“Hades”
Of all the gods and goddesses in Olympia, Regina was an enigma. She did not cavort with the other gods and goddesses, eschewing their presence. Many whispered it was because the dark had taken her and she could not stand to be in the light for too long. Others believed she was jealous of how beloved the others. After all, who could love the goddess of death?
It was a question Regina herself pondered every day of her existence as Queen of the Underworld. The mortals who lived in Olympia would’ve been shocked to learn she chose this duty, a choice she had come to regret. She had made it when she was young and grief-stricken. Regina had fallen in love with a mortal, a young man who raised horses. He had found her offering an apple to one of his mares and offered to teach her to ride. She had accepted and as their lessons continued, they fell in love.
One day, they rode together as he worked to tame one of his new horses. His became spooked and threw him before Regina could help him reign the beast in. He had died in her arms. She made up her mind then and there to give up her dreams of becoming the goddess of agriculture and instead asked dominion over the land of the dead. Logos, the chief god who determined everyone’s roles in Olympia, begged her to reconsider. He had warned her that the Underworld was no place for her and that she belonged in sunlight and nature. “Love will come again,” he promised her.
Regina, though, was stubborn and foolish. She had insisted and he granted her wish. But she learned within hours of her new assignment that love between an immortal and a mortal still stood no chance in death. All she could do was watch Daniel’s spirit from afar and yearn for him. Over time, she sought him out less and less as the pain began to subside. It was replaced by an overwhelming sense of loneliness and she lost hope of ever falling in love or even having companionship.
That was the real reason she avoided the other gods and goddesses. Regina watched as they fell in and out of love, throwing it away as if it were nothing. They cheated, they lied, they took what they wanted and yet the people still adored them. Yet she was the one they cursed, even more than the God of Mischief and Discord. They called her evil and a witch because she took their loved ones away. None of the mortals knew she understood their pain better than the other gods they prayed to. And none of the gods understood her or why she wasn’t as happy or optimistic as they were. So, she stayed away.
*****
She had been Queen of the Underworld for a few eons when she felt a familiar pull. It was the urge to nurture and so she planted a little garden near her large obsidian palace. She cared for the trees and they soon yielded fruit for her. Fruit only those who belonged to the world of the dead could eat and fruit that only satisfied the pull for a little bit. When it returned, she realized what she really wanted—a child. Regina often served as a proxy mother to the child spirits but they were not corporal. She couldn’t hold them, hug them or kiss them. They also were always reunited with their real mothers in the end and forgot her. She wanted someone who wouldn’t do that. But being who she was and what everyone thought of her, she doubted anyone—mortal or immortal—would lie with her.
Brooding over the subject yet again, Regina didn’t notice she was at the edge of her realm until the sunlight hit her eyes. She shielded them as they adjusted from the murkiness of the Underworld. The forest that bordered her lands came into view and she watched as wood nymphs danced amongst the trees. She found them to be carefree creatures and envied them. Why couldn’t she dance like that?
As she turned to head back into her dark domain, the spirit of her river called for her help. Someone had fallen in, it told her, an immortal child who could not swim. It was a river of death potent enough to defeat immortality in a grown god, let alone a child. Heart racing, Regina ran along the shore until she saw the small figure struggling against the powerful current. Se dipped her hand in the water, stilling the river before having it float the child over to her. He was breathing but unconscious. Regina searched for any sign of his parents but found no one. She had no choice but to take the child with her and wait for him to regain consciousness. Or perhaps she could contact one of the other gods, though she was loathe to do that.
By the time she returned to her palace, he was feverish. She recognized it as a sickness brought on by an immortal body being so close to death. Regina sponged him with cool water for hours, waiting for his fever to break. When it did and he fell into a peaceful slumber, Regina’s shoulders slumped in relief.
The boy was young though age was heard to guess for gods. He had dark curls Regina ran her hand through as he slept, dark eyelashes fluttering with his eye movement. His skin had a darker tone that indicated he spent a lot of time in the sun. Would he miss it once he awoke in this land of shadows and darkness?
