Mothers' Love

With a careful step down from her carriage, Persephone once again stood on mortal soil. Under the sun's light for the first time in months, she walked forward with purpose. Looking forward, she closed the distance to the large lodge made of earthen materials and fused with living trees, bushes, grass, and fungal growths. Stepping inside, she had to weave through the comings and goings of many busy nymphs and satyrs, diligently performing tasks and carousing amongst themselves as such creatures were wont to do.

A few nymphs and satyrs took notice of Persephone's presence, but most went unaware of the identity of the tall redheaded goddess as she made her way through their ranks. Unfortunately, this lack of awareness was not unusual. Nymphs and satyrs were never known for their uncanny perception. They were simple creatures with two purposes: protecting nature and reinforcing the environment with procreative rituals. They had always been rather diligent in their duties.

The clacking of cloven hooves echoed the Queen of the Underworld's footsteps as she made her way up an elaborate staircase made from a massive thriving tree. Walking beside Persephone was Pan, the Chief of the Satyrs. Somewhat shorter than the goddess, Pan's goat-like legs moved quickly to keep the pace of Persephone's longer stride. Unlike other satyrs, Pan had keen senses, and his eyes betrayed his interest in Persephone's presence at the lodge.

"M'lady," he said as they reached the landing of the elevated floor.

"Chieftain," replied Persephone, pausing to turn toward him, one hand clasping the other in front of her.

Pan's left eye twitched, and then he chuckled. "You know how I feel about that title."

"I do," she said with a smile.

"Please, 'Pan' will do just fine, m'lady," said Pan.

"It goes both ways," she replied. "We are friends, are we not?"

"I am honored to be thought of such," Pan said, nodding.

"Then do as my other friends do. Call me Seph."

Pan's face wrinkled. "I- I can t-try..." he said with great uncertainty in his tone.

"Then go on."

"Go on?" asked Pan.

"Go on... Try it," Persephone said with a giggle.

"Try what?" asked Pan, stroking his tuft of facial hair.

Persephone giggled. "Nevermind," she said as she turned and marched toward the double doors adjoining the upper landing. She walked straight past the satyr guards, opened the doors, and saw her way in, with Pan's hooved legs moving at double-time to catch up.

"M'lady!" exclaimed Pan, finally catching up as they entered the grand chamber where tall trees acted as columns in a long throne room with a forest canopy standing in for a vaulted ceiling. Fallen leaves cracked and rustled under both foot and hoof as the satyr and goddess made their way toward the grand throne at the far end.

"Seph, Pan. Seph. Call me Seph!" she exclaimed with a chuckle as she continued her march.

"Seph," Pan relented as his hooves skipped and bounded to keep pace. "You're months ahead of schedule. Might I ask why you are here?"

Persephone glanced at Pan but did not halt or slow her stride. "Am I not free to come and go as I please? Am I no longer Daughter Nature, heir to the Motherhood of the Natural Order?"

"Y-you are," said Pan, nodding eagerly. "You are free to come and go as you see fit, however-"

"However?" asked Persephone.

"I am simply curious why you have come," said Pan with an aimless chuckle. "I j-just want to make sure that there is no cause for concern."

"Do you usually associate my arrival with concerns?" asked Persephone with a raised eyebrow, seeing if he would dare take the bait.

Pan scoffed. "No," he paused for a moment, shaking his head. "Of course not, I only ask to be certain."

"You ask to be nosey," she corrected him while wearing an amused smirk.

"Fair," he admitted as he skipped ahead of her, sighing and sinking his head as he passed. Now ahead of her, he came to a sudden halt and bowed. "If it pleases the Matron, may I have the honor of presenting your daughter and the resplendent Queen of the Underworld, Persephone."

Persephone scoffed and rolled her eyes as she strolled beyond where Pan was making his elaborate introduction. "Mother!" she exclaimed as she approached the throne and ascended the steps made from roots that stuck out of the earthen mound on which the tree-carved throne sat.

The olive-skinned goddess sitting upon the throne had her attention pulled away from the nymph whispering in her ear. Pan's introduction had brought her eyes to the satyr, but Persephone's bold approach demanded her full attention. Raising a hand to silence the whispering nymph, Demeter lifted herself from the throne and descended the root-shaped steps, meeting her daughter at the mound's mid-height. "My beautiful Persephone, this is a most unexpected visit!" she said with a giggle as the two goddesses embraced.

Pan flashed a grin to the nymph standing on the throne. He motioned his horned head to the side of the chamber. Then, without words, he excused himself from Demeter and Persephone's presence and invited the nymph to join him near the wall, which she did.

