Pride & Pomegranates

Proem

"You alone are life and death to distressed mortals.

Persephone. You are forever the nourisher and the death bringer."

~Orphic Hymn to Persephone

On a beautiful sunny morning, high in the peaks of Mytikas, in a shining golden palace overlooking the world of mortals, a child was pushing her way into the world- loudly. Immortal children, being so rare, were always celebrated and treasured but this particular blessing was no ordinary immortal girl. She was the heir of not one but two powerful ancient bloodlines, one of which belonged to the King himself.

Demeter never intended to be a Mistress of Zeus, definitely never intended to bear his bastard, yet she could not help but be drawn to him since the day he rescued them all from her father, The Usurper.

"PUSH," Hera urged, peeking up from between Demeter's long golden legs.

"What exactly do you think I have been doing for the last 12 hours?" Demeter hissed behind clenched teeth.

"You're almost there," Hestia, Zeus's older sister, urged as she wiped Demeter's brow with a cold rag, pushing the dark curls away from her strained and sweaty face.

Despite their history, Hera and Demeter weren't particularly close, but no greater midwife could be asked for- except Rhea herself who currently slept beneath the earth. Plus, Hera was still a clan head with her own seat on the Divine Council. A power in her own right. So Demeter was glad to have her here for the birth and blessing of her first child.

Hestia, however, was a dear and trusted friend of Demeter's since her father's reign. Bonded forever by memories of darkness, pain, and fear. They remained close over the years, despite Hestia insisting on remaining with her brother on Mytikas to "keep him out of trouble" rather than join Demeter on her travels while she escaped the shadow of her father.

Demeter eventually returned when they formed the council and began her duties as Zeus's "Lady of the Golden Blade" but it seemed Hestia never was quite able to keep her little brother out of trouble. Or the beds of other men's wives. And daughters.

"I swear I'll strike him down with his own thunderbolt if he does not arrive before she does," Demeter roared, throwing her head back in agony.

As if summoned by the promise of her wrath, the elaborate golden doors to the elegant birthing chamber were thrown open wide- slamming against the walls causing a thundering throughout the palace. Zeus strolled to Demeter's side as if he were simply interrupting afternoon tea and not the birth of their own divine child.

"It's about time," Hestia spat at her brother, now cradling Demeter's head in her lap. Zeus may have been King of the Immortals, but Hestia was still his fiery big sister and she took personal offense when he neglected his duties as King and father.

This was by no means Zeus's first child and certainly would not be his last, but pure joy radiated from his face nonetheless as he bent and kissed Demeter deeply on the mouth.

"Ceres," he purred his pet name for Demeter as he placed his forehead to her own for a tender moment, "you honor me today," and as the words slipped from his lips the babe was released into the world and Hera's waiting arms who quickly bundled the screaming newborn and handed her to her father while Hestia saw to Demeter.

Zeus walked through large stained glass doors onto the golden railed balcony overlooking Demeter's gardens staring adoringly down at his newborn daughter. He had these gardens commissioned specially for her when he first took power, hoping it would cause her to linger during her stays rather than rush away as she always did. But Demeter never stayed and Zeus always had other lovers-and wives- so they had reached an unspoken agreement. That was until the child.

The infant long since stopped squealing and squirming and had settled into the crook of her father's warm well muscled arm. She stared up at him with large lilac eyes curiously, already wrapping the king around her tiny delicate finger.

"If you do not bring my child to me, by the old gods I will-" Demeter threatened from inside.

"She will too," Zeus laughingly crooned to his daughter as he returned to Demeter's side.

"What will she be called?" asked Hestia.

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in diverse places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows,"  Themis's prophecy rang through Zeus's mind.

"Persephone," he answered.

And Zeus swore he felt the ground beneath his great golden palace tremble.