Blossom

Conception

"Please Kore! I need this one! I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't necessary", pleaded Chloris. The flower nymph and goddess lowered herself to the floor against her counterpart. Persephone rolled her eyes in annoyance before holding Chloris's forearms and raising her to her feet again.

"Please do not call me that!", she snapped. Persephone was not cruel to Chloris as she was a beloved friend to her and a frequent lover. "Chloris, you don't need this one. You have plenty of children of your own", she explained, "you've loved and cared for each one. Even the ones that were not yours." Persephone's deep brown hand brushed Chloris's olive green-tinged cheek.

"I know but I need this child for myself. No one else", Chloris explained. "I just need your help to raise this one. I know you don't really want children but it's okay. I take full responsibility, I just need you to visit your mother a little earlier so my child can have a chance to grow up with all the necessities in abundance."

"Flora, you know Hades would never let me go this early. He is not a bad person, it's just he...he needs me here". Persephone looked away from her as she explained how she grew fond of Hades and her life in the underworld. Chloris' demeanor fell more and more as the Goddess of Spring and the Underworld spoke.

"But don't you miss your mother? Don't you miss the light and the beauties of earth? What about the mortals?" She held Persephone's hand tightly, hoping for any sign of submission from Persephone's side of the debate. Her hand warmed with their hands joined together but she couldn't help but feel saddened as Persephone's coldness towards her. Had they not fallen in love? Chloris grew more impatient with the goddess' stubborness. "Look Kore, I do not know if you have felt the same way about me as I do about you, but I know that you have known sadness and loss. I know you have felt the same emptiness as me when you were taken and married off without consent."

"Do not speak about things that you know nothing about, Chloris", Persephone demanded. She removed her hands from Chloris' as she turned her back to her. Her voluminous inky coils bounced with every step she took away from the nymph. "I do love you, but this is something I cannot help you with".

"You can't or you won't?", Chloris questioned. Her emerald green eyes shone against the darkness of the underworld as she held her ground. Moments passed but Persephone continued on being silent. "I have my answer already. Do not summon an audience with me ever, Kore. This will be the last time you see me." She waited another moment for any sign from her former lover and friend. Sadly, she turned towards the Ferryman, making her way into the small boat to exit the underworld. Persephone cried as she felt the distance growing. She could not let Hades see her this way, so she wiped her tears away and took a deep breath, calming her emotions as she was approaching her home.

Meanwhile, Chloris was making her way to Olympus to ask Zeus for a favor. She had hoped Persephone would help her as her help would not come with conditions. Conditions that Zeus would request as he did nothing out of the kindness of his heart, if he had one. As she made her way up the steps to Zeus' throne, she made her request. Her deep olive skin was adorned with sparkling pink silk robes and gold jewelry given to her by admirers that had managed to spot her in meadows and thickets. Zeus took one look at the goddess and smirked. Hera, Zeus' wife and goddess of marriage and birth, looked upon him and scoffed at his eagerness to cheat. With one look, Hera had made Zeus snap back to his senses. "I will not grant this request. I will leave this to my beloved wife", he declared as he got up to let Hera sit on his throne. 

Chloris knew he had rejected her request thinking that Hera would become jealous of her and curse her child. He had left happily thinking about the turmoil his wife would bring to Chloris. Hera knew her husband thought little of her. "I will grant your request, Goddess Flora", Hera smiled. Chloris was slightly taken aback by Hera's answer. She had thought that Hera would be the same as Zeus with his uncaring demeanor and selfish attitude. 

"Thank you, Goddess Hera", she bowed her head. She reached into her hair to present a pearl comb for Hera along with some geraniums she had nourished on earth. Hera gladly took the presents from Chloris. Chloris had wondered why this request was so easily given to her but didn't test her luck by questioning the queen of Olympus.

" I appreciate your gifts, Flora. They were not necessary but I value them as of now", Her laughed. 

"That's wonderful, Hera", she answered. She was unsure whether to continue the conversation or to leave but Hera made the choice for her.

"Chloris, I granted your request because motherhood is a wonderful thing. I know all of the struggles of each god and mortal that exists and I know that this will mean a lot to you. I wish no ill will upon you or your child and I will not hurt your child in any way. Besides, I am busy with my biggest disappointment known as Zeus. I wish you and our child all the happiness in the world."

"Thank you. I will make sure my child knows of your kindness", said Chloris. She smiled to the other goddess. "I hope to have a friendship with you as well as wish you better days full of warmth, Hera". She bowed once more and left to her home in the meadows of earth. 

As happiness filled her every being, she had begun to prepare everything for a child. She cleared a spot of earth, making sure the soil was fertile with nutrients and warm moisture for her child. She laid flower petals of every design around the plot of soil and placed pearls into the soil before going to the river to bathe in. There she would wash away impurities and bring back blessed water for her flowers to grow in abundance for her child. 

Chloris stripped herself of her robes, stepping into the cool water. The river reflected the stars and full moon, creating light around her. Her body bathed in the starlight while the moon blessed her and the water. She let her wavy hair cascade down her back, into the water as she grabbed her potions to help wash away impurities. Her potions were a mixture of peonies, daisies, eidelweiss, mint, magnolias, lotus, and calla lily nectar. Each flower representing something she wanted and wanted for her daughter.

As she bathed in the darkness, Persephone appeared in the moonlight. "My dear Flora, I know you do not wish to speak to me but I have decided to grant your request", she whispered. Chloris heard her speak but did not respond. "Please answer me, Chloris", she pleaded, "I wanted to apologize to you for the way I behaved earlier. I did not wish to hurt you and I would do anything for you. It's just when you requested this of me, I was taken aback. I have been feeling torn over my circumstances. I love you, Flora and I am deeply sorry for taking you for granted. I would be happy to give you a child and raise the child with you", she said.

Chloris turned around, stunned from hearing Persephone's apology. "You would raise this child with me?", she questioned. Persephone nodded in response with a grin. " I am happy to hear the news but Hera has already granted my request, Kore".

"That is fine. I can bind Hera's blessing with mine to give you your child".

Chloris bounded towards the goddess and wrapped her damp arms around her lovers waist. The two laughed at the flower goddess' childlike manner. Persephone gently placed a kiss upon Chloris' lips. As the two separated, Persephone had begun to murmur the binding spell. She had visualized a string wrapping around a bouquet of flowers which were bound with lace already. The string added another quality to the bouquet and lace. As she finished the binding of blessings, it was Chloris's turn to bring her child into this world. She went into the deepest part of the river, swimming around the area chanting words in an unknown language. She visualized a daughter with skin as beautiful as Persephone's with dark red tresses that rivaled the deep red on rose petals in the sunlight. The flower nectar she used began to glow gold. It rose up into the air above her hands as she continued chanting rigorously. As it continued rising into the air, Persephone  saw something on the other side of the river. It was some type of animal that she could not guess at the moment.

Meanwhile, the nectar had aligned with the full moon when it had stopped. It stayed stuck in the air for a few seconds before a star had dropped into the nectar making it fall back into Chloris's hand. She took the jar of nectar in her hands and said a few words of thanks to Hera as she walked towards Persephone. "And where is the gratitude of my effort?", Persephone teased.

"It's not too far behind, beloved Kore", she answered cheekily. Persephone helped her out of the water and placed her robes on her shoulders.

"I hope not. If it is, my sanity will be tested even further". They held hands as they strolled back to Chloris' flower bed, hand in hand, the nectar tightly fastened to Chloris' other hand.