Primavera, Part 2

It was searingly hot. Primavera gasped lightly as another heatwave hit her. She gritted her teeth and fixed her eyes on the road ahead. Her horse was panting heavily beneath her. She could feel his sweat mingling with hers against her legs. It was kind of Demeter to summon one of her own horses to make Primavera’s journey easier, but Primavera couldn’t help feeling sorry for the poor animal.

Primavera shook her head. If not for the horse, she wouldn’t have made it out of the valley where Persephone had been taken. She leaned forward and gently ruffled Thallo’s mane. Thallo whinnied softly and pressed forward with a new burst of energy.

They continued down their road until sunset. The first day of travel was over. They had just under a week left. Primavera grimaced, slid down from the saddle, and began unloading the provisions from Thallo’s back. Once everything was on the ground beneath yet another dead tree, Primavera took some of the hay-and-grain mixture Demeter had sent along with food for Primavera and fed the exhausted steed. Thallo almost inhaled the food, drank some water, and settled down with a heave.

Primavera took a seat against the tree trunk and ate some fruit. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. It was twilight, and the first stars were starting to flicker above. She ached for the coming night to cool the air, but the sun had done too good a job heating the earth. It would take hours for the heat to dissipate, and by then, the sun would be rising again. But not for much longer. Not once she had saved Persephone.

Taking a deep breath, Primavera settled onto her mat and drifted off to sleep. A gentle breeze played around her, and she smiled. Images of her home in bloom filled her dreams. She could see herself lounging beneath her willow, her hand resting in the gentle stream as her fingers played with the water. The air was fresh and clean, birds chirped cheerfully, and the leaves rustled peacefully in the west wind. It was a paradise of tranquillity and beauty.

Even in her dreams, Primavera could feel her heart ache to be there. But this wouldn’t be the scene she would return to. It wouldn’t be a lush valley but a desolate plain. The only way she would get her home back was to continue her journey ahead.

The prickling of the sun’s rays pulled Primavera from her dreams. She grumbled as she forced her eyes open and sat up, glaring at the sun as it glared at her. Still, she felt refreshed and ready for the next day. The dreams had been enough to fill her with new energy and vigour. She packed her supplies and loaded them back on Thallo’s back. The majestic stallion snorted and threw his head to the side. Primavera wasn’t sure whether that meant he was annoyed by the load or impatient to get started for the day.

They set off at a trot, wanting to cover as much distance as possible before it became too hot to go on. By midday, Thallo was practically dragging himself forward, nearly buckling with each step he took. Primavera pulled him to a halt and led him to the scattered cover of a few trees. They spent longer there than Primavera would have liked, but it was impossible to continue with the sun blazing down in its full fury. Primavera found herself actually missing Boreas’s icy gusts, with or without Demeter’s wailing.

Finally, after both nymph and horse had enough energy to continue, they got back on the road. A gentle breeze picked up and played around them. It teased the dust Thallo kicked up, gently ruffled their hair, and eased the heat against their skin just enough to make it more bearable. Primavera frowned as she watched the dust flurry. Finally, she decided it was Boreas’s way of subtly helping them on their journey. She smiled and sent him a short prayer of thanks.

Dusk arrived, and their second day drew to a close. They found shelter at the foot of a tall hill and ate some food. Primavera watched in amazement as the bags bulged even as she removed fruits and bread from them. The gods in favour of her quest were really not holding back on their assistance. It made her feel all the more confident that she might actually succeed in this crazy plan.

Primavera settled down to sleep with the breeze still caressing her softly. She drifted off quickly. Soon she was back in her valley, walking among the wildflowers. They reigned in a rainbow of colours. Delicate blooms sprang from the ground, gently swaying in the west wind. Their brightness and cheer competed with the sun, but the bright ball of light didn’t seem to mind. The cascading rays let the flowers shine even brighter.

A hint of sadness broke through her dreams as she remembered how much she used to love sunny days. Now, she was cursing every second the sun blazed down. But it was different. The sun wasn’t lighting up the beauty of the world around her; it was exposing and contributing to the destruction. It would all end once Persephone was free and Demeter released the drought. Primavera set her jaw in her sleep as she clung to the beautiful memories in her dreams.

The sun hadn’t fully risen by the time Primavera and Thallo set out again. Spurred on by her dreams, Primavera meant to ride for as long as possible before midday. The day passed quickly, even though they had to spend hours off the road during midday before they could continue. They rode well past sunset, only stopping when it became much too dark to see the road ahead.

Satisfied that they had covered a good distance, Primavera led them to an alcove in a bunch of prickly bushes. Eager to sleep, she looked forward to revisiting her home, even if only in her dreams. Once she and Thallo were full and refreshed, she lay down on her mat and let her mind drift with the ever-present breeze.

