Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Lady Persephone!" A hungry young girl calls, running up to her, face covered in soot. A worker like they all were down in Hadestown, her overalls were ripped and dirty, and she carries a pickaxe by her side.

"Eurydice," She turns slowly to face the girl

"You were going to leave without saying bye?" Eurydice pants, out of breath from catching up to her. Eyeing Persephone's suitcase and spring attire, had it been six months?

The goddess sighs, "You know it's easier this way, I have to go."

"Can I at least walk you to the train?" Her eyes are pleading, not wanting to let go of the one person who made her feel alive in this wretched place.

"Fine," Persephone caves to the girls desparate look, she has a soft spot for Eurydice.

The walk to the train station is short, and when they get there they turn to each other, a spark of something in the girls eyes, "Can I ask you a favor?"

Persephone's gaze turns suspicious, "Depends, what kind of favor are we talking about?"

Eurydice pulls a folded piece of paper from her pocket, "Give this to him, please. Tell him that whatever he did, I don't care, I forgive him"

Persephone puts down her suitcase, taking the paper, "You don't remember him, do you?"

Her eyes dart to the ground avoidantly, "I remember his love, his warmth, but it's hard to remember much these days." She sighs, "Will you do it?"

"I don't know, Eurydice, if the boss finds out"

"Please, Persephone, this is all I'm asking. I need him to know"

Persephone glances around cautiously before picking up her suitcase and stuffing the paper inside, "Don't forget yourself while I'm gone." she says, squeezing Eurydice's hand before turning and boarding the waiting train.

Orpheus sits at the train station, he finds himself here a lot, waiting. He knows it's futile, she's gone. His lyre sits lonely next to him, he hasn't played, he can't bring himself to, the melody that was once full of love and hope now feels like a scorn to his failure.

A whistle blows in the distance, making Orpheus raise his head, a sliver of fruitless hope coursing through him as the train pulls into the station.

As the doors open he feels the air shift, the previously frigid, bitter atmosphere suddenly warming. A songbird calls from a nearby tree, spring was back.

Persephone exits the train car, taking a deep breath of the fresh air that Hadestown lacked.

Scanning the train station, her eyes fall up Orpheus, "Waiting for someone?" she asks, striding up to him.

He sighs, "No," his hand falls to his lyre, "I guess not"

She smiles gently at him, "Walk with me"

"What good does sitting there do?" She asks as they gain distance from the station, "You know she's not coming, you're just hurting yourself more"

He looks at the ground, "I don't want to talk about her"

Persephone sighs, "She wanted me to talk to you"

Orpheus freezes, turning to face the woman, "She remembers me?"

"See for yourself." She pulls the note from her suitcase, holding it out to him.

"He let her-?"

"He doesn't know."

Orpheus gingerly takes the paper from her, as if it might disappear in his hand. He looks at her, apprehension in his face, and she nods reassuringly.

His hands tremble as he unfolds the paper, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes as he reads.

"My Love,
        Though I fail to recall your name, the vision of your face evades me, I remember your love. The emotions stay longer than the memories, I remember your warmth, the feeling I had while with you. That feeling that nothing could ever hurt me, you were something I'd known my whole life. I forgive you, love, for whatever you did. My heart knows that it was because you loved me more than anything, even though I can't remember what it was. I know you're up there, living, and I hope this letter reaches you so I can tell you what I need to. I'm okay.
All my love,
Eurydice"

With Persephone gone, Eurydice could feel the air shifting in Hadestown. Even with the rekindled love between the two gods, it didn't stop Hades from doubling down during the winter months. Half the breaks, double the hours, double the quota, if you could somehow double everlasting overtime he had done it. The melody that had played in the back of her mind was slowly fading, replaced by the falling of pickaxes and the chugging of the machinery. For the first time since she was here she heard the Fates harmonizing in the back of her mind. That song, his song, had kept her alive for those six months, and she desperately tried to cling to it, but it was like trying to hold water. She started to lose track of the days, it was endless labor. Her soot covered face became tear-streaked, she could feel herself slipping.

It felt like years since she had seen Persephone, she was exhausted. What was her name again? Forgetting makes her spiral into a pit of despair, each swing of her pickaxe feeling like digging her own grave.

As she feels as though she can't take anymore, her legs give out under her and she falls to her knees with a sob.

"Get up," a voice next to her urges, "Before he sees"

She shakes her head, "I can't. I can't do this anymore." Tears stream down her face, too exhausted to bring herself to her feet. 

Chapter Text

"Take me back" Orpheus cries, clutching the paper like it’s the last thing holding him to the earth.

