Zeus's Throne Room was designed to feel formidable. All the wealth and majesty of the gods and goddesses had contributed to the look and feel of the room. Persephone had been in through the golden doors once or twice but had always remained at the back and always amongst a crowd of onlookers. There had never been any reason for her to petition Zeus himself, to stand under that dais of cloud, lighting, marble and gold to look into the eyes of the King and beg an outcome. Even with her relationship with Hades, she had contrived to stay in the Underworld to hear judgement.
Until today.
Zagreus thought it was all very exciting. He'd never seen so many residents of Olympus all in the same spot, staring at him and his mother. Today, he looked like he was about six or seven years old, having shot up again in the night. The baby cheeks were disappearing and already Persephone could see the beauty in the boy who would become a man. He would be taller than both she and Hades by the time he was done. He peeked up at her and grinned.
Persephone tried to force a smile back. Demeter had been rehearsing with her all morning but there would be questions or statements that they couldn't predict and couldn't prepare for. This would be very public and very controversial. She had to be perfect.
The criers announced her, and Persephone took Zagreus's hand in her own.
"Remember what I told you," she told Zagreus. Zagreus nodded.
"Stay quiet, bow to the Throne and only speak if they ask me a question," he piped up immediately. His speech was coming along excellently. Persephone touched his head; her fingers brushed his fine chocolate hair.
"Follow me," she told him, and the doors opened to let them pass.
She knew the walkway up to the Thrones of Olympus wasn't that long, but it felt like forever. There were fifty pillars in rows she had to walk past, which gawkers and observers could gather between at to hear Zeus's pronouncements. At the end of the hall rose the dais, illuminating two of the twelve golden thrones that marked the seats of power for the entire Pantheon. Zeus sat in the highest seat, looking down on the hall. Hera sat at his right hand, slightly lower but not by much, observing Persephone's progress.
Light filtered in between the onlookers and as she made her way forward at a steady pace, one of the other lower thrones illuminated. A member of the Pantheon also wanted to be present. The seat shimmered white for a moment before Hermes appeared, his sandals fluttering gently. His presence made Persephone feel braver.
After what seemed like forever, they reach the front of the room and both bowed low, Zagreus executing his little bow exactly as rehearsed. Persephone heard sighs and coos from behind her as the Olympians observed her small son. He looked very handsome in the attire that Demeter had found for him this morning which included the golden circlet of a tiny prince.
"Queen of the Underworld, Prince of the Underworld," Zeus's crier announced. "You approach the King of the Gods and Skies for a proposal. Speak now."
"Lord and Lady of All," Persephone began, not omitting Hera as the crier had. She knew that would be a poor mistake. "I beg an indulgence. My son Zagreus confronted the Titans mere moments after his birth and is struggling to face returning to the Underworld and the memory of what he encountered. I am seeking your blessing for him to remain in your realm instead, to serve you here as you see fit, instead of returning with me to his father in Hades's realm. I would seek the construction of a House befitting the son of Hades as an addition to Mount Olympus."
There were mutters behind her, but Persephone kept her eyes on Zeus, pleading now without words. She didn't know what would happen if he said no. She hoped she had all of the stupid protocol right.
"Zagreus is your son and heir," Zeus highlighted, "this is an unusual request."
Thankfully, Demeter had thought that Zeus would bring this up and they had rehearsed an answer.
"My arrangement between the realms is also unusual," Persephone pointed out. "I am hoping my son will be, as our heir, a conduit to the Mysteries of Death for the mortals. Macaria had assumed her position with Elysium and will continue to serve in the Underworld beside her father."
Zeus petted the enormous eagle that sat astride the right armrest of his throne and considered the boy at his feet.
"Zagreus, is this what you want?" he asked eventually, staring at the boy.
Persephone nodded encouragement and Zagreus raised his head to meet his uncle's stare.
"Yes please, my King," he said clearly, and Hera smiled indulgently at the prince. Zeus just nodded.
"I have no concerns about Zagreus as a vassal in my realm, to remain as he wishes and to assume his godhood here in a House that befits his birth and title." Zeus dismissed the eagle and it flew away. "I have one condition for this arrangement."
Persephone grew cold. This was the part they couldn't have predicted.
"Macaria must not be in my realm," Zeus elucidated. "If her brother is to remain here. You are unique, my Lady, but I will not permit your heirs to fly between the realms as they please. There must be a child of Hades in the Underworld always."
Persephone ran through the proposal in her head, seeing no clear issue with this restriction. Zeus raised a hand to Hermes.
