A/N: Thanks for your reviews! For those following both stories, I completed my Labyrinth story yesterday, so this will be the only one I'm working on currently. However, I am looking for Beta readers for my next Labyrinth story, and possibly stories in other fandoms as they catch my interest. If you're interested, drop me a PM!
Chapter 18: A Sunny Ride
Hades felt bad for making Persephone wait for lunch, so they stopped by the kitchen on their way out. His shadow lifted out two rolls hot from the oven. The cook, the ghost of a large woman, rounded furiously at the theft. She blanched when she realized who the thief was. She bowed deeply to Hades, and then bowed again, just as deep, to Persephone.
"Maripose," Persephone acknowledged the cook, while Hades blinked in surprise. When had she met the cook? Beaming, the ghost pressed two more rolls on them. They were of course made from food brought down from the mortal world, as to be safe for Persephone. He got the sense that the cook was pleased to have real food to work with again. He still remembered what had caused her to be sentenced to Tartarus. She was thirty-eight years into her century-long service. As a young woman, she had once been captured by a band of brigands. To escape from them, she poisoned their soup. The entire camp—twenty-three men—died from her concoction. Once she was free, she was so consumed with guilt that she dedicated her life—and now her death—to serving food to others. It was as if she was using the wholesome meals she gave out now to erase the fatal ones. He nodded to her as they walked away.
The rolls were good. They had bits of meat baked into them, with dried fruit on top and drizzled with honey-butter. He ate one and pressed his second on Persephone after she ate her two.
"You need to eat more," he said, worrying about her health again. She accepted the roll and nibbled on it, though clearly she wasn't very hungry after eating her rolls. He got a visceral pleasure at watching her consume food that he had given her. Most of the roll went to Cerberus when they went to the kennel to let him out. The hound was ecstatic to see Persephone again. She laughed and petted his heads. She was just as happy to see him as well. Perhaps it was a small thing, but Hades was glad his dog approved of her.
Their next destination was the stables. Phlegethon was tethered outside her stall, but not yet tacked up to be ridden. Persephone automatically walked toward the big mare. Hades stopped her.
"I thought today you might like to pick out your own mount to ride," he revealed.
Her eyes went wide. "I don't know how to ride," she reminded him.
"I'll teach you," he assured her. "Now, which one would you like? All of the mounts in here are available."
She gave him an incredulous look, but began to walk the stalls. She paused at each one, taking a moment to pet the heads that came out to greet her. He stood back and watched. In his mind he went over the strengths and weakness of all the horses that she stopped at. He would have liked to steer her to one of the steadier, calmer mounts. Something in him rebelled at the idea. She was not a child that had to be guided from lesson to lesson. He would not have been half so attracted to her if she wasn't able to think for herself and make her own decisions. Nor was she foolhardily independent, making rash choices without heeding the consequences. She made a complete round of the stables, and came back to one particular. The golden head with a black mane snuffled at her. She looked to Hades for advice.
"This one?" she asked.
He eyed the buckskin. The horse was very tall, nearly matching Phlegethon's height, though only half so broad. Hades knew him to be a lively but even-tempered mount. He could have easily been too much for Persephone, but the stallion retained the good manners he'd had as a gelding in life. Hades nodded in approval.
"A fine choice," he praised warmly.
She flushed with pride, standing by her new horse. He had the golden body of a palomino, but with the black mane, tail and legs of a bay. Hades showed her how to put a halter on the horse, and brought out a bucket of grooming supplies. She wasn't afraid of the hard work associated with having a horse, he noted fondly. As a goddess she could have easily turned her nose up at the menial chores of picking hooves and currying dirt from the coat. Most of the time the stable hands would take care of those chores for her, but he wanted her to have a basic understanding of general horse care. She was eager to learn. Her focus was intense, as if she was determined to memorize everything correctly the first time she saw it. He was reminded of a child who feared being beaten if they got their lessons wrong. Surely she knew there were no penalties here?
"What are you going to call him?" he asked as he brought the tack over for her. Her dress was littered with fine golden horse hair, but her eyes shown with excitement. She hadn't been this happy since her first days here. Doing this was the right thing to cheer her up. Her joy was infectious, and caused a warm feeling in his heart.
