Sun Mote Copse Demeter's sorrow

Wraen felt that she might have hit a jackpot, when she had offered a story instead of keeping the conversation about, why one or the other did not have kids or mates, when most people their age did. Eljay seemed to retreat from his embarrassed and stressed state of mind to one that was more relaxed. Therefore she had discovered a handy tool for the future use, in case she unknowingly managed to confuse the fellow in bashfulness again.

"The story features Hades - he is the supreme ruler of the Underground world and deals with the spirits that go there after death. He judges everyone before him equally, no matter the status or birth in the mortal world. The deeds of the person are the ones that matter. While he is a powerful god, he is rarely invited to join the other Olympian gods," Wraen introduced Eljay to the important character No.1. 

After letting this information sink in, she went to the character No.2: "Demeter is a goddess of nature, all things that grow and bring fruit. Some say that she is also responsible for the cycle of life and death. And beautiful Persephone is her daughter, who being a child of two strong gods, possesses the ability to make plants grow. Where she puts her paw, there shoots of grass and flowers and even trees sprout."

"The original story tells that Hades saw the beautiful Persephone playing in a meadow with nymphs and satyrs, kidnapped her and brought her to the Underground, where he made her his wife. Demeter, who loved her daughter dearly, mourned her loss so much that she stopped taking care of the earth and plants, and animals. Soon the warm days grew very cold, the vegetation died and people suffered from famine," she explained.

"That was the first winter as we know it that people encountered. Eventually one god tipped off, where Persephone could be found and Demeter demanded Hades to return her daughter. Unwillingly he let her do so, however, before leaving he offered her tasty morsels of food. And she ate them, without realizing that, once you eat or drink something that has it's origins in the Underground, you are never permitted to leave," she said and paused a little. The ending was not too far off. 

"So now Persephone was tied forever with the Underground and it would have remained so had not Hades's brother Zeus - the king of the Heaven and Olympus - intervened and offered a deal. Each year Persephone would spend six months with her mother Demeter and then she would return for six months to her husband Underground," she told. 

"Therefore each spring Persephone joins her mother and together they take care of the earth, all plants and animals that dwell there and each autumn she returns to Hades. That's, when the winter begins and Demeter mourns and waits for her daughter's return," Wraen finished and looked expectantly at Eljay to see, if he had enjoyed the story as much as she had. And if the response was favourable, there was more she wanted to add to the favourite tale of hers.