Seeds (11 page)

     “Demeter.” Zeus' voice was now stern, even angry-sounding. Kora broke free of her mother and approached the seated god, even more in awe of him now that she could see him up close. She placed her small hand in his proffered one, instantly feeling his strength as his fingers formed a gentle grip. His hand was warm, and she offered him a small smile.

     “How has life been treating you?” he asked.

     “Very good, sir,” she replied, feeling intimidated by his presence.

     “There is no need to call me sir, Kora. You may call me Zeus, if you like.”

     “Okay, Zeus.” She felt a bit at ease. He squeezed her hand again.

     “Are you happy?” he asked. She thought of the warmth of her father and family, of the happiness of the valley she lived in – she almost didn't believe the stories that the valley had once been a wretched and miserable place – the food that was plenty, the places to romp around and explore with her playmates, planting seeds in the fields with her father and the excitement of watching them grow, the stories told around the table or fire, the festivals...

     “Indeed I am. Everything is wonderful. Thank you for asking.”

     “What a polite young lady you are.” Zeus's eyes twinkled as he released his grip on her hand, only to place it on her shoulder. “Your mother certainly raised you well, has she not?”

     Demeter merely stared at Zeus, her jaw set tight. “Her father, Iasion, had a good part in it too.”

     Of course, Kora was not to know the irony in her mother's comment. The younger goddess saw the smile on Zeus's face freeze, but it became warm again when he looked back at her.

     “And your... father, you are happy with him?” he asked. She grinned.

     “He is the best daddy ever,” she replied with all the frankness of a child who adored her parents. And indeed, Iasion could not be faulted as a father at all. He lavished her with attention, and taught her many things, such as how to plant seeds and how to harvest what came from them, or how to ride a goat – a sport that all the children enjoyed before they grew too big – and she enjoyed her trips with him to the marketplace. He even let her use his knife to whittle wood, and she had helped him mend the fence a few times.

     He encouraged her to play outside, telling her that she looked better outside than shut away inside. Infact, due to Demeter's own actions and example, the women in the village saw her as a role model, and the men did not stop them. The women of this certain valley enjoyed considerably more freedom than women in many other parts of Hellas. It was said here in Enna that a woman was most beautiful with a healthy flush on her cheeks, and like the girls in Sparta, were encouraged to spend at least some time outside and exercising.

     Kora wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she saw a flicker of sadness in Zeus's eyes when she spoke so lovingly of her father.

     “I am pleased to see you so happy. Every child deserves a good childhood. Tell me, is there anything you want or need?”

     “She just told you that she was happy, and you then ask her if she needs anything?” Demeter asked as she approached the throne, clearly intent on pulling her daughter back. Zeus raised his other hand to stop her.

     “I merely thought she would like a gift. She is my... niece, after all.” He glanced back at her. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. What could she need? What did she want? Oh. There was one thing she wanted to know.

     “I have a question.”

     “Ask away.”

     “Why is my mother so angry with you?” she asked. The silence in the hall was so thick that it was practically palpable.

     “Aha.” Zeus chuckled softly. “I did say you could ask of anything. Well...” he kept his hand up, silencing Demeter. “I did something a long time ago to make her angry. I played a trick on her. I thought it would be funny, but I did not realize how much it would hurt her. So yes, she is angry with me.”

     Zeus had played a trick on her mother? This nice, kind god?

     “What kind of trick?” she asked. Zeus stroked his beard.

     “I pretended to be someone I was not. But that is in the past. You do not need to concern yourself with what happened between your mother and myself. It is not something that needs to be discussed anymore. Now tell me, is there something you would like for yourself? I grant you one wish,” he asked, quickly changing the subject. Demeter hated to admit it to herself, but Zeus had handled that question well. And the wish he spoke of was something he granted to all of his children. One thing, one favor to ask of their father. In some cases, it was the best thing the child got.

     “I uh... cannot think of anything I could need right now.” Kora tilted her head. “Could I save that for later?”

     Zeus let out a booming laugh.

     “Clever as well as pretty. Certainly! Now, I need to talk with your mother for a bit. Look,” he pointed to a side entrance. “Through that doorway is my garden. Would you like to explore it while I have a talk with your mother?”

     “Thank you, Zeus!” She shot him a brilliant smile as she climbed down the steps and made her way outside.

o0o

     “Offering her a wish! You had no place!” Demeter snarled.

     “I do,” Zeus replied somberly. “I understand your anger, but I have not interfered at all for the past decade. Besides, I am her father, and it is my pleasure to give to my children. I cleared out Olympus so that the three of us would be alone.”

     “You could not have come down to Enna and seen me in private?” Demeter replied with a sneer.

     “I felt that Kora had the right to see Olympus. Do you truly intend to deny her her heritage?”

     “She is denied nothing. She has a happy home, and a family who loves her.”

     “She certainly seems happy, and I will not stand in the way of that.” Zeus raised his hands, and shrugged. “But she is a Goddess. What is her gift?”

     “Same as mine,” Demeter replied. How overjoyed she was when her daughter hadn't gained Zeus's powers, or something else entirely. She didn't think that Kora had any other abilities, for the child hadn't displayed anything else as her Gift to nurture life developed.

     “Really? Interesting.” He nodded slowly. It was rare that a god had the same powers as his or her parents. The children that Zeus fathered had a fascinating myriad of abilities, from Apollo's generation and manipulation of light to Hermes's quicksilver speed, from Aphrodite's magical charm and beautiful voice to Artemis's ability to communicate with any animal. And of course, there were the richly varied abilities to be seen in himself and his siblings.

