Hey guys! I'm thrilled to say that this chapter is finished! Many happy moments, with one sad moment but hey, its all good! I really don't have an excuse for the delayed entry. I do have other stories (that I will be posting) that I've been working on. It's been a year since I've done anything, shame on me! XD Happy new years to all of y'all out there! I wanna thank those of you who have followed, favorited, and reviewed my story! It means so much to me and it encourages me so much! so thanks!
It has been two months since Persephone left for the underworld. Many things have happened, and many plans have been hatched.
On the upper world Demeter has been neglecting all of her duties of harvest to search for her beloved daughter. By now, the temperature was well down into freezing and frost covered most of everything. Mortals were starting to complain, but no one could do anything to convince her to raise the temperature.
All the other gods, including Apollo, have been searching for the young goddess. All of them were searching for her for the same reason. Demeter was going crazy. She had her reason, and nobody could blame her. Her only joy – her only love – in life has gone missing, and nobody knows where. Little did they know, Persephone was spending her days happily in the underworld, surrounded by people who proved that they really do care about her, and not so that they may have personal benefits from it.
Persephone had talked to Hades about Ariel and Daniel's relationship. Hades said that he had his suspicions, but he thought that it was none of his business and if they wanted to talk about it, they would. He said that he would have given them permission to do as they pleased if they had only asked. Persephone told them all of what Hades had said and they have been the happiest couple she had ever seen.
Persephone had also been working on her garden non-stop whenever Hades, Ariel, or Daniel weren't around. Persephone had tried to be friends with Alexander, but he was never around and when he was he was completely serious and always kept himself guarded, like she was going to hurt him somehow. Most of what fills her garden now are Pomegranate trees. She can't help but grow one every time she walks into her garden, because each time he does, she thinks of wonderful, love-filled memories of her and Hades.
Hades has been hiding something though. For now Ariel was the only one who knew of his secret. Hades was going to ask Persephone for her hand in Marriage! Ariel almost burst with happiness when he told her of this news. He said to her that he needed her help in designing the engagement ring with precious stones. He needed her to ask Persephone what her favorite types of stones were, that way the ring could be perfect.
Ariel was walking down the vast hallway on her way to Persephone's chambers, exploding with happiness. She lightly tapped on her soon to be queen's door and basically hopped in when she called "Come in!" from the inside.
"Well what are you so happy about Ariel?" Persephone asked while sitting at her vanity, brushing out her smooth golden hair.
Ariel skipped right over and stole the brush from Persephone's hand and took over the task of brushing out her hair. "Oh, today is just one of those days you know?"
Persephone's eyes looked down and she smiled showing her beautiful white teeth. "Yes. Those days."
Ariel glanced up and saw the shimmering ceiling of Persephone's chambers. "Wow. You know Persephone, I never noticed how truly beautiful this room is. I mean, look at the ceiling. Precious stones and gems cover all of it. Tell me Persephone, What are your favorite stones and gems?"
Persephone thought carefully before answering. "I love the gems that have cool colors. Like blue and green. Green Emeralds remind me of earth and grass and fields. Blue sapphires remind me of water and the joy and life it gives to people. But I do have to say that my absolute favorite now is, Rubies. The color reminds me of Pomegranates, and Pomegranates remind me of Hades." She closed her eyes and smiled, she smiled a smile that only one who is in complete love can posses. Ariel couldn't wait to get back to Hades and help him with this, and to see the look on his face when she told him of what Persephone had just said.
"So Ariel, how are you and Daniel doing? I assume quite well."
Ariel beamed. "Oh things are most magnificent! I have never been happier in my entire existence! He says that he wants to take me somewhere. Not like we can leave the underworld or anything, but he still wants to do something special with me."
"Oh that sounds wonderful!"
"It is. I couldn't be happier."
"You seem like it."
Ariel set the brush down on the table. "Would you like me to help you dress for gardening or anything?"
"Yes that would be lovely, thank you. Could you braid my hair first? It's the best thing to do with my hair when I need to do work."
"Of course!"
Ariel picked up the brush again to start smoothing out Persephone's golden locks once more and she ran her fingers through Persephone's hair, Persephone sighed as she leaned her head back, enjoying each sensation.
Ariel nearly ran down the hallways to Hades's work room. The halls passed by her in a blur, all of the wall colors blending together. Right in front of her, Daniel walked out from behind a corner. They were lucky that it takes a lot to knock Daniel down, because when she ran right into him, he stayed steadily on his feet, but she got turned backwards and nearly hit her head on the ground next to him. With his cat-like reflexes, he caught her just in the nick of time. She was almost parallel to the floor when he slipped one hand behind her back and his other behind her head, saving her from the hard ground. They both stared at each other in awe. "May I ask why you are in such a hurry?" He asked breathing heavily.
She hurried to catch her breath. "I have most wonderful news for Hades and he would want to hear it as soon as possible."
"Must be pretty important, for you to run so quickly. Lucky that I have good reflexes or else we would both be on the ground." She smiled up at him. "May I ask what it is you are telling him?" He asked, not moving an inch from their stance.
"Oh, I would have to ask Hades. It's his secret and only I know of it. Besides, you will know of it soon enough anyway." She smiled, still struggling to catch her breath.
"Well alright then. Just be careful, we don't want any more accidents happening."
"Will do." She giggled. With that he leaned all the way down and pressed their lips together in a passionate kiss. She was bubbling over with happiness. This was an all around great day for her. To her dismay, she put her right hand on his chest and gently pushed him back, stopping the kiss. "I am sorry, but I do have to go." She flushed.
He nodded. "I understand." And with that he pulled her all the way up and made sure she was balanced on her feet before letting go. "I'll see you later right?" He asked.
