Hades

Chapter 5

ELARA

I was so comfortable I didn't want to move for fear that this bed was not real and just a figment of my imagination. I don't think I have ever felt this well rested in my whole twenty years of living. I stretched out on the bed letting my eyes flutter open, I sighed as I stared t the ceiling... even that was beautiful with paintings of angels and clouds.  I smiled and let a breathy giggle escape my lips, sometimes I had the most peculiar thoughts and I was still trying to convince myself that I was currently living in one... How could it be that a magical quartz led me to the underworld? alas I fear I will not be given an answer today.

I slowly at myself up before singing my legs over the edge of the bed and skipping to the bathroom. once the door was closed behind me I waled toward the sink and looked t my appearance in the mirror, and I think in that moment I understood why I was yet to find love. In that moment I really felt Jane Eyre when she said she was "plain and little" because I too saw myself as plain and little, I was not blessed with beauty beyond compare and I didn't see how Leo had seen something in me that clearly was not there. I turned away and hopped into the bathtub, again I filled it with rose scented bubbles and decided on honey again to wash my skin and hair. I did not soak for long as I wanted to ask Leo if it would be possible to show me around a little, I loved to explore and even in my current situation sitting idle was not an option I took Kindly to. once I had drained the bath I looked back at myself in the mirror wanting to keep positive - there is beauty in everything and everyone sometimes you just had to do a little digging to find it. hmm that sounded like something my mother used to say to me who I was a child.

I searched through the cabinets and draws and eventually found a bush and set myself with the task of looking presentable. I made sure to brush every last knot out of my long brown hair, I dint like to get my hair cut as is made the soft wave in my hair decrease. My hair, now brushed, fell to my mid back and was ready to be dried. I took the hairdryer from the wall and took my time making sure that each strand was given attention before setting the dryer back to its original place. I really wish that I had some sort of makeup with me in this place, my lashes where long and curled but they could do with an extra boost, and some tinted lip balm and eyebrow pencil would not go amis. Alas I did not have this luxuries so instead focused on other areas of my appearance, I noticed I still had a few hair ties around my wrist so I thought it best to style my hair in a pretty braid, It would take away from the plain nature of my face and suit my dress well.

Once I had bathed dressed and brushed my teeth I headed back into my room. weirdly I found the marble floor to be warmer on my feet the expected, though I must admit walking barefoot around a palace seems like it may be a bit weird and I wasn't sure how I would deal with the situation... oh well as long as you have confidence nothing can bring you to your knees, right?

"uhhh Leo? Are you listening?" I questioned awkwardly into the air. I waited a few minuets and was about to call again feeling rather silly just speaking to the air, but suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. I wondered over and open it slowly and looked up. With a surprised smile that it actually worked I stepped aside to let him in. "I told you that I would be listening out for you, don't look so surprised to see me". Leo laughed as he looked me up and down "I must say, Elara you happen to be one of the most beautiful creatures that I have ever seen... And I run with the goddess'". He had a distant look in his eye, it was almost like he was sad but I disregarded it quickly. God he was such a flirt and I could tell that he was used to getting whatever and whoever he wanted, but it was odd, I couldn't deny his beauty but I didn't feel attracted to him like others would.

even though I was not attracted to Leo his words still made my cheeks rosey, I sighed "you're such a flirt you know that?" I smirked, "Anyway I was wondering if it would be possible to go for a turn about grounds, Its okay if I can't - I mean you still don't know me and I wouldn't trust any old stranger but-". I rambled on before being interrupted with answer from Leo "yes of course I think it wise that you see your way around the palace and meet some of our residence, I doubt you'll be home anytime soon... you know because we still need to work out why you are here and who you are here for". Leo spoke clearly but with a sympathetic smile knowing that I was most likely confused and missing home. If truth me told I didn't really mind being here, I had a calm feeling wash over me constantly and although I couldn't put my finger on where it was coming from I relished in it. I nodded quickly and smiled " thank you Leo, if truth be told I do not mind staying here for a while its so beautiful here and I'm curiouser about this place. I lived on my own in the woods where I come from so I know that nobody will be looking for me". I spoke quickly giddy to see more of this place and it's people.