As predicted, Primavera found herself back in the valley. She took a deep breath and filled her lungs with fresh air. The streams were almost overflowing their beds, and she ran to the nearest one, laughing and dancing down the hill. Soft grass cushioned her feet with every step. She reached the stream’s edge, removed her robe, and waded into the water.

The chill made her skin crawl as her legs sank beneath the surface, but it was a welcome sensation. Primavera revelled in it as she dipped into the water, letting it engulf her. The grass and surface rippled in the west wind, and she watched as seeds and loose flowers drifted away in the breeze, her arms resting on the stream’s bank. She reached out and let the breeze play between her fingers. She smiled, closed her eyes, and let her head drop back, hair drifting far behind her.

Go home.

Her head snapped back up as the thought crossed her mind. Frowning, she looked around, but everything looked the same—bright, cheerful, and thriving. She got out of the stream and found a spot to bathe in the sun’s soft rays. Nuzzled in a meadow between the tall grasses and vibrant flowers, she felt happier than she could imagine possible.

Go back. You don’t need to go to the Underworld to fix this. Just go home, where it’s safe and peaceful.

Primavera shot up from her mat, eyes wide and gasping. She was shivering despite the still-warm night air. These weren’t her thoughts; these weren’t her dreams. She looked around her. Everything was where it should be, and Thallo still slept soundly a short distance away. The breeze was gone, though. Primavera sank back onto her mat, but she couldn’t fall asleep again.

Her eyes drifted to the moon above. It was gradually growing, nearing its halfway mark, neither empty nor full. Primavera had the looming sense of dread that time was moving faster than they anticipated. What would happen if she didn’t reach Hecate in time?

After an hour of tossing and turning, Primavera got up with a sigh, packed her things, nudged Thallo awake, and loaded everything back on the thoroughly annoyed stallion’s back. They set off at a gallop, Primavera’s eyes fixed on the moon.

***

‘You’re not doing a very good job,’ Hermes scoffed. He swung his staff around his head and rested it on his shoulders. The tipped wigs rustled as the two snakes hissed. ‘Your dreams only seem to spur her on. Do I need to remind you what will happen if she succeeds? The Moirai were very clear.’

‘No, no,’ Zephyrus sighed. ‘I remember the Fates’ prediction. I won’t allow it.’

‘Good, and if the threat of the prophecy slips your mind, remember the threat from Olympus.’ He set the Caduceus back on the ground with a hard thud and took a few steps forward, shaking the wings on his sandals into motion. ‘Imagine Zeus and Hades’s anger at her if she steals Persephone away. Imagine how they would punish her. They’ll make her life a constant misery.’

With a heave, he pressed himself off the ground with the Caduceus, his winged sandals flapping furiously. ‘You’re doing her favour,’ he called back as he rose into the sky, ‘even if she doesn’t know it.’

Zephyrus watched Hermes fade into the bright, blue sky. The sun was blazing down fiercely, forcing him to squint as he watched the messenger god fly away. He sighed and kicked at the dust beneath his feet. Hermes was right; the dreams had failed completely. He would have to find another way to convince Primavera to give up her quest. He was not letting that prophecy come true.

Grimacing, Zephyrus scanned the barren world around him. It was a sad sight, and he didn’t like the fact that spring was being put on hold. But Zeus wouldn’t let it go on forever, and it wasn’t Primavera’s responsibility to end the drought. Zephyrus didn’t have to lose her.

He was on the right track with the dreams. Primavera’s only reason for doing this was to save her home. He had reminded her what the valley looked like when it was healthy. Now he just had to convince her that it could be saved without her needing to risk entering the Underworld.

Walking over to a nearby tree, Zephyrus laid his hand on the brittle bark. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he released his breath, it came out as a soft, gentle breeze that wound around and caressed the dry trunk. The fresh air covered the whole tree until the tip of its tallest branches. Zephyrus could feel the life return to the cells beneath the bark, and he opened his eyes.

The tree stood tall, healthy, and alive before him. Carefully, he removed his hand from the trunk and took a few steps back. The tree remained green and thriving, swaying happily in the lingering breeze. Grinning broadly, Zephyrus admired his work. This could work. It would take a lot of concentration and energy, but he would only have to keep the valley alive for as long as Zeus allowed Demeter to continue her tantrum. It couldn’t go on forever.

Now to convince Primavera he could save her home. She would be travelling this way. The road wasn’t far away from the gap in the phantom forest where Hermes had cornered him. All he had to do was wait.

It was nearing midday by the time he finally heard the hoof falls. He smiled. Midday was perfect; Primavera would likely stop her journey here until the worst of the heat passed. He peered out from behind the bushes where he had been waiting. Primavera pulled her horse to a halt and led him to a pathetic attempt at shade cast by the trees.