When he did awake, he revealed dark brown eyes like she had. Regina hurried to his side, asking him for his name. The boy scrunched up his face before declaring he didn’t know. He then burst into tears. She gathered him in her arms, rocking him and rubbing his back in a soothing manner.
His memory loss was concerning. It was something only the mortal spirits experience after years of dwelling in the Underworld. Why did this immortal child forget? The best she could guess was the trauma of nearly drowning. All they were able to do was wait and see of his memory returned.
During his waking hours, the boy was the sweetest child Regina had ever encountered. He obeyed every rule she set for him—especially the one forbidding him to eat anything in her garden. Were he to eat even a single berry he would be forever tied to the Underworld.
Regina found the boy brightened her dreary existence. He was smart and quickly picked up whatever she taught him. He had a connection to the trees, which made sense to her as she found him near the woods. She enjoyed caring for him and wondered if Logos sent the boy to fulfill her desire for a child.
She knew she had to start looking for his father. But each time she went to contact another god or goddess, she hesitated. She was growing too attached.
*****
It was too good to last. The same day the boy remembered his name (Roland), Regina found Snow’s frowning face in the mirror she used to communicate with the others. Snow, the goddess of children (amongst other titles). Regina sighed. “What?”
“You can’t keep him.”
“Who?”
“Regina, I know about the child you have. His father is going mad with worry. He’s been looking everywhere.”
“Not everywhere.” Regina walked away, back to the mirror.
She heard Snow sigh. “No one thinks to look for an immortal child in the Underworld, Regina.”
“True,” Regina admitted. She sighed and turned around as she said: “Fine. Tell me who his father is so I can return him.”
But Snow was gone.
The next day, Regina made her daily trip to the outside world to fetch food for Roland. She dug out some mushrooms she knew were safe, imagining the soup she could make him when she felt something sharp press into her head. “I believe you have my son,” a low voice said.
She closed her eyes; Roland’s father had found her. Regina swallowed. “Yes. Lower your weapon and I can take you to him.”
The sharp point was removed from her head and she stood to face him. All gods and goddesses were beautiful but none of the ones Regina had encountered had ever taken her breath away until now. He was taller than her with golden hair and bright blue eyes. Muscles bulged from under the short white chiton he wore. A golden glow lit his skin but it still didn’t compare to Roland’s skin. In fact, he and Roland didn’t have much of a resemblance…
“He is my son,” he said, as if reading her mind. “He favors his mother.”
So there was a mother. “Of course,” she said.
He raised his bow again. “Tell me why you took Roland.”
“I didn’t take him. I rescued him.” The story spilled from her lips and with each word he lowered his bow.
He sighed. “I’ve warned him several times about playing too close to the river.”
“He’s an obedient boy. I am certain it was an accident.”
“Why didn’t you return him?”
“He lost his memories. They still haven’t fully returned.”
“What did you do to him?” Once again, Regina found herself staring at the wrong end of an arrow.
She sighed. “Nothing. I don’t know why his memories haven’t returned.”
“Take me to him.”
“First, tell me your name. I’m not about to let a stranger into my domain.” Regina crossed her arms, staring him down.
He glared at her. “My name is Robin. I’m the God of the Forest.”
“Regina, Goddess of…”
“Death. I am aware. Now take me to my son.”
“Follow me.”
*****
When Roland saw Robin, he scampered behind Regina and refused to have anything to do with the man. Robin frowned, pleading with his son to just look at him. The boy refused and started to cry. She scooped him up and carried him into the other room, placing him on the bed she had made for him.
He looked up at her with teary eyes. “Will you make the strange man go away?”
“Oh, Roland.” She crouched down. “He’s your father. You just don’t remember. So he’s going to stay until you do.”
“He won’t hurt me?”
“No, he won’t. And I wouldn’t let him.” She kissed his forehead.
Regina stepped out of the room to find Robin pacing her throne room. He stopped when he saw her, a wild look in his blue eyes. “What did you do to him?”