"Summon Macaria, Goddess of the Blessed Death," he ordered Hermes. "I will have her hear this condition."
Hermes nodded and held aloft his caduceus. A silver light shone onto the ground next to Persephone and a figure emerged. Macaria, blinking slightly in confusion, stepped out of the light. Once she saw the Thrones and her mother, she bowed deeply to the King of Olympus.
"My Lords, My Lady," Macaria stood tall, her posture confident. Her porcelain skin almost faded into the cream of her gown, her midnight-dark hair was shockingly stark against the clouds in the sunlight. She was an incredible contrast to the sun-kissed Olympians who stood gawking at her. "How may I serve?"
Persephone was extremely proud of Macaria in that moment. She was every inch her father's daughter. She could hear the buzz of conversation from those observing, curious about this goddess they had never seen.
"Macaria, your mother is petitioning me for your brother Zagreus to become a part of my realm," Zeus explained. It was difficult to read his expression. "I have a condition. A child of Hades must always be in the Underworld to serve as his heir, just as Poseidon and I have our children by our sides. You are the eldest and although not male, have ascended to your role in Elysium as Hades's most direct heir. My condition would be that you never set foot in my realm while your brother resides here. Zagreus would be free to visit you as he wishes, but you cannot leave your father's realm."
Macaria absorbed this with a blank face.
"If it be your will…" Macaria began but her little brother walked to her and took her hand. Zagreus appeared stricken. She knelt and squeezed his hand, muttering reassurances.
"You will still be able to communicate with your sister, Zagreus," Hera interjected, as that was plainly what had sent the boy to Macaria's side. "Do not fear. There will always be ways for you to see her."
Zagreus heard Hera but threw his arms around his sister in an enormous hug that melted the hearts of everyone who saw it. Persephone touched her son's back and caught what he was whispering to Macaria.
"I'm so sorry…" he sobbed.
"Don't be sorry, Zag. It's alright," Macaria soothed him. "When mum comes back to the Underworld, we'll meet at the Gates then and you can hug me, okay? We can talk all the time too. You and mum are the only things in Zeus's realm I want to see."
"Really?" Zagreus finally relented and stepped out of the hug with Persephone's reassurance. "You don't hate me?"
Macaria cupped his cheek in her hand. "I will never hate you, Zag. Especially not about this."
Macaria turned back to Zeus and Hera. Hera seemed as though she was quite choked up – Zeus was as impassive as ever.
"If it is your will, I will obey," Macaria pledged.
"It is done," Zeus decreed. Scribes wrote down the ruling. "Zagreus will be housed on Mount Olympus in new quarters until he decides otherwise."
Persephone took one hand of each of her children and they bowed to the Thrones once more.
"Thank you," she told Macaria as they walked away.
Macaria shrugged. "I can still judge from the line of the Dead as the other Judges do. Maybe father will let me have a pavilion of my own. I'm sure I can make it work."
"What were you doing in this realm?" Persephone asked, knowing Hermes's power never would have worked if she had been in the Underworld.
"Actually, I met Eros," Macaria admitted. "We talked about work."
"So, I get to stay?" Zagreus swung his mother's hand, delighted. "Because sis said yes?"
"Absolutely," Persephone told him. "And you get your own place near your grandmother's and everything."
Zagreus whooped.
When they had left the House of Zeus, Macaria kissed her brother goodbye and held him close.
"Next time we talk I bet you're much bigger," she told him with a wink. "I'll send you presents, little brother, very soon. Something we can talk through first, yes?"
"Ooh, maybe a big mirror!" Zagreus gushed. "Like Apollo's?"
"We'll see," Macaria stood and hugged her mother close. "See you in the winter, mother."
"Take care, beautiful," Persephone crushed Macaria close. "I was so proud of you today. Thank you again." Her daughter smelt like home – something like crushed flowers and warm smoke. But she was obviously eager to return to the Underworld and Persephone didn't want to keep her waiting. "I will see you then."
Macaria brought a lantern up and let the shadows it cast envelop her until she faded, blinking into nothingness. Zagreus sighed.
"I'm tired now," he complained.
"It's been a big morning," Persephone acknowledged. "Home for a nap?"
"Home for a nap!" Zagreus agreed, punching a fist in the air.
They negotiated the crowds to return to Demeter's place. Persephone found Hermes at the gate, talking to Demeter about what had occurred. Zagreus, ignorant of any adult tension, raced inside to find his bed and collapse into it without another word.
Demeter smiled.