     “When will you introduce Kora to Olympus?” Zeus asked. A few of his children – such as Apollo and Artemis or Hephaistos – did not officially become part of the Olympians until they reached adulthood, so such a thing wasn't unheard of.

     “... Who said I would?” Demeter asked in a deadpan tone. Zeus' eyes widened.

     “Demeter, I gave you leave to raise Kora in a quiet and safe place. But she is a goddess. She will not remain a child forever. Already she nears the changes that will enable her to blossom into womanhood.”

     “She is happy down there. She will remain so. And what place is there for her up here, anyway?”

     At first, there were just the six siblings, as well as the Titans who had joined their side. But as the gods settled down, they inevitably found lovers and mates, producing the next generation of gods. As more gods were born, it was harder to find positions for them to fill, especially for the gods of the third and fourth generation. Demeter would not see Kora become the goddess of something minor or insignificant.

     “I have already thought of that,” Zeus replied smoothly. “You are the Goddess of the Harvest, are you not? She shares your gifts. Kora will be the Goddess of Spring.”

    
Well
. Goddess of Spring was hardly an unfitting position for her daughter. However, she didn't want Kora caught up in the ennui that mired most of the other gods.

     “I removed myself from Olympus because of the hubris I see here. I will not have Kora be part of it.”

     “Come now...” Zeus coaxed. “We are gods; we need pleasure and amusement to fill our long lives. What fault is it of ours if we do not have such earthly concerns? Are we to be blamed for our lack of... mortal fragility?”

     “My daughter and I are happy on earth. And have you forgotten the Fates' prophecy?”

     Zeus swallowed and shook his head.

     “What the Fates predict always comes true,” Zeus responded placidly. It didn't mean that he did not care about what happened to Kora, but when – yes, inevitably when – it happened, he was determined to be graceful about the situation and if he could, ease his daughter through it. The Fates never spoke directly, and Kora's prediction – though it sounded dire to Demeter – did not mean that Kora would meet a sad fate. The words uttered down in Hades could mean something else entirely, who knew?

     “Why are you being so careless about this, damnit!” Demeter had to restrain herself from yelling.

     “I am not being careless. I am being pragmatic. I want the best for Kora, but I also believe she should be given opportunities. The Fates' words have many meanings.”

     “I am taking Kora with me now. Do not bother me again.”

     Zeus was about to protest, but he bit back his words. Demeter had her mind made up, and his daughter was still young. The glint of curiosity in the girl's eyes was undeniable, and it was clear that she was also thoughtful. A rather good combination, and one that not even the mighty Demeter herself could hide from her daughter. Let Kora spend a few more years under her mother's wing – Demeter
was
a good mother, after all. And things would happen as they would.

o0o

     Zeus's garden was nothing like the ones at home. The foliage was neatly trimmed and shaped, taking the form of different monsters and animals; a few of them she recognized from stories told around the fire. The fountain had several pastel rainbow-veined white marble statues of shapely – and rather naked – nymphs in the middle on a dais, all of them with pitchers or other containers from which water issued into the pool beneath them. There were few flowers, seemingly put there as a complement to the nymph statues and the bushes, though the roses were a pretty sight. She had seen wild roses around in the forests, but not such big and well-maintained roses like these, pale-white and creamy in color, along with vibrant yellow ones. And such a heavenly scent!

     As her parents discussed her fate, Kora turned around, stricken with a sensation of being watched. She slowly turned around, gasping softly as she saw a dark-garbed figure leaned against one of the pillars that enclosed the garden.

     His long black hair was loose, flowing down his shoulders and back, curling slightly at the ends and standing out in sharp contrast with his pale skin. The circle-beard on his face was neatly-trimmed and suited him rather well, displaying the smooth, bold plane of his jawline. He was clad in a blood-red tunic and black trousers, with boots of black leather on his feet. Draped across his shoulders was a plain black cloak of a material that she didn't know the name of since she had never seen it before – velvet – held up with a silver pin.

     Kora stood stock-still as she stared at the stranger as he stared back at her silently, his dark eyes unfathomable as he studied her.

     “Good afternoon,” the man said, inclining his head in a slight bow.

     “... Hello,” Kora managed to say, her heart pounding.

     “Forgive me for startling you, please. I was merely going to meet with my brother when I saw that he was already occupied with you and Demeter. I am Hades. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

    
Hades?
This was Hades? Though Demeter did not like to speak of her family, Kora was not ignorant of the tales and common knowledge that most mortals had of their deities. Hades was supposed to be the oldest of the three brothers, but he actually looked younger than Zeus! How curious.

     “May I assume that Demeter is your mother?” he asked solicitously. She nodded.

     “And what is your name?”

     “Kora. Pleasure to meet you too.” She dropped into a slight curtsey, and she was pleased to notice a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. The mortals were so afraid of him, but
look
. Despite his somber appearance, he seemed like a kind man, with a warm twinkle in his eyes.

     “What brings you here?” he asked. He did not miss the silence on Olympus, and could not help but wonder what the occasion was, and why a visit from Demeter merited it.

     “Zeus summoned Mother here and asked her to bring me.” Hades did not miss her slight frown.

     “Is something the matter?”

     “Mother does not seem happy about it. And she is angry with Zeus, though neither of them will tell me exactly why.”

     “... Ah.” Hades nodded, already guessing at what it could be. He did not miss the way that Zeus had looked at his sister all these years ago.