“Nothing.” Anger surged through her. “I’m getting tired of the accusations. He has memory loss. I don’t know why. But you’re going to have to deal with it if you want your son back.”
She turned, stalking away. Pausing, she glanced over his shoulder. “Would you like a room?”
“Fine. But it better be near my son,” he said, following her.
*****
Robin tried to help his son recover his memories by spending time with him. But he refused to let Regina anywhere near Roland when he was with him. So each attempt ended with a frantic Roland running from the god and right to the Queen of the Underworld. Each time, she wrapped him in a tight embrace and assured him everything was all right.
“You should let me be with you. It’ll calm down Roland and maybe he’ll start to actually remember you,” she suggested over and over.
Each time, Robin frowned and shook his head. “What he needs is to spend more time with me and less with you.”
Regina through up her hands. “You do things your way. When you see I’m right, you know where to find me.”
As Robin kept coaxing Roland to trust him again, Regina distracted herself with her duties as the Goddess of Death. She ushered souls into their new homes, comforting those who grieved for their old lives. Souls petitioned her for favors or reincarnation and she determined whether to grant their requests or not. And she kept tending to her garden and fruit trees.
One day, she noticed Robin observing her with a strange look in his eyes. She didn’t know what it meant but experience told her it probably wasn’t a good thing. The day after, he told her he was taking Roland on a picnic to the outside world. “Maybe he’ll remember better in the woods,” he said.
She nodded. “It sounds like a plan.”
“Would you like to come with us?”
Regina blinked a few times. “Pardon?”
Robin sighed. “You’re right. Roland trusts you more than me. So if he sees you trusting me, maybe he’ll do the same.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“Understandable. But can you at least pretend?”
She nodded. “For Roland’s sake, I can.”
*****
Robin set up their picnic at the edge of the woods, letting her stay close enough to the entrance to the Underworld should she be needed. They watched Roland frolic amongst the trees with the nymphs, his laughter echoing around them.
She put down her goblet of wine and looked at Robin, who lounged next to her. “Thank you, for letting me come.”
“It’s I who should be thanking you. You did save my son, after all.”
“Well. I’m glad you finally realized that.”
He nodded, sitting up to hold out his hand to her. “Let’s start again. My name is Robin.”
“Regina.” She took it and he raised her hand to his lips. Regina looked away, afraid she was blushing. It was a ridiculous thing to get so flustered over. Taking a deep breath, she decided to find a safe subject. “Tell me more about Roland.”
Robin was more than happy to talk about his son, telling her all about Roland’s childhood so far. From what she could tell, it was a happy one and that Robin really loved his son. But there was one thing missing from his stories. Well, more like one person. She took a gulp of her wine and gathered her courage to ask the question. “I hope this doesn’t ruin our new start, but I was just wondering…”
“Where Roland’s mother is?” Robin finished for her. She nodded and he sighed. “I lost her.”
“Was she mortal?”
He shook his head. “A goddess like you. Goddess of animals, in fact. I met her when she was tending to some woodland creatures and fell instantly in love. Thankfully the feeling was mutual and soon, we were expecting Roland.”
“What was her name?”
“Marian.” Robin smiled. “She was so beautiful. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only god who thought so. The God of Justice pursued her and when she spurned his advances, choosing to remain loyal to me, he flew into a rage and turned her into stone. She fell, shattering into several pieces.”
Regina winced. As the Goddess of Death, she knew the ways gods could lose their immortality and perish. That was certainly one of them. She placed her hand over Robin’s. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
He nodded in thanks. “When I found out, anger overtook me. I turned him into a pincushion with my arrows before transforming him into a tree. Logos found me curled up by where Marian had fallen, an absolute wreck. He told me to be strong for Roland and promised me I’d find love again.”
The words triggered a memory of her own, of the same promise Logos made to him. “I’m sure you will,” she said.
“What about you? How did you come to be the Goddess of Death?”
