A/N: This is the Penultimate chapter! Only one more to go after this! And the great news is that I have not only finished writing the story, but also finished typing it up! Which means no delay until the last chapter. Much thanks to everyone who stuck by me, even though it took forever to finish the story. Look for the last chapter in a week!
Chapter 29: The Queen of the Underworld
In the end, it was a simple ceremony. As a child, Persephone used to dream of what her wedding would be like. Now that the time was here, she found that the details didn't matter so much as the man waiting at the end of the aisle for her. She couldn't have said what she was wearing, or how the little chapel was decorated. She could have been wearing sackcloth and ashes, and once she met Hades' eyes, the love in his expression made her feel beautiful regardless of what she wore. The words they spoke were beyond her. It was the sentiment that mattered, the vow in her heart to always cleave to this man.
Demeter was there, and tearfully gave Persephone to Hades. She couldn't imagine what it might have been like if she didn't have her mother's support in this. That she would still love Hades and wish to marry him was no doubt, but it would have been much more difficult without Demeter's approval. She was glad she didn't have to find out how much.
After the ceremony was a lavish wedding feast. Everyone in the Underworld was happy for them. Not long was Hades more joyful than his subjects had ever seen, but they had grown to love her as well, and wished her the best. For the first time Persephone was able to enjoy the fruits of the Underworld. Hades took particular pleasure in feeding her delicacies. She was equally satisfied that his own appetite had returned. The mortal food that had been reserved for her was given instead to Demeter. Persephone felt bad that there was such poor fare for her mother during the wedding feast, but considering Demeter's weakened state, she wouldn't have been able to tolerate richer food.
Partway through the feast, Hades reached under the table and took her hand. She looked at him, and he wore an expression of dark invitation. She squeezed his hand, and they left the table to the sound of cheers and catcalls. Her face flooded with heat as Hades pulled her from the room. The door scarcely shut behind them before he pounced. He tugged her against him, and took her mouth in a searing kiss. She felt it all the way to her toes. She'd thought they'd exchanged passionate caresses before, but it was nothing compared to how she felt now. There was something different in being married, an edge of restraint that was no longer there. No more would they pull back from consummating their love. After tonight she would belong to him fully.
She felt a surge of emotion that was equal parts anticipation and fear. Demeter had found time before the ceremony to take her aside and warn her about what to expect on her wedding night. Demeter's frank and startlingly intimate details had been mortifying and frightening; Persephone rather thought it would have been better to approach this night in complete ignorance.
Hades' shadow rose to encompass them. When it retreated, Persephone expected to be in his bedroom. Instead, they were in his study. Remembering the countless nights she'd fallen asleep here only to wake up in her own bed, untouched, she recoiled sharply from Hades. He gave her a confused, hurt look. That was not how she wanted her wedding night to go.
"I don't want to be here, Hades," she said tightly.
His expression became shuttered, and he straightened. "Of course not," he said quickly. "I'll take you to your room, then."
"No, I don't want to go there, either."
"My mistake. To the Queen's chambers," he corrected smoothly. He wouldn't look at her. Despite the ardent kisses he'd given her moments ago, he was suddenly cool and distant. She knew him well enough by now to recognize the current of hurt he was trying to hide.
"Hades," she said gently, putting her hand on his chest. A faint tremor ran through him, and his indifferent mask cracked for an instant, showing a flash of pain and confusion in his eyes.
"I'd rather go to your bedroom," she told him honestly.
He blinked at her. "But you said you didn't want to be here," he said slowly.
"Every time I fall asleep here," she explained earnestly, "I wake up alone. I don't want to be alone tonight. I'd rather be with you."
He stared at her, his face gradually thawing. He smiled, an expression of amusement and relief. He backed to a door she'd long assumed led to storage, since she'd never seen it open. Hades opened it. It wasn't storage. It was another room. His bedroom, in fact.
"Oh!" she gasped, feeling rather foolish. To think that his room had been so close, all this time… "I would have had a much harder time keeping my hands to myself if I'd known your room was right there," she mused.
He chuckled. "Yes, you have no idea how tempted I've been."
She felt a warm fluttering in her belly, now that she knew he still wanted her. She moved toward his room, only to find herself blocked by Hades. She gave him a curious look.
"I want to do this right," he whispered, and then picked her up. He carried her bridal style into his room, kicking the door shut behind him. His room was far different from how she'd imagined it. It was very minimalist, with only a bed and an armoire. Despite that, the room didn't feel plain. Each wall had been set with thousands of small gemstones, forming elaborate pictures as detailed as the finest portraits. She recognized several small scenes on the wall, from asphodel flowers to Cerberus and Phlegethon, to a stylized image of how the rivers of the Underworld looked when he was flying above them. She knew instantly that Hades had been the one to painstakingly place every stone in the walls
But the largest, most stunning mural took up an entire wall by itself. Set in brilliant jewel tones, it showed a glorious, dark sky at the edges with pinpricks of silver stars, growing progressively lighter through indigos, reds, oranges, golds, and greens to a faint, pure-white sliver of sun just peeking out from behind the dark purple of shaded hills. It lit the entire room with its impressive array of colors, making the area feel open and airy. It was impossible to say whether it was a sunset or sunrise. She thought it might have been both: a beginning and an ending. It felt especially appropriate on tonight of all nights.
Hades set her down beside his bed. He looked rather nervous, and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.
"Persephone, my love," he began awkwardly. "We don't have to do this to say we're married. If you'd rather not…"
She stopped him by putting her fingers on his lips. "Hades, my husband," she said, feeling a powerful thrill at using his title for the first time. "I would rather we did."