"I think I'll call him… Sunny," she mused. Instantly his pleasure was wiped away. She couldn't have hurt him worse if she drove a knife in his chest and twisted the blade. How wrong he had been. He thought he could make her happy. But it wasn't enough for her. She still missed the sunlight. She would never be happy here.
"A good name," he choked out. She turned to look at him, but he moved away so she wouldn't see his stricken expression. He'd hoped the gift of the horse and riding lessons would help her find something to like down here. Instead, she named her horse after the one thing he could never give her. Was he only keeping her as a prisoner here? Did she think of him as her jailor?
"Hades?" she asked uncertainly. He hunched his shoulders against more pain. It was a lie, he told himself. She didn't really think of him in such a way that would allow her to use his name like that. Sure enough, she corrected herself immediately.
"Lord Hades? Is something wrong?"
He heard her move behind him. Without warning he spun and caught her in a fierce hug. She gasped in surprise, but didn't struggle.
"Just fine," he said hoarsely. His hopes and dreams of a throne besides his, a queen to hold in his heart, burnt in the flames of Tartarus. If this would be the last time he would have her before he shut his heart away forever, he would make the most of it.
"Are you ready for your lessons?" he asked briskly. He taught her how to saddle and bridle Sunny. He wanted to spit in anger every time he heard the horse's name. They led their mounts out of the stables in into a fenced arena where they could work without distraction. Sunny was too tall for Persephone to mount unassisted. He showed her how to use the mounting block, and how to step-up from his cupped hands. He couldn't meet her eyes, still reeling from the pain of losing a future with her. It was all he could do to pretend nothing was wrong. He wasn't entirely successful. She gave him odd looks during his instruction, clearly wondering about his mood change. He did not enlighten her.
Once she was settled on Sunny's back, she became nervous. It was a lot different now that he wasn't going to be sitting behind her and holding onto her. At first he led her around on the ground, letting her get used to the motion without worrying about anything else. As she grew more comfortable, he turned the reigns over to her. Sunny's ears flicked back, reading her inexperience and considering whether or not to take advantage of it. Hade's shadow stretched on the ground toward the horse in warning. Sunny decided it was much better not to contest his new rider. Hades directed Persephone to ride Sunny in a series of easy patterns to get used to guiding her horse. Despite the ache in his heart, he loved the way she grinned as her confidence grew.
Finally, they were ready to go. He slung a pair of heavy saddlebags over Phlegethon's withers. The big mare didn't so much as twitch a muscle. He opened the arena gate for Persephone and Sunny to ride out. She became nervous again at the thought of riding in the open.
"We aren't going fast today," he reassured her. "Sunny will follow Phlegethon, probably without being told. This is just a simple ride out to the fields."
"Okay," she agreed anxiously.
However, it went exactly as he said. They rode slowly through town and reached the open fields. Cerberus was bored of their slow pace, but knew better than to antagonize the horses this week. He began ranging out, coming back every few minutes to check on them. Hades kept an eye on Persephone, but she was doing very well for her first solo ride. He took them to same overlook where they had their first picnic a week ago. Sunny was tall enough that Persephone had to kick free of the stirrups and jump down. He made sure he was in position to catch her. Sure enough, her legs buckled when she landed. She fell hard against him. He set her on her feet, but instead of letting go of him, she held on tighter.
"Thank you," she murmured, rubbing her cheek on his chest. A welter of confused emotion flooded through him. What was she doing? It felt really nice, and reminded him why he loved her. She was so accepting of him, as a person. And yet she named her horse after the only thing that didn't exist down here. He didn't know whether she was attracted to him as a man, as she seemed to be now, or if she was merely placating him while she was in his power. He held her tenderly, savoring the feel of her in his arms. If only he could always have her like this, knowing she was protected and loved.
Eventually he pulled back, ready to set the rest of his plan in motion. The overlook was barren, but with an effort of will he connected to the Underworld and grew lush strands of grass. The horses began to crop at it. He loosened the saddles and slipped the bits from their mouths. He removed the heavy saddlebags from Phlegethon's back and began taking out the accoutrements of a picnic. Persephone hummed in pleasure and helped him. It seemed to him that she passed by closer than was necessary, often brushing against him. It gladdened his heart at this faint sign of encouragement.
