Hope for the Underworld

47

Then the doors opened, and Cora entered the library to rejoin them. 'Oh, my goodness, what's happened?!' She took in Rhea's face and turned to look questioningly at Hades.

'Nothing, my dear,' reassured the goddess; a happy smile playing on her lips. 'These are simply tears of joy... You truly are quite remarkable.'

'Oh...' Cora paused mid-step, totally unprepared for such high praise. And from none other than the Mother of Gods. 'I am?'

'Yes,' confirmed Rhea seriously. 'In the relatively brief time you have spent in the Underworld, you inspired changes no one thought possible... I now fully understand why they call you Lady Change and Lady Justice.' The queen bowed her head in respect.

'Thank you,' Cora blushed deeply. 'I am sure I don't deserve such high praise. I just try to be a good person. And,' she looked to Hades and smiled, 'it's so easy to be good with such a wonderful man by my side.'

He responded with a wide grin and Rhea watched her son with a swelling heart; a man no one ever thought capable of love.

'Anyway, who was that messenger?' Hades remembered.

'Actually,' Cora stepped out and beckoned someone in. 'It's not as much a messenger, as... the Messenger.' She laughed when Hermes appeared on the threshold.

'My Queen, Lord Receiver.' The Messenger bowed. 'Please forgive me for barging in like this, but it was a very slow day on Olympus, and I suddenly succumbed to a craving for some of the foreign delicacies that are customarily served here. I hope I'm not disrupting anything.'

'Not in the slightest!' Laughed Cora. 'We were just planning to take a stroll in the gardens and then have something to eat. So, as always, your timing was perfect.'

'Splendid.' Hermes' smile was wide. 'If I may have the honour, my Queen?' He offered his arm to Rhea and led her out of the library and towards the gardens.

Hades and Cora followed.

'You've arranged it,' Hades whispered to his betrothed.

'I thought it might be easier to have a buffer to help diffuse a potentially awkward situation.' She smiled, without even a hint of regret. 'Do you mind?'

'Not at all,' he admitted. 'That was very clever of you.'

They caught up with their guests just in time to hear Hermes complaining of being forced to provide manual labour to start the garden.

'And I am very grateful for your help.' Cora smiled. 'Both, in providing the seedlings and in planting them.'

'Is this where your pomegranates grow?' asked Rhea curiously. 'I must say, I have never before tasted anything like it.'

'Yes. I can show you.' Cora invited the goddess to follow.

After they walked among the flower beds and then admired Cora's grove, with her garden swing, Rhea turned towards her son's betrothed. 'You are justly proud of your gardens, my dear. They are magnificent. More so, because every single plant or tree is easily recognisable, yet slightly different from what we know.'

'Thank you.' Cora responded with a warm smile and immediately all the plants in vicinity turned towards her, as if drinking in the light that radiated from her.

'Now it makes complete sense why you don't want to spend any time on Olympus.' Smiled Rhea. 'It's so much more peaceful here.'

'Before Cora's arrival, this was just an empty plain, where the souls roamed aimlessly,' Hades spoke with gravity, taking his beloved's hand and bringing it to his lips. 'It is she who made it all possible.'

'I am so very happy for the both of you.' The goddess' voice brimmed with emotion. 'I can clearly see the strong bond you share, and I am certain that you will achieve great things together. It is a rare thing indeed to find one's soulmate. Even in a life of an immortal,' she added with a hint of sadness and Cora remembered that the woman had not much say in her choice of a husband. But then Rhea shook it off and said, in much lighter tone. 'But I didn't come here to get sentimental. Shall we eat? I've heard Hermes praising you for keeping a very fine table.'

'Actually.' Cora had an idea. 'Why don't we have a picnic here?'

They all agreed with enthusiasm.

'Please, amuse yourself for a few minutes, while I arrange everything.' She excused herself and turned towards her grove.

And then she had an even better idea. On arriving, she dropped to her knees and once more placed her hands on the ground. The familiar melody filled her with joy and a quiet humming escaped her lips, when she encouraged the grass to cover the ground in a soft, luscious carpet. Satisfied with her work, she instructed the shadows to set the place up for a picnic.

Cora kept humming, wandering from a tree to a tree, and soon all of them were covered in fragrant, pale pink blossoms. Delighted with the results of her labour, she twirled on the spot, among the falling petals.

Just then, she felt hands on her waist and strong arms lifted her effortlessly in the air, continuing to spin her around. She tilted her head back and laughed out loud, spreading her arms wide, while white flames danced all over her body.

Hermes and Rhea followed the sound of her laughter and soon came in view of a happy couple. Hermes made a move as if to join them, but the goddess stopped him. 'Let them have this moment.'

And so, they watched the trees blooming, the petals dancing in the air, and the God of the Underworld laughing with unbridled joy, as he held the love of his life in his arms; oblivious to everything but her beautiful face.