Leo had walked me through numerous hall ways lined with guards who looked like they where about to kill if you even looked at them with the wrong expression. Leo had explained to me that they would not think of hurting me as they where aware of my presence and were under stick orders by the king not to harm me. I did not know who the king of the underworld was, I remember learning about it in school but I couldn't remember no matter how hard I tried. Greek mythology was one of my favourite studies and whilst everybody would mess about in the classroom I was always silent and wide eyed eager tolerant more as I scribbled down notes that I would later take home to do more research. Leo had shown me multiple lounge areas, four libraries which held more books than I had ever seen in my whole life time, two kitchens which seemed to run like clock work, an indoor garden area that had a verity of plants and trees, and I had been shown a painted Hall. Out of everything that Leo had shown me so far the painted hall was my favourite, make no mistake, although it was called a hall it was more like a room the size of three football pitches filled with paintings of people I had come to recognise as gods and goddesses. Within the painted hall there was numerous statues and cases filled with artefacts and gems, It was beautiful but I didn't have time too look upon everything before Leo took me to the next room.

Leo had just finished showing me the grand hall where we would sit together and eat before leading me up a steep set of marble stairs and into a room built into the top part of the palaces turret. I had recognised it as a drawing room filled with comfy seating, a globe, a small collection of books, the most beautiful chandelier I had ever lade my eyes upon and some vases of coral coloured ones where dotted around the room. Leo had indicated for me to take a seat as he closed the door and found himself sitting across from me. I waited for him to say something but instead he watched me for a moment, I was about to ask him what he as staring at but he finally spoke up "Elara... you know you share the same name a my mother. It is odd that you should share a name when it is not common in the human realm anymore, who named you?" Leo spoke softly his head deep in thought.

I was take aback by what he had said, it was not common to here of an Elara so it was a massive coincidence that his mother and I should share it. "well your mothers parents where very good at naming children, its a very pretty name if I do say so myself". I chuckled lightly I loved my name and would not change it for the world, it suited me perfectly being dainty and fairy like. "My mother always said that name had come to her in a dream. Once she had woken she researched it and found that it had belonged to an extremely old cousin of ours, she fell in love with the name and its family ties so would not settle for anything but my name". I sighed thinking about how nice it must have been for my parents, they had grown up together and fallen in love in their early teens. My parents were married by eighteen and had me by twenty, In my mind it was the mot perfect love story and something tat only existed in my mind. "It must have been fate that you were named Elara if your mother had herd it in a dream, our dreams show us our past our present and our future as well as our deepest darkest desires. The gods must had taken a little extra time to create your fate, my love". Leo spoke philosophically.

The two of us sat in silence for a while before the sound of a door creaking broke us out of our thoughts. A woman had entered with a tray of what seemed to be tea and a grim look on her face, despite her expression her beauty was so otherworldly that I felt immensely inferior and sunk back into my chair just a little. The woman swiftly entered the room placing the tray of tea the table between where Leo and I sat, she swiftly turned and took a place next to Leo giving him a quick glare before turning to me and smiling sweetly. "oh you're just as gorgeous as you where when you were just a babe, perhaps even more!" Her eyes shone as if she was pleased with herself. I was of course confused as to how she knew of me and why these people could see some sort of beauty in me when I could not. The woman must have seen my knitted eyebrows and quizzical look because she quickly took my hand and gave it a light squeeze before speaking again, "please excuse my foolishness, I forgot that you would not have a clue as to who I am, sweet Elara". she gave me a wide smile before stating "I am Aphrodite".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A/N: Its a longer chapter than usually, how do we feel about it, too long or just right? I wonder what Aphrodite has shown up for?? x