken, but it was only a month longer than usual. "Hermes," I finally spoke, "Did you deliver my previous message to the gods on Olympus?"

"I did, my lady, but they were not too pleased-"

"Take me to my mother then." I said quickly. "Tomorrow at sunrise, I shall leave here and return with you. Tell my father that I have made this decision on behalf of his agreement with my husband. That is the only reason why I will allow you to bring me back, because of that agreement."

"Yes, my lady." He bowed respectfully and flew off.

I turned to face Hades. The expression of anger that was on his face was now replaced with something close to sadness.

"I'm sorry," I told him, "But I do miss the sun and the fresh air. And without me up there, my mother will let the earth die."

"I understand." He told me. "What was your previous message that you sent to my brother?"

I could feel my face getting hotter. "It isn't very important." I tried to sound convincing.

"Obviously not." He stood up from his elegant throne and walked over to me, cupping his hand under my chin. "But if you wish not to tell me, I will not force it upon you." He gently kissed my forehead and whispered, "You better get ready to leave. You only have a few hours before Hermes will return."

I smiled and gave him hug, which alway startled him. "Don't worry. The summer months will go by quickly."

"You say that every year, my dear queen," He placed a crown of black flowers, that I just noticed he had been holding, on my head, "But it never does."


The next morning came quickly. I was a little sad to leave, but I could tell my husband was even more so. But Hades has a way of turning his sadness into anger. I can only only say one thing: Poor Hermes.

"I don't see how you put up with him every year." Hermes said to me while we were walking to Olympus. I convinced him to walk slowly with me through the woods. Wood nymphs waved to us a giggled when Hermes gave an over-confidant grin.

"I don't know," I replied, "He's actually very kind. To me anyway."

Hermes burst into a fit of laughter. "Hades! Kind?" He continued his laughing.

I glared at him. "Yes. Kind. He just doesn't want people to know it." I put my hands on my hips stubbornly.

Hermes stopped laughing. "Persephone. If that's true, then why does he let you know about his kindness? That is, if your telling the truth about this."

"I am telling the truth and he's kind to me because he cares about me."

"He kidnapped you and forced you into marrying him, how is that caring about you."

"He loves me, Hermes! Stop trying to make it look like he doesn't"

Hermes looked slightly offended. "Woah! Hey! I'm not trying to accuse anybody of anything! I'm just stating what I know!"

"Take me home, Hermes." I ordered. "I don't wish to speak with you any longer."

Hermes frowned. "Of course, my dear sister. But I advise that you not speak of your love for Hades when we arrive at Olympus."

"You think I don't know that? Hermes. Take me home now!"

Hermes nodded and grabbed my hand. We flew quickly through the air and we arrived at Mount Olympus within a matter of minutes.