Error of Judgement (Greek Mythology)

[badass_tiger]

Title: Error of Judgement
Fandom: Greek Mythology
Pairing: Hades/Persephone
Summary: In her desire to prove her position as the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone makes a mistake in the judgement of Sisyphus' appeal, and fears the wrath of her husband.
Notes: Well, we all knew I'd end up here eventually.

The truth was that, ever since Persephone had made up her mind to remain the Queen of the Underworld, she was secretly eager to please, to prove to her husband that her previous defiance was entirely over, and he would not regret choosing her as his wife. Of course, anyone could have pointed out to her that Hades was besotted with her - indeed, all were now accustomed to the previously alien idea of the grim God of the Dead having tender feeling for anyone - but it was evidence of the feeling she returned that Persephone maintained her desire to prove herself. She wanted to show him that she was as suited to the whole blood, skulls, and death thing as he was. Besides, it wasn't only sacrifices to herself which Sisyphus' wife had apparently, so brazenly disregarded, but offerings also to her beloved husband. She couldn't stand that. Such was the reasoning that lead to her terrible judgement in the case of Sisyphus.

Hermes himself shot down to the Underworld to demand an explanation for why Sisyphus, whom he had been promised would meet a swift death in the same moment Thanatos had been released from his shackles, was still alive and well, with no death on the horizon, feasting and making merry with his wife.

The flush that rose to Persephone's face immediately caught Hades' attention. He turned to her with an inquisitively raised eyebrow.

'I - I was told - he said to me -' She stammered, then some of the defiance of her early days in the House of Hades returned to her, she was angry, and said as imperiously as she could muster, 'I made the decision to return him to the Earth by my authority as Queen! If you Olympians don't like it, then you can make his second life miserable, but he cannot die until his time comes again.'

'Do you even understand why my Father sent an early death to that fraudster, you -' Hermes began to shout when Hades stood up with a black look that caused the words to die away on Hermes' tongue. He muttered something under his breath, sighed, then said, 'Nothing to be done about it now, then.'

Some deference for his uncle made Hermes stop and give them a more cordial goodbye than simply stalking off. Hades returned his words politely and advised him not to bother sending Ares or anyone else to complain because he would ignore them. Hermes shrugged and left.

Then came the moment Persephone dreaded the most, when Hades once again looked to her for an explanation. She gave him her most dramatic pout but it failed to have the intended effect of appeasing him.

'The man appeared here in the most horrific state, his body all mangled, and told me that his wife had caused him to be that way,' she reluctantly said. 'He told me that she had spent all his gold and thrown out the sacrifices he intended for us!'

'He was lying,' Hades said.

'Yes, well, I see that now,' Persephone said testily. 'The knave king suggested it would be a suitable punishment to return him to life in order to humiliate her.'

'I see.' Persephone waited with bated breath to hear her own punishment. 'Well, never mind.'

'What?' she said, feeling as if the wind had been knocked out of her.

'It is done now. It is your right as Queen to make any such decisions as you see fit, besides. I have a suitable punishment in mind for him when he returns again.'

'Right. Yes. Quite right.'

Persephone was confused, briefly triumphant, then discomfited once more. Why didn't Hades take his anger out on her? He was unmistakeably angry, that was for certain. If Hera crossed her husband in that way, Zeus would have done everything short of punish her with his own hands! Was it because there was still work to be done for the day? Would he scold her when Mother Night had covered the Earth and it was time for all to rest? Yes, perhaps that was the reason. One thing was certain: she was not clear of Hades' wrath yet.

Such were the thoughts that plagued Persephone until the evening.

Nothing seemed amiss in the manner with which Hades beckoned her to his bed, but she knew better than to assume herself safe. That is, until she followed him into his chamber, then watched with surprise as he simply lay in bed, glancing at her when she didn't follow.

'Is something the matter?' he said mildly.

'Are ... are you not angry with me?' she said.

'Why should I be angry with you?'

'Because of my decision to return Sisyphus to life!'

'Oh, that. No.'

'What?!'

'Do you want me to be?' Hades said with surprise.

'No! I thought - you would be angry - that I was duped ...'

'It isn't your fault.'

Persephone was baffled. She didn't know too much about the Olympians who were her relatives because her mother had always kept her apart from them, lest one or more of them attempted to poach her (not, as it turned out, that the Olympians were the ones she had to fear), but she was more than familiar with the way the gods fought with one another over the smallest matters. She knew that if Zeus and Hera ever quarrelled about anything (or everything, as they did), all of the heavens and all of the Earth would know it for the turmoil they inevitably caused. How could Hades, their own brother, be so different? Was he truly so different? Persephone doubted him again. She leapt forward with tears in her eyes and Hades caught her as she fell against his enormous chest.

'I'm sorry, Hades!' she wailed. 'You left me in charge while you were away and I disappointed you! I tried to make the decision I thought you would make, but I was wrong!'

'Ah - er -' The dread King of the Underworld faltered before the outburst of emotion. 'It's alright ... I'm not angry ...'

'How can you not be angry! You should strike me - or send me to work in Tartarus - or - or -'

'Well, I - I only have you for six months of the year anyway and I wouldn't want to spend any less of that time with you ...'

'But you should punish me somehow!'

'You seem to have punished yourself enough.'

'You mock me now?!'

'No, no, of course not ...'

It was a few moments more before Persephone had sniffled enough into Hades' chest. He wiped away her tears when it seemed safe to do so, and she was eventually soothed into composing herself.

'Are you really not angry with me?' she said as pathetically as if he had thoroughly berated her.

'Yes, really.'

'I suppose you'll never leave me alone to attend court ever again.'

'You're usually very capable, but I will not if you prefer it.'

She gave him a half-hearted glare. When that didn't so much as make him flinch, her expression softened and she hugged his neck instead. He held her back, glad that the episode was apparently over.

'You aren't like any of the others up there,' she said as Hades gathered her up in his arms and swept her into bed. 'The gods and mortals alike say you're so terrible, but you're the kindest of all of them. I'm so glad you took me away in your chariot when you did, before any of the others had the chance to.'

As pleased as Hades was to be spoken to so lovingly by his sweet wife, he couldn't help but be chagrined by being described as 'kind', even if it was in relation to his prideful, vengeful family. He had a reputation to uphold, after all.

'I am not so kind, really, am I?' he said hopefully.

'Oh, no. Terribly cruel and awful to behold most of the time, of course,' she said to his relief. 'That's what makes your kindness to me all the better.'

'It is only for you,' he assured her.

'You have one of those cruel fates reserved for Sisyphus, don't you? Something especially horrible for tricking me?'

'Yes, indeed. Something even worse than being flayed or eaten alive. People tend to get used to physical agony, but disappointment and constant toil ... he will find it far more difficult to become accustomed to that.'

'How clever you are! That will do very nicely,' Persephone said happily. Thoroughly comforted that Hades was not upset with her now, she kissed him, shrugging out of her regal dress as she did so, keen to repay him for the trouble she had caused.