About
Hades is the lord of the dead and ruler of the nether world, which is referred to as the domain of Hades or, by transference, as Hades alone. He is the son of Cronus and Rhea. When the three sons of Cronus divided the world among each other, Hades was given the underworld, while his brothers Zeus and Poseidon took the upperworld and the sea respectively. For a while Hades ruled the underworld together with Persephone, whom he had abducted from the upperworld, but Zeus ordered him to release Persephone back into the care of her mother Demeter. However, before she left he gave her a pomegranate and when she ate of it, it bound her to the underworld forever.
Hades sits on a throne made of ebony, and carries a scepter. He also has a helmet, given to him by the Cyclopes, which can make him invisible. Hades rules the dead, assisted by various (demonic) helpers, such as Thanatos and Hypnos, the ferryman Charon, and the hound Cerberus. Many heroes from Greek mythology have descended into the underworld, either to question the shades or trying to free them. Although Hades does not allow his subjects to leave his domain, on several occasions he has granted permission, such as when Orpheus requested the return of his beloved Eurydice.
Hades possesses the riches of the earth, and is thus referred to as 'the Rich One'. Possibly also because -- as Sophocles writes -- 'the gloomy Hades enriches himself with our sighs and our tears'. Of all the gods, Hades is the one who is liked the least and even the gods themselves have an aversion of him. People avoided speaking his name lest they attracted his unwanted attention. With their faces averted they sacrificed black sheep, whose blood they let drip into pits, and when they prayed to him, they would bang their hands on the ground. The narcissus and the cypress are sacred to him.
Other names include Clymenus ('notorious'), Eubuleus ('well-guessing') and Polydegmon ('who receives many').
Hades sits on a throne made of ebony, and carries a scepter. He also has a helmet, given to him by the Cyclopes, which can make him invisible. Hades rules the dead, assisted by various (demonic) helpers, such as Thanatos and Hypnos, the ferryman Charon, and the hound Cerberus. Many heroes from Greek mythology have descended into the underworld, either to question the shades or trying to free them. Although Hades does not allow his subjects to leave his domain, on several occasions he has granted permission, such as when Orpheus requested the return of his beloved Eurydice.
Hades possesses the riches of the earth, and is thus referred to as 'the Rich One'. Possibly also because -- as Sophocles writes -- 'the gloomy Hades enriches himself with our sighs and our tears'. Of all the gods, Hades is the one who is liked the least and even the gods themselves have an aversion of him. People avoided speaking his name lest they attracted his unwanted attention. With their faces averted they sacrificed black sheep, whose blood they let drip into pits, and when they prayed to him, they would bang their hands on the ground. The narcissus and the cypress are sacred to him.
Other names include Clymenus ('notorious'), Eubuleus ('well-guessing') and Polydegmon ('who receives many').
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Casting her summery blue gaze upwards, she smiled pale pink lips pulling back gently to expose pearly white teeth, a toss of her hair would have sent the golden spirals, cascading neatly down the small of her back, as he drew her in. She was a lovely thing, her scent was roses and sunlight, of honey and sweet dreams, and when you breathed her in, life filled ones lungs, a true visionary of her earthen craft, and when she remained around her husband, it gleamed brighter than ever with her happiness. ”—I only speak in truths my love, I am very lucky to have you as my own,” she cooed, circling her own slender arms around him, her skin copper seeming dusted with flecks of gold. A moment more would be spent like this, before he detached, and she aptly followed upon his beckoning. Moving along on hushed bare feet, she perched herself at the step and looked out, leaning forward in interest, pale white gossamer gowns flooding in and settling neatly about her dainty form. His words would have made her smile, and she laughed…”—Now it seems you are the one to do the flattering,” sighing softly she rest her elbows along the edge of the nearest railing, and looked out into the darkness at the gathering subjects, it was a sad time, leaving her beloved, left her full of despair and longing, there would be her friends of course…Mother, but none could ever fill the hole that would remain until she was reunited once more with her King, Hades. The people, the strange subjects and creatures that filled the Underworld had become her family, her new friends, she hadn’t needed those above anymore, but it was the rules…it had been the agreement to her marriage being official, official, just as the first bite into the Pomegranate had been, on that wonderfully fateful day. Drawn from her thoughts once more, she tilt her golden haired head up to meet him and smiled, ”—Of course…if I could, I’d take every one of them with me,” collapsing her hand around his offered one, she walked beside him, silken skirts trailing at her back, and gliding along elegantly, the Lady Persephone, a Halo of light along the darkness, goodness incarnate, belonging happily to only one, her loving Hades.
