Chapter 1: A Perfectly Average Morning

by Byleapsandbounds

Persephone woke to a great crash that came from the kitchen, her mother starting the day with yet another one of her perilous cleaning sprees. Sighing, Persephone pushed away the covers of her bed and slid her feet into her favorite slippers before moving to assist her mother.

"Good morning, Kore!" Her mother sang, wrestling with a pile of dishes that threatened to spill out of her arms. Persephone took half the stack and placed them on the shelf.

"You should really consider taking two trips, Mother," Persephone intoned, rubbing her eyes.

"That's why I have a daughter, isn't it?" Demeter put the other stack of plates away before pausing to take a breath. "Would you like some breakfast? I've already eaten. I didn't want to wake you"

"No thank you," she yawned, stretching. 'Thanks for being so considerate' she mumbled to herself, stepping over the broken dish that woke her. "I'm not hungry. Plus, I promised the nymphs I'd help them find some flowers for their garlands this morning."

"Just don't wander too far, darling," her mother replied, bending to pick up the shattered remains of the plate."You know how they like to," she paused, "explore." Persephone could hear the note of bitterness in her mother's voice, a common occurrence in the speech of her uncommonly protective mother. To be fair, the Leimakids (as familiar with the land as they were) did have a tendency to get lost during their floral 'adventures.'

"I'll be fine, mother!" Persephone had already begun walking back to her room to change.

She reemerged several minutes later, having put on a fresh white chiton, allowing her hair to fall loose over her shoulders in a cascade of auburn. Demeter had already made her way back to the other end of their humble home, allowing Persephone to slip out the door without any further confrontation. Her mother always worried too much; it was almost suffocating the way she kept Persephone 'safe'. Often it felt as if Demeter was afraid to let the fledgling goddess truly live.

Persephone let her fingers trail over curls, twisting them into small ringlets as she made her way through the valley towards the line of trees ahead. On the other side was the field where she and her friends would always find the most beautiful flowers with which they could weave stunning wreathes. Sadly, floral decoration making was about as exciting as it got in their little valley.

"Percy!" A shout came from behind her, interrupting her mental pity party.

Persephone turned around to see a familiar face running towards her. Her face broke out into a huge grin, "Orpheus!" she exclaimed in response. He was one of the few mortals she knew, and the closest thing she had to a best friend. Her mother was completely unaware of this fact.

Orpheus was winded when he finally reached her. "I've missed you," he panted, embracing his friend. "May I accompany you?" He paused, "Er.. where are you going?"

Persephone laughed, unfolding his arms from around her. "Flower picking. Girl stuff; you wouldn't really enjoy it." Orpheus let out a gasp, covering his mouth with a hand in mock offense.

"Percy! Am I truly not manly enough to be able to enjoy picking some daffodils without feeling concerned about my sexuality?"

"Of course you are," Persephone reached up and ruffled his curly hair, smiling. Orpheus grimaced. "Shall we?"

He offered his arm, "We shall."

Persephone took his arm, genially, and turned them in the proper direction before she began her interrogation.

"So... how did it go?"

"How did what go?" Orpheus answered, coyly. A gentle push from Persephone jogged his memory. "Oh, with Eurydice?"

Persephone rolled her eyes, dropping his arm and bending to pick up a little purple flower as they walked.

"The wedding is set to take place in just under a month," he revealed, shyly plucking some stray grass from his himation.

Persephone beamed, "Congratulations! I thought you'd never ask her!"

"Thank you so much for your unfailing confidence," Orpheus deadpanned, earning him another playful nudge.

"Any time," Persephone lilted, skipping over a fallen branch as they entered the woods. The foliage overhead shielded the pair from the sunlight, a damp breeze chilling them as they pushed their way towards the field on the other side. 'There's something strange about this breeze,' Persephone mused, mildly uncomfortable. She dismissed the thought, glancing to Orpheus behind her as he pulled his himation free of a branch which then snapped back towards him, leaving a nice wet mark across his chest. She laughed. He threw her a goofy smile.

Demeter would never approve of her friendship with a man, even one already betrothed. Orpheus was one of Persephone's many secrets; he was a balm that soothed the ache of solitude that came from living with the most possessive woman- or rather goddess- in all of Greece. What her mother didn't know wouldn't hurt her. Demeter might wonder, however, why her daughter was attending the wedding of a mortal she'd never met. 'That could be a problem...'

"Are you listening, Percy?"

Persephone blinked, torn from her reverie. "I'm sorry?"

"I was telling you about meeting with her father..." Orpheus drawled.

"Right, sorry. Go ahead," she beckoned, ducking beneath a low hanging branch and stepping into the light of the meadow.

As Orpheus and Persephone left the woods, a lean figure in the shade observed them from a distance, silent and unnoticed.


Author's Note:

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! I warn you, I tend to update slowly. My sincerest apologies.

I'll always try to define or explain terms that may be unfamiliar to you, but you can also look these up. I'm human, and I make mistakes. If you catch something, don't hesitate to let me know! Your reviews make me a better author, and a happier person :)

Leimakids: Nymphs of the meadows.
Chiton: Traditional tunic/dress.
Himation: Traditional outer cloak.