Chapter 7
It had been a couple of weeks in Olympus. The gods and goddesses all gathered around little Persephone, all admiring the little beauty. Only Hera sat alone on the throne as Zeus paraded his little girl in the great hall.
Athena looked at her baby sister and stretched out her arms. "Father, can I have her?"
"You have such a perfect smile, little Persephone. I shall teach you so many things so that you may have the wisdom and skills that I have," and Athena hugged her little sister lovingly.
"Athena, don't be selfish! Let me hold her!" admonished Artemis. "I shall teach you the ways of the forest, you precious thing! Far more important as you are going to help your mother and Kore sounds much, much better than Persephone!"
Kore produced a little butterfly from midair and placed it on her sister's elegant nose. Artemis giggled.
Demeter could only look on with pride. Tearing her eyes away from little Kore, she scanned about the room to look for her eldest brother but did not find him. She sighed. Hades was as busy as usual and besides, he hated all these social functions. Then she turned her eyes upward to the sullen queen on the throne. Demeter began to become anxious. She sensed danger from Hera but then, Hermes' vision prophesied …
Zeus gathered Persephone back into his arms again, carrying her to up to Hera. Demeter gasped, her heart in her throat, worried about what Hera might do to her baby.
Hera looked away angrily as the baby gurgled with laughter. Rose buds sprang forth from her throne. Hera was stunned and looked at the child in amazement. From Persephone's palm, a lotus – sacred to Hera, sprang. The child offered it to Hera.
The ice in Hera's heart slowly melted. She reluctantly smiled as the child smiled back, her auburn hair shimmering, the little body glowing. Trembling, Hera hesitantly stood up and clasped the blossom, and suddenly, impulsively, kissed the little forehead in acceptance. She looked down at the baby with a tender and genuine smile.
Demeter sighed in relief as Zeus' laughter rang throughout the hall.