"Well, Zagreus is welcome and gets his own House as your heir," she noted, being positive.
"No one asked Hades about Macaria, though," Hermes said, sighing and taping his leg nervously with his caduceus.
"I don't think it will be a problem," Persephone assured him. "She was already working on a solution to continue her work and that's what will be important to Hades."
Hermes gave her a look. "Right. Because Hades won't have an issue with Zeus messing about with where his children can be when Hades has never done that to Zeus. Sure. Okay. Want to break the news to your lovely, forgiving husband?"
Demeter frowned.
"He knows his children, Hermes," Persephone argued gently. "If Macaria could, she would never leave the Underworld anyway. Of all the things Zeus could have chosen, this is one of the milder ones, surely."
Hermes laughed bitterly. "Well, I'm off to tell Hades about the ruling. Any tips?"
"Macaria will probably beat you to it," Persephone admitted. She took her crown from her head and massaged her temples. It was a lovely thing, but it made her head ache if she wore it too long. "But if not, make sure Hecate is nearby."
Hermes actually blushed, flushing scarlet. "Why would I need her?"
Demeter graciously decided to become interested in giving her servants instructions about the garden and moved away. Persephone glared at her friend, who was become pinker by the moment.
"What?" Hermes tried for nonchalant, but his voice cracked a bit at the end.
"You tell me what," Persephone levelled back at him. "Why are you avoiding Hecate?"
Hermes squirmed. "I should get going."
Persephone just waited, her stare unwavering, her magic ready in case he tried to flee. He was fast, but she was possibly more powerful.
Hermes sighed. "Okay, she may have walked in on me trying to talk to, um, someone… In a romantic sense? I asked her not to let everyone know about my private life and she is, ah, enjoying my… discomfort."
Persephone laughed. "Your secret will be out in a day. Who were you trying to proposition this time?"
Hermes stared at the ground and Persephone suddenly had a terrible sinking sensation.
"Not my daughter?"
"By all creation! No!" Hermes shuddered. "I wouldn't… Just no. Ew."
"Then who?" she burned to know.
More increasingly awkward silence from Hermes was her only answer.
Persephone tried another tactic. "Hecate will let everyone know eventually, you realise? She is terrible at keeping anything bottled up."
"I should really go…"
"And if I find out from Hecate it will no doubt be in the most dramatic, ridiculous and embarrassing way she can think of," Persephone prodded.
Hermes braced himself.
"It's… Daeira."
Persephone's handmaiden in the Underworld and her first friend apart from Hecate herself. At least the reason Hermes had been so reluctant to tell her was clear.
"You know," Persephone grinned. "She's asking to be permanent staff in the Underworld, even when her service is complete. Hades will grant it."
"You're not angry with me?" Hermes asked, flummoxed.
Persephone just gave a shrug remarkably like Macaria's in response.
"Why would I be? She's clever and sensible. She'll tell you if she's interested."
Hermes chewed his lip. "Look, I'm trying to be a bit more… Well, better than I have been when it comes to other people's feelings. I mean, yes, there was that weekend with Aphrodite in Egypt and Pan's mother and I have always had a thing but… Anyway, Hecate heard me when I was genuinely trying to be sincere and Daeira has become convinced that I asked her as a sort of joke or something." He slumped and rubbed at his face, as though trying to smear the regret away. "But I meant every word I said to her and now I don't know what to do."
Persephone took Hermes's hand and tried to console him.
"Try again," she encouraged. "This time, in private. Daeira is one of the most intuitive nymphs I've met. If you mean it, she'll know. She always seemed to be one step ahead of me when I was confused and upset."
Hermes nodded, extracted his hand from her without looking too convinced and flung himself skywards. Instead of calling him back with her powers, Persephone waved. He would just have to figure it out by himself. Love seemed to enjoy messing with everybody, for a time.
Demeter's house was quiet and tranquil in the afternoon. A breeze chased through the open windows into the courtyard and carried the scent of fresh honeysuckle and reeds. Persephone gladly stored her queenly regalia and undid her hair until it fell in waves down her back. She missed Hades and his ability to take all the stress away, the way he would stand behind her and comb his cool fingers through her hair until she fell asleep. How his lips would graze her neck when it was uncovered.
She checked Zagreus room and found her son curled up, mouth wide open, uttering tiny little snores in the afternoon heat.
Winter seemed very far away. Persephone sat beside him on the bed and idly stroked through his hair, watching the brilliant blue sky outside and wondering what her son's abode on Mount Olympus would look like.