Though the satyr and nymph had stepped away and were otherwise engaged, Demeter hooked her arm with her daughter's and guided her up the throne's mound. The two goddesses strolled around the throne's trunk to a concealed doorway. Stepping through this portal, they found themselves on a grand balcony overlooking the read courtyard where nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, silver wardens, and even mortals toiled and lounged.

Beyond the balcony, the courtyard, and the small earthen cabins that made up the residences and shops of this enclave, there was a tremendous and glorious forest. Beams of light from the setting set penetrated the canopy above, casting an orange glow. Persephone gripped her hands on the woven branches and vines that made up the railing of this balcony and let out a long sigh.

"I forget how beautiful this view is."

Demeter smiled as she walked up behind her daughter and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It is that. To be sure," she agreed before a long, heavy pause. "The Underworld has nothing on this."

Persephone's shoulder sank under her mother's hand. "Mother..."

Demeter scoffed. "What? I'm just saying-"

Persephone scoffed and spun around, placing her buttocks against the rail. Folding her arms in front of her, Persephone eyed her mother intently. "You're just saying that I should leave Hades."

"Yes," Demeter agreed. "You should."

Persephone rolled her eyes. "Does it not matter that I love him?"

Demeter scoffed. "You can leave someone and still love them. I love your father, but I do not live with him."

Shaking her head and releasing a scoff, Persephone shifted her weight again. Facing the courtyard below once more, she reminded herself of the lifestyle of the nymphs and satyrs. Monogamy was all but unheard of among their kind. They made up the majority of Natural Order. So was it any wonder that Demeter shared similar views? But then why was Persephone so different? She had been raised in the Natural Order her entire life. She was Demeter's daughter, with dozens of nymphs as her surrogate older sisters.

"I'm not like you," Persephone had to say as her focus rested on two nymphs flirting with one another. Though everything told her they were lovers whose entire relationship would be only measured in a few trysts, she let her imagination get the better of her. She wanted to believe they were wives, having been married in a sacred ceremony centuries ago, just so that Persephone could point to them at that moment as proof against her mother. "I am not content to just have Hades satisfy my loins. He satisfies my heart. He both challenges and comforts my mind. Laying in bed with him every night eases my soul, mother. Why can you not understand that?"

Demeter did not answer. She had no need to explain herself. Even outside the Natural Order, Persephone's relationship was abnormal among the Olympians. It seemed that most gods were not meant to be monogamous creatures. They were ruled by lust, not love. They were content to navigate the sea of their eternal lives, being tossed by the waves and wind from one lover to another. Not satisfied by such aimless fate, Hades and Persephone had opted to build a metaphorical ship and embrace eternity together.

Letting out a long sigh, Demeter approached Persephone. Her fingertips stroked her daughter's cheek. "Forgive me, daughter. I do not understand that, but I know he makes you happy. That knowledge is what eases my soul at night. I might not always show it and I may not ever truly approve of your choice of mate, but knowing you are content and safe does comfort me."

Persephone smiled as she leaned forward and embraced her mother. The two lingered at this moment. Persephone released a long sigh when they broke before a smile visited her lips.

"Tell me," said Demeter, resting one hand on her daughter's shoulders. "What brings you here?" she asked with her green gaze reflected in her daughter's own emerald eyes. "To what do I have to thank for this special visit?"

Persephone averted her eyes, her gaze looking down.

Silently, Demeter followed her daughter's directed glance. That is when she noticed Persephone's fingers stroking her own belly. Demeter raised her eyes just as Persephone did the same. Her confusion slowly faded, being replaced by eager unspoken inquiry.

Persephone's smirk broke, revealing a goofy grin. "Yes..."

Demeter let out a joyous laugh as her hands dropped from her daughter's shoulders to probe and prod at Persephone's belly. The size of her smile grew again as she used her magic to sense the life contained inside. "It has been too long since we had another Olympian!"

"Stygian," Persephone corrected her mother.

"You are an Olympian," Demeter countered. "Your child will be-"

"My child will be a Prince or Princess of the Underworld. They will be Stygian, mother."

Demeter sighed, her shoulder sinking. "Please tell me Hades isn't the father... I would like to have at least one grandchild without the grave's pallor."

Persephone chuckled, swatting away one of her mother's hands in playful protest. "No such luck, mother. You'll just need to find it in your heart to love them regardless of their pasty skin."

Demeter scoffed and smiled. "Well, if I must..." she chuckled and gave her daughter another hug. "I love you, daughter."

"I love you, mother," said Persephone, returning the affection.

## Characters

### Gods

* Persephone
* Pan
* Demeter