Woah, ten chapters! Never thought I would get this far with this story. Thank you to all of you readers; I appreciate every single one of you for making it this far with me. I truly hope you will enjoy the rest of this story, which might even go on another ten chapters (it's likely, I'm notorious for long fanfictions). Thank you for your kind reviews and to those following this tale, I am indebted to you. Every time I see someone had followed it spurs me on to write faster!
Hades was beginning to feel perplexed by himself, which had not happened for as long as he could recall. Hecate had made some remark about not recognising him and Hades started to wonder whether he could truly say that he was himself anymore. Certainly, he was not acting in the vein of his usual character. He was startled to discover he did not really know why, or how, this change had occurred.
He had escorted Persephone upriver, his personal servant performing the actual back-breaking task of steering them upstream. Ahead, the River Styx separated into three smaller waterways at a wide three-pronged fork. Great structures towered on the dry land, like hulking figures squatting in the shadows watching the water run by their feet. One, the Court of the Newly Dead, stood as vast as a cathedral, with a door-less entryway that seven chariots side by side could have easily passed through. Persephone heard the wailing and petrified pleas of those being judged – Hades could hardly conceal them from her – but she did not seem adversely effected in the way he had expected. She did turn to him as they voyaged past with a slight frown on her face, but it was not horror or anger he spotted there, rather a grimace of confusion.
"Don't they realise their crying won't do anything?" she asked him. "I mean, their time is done. Their chance to do good things is already over, isn't it? Why don't they understand that they set their fate before their shade ever got here?"
Clearly, Persephone had a good deal more insight and wisdom than he had given her credit for. Hades cast his hands wide, in a kind of helpless gesture.
"This is a place of judgement, not a chance of redemption," he stated, confirming that she has a valid point. "Souls write the tally of their deeds in life but it is seldom until death come for them that they realise the true consequences of their ways. Desperation fuels their woe that we can hear, nothing else."
They docked for a time so that Hades could introduce the three judges of the Underworld's Court to Persephone. Minos, haughty and a right pain at times, thawed instantly at the young woman's polite questions. The dignified and reserved man of the three, Aeacus, offered her a tiny smile. Hades watched Persephone attend closely to even Rhadamanthus's drivel and nod thoughtfully no matter what he decided to discuss. As the three judges bid them farewell from the impressive Halls of Judgement, Hades caught her smiling and wondered at it. Although his tongue burned to ask what she was thinking of, he did not question what she did not voice.
They boarded the boat once more and took one of the three smaller rivers in a different direction. Here, the air began to ring with trembling notes of music. Persephone stared and turned to query but Hades sat straight and did not turn to respond to her unasked question. He felt a happy impatience that he'd seldom experienced – the feeling when about to give someone a rare and unexpected treat.
Even so, his work ethic nagged at him.
Is this really necessary? Don't you have more important things you should be doing right now?
But he explained those callous thoughts away with eager justifications.
She's here for such a short period of time; it would be rude not to offer the courtesy of my company. Besides, this is a necessary task… for her own safety.
The last part of that logic seemed poor somehow. It was lacking all of the enjoyment he was getting out of this.
Why am I so… happy to conduct this hosting myself? Someone lesser could easily do it. Her handmaiden could have done it.
This sensible suggestion was rejected instantly. He discovered, as the boat slipped slowly through the water, that he genuinely cared about what sort of time she had whilst here.
She's just one Greek woman! Why should I care how she feels about the Underworld? Or me?
Hades silently mused as the boat crept forward with aching slowness. Persephone wasn't like other women he had met but he could not discern exactly why. She was a pleasure to be around, almost magnetic and certainly intriguing with that gentle smile. As the waters carried them forward he let the rocking of their passage soothe some of these troubling quandaries.
Persephone bounced with impatience. The music grew stronger, more inviting. She thought she caught the songs of birds, whistling along to the instruments. Voices. She was certain there was laughter and pleasant conversation up ahead. It was all she could do not to stand up and peer further, to strain her eyes against the shadows. Hades knew this and bit at his half-smile as he watched her exasperation build.
Persephone gasped and he knew she'd finally spotted the entrance to the Elysium. The sound of her obvious delight made Hades give up the battle and he allowed a full-blown grin to adorn his face. He couldn't help himself. He was very proud of what he'd accomplished so far on the passageway to the Isle of the Blessed and he was exceedingly glad she thought it wonderful.
"I cannot grant you entry, unfortunately," he confessed as they passed by the great silver doors, intricately patterned with the most artistic and breathtaking renditions of the pantheon. White light permeated the edge of the river from inside these majestic doors. "It is the highest offer for mortals after death and there are many secrets inside."
"It's stunning, even from here," Persephone assured him, a little breathless from the incredible sight. She was drinking in the sounds and smells that filtered out from behind the Elysium Doorway.
"I built it to be the grandest area of the Underworld," Hades told her.
"I can tell," she responded brightly. "It's amazing."
His tumult of emotions after her compliment left him more confused than ever.
They lingered near the entrance to Elysium as various blessed souls called out warm greetings to them both. The solemn guardians of the doorway bowed low to their Lord and resumed their duties with efficiency. No one unauthorised would ever entry the Isle of the Blessed while they were on watch.
The boat circled around a bend and Hades brought himself to attend to the progress they were making. It was hard not to simply stare at Persephone's delight.
"Further down the other end of the River Styx, which circles the Underworld nine times, lies the first gates to Tartarus," Hades informed Persephone. "We will not venture there, but instead to Cerberus's post at the entry to the Underworld."
For a second Persephone almost looked disappointed but her expression quickly cleared when she noticed Hades' scrutiny.
"The River of Fire is no place for a mortal, even a demi-goddess like yourself," Hades told her seriously. "Only the Lord of the Underworld and those equal to my status can enter."
"Of course, my Lord," Persephone gave a nod and reassured him. "I promised I wouldn't go anywhere I wasn't allowed. I stand by that promise."
There was a hushed moment.
"Are you afraid of dogs?" Hades inquired politely.
"Not particularly."
"I promise you will be afraid of this one at first but," Hades spoke quickly to assuage her obvious alarm, "I am Cerberus's master. He has never failed to obey me, in all the thousands of years I have kept him."
Persephone edged closer to the god, so close to him that he felt her nervous tremble.
"He is a guard dog," he tried to explain. "Everyone fears him and that is a normal reaction. If you were not afraid, I would have to replace him."
"You are completely certain he won't attack me?" Persephone reiterated firmly. "I am a living soul, after all."
"By the River Styx we journey on, I swear you will come to no harm from Cerberus in this life or the next," Hades swore the unbreakable oath. She relaxed at his promise but she didn't move away from him and the darkness of uncertainty still flickered in her watchful eyes. He felt a sudden impulse, mercifully brief, to draw her close and into his arms where she would feel secure.
What is coming over me?
Hades had simply no answer for his own frustrating questions.