[ Orpheus actually smiles a bit at the intensity in Stefan's eyes, glad to see he hasn't lost his touch and gladder still that Stefan seems to be interested in it. It's a longer story, and Orpheus isn't one to abbreviate - especially not the important ones - so it's good that he's enjoying himself. ]
When Hades and Persephone noticed the flood of starved and freezing souls entering the Underworld, they knew what had to be done. Persephone had to return to the surface, or risk the whole world dying. But Hades feared that once she had gone back, that Demeter would never allow her daughter to leave her side again, and Persephone knew that this was more than possible.
So instead of leaving right away, Persephone stopped by a pomegranate tree that had sprouted when she arrived, and plucked one of the fruits from his branches. She split it open, and swallowed six of the seeds, binding her to the underworld - a promise that she'd return, for six months out of every year.
And with that, she walked out of the Underworld, and found her mother, who was so delighted to see her that the winds blew hotter and the sun shone brighter than ever before, bringing us the first summer. Slowly, the world recovered.
But a goddess's promises are binding, and after six months in the wind and sun it was time for her to return to her husband. She bid her mother goodbye and ventured back into the comforting darkness below, and Demeter, knowing that she at least had the assurance that she'd see her daughter again this time, was more even-handed in her grief.
So the world settled into this rhythm, with Demeter celebrating her daughter's return each year with all the blessings of the Earth, and retreating into her sorrow and the cold when Persephone returned to Hades. And for a long time, it worked. Even as Demeter handed over many of her duties to her daughter, the fields and trees remembered their original mistress's love - blooming in the spring to welcome her back and giving one final parting gift in the fall to send her off before withering until her return.
But in the end, it didn't last. Hades, normally patient as the grave, slowly grew to fear and resent his wife's time spent away from him, dreading that she'd return to him each year. The doubt made him possessive, and the worse he got, the more it drove Persephone away, seeking freedom from his ever more crushing embrace. The two of them fought bitterly, but while Hades never stopped loving her, and she never stopped loving him...
[ Orpheus frowns, sighs, and shakes his head. ]
At first he just started coming to the surface each year. To escort her back home personally. But then he started coming earlier and earlier, and letting her go later and later. So the winters lasted longer and longer, and the summers turned short and blazing hot as Persephone and the land around her tried to cram as much living into what time they had as possible.
It had been like that for... about as long as I can remember, when I came here. Probably longer than I've been alive? But Hades and Persephone - they were doing better, I think. He let her go when he was supposed to. It was spring again.
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When Hades and Persephone noticed the flood of starved and freezing souls entering the Underworld, they knew what had to be done. Persephone had to return to the surface, or risk the whole world dying. But Hades feared that once she had gone back, that Demeter would never allow her daughter to leave her side again, and Persephone knew that this was more than possible.
So instead of leaving right away, Persephone stopped by a pomegranate tree that had sprouted when she arrived, and plucked one of the fruits from his branches. She split it open, and swallowed six of the seeds, binding her to the underworld - a promise that she'd return, for six months out of every year.
And with that, she walked out of the Underworld, and found her mother, who was so delighted to see her that the winds blew hotter and the sun shone brighter than ever before, bringing us the first summer. Slowly, the world recovered.
But a goddess's promises are binding, and after six months in the wind and sun it was time for her to return to her husband. She bid her mother goodbye and ventured back into the comforting darkness below, and Demeter, knowing that she at least had the assurance that she'd see her daughter again this time, was more even-handed in her grief.
So the world settled into this rhythm, with Demeter celebrating her daughter's return each year with all the blessings of the Earth, and retreating into her sorrow and the cold when Persephone returned to Hades. And for a long time, it worked. Even as Demeter handed over many of her duties to her daughter, the fields and trees remembered their original mistress's love - blooming in the spring to welcome her back and giving one final parting gift in the fall to send her off before withering until her return.
But in the end, it didn't last. Hades, normally patient as the grave, slowly grew to fear and resent his wife's time spent away from him, dreading that she'd return to him each year. The doubt made him possessive, and the worse he got, the more it drove Persephone away, seeking freedom from his ever more crushing embrace. The two of them fought bitterly, but while Hades never stopped loving her, and she never stopped loving him...
[ Orpheus frowns, sighs, and shakes his head. ]
At first he just started coming to the surface each year. To escort her back home personally. But then he started coming earlier and earlier, and letting her go later and later. So the winters lasted longer and longer, and the summers turned short and blazing hot as Persephone and the land around her tried to cram as much living into what time they had as possible.
It had been like that for... about as long as I can remember, when I came here. Probably longer than I've been alive? But Hades and Persephone - they were doing better, I think. He let her go when he was supposed to. It was spring again.