When it was done, he took a seat on the blanket. He left room for her on the other side of the blanket. As much as he wanted her close, he didn't want her to feel obligated. She had no qualms about moving things to her liking. She shifted several items so she could sit next to him. His chest suffused with joy. She didn't only sit next to him; she landed almost in his lap. Their hips pressed together so he had to make room for her. She leaned into him until he put his arm around her. When he looked down at her in astonishment, she smiled shyly at him. She was bold yet uncertain at the same time. He gave her a little squeeze, silently reassuring her. Cerberus came back at the moment and sprawled on the little room left on the blanket.
They ate lunch like that, Hades and Persephone holding each other, Cerberus' heads alternately snoring, begging for food, or looking off into the distance. Despite the rocky start of their picnic, it had a very cozy atmosphere. Afterward, Hades laid down in satisfaction. Instead of the warmth of the sun on his face, he felt the comforting pulse of the Underworld at his back. Persephone stretched out beside him. She tucked herself into his side, resting her head on his shoulder.
He struggled not to react to her. Their position felt extremely intimate. For the first time they were laying together. While being out on a picnic blanket was a far cry from taking her in his bed, it was still a step further than they had gone before. Did this mean she was amendable to his advances? What about Sunny's name? Persephone didn't seem to think anything was different about laying with him, so he tried to remain casual.
It got a lot harder when she sighed and said, "It's beautiful up here. I never want to leave." Then she kissed his cheek. Liquid heat spread from her touch. His body shuddered with it, wanting more. He only had to turn his head, and the lips on his cheek would be on his mouth instead. He wanted it so much. His heart pounded in his chest. His breathing turned ragged. All he could think about was her scent, her soft skin. If he moved even a fraction, his control would shatter. So he didn't move.
After a while it became easier to resist temptation. It wasn't that the mood passed, for he still desired her just as much. But he was in control of his desire. He never wanted to be in a situation where his lust overcame his sense, and he forced himself on her. The thought of her struggling against him as she must have struggled against the other gods sent icy water down his spine. It helped too that Persephone wasn't consciously trying to seduce him. He didn't know if he could have held out against that. But her innocent gesture was just that: innocent.
After she spoke, she grew quiet and still. A short time later, she fell asleep. The hot desire that might have pushed him into further action turned instead into molten yearning. He coiled his body carefully around hers, keeping her warm and protected. All three of Cerberus' heads were snoring now. At least it was a series of low murmurs instead of loud snorting. The horses were standing head to tail, lazily dozing.
It was extremely peaceful on the overlook. There were no pressing duties to attend to, nothing to pull him from the moment. He was holding his goddess, with his dog and their horses nearby. The Underworld practically hummed in contentment at his feeling of bliss. Nearly everything he cared about was right here, within arm's reach. Hecate and Thanatos were his friends, but they were also self-sufficient. They didn't need him for anything, unlike the ones around him now. There was something indescribably sublime about this moment. Like Persephone said: he didn't want it to end.
He caught himself yawning a few times. He tried to stay awake, not wanting to miss a second of this feeling. But there was no reason to keep alert. Nothing could possibly sneak up on him here, in the height of his power. Even if it did, there was one Hellhound and two Nightmares to contend with, not to mention his own considerable abilities in his kingdomm. Giving up on remaining awake, he placed his head next to Persephone's, and soon joined her in slumber.
He was woken a time later by a soft caress on his face. He opened his eyes to see Persephone staring at him. Her face was creased in concentration. She traced her fingers lightly over his skin, barely touching him. It was as if she was trying to memorize him, both by sight and feel. Her contact was both soothing and innervating. It felt wonderful. Her fingers feathered over his cheeks, his nose, his jaw. She brushed the scar that no longer ached, and his chin. His breath caught when she ran the tips of her fingers over his lips. That was when she realized he was awake. Her eyes flew to his, her cheeks blushing at being caught. How long had she been doing that before he stirred? She withdrew her fingers, making him wish he'd kept silent.
"Hi," she said softly, a little bashful.
"Hi," he rumbled back. His voice was husky from sleep. He became aware of how they were laying. They were facing each other, his arms around her waist. Their legs were touching, hinting at intimacies he knew he hadn't taken. It was a very compromising position. He would have worried about making Persephone feel vulnerable, but she wasn't trying to get away from him. It had been her touch that woke him. That wasn't the touch of someone who was protesting her location. A slow smile tugged at his lips. If he didn't think it ungentlemanly, he would have let it form. It felt very crude, however, the gloat at the evidence of a lady's affections. And just because she was with him now didn't mean she preferred him above all others.