Persephone sighs, “You know I can't do that, Orpheus” 

He grabs her arm, looking at her with pleading eyes, “I want to go back.” 

“No,” She says, sternly, “I can’t let you” 

“I have to-” 

She cuts him off, “If you go back down there, you aren’t coming back. You were lucky to be let go the first time, he won’t do it again.” Her voice is full of genuine concern, an urge to protect the boy nagging at her. 

Orpheus disregards her reasoning, “I don't care, I want to be with her” 

“I will not let you kill yourself for her, she wouldn't want that” Persephone insists.

He thinks for a moment, before setting a determined look on his face, “I don't need you, I'll go on my own. I've done it before and I'll do it again” He exclaims, turning around and walking back towards the train station, holstering his lyre over his shoulder. 

Persephone considers for a moment, “Orpheus wait!” she calls after him, groaning in frustration, “I’ll take you” 

He stops, turning around, “Really?” His eyes full of gratitude. 

She strides toward him, “I’d rather you make it and see her then die on the way”

Hades paces back and forth behind the seated young girl, her head lowered, "Lazy!" he shouts, making her flinch, fighting back her tears, "Incompetent!" she bites her lip to stop it from trembling, "Pathetic!" he yells, nearly in her ear. 

She stares at her clenched fists in her lap, "Please, Sir--" 

He silences her with a flick of his wrist, "Those are all adjectives I would use to describe any other worker under my rule," he snarls, "But you, Songbird," he spits out the nickname like it's poisonous, "I have a different word for you" he leans down so his face is mere inches from hers, "Ungrateful." 

A tear rolls down her cheek, and he scoffs, rolling his eyes, "Oh please, spare me your tears" 

Straightening out, he walks around her and leans on the edge of his desk, taking a sip from his whiskey glass, "I have been nothing but generous to you, girl, giving you freedom, a place to sleep, a home, a job. I gave you a second chance, the option to walk out of here, I indulged your little poet, let him walk free. I give and I give and I give and what do I get in return?" he puts down the glass, pausing, as if waiting for her to respond. When she doesn't say anything he slams his hand on the desk, "Nothing!" 

She jumps at the noise, tears now silently streaming down her cheeks, a sinking feeling in her stomach. 

He sighs, walking behind her, “Here’s the deal, Songbird,” He pauses, being unnecessarily dramatic, “I should make an example out of you, show your coworkers what happens when they slack off, but here’s the thing,” He puts his hand on her shoulder, and she feels like she shrinks beneath it, “I like you. I don't want to get rid of you, not yet at least. I believe that despite your failures, you're still a valuable asset to me. I’ve invested too much effort into you to get rid of you this fast,” He walks around his desk, sitting in his chair, “Which raises the question, what should I do with you?”

Orpheus stands at the train station, Persephone standing next to him. The silence is deafening between them. Orpheus takes a deep breath, the fresh spring air filling his lungs, it’s a perfect day. Before her he would’ve used this day to sit in the sun, maybe under a tree, strumming a tune on his lyre. Now, he couldn't bring himself to play without her. He had tried, picked up his instrument, tried to sing, but every melody came out wrong. Majors turned to minors, his rhythm unsteady, tuning askew. He gave up, it hurt too much. 

Persephone turns to him, “I can’t go with you,” She glances around at the blossoming spring, “I’m needed up here” 

His face is a mixture of determination and fear, “Okay.”

“You don't have to do this, Orpheus,” She grabs his hand, “There's no going back, when you're gone you're gone. You can't turn around this time.”

He takes a shaky breath, “I know, I'm ready”

She nods, pressing two coins into his palm, “Your ticket, I'll see you soon”

The train whistle blows as it pulls into the station, doors opening to reveal Hermes. Looking at Orpheus, his expression shifts from confused, to concerned, to stern, “No” He states, looking at the coins in the boy's hand, “It's not your time yet” 

The god looks at Persephone, then at Orpheus, whose eyes dart to the ground, “I can't live without her Mister Hermes”

He opens his mouth, the conflict visible on his face, before swallowing hard and nodding to himself, “Come along then” 

He takes the boy under his arm and leads him to a seat, Orpheus doesn't look up, “Are you mad at me?” 

“No son,” Hermes says, taking a seat across from him, “I'm mad that I couldn't save you, I'm mad at myself. I raised you, Orpheus, treated you like my son. I watched you grow into a bright, talented young man. I watched you fall in love, and fight through thick and think to keep it.”

“And I still failed” he cries

“No you didn't. You loved her so much that the fear of losing her was too great to overpower. Your love for her was, is, stronger than most.” A tear runs down the god's cheek, “It's strong enough that I can't save you from it. I'm sorry Orpheus.”