Regina took another sip of wine and told her own tale of sorrow and loss. He cupped her cheek, causing her breath to hitch. “I’m sorry for your loss as well, milady.”
“Thank you,” she said, licking her lips before berating herself for such actions. “Anyway, I asked to become the Goddess of Death instead of agriculture so I could be closer to Daniel. But over time, he forgot me. All mortal spirits forget their lives. And I just stay on, in darkness and forever cast as a villain.”
“You ought to be revered,” Robin said.
She blushed again, this time excusing herself to return to her world.
*****
After the picnic, things changed between Robin and Regina. They were friendlier and sometimes she swore they were even flirting with each other. Once their hostilities ceased, Roland was more willing to spend time with his father, sometimes away from Regina. She always made certain to be nearby, though, just in case.
If she was honest with herself, she believed she was falling for the God of the Forest. He was kind, intelligent, funny and honorable. His presence—along with Roland’s—brightened up her dreary existence in the Underworld. Some days, she even pretended they were a proper family.
But then the doubt would creep in again. Treacherous voices whispered that he was only playing her. Whispered that Robin was only being nice to her so Roland could regain his memories and then they would leave, never to think of her again. She was evil according to all the other gods. No doubt, the voice told her, Robin thought the same.
The voice was vanquished though one day when she overheard Robin talking with someone in the mirror in her throne room. She hid behind a tapestry, recognizing Charming’s face. He frowned. “Robin, you need to get out of there. She’s evil.”
“Regina is not evil. It’s just a lie we tell ourselves to make ourselves feel better about not talking to her. She’s a good person. Kind, beautiful, smart, and yes, sometimes she mistakes. But we all have right?” Robin crossed his arms. “I’m in no danger here. Stop worrying.”
“Robin, listen to me…”
“Goodbye, Charming. I’ll talk to you when you’re more sensible.”
“When I’m more sensible?” Charming’s indignant face disappeared with a wave of Robin’s hand.
He turned from the mirror, rubbing his face. Robin straightened up when he saw Regina step out from behind the tapestry. His eyes grew wide. “How much did you hear?”
“Enough.” She stepped closer and, throwing caution to the wind, crashed her lips against his.
Robin returned the kiss with as much passion as she had. He ran a hand through her hair as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They broke for air, foreheads resting together. Robin chuckled. “Who knew the Queen of the Dead was such a good kisser.”
“Flatterer.”
“Guilty as charged.” A wicked look crossed his face. “What are you going to do to punish me?”
Regina smiled, pulling him by the clasps on his chiton. “Oh, I think I can think of something.”
*****
From that moment on, Robin shared Regina’s quarters and her bed. She knew they were playing a dangerous game. Every day, Roland regained more of his memories and started to recognize his father. Robin would need to go soon, back to his duties fulltime. Besides, he and Roland didn’t belong here in the Underworld. They belonged to the woods and sunshine.
These depressing thoughts haunted her even as she lay in his arms. He dozed next to her, spent but sated. She rolled over to face him, to memorize every line of his face. These were the best times she had experienced since Daniel and she wanted to remember every moment of them before they were gone.
“You’re staring. What’s wrong?” he muttered without opening his eyes.
She rested her head in the crook of his neck. “You need to go.”
Robin opened an eye. “Are you throwing me out of your bed, milady?”
“Of course not.” But there was no humor in her voice like in his. “But you and I both know you need to leave soon, to go back up there.”
“I could always refuse.”
Regina shook her head. “You know you can’t. Not without serious repercussions that I don’t want either you or Roland to pay on my account.”
“You’re worth it, Regina. I’d rather face the wrath of Logos than live apart from you.” He tilted her head up, peppering every inch of it with kisses. “I love you.”
“Robin…”
“And,” he continued, “I know you can’t look me in the eyes and say you don’t love me in return.”
She stared into his blue eyes, the love in them overwhelming. Looking away, she shook her head. “I can’t love you. I know I’m supposed to be alone.”
“You’re not. It’s just a defense you’ve built up over the years to prevent you from being hurt. But I’m not going to hurt you.”