And she pulled him down for a kiss.
Persephone woke slowly the next morning. She was filled with a delicious sort of contentment that made her never want to get out of bed. Maybe she was a little sore, but on the whole the night have been… Mmm.
Something light tickled her face. She scrunched up her nose, and opened her eyes to see Hades smiling at her. He'd been using her own hair to feather her cheek. His face was more relaxed and at ease than she'd ever seen it. His eyes were light silver, almost glowing with the same joy that she felt. For the first time since she'd known him, he looked young. The age difference meant nothing to immortal gods, but he actually seemed carefree right now, as if a great weight had been lifted from him. It turned his face from merely handsome to utterly breathtaking.
"You're beautiful," she blurted before she could stop herself. She blushed as he chuckled.
"If I'm beautiful, it's only a reflection of yourself," he said, running his hand down her side. She arched a little closer to him, enjoying the warmth of his bare skin on hers. He stretched out on his back, revealing himself. "Look at me, wife. This is what you've done to me."
She did look, her heart loving the way he called her wife so easily. His body was exposed before her. He was still scarred, still marked by the trials of his past. But they were faded now, no longer the most prominent part of him. She had done that for him, had helped him heal, helped him release the pain he'd carried for so long. She understood what he meant about being a reflection of her, for she thought the changes in her since she'd come to the Underworld were because of him as well.
Her mouth watered as she looked down at his powerful form, and she felt a flare of hunger in her center. She ran her hands down his golden skin, feeling his muscles shift under her touch. There was a matching hunger on his face. It was a while before they left the bed.
It was tending toward the afternoon when they finally rose. Their seclusion hadn't been only lovemaking, though there'd been plenty of that. It was talking, cuddling, comforting and learning. Now, more than ever, there were no barriers between them. She could feel him inside her, knew a part of her soul was forever touched by him. Being able to hold each other as close as they wanted was a revelation of its own.
They helped each other dress, using it as an excuse to caress one another as much as possible. It took much longer than usual before they were both decent. If it wasn't for the need to return Demeter to the mortal realm to heal the earth, they might not have left the room for several weeks. But of all realms, the Underworld was the one that demanded the most responsibility, and neither of its rulers were the kind to ignore the devastation above them. As much as they wished to laze in bed with each other, they were required elsewhere.
They met Demeter for a late lunch. At the sight of her mother, Persephone's face flamed red. She'd done things with her husband, and she was no longer the innocent maiden she'd been the last time she'd faced Demeter. Demeter's eyes gleamed wickedly, and she opened her mouth to comment. Hades reacted, putting his hand over his wife's and giving Demeter a stern look. The elder goddess decided against antagonizing her new son-in-law. Persephone was grateful to have avoided the humiliating situation.
They sat down to eat. It was a private affair, without Hecate, Thanatos or Charon. The other gods had been at the wedding and the feast afterwards, and had already given the couple their heartfelt wishes. This thing with Zeus was a family matter for them to deal with, though. Besides, as much as Persephone wanted to see her friends, especially Charon, she was slightly uncomfortable that she was supposed to be their Queen ruler now. They'd been her teachers over the last several months, and there was still much she had to learn from them. She'd never imagined that Hades' courting would end like this, even if no one else seemed surprised by it. Charon had teasingly called her Queen from the beginning. Little had she known that he hadn't been joking!
Hades, Persephone and Demeter spoke as they ate, and it was decided that Demeter would go back to the mortal world that very day. Hades would accompany her to protect her from Zeus' wrath, and confront his brothers if necessary. No one liked to talk about the possibility of war, but it was there. Persephone felt as though she were in over her head. Demeter and Hades had both been in a war before. She hadn't, and the thought of a struggle made her feel woefully unprepared. However, she refused to be left behind while her mother and husband went off to face Zeus. Demeter and Hades were against her going, since she was the main target of Zeus' obsession.
She appealed directly to Hades. "Please," she said fervently, taking his hand and looking into his eyes. "Ever since I came here, I've done nothing but hide from him. Maybe in the beginning I needed it, but I'm not the same person anymore. I don't want to live my life in fear, always hoping he won't come for me. Hades, I need this."
The expression in his silver eyes was worried as he nodded, but it was also proud. He was concerned for her, wanted to protect her, but not at the cost of her freedom.
Demeter was less than pleased about his decision. "Are you really going to let her do this?" she demanded.
Hades bristled. "She is my wife, not my child," he growled. "She has a right to confront her father, and I have none to deny her. I married her to make her my equal, not to lock her in a tower."
Demeter looked abashed at his vehemence. Persephone felt a swell of love for her husband.
"Thank you," she whispered, and kissed his cheek.
It wasn't enough for him. With a feral expression on his face, he dug his fingers into her hair and kissed her hard. She could feel him trembling with barely contained agitation.
"Please," he murmured against her mouth, "Let me protect you."
She understood what he meant. He wouldn't try to stop her form facing Zeus, but he would do whatever he needed to protect her.
"I'll listen to you," she promised. He kissed her again, softer this time.
"You two are so sweet you make me sick," Demeter said, but she was smiling.
Persephone pulled back from Hades reluctantly. "Do we have time to show Mom around before we have to go?" she asked.
"I don't see why not," he granted indulgently.
She turned eagerly to her mother. "Do you want to see the Underworld?" she asked happily.
"Oh, umm…" Demeter hesitated, clearly reluctant.
Persephone's face fell. Hades glowered at his sister. Demeter blanched.
"I'd love to see this… your new home," the elder goddess corrected herself.
Persephone beamed.