Zephyrus waited until she had fed and watered the horse and settled down on her mat. When she was nibbling at a bunch of grapes, mournfully watching the sun creep across the sky, he enacted his plan. Planting his hand on the earth, he stepped his feet back and dug his toes into the dirt, keeping his back straight. He breathed in deeply until his lungs were nearly bursting. Then, he bent his elbows until his face was just above the ground and released the breath, sending it into the barren earth.

Life returned to the forest as far as Zephyrus’s energy could reach. It was a slow, gradual process. Bit by bit, fresh, green grass broke through the cracked ground. As the grasses grew, flowers blossomed and brightened the side of the road. Small, green buds popped up on shrubs and thickets, growing until they became little leaves rustling in the west wind. The trees grew darker as moisture filled them and poured into a lush canopy of leaves.

Zephyrus couldn’t keep himself from grinning. He glanced over to where Primavera sat and had to hold his breath to keep from laughing. The stunned nymph sat staring at the sudden greenery around her with wide eyes and a grape only centimetres away from her lips. Her body was completely frozen, but her eyes darted wildly across the scene. Even the horse had jumped up, but he was wasting no time digging into the new grasses and shrubs.

The leaves rustled gently as Zephyrus sent the wind before him. The air drifted towards Primavera and played against her skin. Her head snapped in his direction, and she jumped up when she saw him approach. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a small step back. Zephyrus stopped walking forward and gestured to the vibrant forest around them.

‘What do you think?’ he said, grinning broadly. Primavera didn’t budge. She kept glaring at him with her arms crossed. His grin softened into a smile. Gods, she was beautiful, even when she was angry. He ached to take her hand.

‘It’s lovely,’ she answered tightly. ‘But I doubt you can keep it like this for long.’

‘I can keep it like this for as long as I want to.’

‘Then why haven’t you done this before? Why let the world suffer if you could just bring back spring whenever you liked?’

Zephyrus grimaced. ‘Well, I can’t bring back spring across the whole world with Demeter stubbornly keeping everything barren, but I can return spring to small patches. Like your valley.’

Primavera’s frown deepened. ‘Why?’

‘Because then you wouldn’t need to go to the Underworld to save your home. I could save it for you.’

‘You don’t want me going into the Underworld? Why not? You’re a god of spring, why would you want to stop me from doing something that would bring spring back?’

‘Because it’s not your responsibility!’ Zephyrus crossed his arms and scowled at her. ‘You’re a nymph, Primavera, not a goddess. If you do this, what do you think Zeus and Hades will do to you?’

Primavera’s shoulders sagged, and her eyes fell to the grass at her feet. ‘Demeter will protect me,’ she said softly. Then she nodded, met Zephyrus’s gaze again, and repeated louder, ‘Demeter will protect me. I’m doing this for her, and she’s helped me so far. Why would she stop afterwards?’

‘Do you really think she can protect you from two of the Great Ones? She couldn’t even convince them to release Persephone,’ Zephyrus countered. Primavera grimaced and turned away from Zephyrus, gazing at the road, now barely visible between the grasses and leaves.

Zephyrus closed the distance between them and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. ‘Zeus is all-powerful. He’s just letting Demeter vent out her rage for a while. He’ll put an end to this drought soon enough.’

Primavera shook his hand off and turned back to glower at him. ‘No, he won’t. He’ll wait for Demeter to give up, but the problem is, she won’t give up. You didn’t see her, Zephyrus. She’s not letting this go until Persephone is back. Zeus can try to convince or force her as much as possible, but the only way this ends is with the world burning to ashes.’

Zephyrus shrugged. ‘Then let them deal with it. Whatever damage they do, they’ll fix once they’ve vented their differences.’

‘And what about those of us caught in the middle?’ Primavera snapped. ‘We’ll burn along with everything around us.’

‘No, you won’t,’ Zephyrus said, resting one hand on her shoulder and the other on her cheek. ‘I can save your valley, and I can protect it. Just go back with me. You’ll see, everything will be fine.’

Primavera pulled away from him. ‘Don’t touch me. You invaded my dreams! You’ve never done that before, and you had no right!’

Zephyrus winced and took a step back. ‘I was trying to remind you what you’ll be losing if you continue on this journey. You know Zeus’s wrath; he’ll destroy the valley and you with it if you keep defying him like this.’

‘That still didn’t give you any right to invade my dreams,’ Primavera cried, her voice breaking slightly as she wrapped her arms around her waist. ‘If you had a problem with this quest, you should’ve just confronted me in person from the start.’

‘I’m sorry, you’re right. I care about you, Primavera, and I don’t want to see you get hurt. Maybe my methods weren’t the best, but I promise my intentions were good.’

