Hope for the Underworld

51

Cora woke up with happy contentment. She'd dreamt of something nice, but despite her efforts, she couldn't hold on to that dream. She remained motionless for a few minutes, with her eyes closed, breathing deeply the sweet fragrance of flowers and enjoying flashes of sun rays dancing on her eyelids, but the dream just slipped away. She rose from her bed and threw open the curtains, looking out onto the garden. It appeared they'd let her sleep in, because the Sun was already high in the sky.

It was her Gamos. The wedding day.

Hearing her moving about, the maids bustled in and tried to force Cora to submit to their ministrations, but she stopped them with a single gesture.

'Thank you, but I don't need any assistance at this moment.'

They bowed their heads in submission. 'Queen Rhea is waiting downstairs, my Lady,' one of the maids informed her.

Cora went in search of the hostess and found her in deep conversation with Athena.

'My dear.' The Queen smiled in greeting. 'I hope you feel rested.'

'My Queen, Lady Athena. I slept very well, thank you.'

'What happened to calling me by my name?' Athena grinned.

'It still feels disrespectful.' Cora shrugged. 'Anyway, are there any more rituals I must perform before the wedding?'

'The only tradition for today is a ritual bath. Fresh water has been fetched this morning and it's being prepared for you as we speak. After that it's only the dressing and the trip to the palace... Is there anything else you would like to do?' she asked after a slight pause. 'Something traditional in your country?'

Cora's thoughts flew for a moment to that fateful day when she'd discovered Barry's betrayal. 'No.' She shook her head resolutely. 'I only wish to be left alone to prepare.'

'But the maids...' started Rhea.

'I don't need them.' Cora cut her off. 'Until it's time to leave, I want to be alone.'

'Of course,' piped in Athena. 'My Queen, let us honour Cora's wishes. Her experiences have been very different from ours.'

Cora threw her a look, wondering why she was so accommodating.

'But of course,' Rhea conceded.

'Thank you.' The bride rose to her feet. 'I will see you later.'

*

A few hours later, Cora stepped into Rhea's reception room to the sound of shocked gasps from the maids.

'Is this appropriate?' she asked hesitantly, lifting her eyes to Rhea.

Leading to the ceremony, the shadows had provided her with many extraordinary dress designs, but, just like that very first time they had created outfits for her, she had felt something was missing. When she had finally explained what she wanted, the shadows had produced the most striking outfit yet. And that was what Cora was wearing now.

The design was deceptively simple; a plainly cut chiton, with golden clasps on the shoulders and at her waist. But what was extraordinary was the material itself, floating around Cora's body as if span from rays of sunshine and whisps of air. It was pale blue, the colour of the purest spring sky.

'My dear.' Rhea managed to pull herself together. 'You look simply divine... It's perhaps a little unorthodox.' She tilted her head a little and continued with a warm smile. 'But there is most certainly nothing ordinary about you, thus nothing could be more fitting, and the colour brings out your eyes.'