All she could do was smile and nod. "All right then, I will see you then." He said. Her smile got even bigger and she turned and walked to Hades's work room. Both of her hands were resting on her chest, feeling her heart flutter. She felt just so happy to be here.
"Come in!" called Hades. Ariel slipped into the room quietly. Hades was facing the south wall, reading something in his bookshelf. He turned and saw her. "Ah, Ariel!" he smiled, closing the book and setting it on the dark oak table. "What have you got for me?"
"Persephone. She loves Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies. Each one means something to her. She said that Emeralds remind her of earth and fields, Sapphires remind her of water and the life it brings, and then, well," Ariel smiled. "Rubies remind her of Pomegranates… and you."
He smiled sheepishly. He cleared his throat while saying, "All right. I guess we should get started on the ring then." He sat at his desk and pointed at a chair next to his.
Ariel Beamed. "Okay!"
Wind whipped across Demeter's tear stained face as she flew through the mountain lands. She had been looking for her beloved daughter non stop when she found out Persephone had gone missing and did not return after the party at Mount Olympus. She had gone across world many times tracing and re-tracing her steps over and over again. By now she had almost given up hope. Her daughter was probably long gone dead. How an immortal Goddess had been killed is a mystery, but nonetheless it is possible with the right tools.
She stopped searching for the day and returned to Mount Olympus. Awaiting her was Zeus. She didn't even acknowledge his presence as she passed by him heading off to her chambers. "Demeter this has to stop!" He stated. "The mortals are dying at a rapid pace. And the world, It's becoming a ball of ice!"
She stopped and without turning to face him quietly replied. "What's the point of having mortals and earth if I can't share it with the person I love the most?"
Zeus approached her and put his hands on her shoulders. "My dear Demeter," He sighed. "Persephone was very dear to all of us. We all loved her and wanted to give her a home here. But she is gone now; it is time to move on. She wouldn't want the earth to be like this. She would want everyone to go on with their lives and live."
Demeter turned and buried herself into him crying as she did. "She's gone! And who knows what happened to her!? So many horrible things could have happened to her and damaged my baby!" Demeter shook violently.
Zeus wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Shh." He whispered. "We must not think like that my dear. All we can do is hope that she went peacefully."
And like that Zeus held the shaking woman in his arms for the night, comforting her to the best of his abilities.
The wind blasted through Persephone's beautiful Golden hair. Hades gazed upon her with amazement. They galloped once more through the Asphodel Fields, heading to the large oak tree in the center of it all. The engagement ring was finished. Hades and Ariel had worked on it all though the night and now today he was going to do it. He was going to ask Persephone for her hand in marriage under the same tree, in the same spot where they shared their first kiss.
When they reached their destination she jumped off of her brown mare in the same way she always did, and laid in the same spot. He swept his leg around the black stallion and slid off. He gently swiped his hand across the pocket where the small black velvet case was. A nervous habit that he did for about the hundredth time in the last hour.
She lay on her back with her elbows propping her up, basking in the light. She was gorgeous in every way possible. He almost forgot that he was here to propose, he was so lost in her beauty.
He cleared his throat and scratched his head to get her attention. She opened her large sparkling emerald eyes and looked at him with wonder. He could have jumped on top of her in that moment and make love with her, but he held back for fear of what the consequences may be, good or bad.
He took a deep breath. "Persephone, There is a reason I asked you to come out here today. "I love you very much. I've told you part of this before. You're the reason there is light in my eyes. Before you were born, I had no reason to truly be happy. I wanted to share my kingdom with someone whom I love and who loves me back. I looked at everything with a blank stare and people thought of me as cruel. And then one day I received a message, telling me that Demeter's daughter had been born and it is required of me to attend the celebration. I arrived slowly and dreading being there. But, then it was my turn to hold you. You were crying when others held you, but the moment you were laid in my arms, you stopped. You opened those big emerald eyes of yours and you took my breath away. I whispered your name even though you hadn't been named yet. Zeus loved the name and that has been your name ever since, Persephone. My eyes from then on reflected the light rather than absorbed it. You are the reason there is light in my eyes, and I wish for you to keep being the light, with me." He got down on one knee in front of her. Her eyes got wide and filled with tears of joy. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box and opened it, revealing the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. "Will you, my sweet flower, Persephone, be my wife and continue being the light in my eyes? Always and Forever." She leaped from the ground and circled her arms around his neck, a few tears rolling down her face, exclaiming yes as she did. With the force that she hit him with they both fell over and rolled a few feet down the hill. She pressed her lips hard against him in a passionate kiss. He broke the kiss and looked down and slid the ring onto her delicate left hand.
She gazed upon the ring. The band was pure gold. On top of it, forming a circle, were small sapphires and on the inside of that circle was another smaller circle of emeralds. And in the middle, a large breathtaking red ruby that drew attention from everything else. Tears of joy were rolling down her face, the ruby reminded her of Hades and now, he would be hers and she would be his. "And I love you too, Hades." she sobbed out. Hades smiled at her, stroking her cheeks and wiping away her tears of joy.
She pulled him into another passionate kiss while running her fingers through his jet black hair. He rolled so that she was on top of him and wrapped his arms around the small of her back. They knew for sure now that they would be together, always and forever.
Yeah! Isn't it beautiful?! Next chapter is gonna be pretty great! (or at least I hope!) I can't wait to write it.
So once again thanks to all of y'all who follow, favorite, and review! It means so much to me and like I said before, it encourages me to go faster and be better with my work! so keep it up!
Happy new years day to all of you! Hope y'all had a great year and more to come!
Love y'all! Bye!