Regina slipped away from him and out of her bed. She held her discarded chiton close to her body. “I know you mean that, Robin. But you are going to hurt me. You need to go back to your life. And I don’t think I’m part of that.”
He protested but she left the room, unable to be near him anymore. Not when tears were threatening to fall. She would not let him see her cry. It would only convince him to continue on his foolhardy plan to remain here.
*****
The next day, Regina took Roland for one last walk in the Underworld to say her goodbyes. He was confused. “But I’ll be able to see you again, right?”
“I don’t know, darling.”
“Papa loves you, though. So you’ll be my new mother.” Roland stopped looking up at her with his beautiful brown eyes.
She wanted to kiss his brow and tell him that she would be his mother. But she wasn’t going to lie to this sweet child. “I don’t think so, Roland. I’m sorry.”
He hung his head, silent as they returned to her palace. As they drew closer, she spotted someone in her garden. Roland pointed. “Look! It’s Papa.”
Indeed, Robin was standing in her garden. Regina frowned, wondering what he was doing there. She watched as he raised his hand to pluck an apple from one of her trees. He cleaned it on his garment and a cold feeling swept over her. She had warned him that if he ate her fruit, he’d be trapped in the Underworld. He wouldn’t do anything so foolish, would he?
She picked up Roland in order to race to Robin, to stop him. But she wasn’t fast enough. His teeth sunk into the apple and she watched as he chewed then swallowed. He was able to take a few more bites before she managed to snatch the apple away from him. “What are you doing?” she snapped.
“Making sure I can’t leave you. I’m tied to this world now, just like you.” He cupped her face, rubbing his thumb across her cheek.
In her arms, Roland grew excited. “We can stay? And Regina can be my new mother?”
“No,” Regina said. “No, Logos will never stand for this. He’ll punish all of us.”
“I don’t punish people for falling in love and following their hearts, Regina.” Logos’ voice came from behind her. “Even if they do something stupid in the process.”
She turned as Robin’s arm snaked around her waist, drawing her closer. Logos had taken on the appearance of an older man, with white hair and a white beard. His light eyes though spoke of eternal youth as did his smile.
Behind her, Robin stood up straighter. “I don’t regret my actions, sir.”
Logos waved him off. “I didn’t think you would. But it does complicate things a bit.”
Regina’s heart hammered in her chest. “What happens now?”
“Well, my dear, you’ve been right in the fact that Robin needs to return to his duties as God of the Forest. And no,” he said as Robin opened his mouth. “I won’t let you abdicate your duties.”
Robin nodded. “Fine. But what about my ties here?”
“Yes, well, Regina stopped you before you could be completely bound here. So you’ll be able to spend six months as the God of the Forest. But as the sun sets on the autumnal equinox, you will feel the pull to return here. You will do so and take your place as King of the Underworld, next to Regina, for the other six months.”
Her heart stopped. She was able to stay with Robin. “Truly?” she whispered.
Logos nodded, stepping closer to her. He lowered his voice. “I told you that you would found love again. You decided to wait a bit longer than I intended, but you found each other.”
Regina smiled, kissing his cheek. “Thank you.”
*****
So it was that for six months of the year, Robin and Roland lived in the Underworld with Regina. The spirits were glad to see their queen so happy and loved. Regina was happy not to be so alone any more. And as time went on, she found her greatest wish granted when she gave birth to her and Robin’s daughter.
During his time in the Underworld, the trees shed their leaves and were considered dead as the weather grew colder. When he returned at the vernal equinox, their leaves began to bud and then burst forth in their greenery. Life returned to the woods and Roland once again frolicked with the nymphs. He was sometimes joined by his sister, Rhea, when she came up to visit from the Underworld. She was a beautiful child who had her mother’s dark curls and personality but her father’s blue eyes and smile. Regina and Robin would lounge on the banks of her river, watching their children at play.
He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “Well, my queen, I do believe we shall be happy forever.”
“I believe, my king, you are correct.” She smiled before kissing him again.