He looked around. Cerberus noticed his movement and sat up, wagging his tail eagerly. The horses had finished the grass and were getting restless. He felt through the Underworld that several hours had passed. It was time to go back. He sighed and closed his eyes. Persephone touched his cheek once, a wordless question of concern. He opened his eyes and smiled at her.
"I think our day here is nearly done," he said, keeping his voice even. He was gratified by the flash of disappointment in her eyes. He because he couldn't resist, he reached out and stroked her soft cheek. She didn't pull away from him. He stood before he could be tempted into more. He stretched, holding the pose a moment longer when he noticed her watching him.
"Are you ready?" he asked, reaching a hand down to her. She started to rise, but gave an exclamation of pain and fell back. She grimaced, rubbing her legs.
"Sore muscles?" he asked in sympathy.
"Yeah, but I'll get up," she said in determination. He admired her grit, but he had a better solution. He stooped down and picked her up.
"No need," he said cheekily.
She squeaked in shock, pushing against him. For a moment he saw something in her gaze that he didn't like: fear. He stiffened in hurt. Was she afraid of him? What had he done to trigger her fear? He'd picked her up before and she never reacted like that. After a moment she stopped struggling and leaned into him. It assuaged a lot of the heartache he'd felt. So it wasn't him she was afraid of, but something about their situation. Because of her sore muscles? Because she couldn't rise immediately? It brought to mind the intent way she'd listened to him in the stables, as if she had been afraid to get anything wrong. The thought was deeply disturbing. Who had taught her to associate learning with pain? He didn't have any answers, so he set it aside to think about later.
He held her for a few minutes, trying to reassure both of them that there was no pain or fear here. After a while she stirred.
"What about the picnic stuff?" she asked reluctantly.
"I'll get it," he declared. He wasn't letting her go any time soon. He reached out with his shadow and took the corners of the blanket. His shadow rolled it into a ball, wrapping all the accessories of their picnic inside the blanket. His shadow grew and spread over the bundle, becoming thick and impenetrably black. Nothing could be seen under it. And then his shadow faded back to normal, loosely copying his shape. The picnic bundle was gone.
Persephone stared in shock. "What happened to it?" she asked uncertainly.
He felt a touch of unease at the base of his spine. He didn't often use his shadow so overtly. It tended to disturb others because of how unnatural it was. The last thing he wanted was for Persephone to begin to fear his shadow.
He shrugged. "I sent it back," he admitted.
"That must be useful," she said thoughtfully.
He began to relax. It seemed he had underestimated her again.
"Would you like to ride with me on Phlegethon?" he asked. Privately, he wasn't sure she was able to ride by herself if she was already sore from her earlier efforts.
Her eyes glinted. "Can we go fast?"
He grinned.
The ride back went faster than he wanted. Sunny followed them without a tether. Even if he did begin to stray, Cerberus would have herded him back into line. This time Hades gave Phlegethon her head to run as fast as she could. Sunny still showed them his heels. Both horses had long legs built for speed, but Phlegethon had the heavier body and was doubly laden. Persephone enjoyed the wild ride through the fields. His heart sang with her laughter. After their nap on the overlook, they barely made it back in time to change for dinner.
Perhaps because of the extra rest, Persephone was actually lively during the meal. She kept shooting him secretive glances, which he returned in kind. It was like they were reliving their time together on the overlook. He smiled fondly at the new memories. When they retreated to his study afterwards, she was still awake. They didn't spend much time reading, but talking late into the night. His worry about her health and happiness began to fade. She sounded like her old self again. Maybe she just needed some extra rest once in a while.
Overall, he had to say that the day was fairly successful. Persephone had enjoyed herself. Hopefully he had given her new reasons to want to stay. There was still some confusion over the meaning behind Sunny's name, and her odd reaction when he picked her up. It felt like too delicate a subject to mention, so he kept quiet for now. He would watch her for further clues on both issues. When she finally fell asleep, leaning on him on the couch, his love for her only grew deeper. If they always got on so well, could it be very long until he called her his queen?