Part 1
Before the time of marriage between herself and her King, she had remained the same as she had always been: Good, just, lovely, and selfless with all the love to give to the world, but with one flaw…she was weak, by all accounts. In this time, all had remained the same for all her goodness, with one difference, she had learned from Hades how to be strong, and from her he had learned how to love. Instead of the fragile quivering rose she had first been upon arrival, the golden goddess now stood with the might of an ancient oak, with sunlit strewn leaves, elegant and unwavering. No matter this new power, this new Queendom, she retained always a sense of sweet innocence, and truth. No longer a simple desire, but a worthy Queen to her Husband, and instead of fear for most leaders, she reigned with love, effortlessly winning battles with the heart. But no matter these new strengths, her core values were always the same, her heart, her true love belonged to one man, one being only…Hades. As they walked side by side, Persephone would (when they had left the former company), slip a loving nudge with the softness of her warm cheek against the bare skin along his arm, before lifting that golden green gaze upwards lovingly towards him, daring even that. She would have these moments on occasion, when the propriety of a Queen did not conflict with her natural loving yearnings; a glimpse into her innocent strangeness. Persephone had found this place they shared, to be beautiful. It was not of course like the Gardens her Mother kept, of the grand halls swept with sunlight and the sweetness of the Summer’s breeze, but its lofty darkness carried its own, and when she was gone from him in those coming months, she’d find herself missing it more and more, perhaps because it reminded her of her beloved. When they were finally alone, when inhibitions mattered not, she relished in his attentions, and released a small sweet coo, pressing herself against him, slender arms incircling him a moment. Hearing his words, his thoughts had always been the greatest gift he could have given her, she was a simple woman, there was no need to impress, no need for lavish gifts, servants, nothing. Her desires were few and far between, and Hades had been the one to give them to her always. Listening to him with the ball of her chin gently resting on his chest, she blinked occasionally, a smile dormant on her face, pale golden hair spiraling in soft circles about her lovely golden face. ”—I feel the same.” she would finally say, so very pleased that his heart had not wandered, that she like him had remained true.
Unlike the great Athena, and a number of the other wives of the Gods, she knew she would not, even now have the strength to be angry at her Husband, if ever fell for another, she would be torn instead, and the thought horrified her. The story would play like this, in two scenarios, she would wish for nothing but his happiness, with or without her…and then she would die, and the light that filled her would extinguish. Or secondly, she would fight, she would fight with every bone and breath in her body to keep him, because he was worth it. But any bitter thoughts would be cleared, with the words of he being forever hers. Standing on her tip toes, she would coil her fingers through his dark hair, and draw him into a sweet soft kiss, and when she’d reluctantly, and finally pull away, if only slightly, would speak once more, a gentle, ”—I love you.” she couldn’t count how many times she had said those words, but she meant it more and more each day, if that was even such a thing. When however he posed his usual question, she sucked on her lower lip sighed some, leaving him a moment as if in thought, and perching herself on an inviting deep purple chez lounge. Posing a joke, she’d chuckle softly, ”—Get a look alike to pose as me, in the above world?” though she meant the emotion backing it, ”—What will I do without you?” she finally asked in return, sleek coils of hair spilling over her bare shoulder. Wetting her lips, she pat the spot beside her, inviting him to join her, before continuing. ”—Ages ago, when this was new, a half a year’s escape to see my Mother and friends, was invited. But now…” clenching her jaw, she looked up towards him, green eyes, mossy grey with despair she’d speak once more, ”—It’s unnecessary. A week is more acceptable now, I think these month’s are for my Mother’s own joy, I’m not some lost child anymore, some youth ; I’m a grown woman, and even more importantly…a wife. My place is here with you, my Husband…not spent in the above world, alone.” smiling distantly once more, she looked up towards him again, ”—I don’t imagine you could take a vacation.” ’No, no it was a silly idea. Who would rule in his stead, could anyone God, or any other besides Cerberus be so trustful in vacating the Throne upon his return?’ No, it was far too risky, and while she would have wanted his company, she would never ask that of him, she wasn’t worth it.
Persephone smiled against his hand, the feel of his touch welled such a trickle of warmth inside her, a sense of love and longing. She had known love all her life, but with him came a sense of devotion that never had she ever experienced, there was something to behold, something wonderous and amazing, and she alone was able to see it within him, a small secret surprise, that no other could know, and it was hers to keep. When he asked how she was, it stirred her from her thoughts, and she would smile, a sweet but distant thing. ”—I leave to the world above, a time spent away from my loving husband, and you ask how I fare?” she joked, sighing softly she’d nod and look up at him. ”—Better, now that you’ve arrived.” she uttered, clasping his hand in her own. When he brought up the other gods, she smiled and laughed, ”—Let them stare and long all they like, you my dearest Hades, are the only man, the only God that I see. I will be yours always, mind, body and soul.” she cooed, ever and always expressing her love. She herself would understand why he was at times distant, and she would not press this, such sweet secrets would be left for their own privacy, but she would leave him with those words, she would be his forever, not to any other man, living, dead or immortal.