Aides (COMPLETED)

Forty Two

Aides

Kore collapsed on top of me with fatigue, finishing our heat as she kissed my sweaty chest. We sat in the silence of the room, holding each other as I traced a gentle finger against her slender back. Seeing the natural glow against her umber dark skin made even my bitter spirit weak.

"Do you think I was too harsh?" she sighed through a passive breath, breaking the air of silence.

"No" I lied, studying the softened features of her face. She looked up into my eyes and frowned. "You're lying" she accuses me, pulling her arms away from me.

"Kore...come on, don't be like that" I pull her back into my arms and kiss her gently. She tried to hold back her tears but she couldn't resist. "I did not wish to be mean but... I just can't stand her! She lied to me all these years then went back to her lover! The very "lover" that flung her to the side and banished her from Olympus. What is left for me on earth Aides?" she curses showing a blatant disdain for her past.

"Do you not even wish to visit her on earth? People are dying because of her wrath. She refuses to produce the harvest and fruit" I asked, wiping a tear from her soft cheek.

"I never want to see her again" she spat, turning her head away from my eyes. I kissed her jowl and pulled her into my arms, wiping away her tears until she fell asleep in my warmth.

——

Many hours passed before I deemed it safe to depart from the room. I stood from the bed and kissed my queen before I bent to pull on my robe and shoes.

"Aides?" she stirred awake, feeling the absence of my warmth. "Where are you going?" she pouted, pulling my wrist to prohibit my departure.

"I have something to do. I will be back soon" I kiss her, gently pushing her to rest again in the pillows.

"But it is the middle of the night" she hinted, seeing the shadow clock on the wall.

"Yes, I will be back soon. I just need to clear my mind" I lied, rubbing her neck to pacify her worries. "Go back to sleep my love" She looked at me suspiciously, watching my eyes for the truth but her eyelids surrendered to the fatigue blanketing her body and she fell asleep once more.

-----

I carried a lantern and ventured through the hallways of the palace, stepping through each corner looking for any signs of life in the palace. I see a guard traveling past the entrance, pacing against the floor of the room.

"Your majesty" he gasped, not expecting me to be up this late.

"Have you housed her?"

"Yes your majesty, she is in the north wing as you have instructed." he informed me. I nodded and looked to him as he knelt in revrence. "Wake her up and bring her to my study. I need have a few words I need to discuss with her."  I directed him. 

"Yes your majesty" the guard nodded and quickly ran to alert the others. 

____

I entered into my dimly lit study and see Demeter seated at the center table with a pile of books for healing.

"Aides, I am surprised you have requested for my presence" she smiled, closing the book with ease, "And so late in the night" she teased with a pang of annoyance.

"I meant no harm when I lured Kore in with the rose. You would have never allowed her to marry have it your way" I quickly spoke, making sure I made the intentions of our meeting clear. She frowned as she heard my words and looked away once she realized my truth.

"So why have you brought me hear"

"News travels even to the pits of the Underworld. Earth is in shambles, mortals are dying, famine is upon the soil. Kore needs to return to earth and fix your mess."

"She need not" she scoffs, laughing at the suffering of others. I rolled my eyes at her uncaring nature and moved to face her where she sat. 

"You are as stubborn as her and will not restore the balance unless she is released."

"That is a lie" she stood, challenging my accusation.

"Then restore the crops and water" I snapped. She only chuckled lighty and sat in the chair once more.

"My only concern is Hera"

"Hera! What concern is she too you?" she spat.

"You may be too influenced sleeping between my brother's legs so I do not blame you for not knowing." I spat in annoyance. She spoke no words of protest as she heard my honesty. "Hera will kill her if she catches sight of her on earth. She is the love child of you and the man she refuses to share. I only want my wife alive"

"I will keep her alive but would willingly part with your one true love?" she lifted an eyebrow, not believing my words.

"I will give her to you for 6 months every year. Produce turmoil for 6 months, but when Kore is sent there, you must harvest and produce fruits and crops to maintain balance."

"6 months without your love? She will never agree to it!" she snickered skeptically. Little did she know that Kore would never know. I cared more about the greater good of earth than pleasing Demeter.

"Cherish the small amount of time you have with her. She will spend the rest of the time in the underworld."

"And does she know of this?" she asked, lifting a brow impatiently.

"No, she does not..." I sighed. She shook her head and frowned, "she would never agree to it otherwise" I confessed. She nodded her head and rested an elbow on the table. "I need you to bring a pomegranate seed from eath to reverse the contract that bound her to the underworld."

"Is there a place here that produces life?" she stood, grabbing off the shelf in search of a spell.

"No, nothing grows here" I spoke through a frown. 

She folded the page of a book and closed it, closing her eyes to chant a spell. Once she finished, she stepped over to where I stood and looked into my eyes. "Here" she moved her palms and produced a pink pomegranate from the air, "Break this in half and plant its seeds so you will have an abundance. I have put a special growth serum so it may grow in your garden" she spoke, pushing it into my palms. 

"Come" I lead her to the garden and she bent to plant it into the dirt. She cleaned her hands once she was finished and hugged me dearly. "I never knew a cold-hearted diety like you could show a love so true" she whispered and kissed my cheek, "Thank you" she grinned with a well of tears in her eyes. I only cursed my softened heart and broke from her reach. 

I had no words to say, or feelings to feel and hearing her praise did nothing to make my spirits feel at ease. 

I had betrayed Kore, my one true love...and for what?

____

Author Note

Don't be too mad at Aides! He knew the earth was dying and people were suffering so returning Kore back to earth was his only way of saving mankind. (in the true tale of Aides and Persephone, he returns Kore to earth for 6 months so I knew I wanted to incorporate that into my story as well.)

Fun fact: The Greeks believed this to be how the seasons originated. When Kore returned to earth for 6 months, spring would start and fruits would be produced. When she left and returned to the underworld, winter would begin because of Demeter's anger/mourning for her daughter's absence.