Primavera scoffed, but let the God of the West Wind wrap his arms around her. Zephyrus rested his head on hers. ‘Please let me take you home. We’ll make sure this drought doesn’t touch the valley any longer and go back to dancing in the meadow or bathing in the streams.’

Primavera sighed and shook her head. ‘I can’t go back and enjoy spring in the valley while knowing the rest of the world is suffering. You may not care how long this drought lasts or what happens to the rest of the world, but I do. And I know I can fix this.’

She tried to take a step back, but Zephyrus wouldn’t let go. Primavera felt his shoulder muscles grow taut. His golden wings quivered slightly, and her eyes widened. ‘Zephyrus?’

‘I’m sorry. I can’t let you go on.’ In one swift motion, Primavera was in his arms, and they were off the ground.

‘Zephyrus!’ Primavera shouted as she clung to him, eyes squished shut. ‘Put me down!’

‘You’ll understand later; you’ll see I’m doing this to protect you!’ Zephyrus called over the rush of the air passing them by as they flew towards the western horizon.

***

Primavera scowled at the setting sun. It was a stunning view. The oranges and yellows made the marble stone and golden gildings shine brightly. It almost seemed like liquid fire gliding across the palace. Every wall and pillar was dressed in vines and flowers in full bloom. It was an eternal spring, cool and fresh and beautiful. But it was all an illusion.

Walking over to the eastern window of her pretty cage, Primavera could see the barren, brown earth on the borders of Zephyrus’s estate. The drought was gnawing at the edge of the lush garden, desperately trying to consume the greenery taunting it, but it couldn’t cross the threshold.

It had been two days since Zephyrus swept her away from the forest. When they had arrived at his palace, he had herded her into a room on the edge of a cliff that overlooked a tall drop and a ferocious sea. He locked the door, promising to let her out when the drought had ended.

She had no intention of waiting for that day to eventually come.

Whenever Zephyrus checked in on her or brought some food, she made a point of glaring every bit of rage she felt at him. She felt satisfied when he left, looking thoroughly uncomfortable. But just scowling at him wouldn’t change his mind. She would have to find her own way out. The moment the door closed behind Zephyrus, Primavera studied every inch of her room, trying to find a way out.

Her best chance was the eastern window. It was the only window that didn’t open out over the cliff. Instead, it overlooked the garden, two storeys above the ground. There was ivy creeping up the wall, which made for a decent ladder. She was sure Zephyrus underestimated her just enough to think she would never dare climb out. That was likely because he knew that she was terrified of heights.

Primavera sighed and sank further into the velvet pillows on an extremely comfortable lavender couch. She had been trying to convince herself to take the risk for more than a day now. There was no other option; she had checked the room three times to make sure. If she wanted to get out and continue her journey, she would have to face the heights and climb down the ivy.

The window loomed across from her like a black hole, waiting to devour her. She leaned her head back and stared at the gardenscape painted on the roof. It was a really beautiful prison. Comfortable, full of flowers and vibrant colours, it was much better than dragging herself across dead roads beside dead plants. A journey she would now have to continue without a horse. It was tempting to stay and follow Zephyrus’s advice to wait the drama out.

Groaning, Primavera dragged herself up and crept towards the window. She glanced out, clutching the frame until her fingers were white. Tempting as it was, she couldn’t stop now. Once she was out and far enough away, she would summon Demeter and explain what had happened. Hopefully, Demeter would give her Thallo and the provisions back so that she could continue her journey. Her biggest obstacle was getting down the wall and across the garden without Zephyrus noticing.

The sun slipped beneath the horizon, and twilight settled across the estate. It was still light enough for Primavera to see what she was grabbing, but just dark enough to hide her from Zephyrus. She hoped. All she needed to do was take the first step.

Taking a deep breath, Primavera climbed up to the windowsill. Her whole body was trembling as her wide eyes glued themselves to the ground far, far below. She gulped and forced herself to look up. Barely breathing, she turned around and slid over the edge.

Her legs dangled nauseatingly in the air, and she kicked frantically against the wall until she felt something solid. She dug her toes in between the bushy vines and lowered herself bit by bit until her hands could reach the ivy as well. Every muscle in her body was taut as she crept down the wall.

Her feet touched the ground faster than she expected. Looking up, however, she saw that night had fallen in full. But it was better this way. The garden was completely open; the only trees lined the edge of the estate. With the darkness to hide her and the moon still not at its halfway mark, she should be able to cross the garden with little trouble.

Primavera darted across the grass. She tried to keep her footsteps light and swift. It wasn’t a long distance to the edge, and she slipped past the trees without any sign of Zephyrus.

The difference between the garden and the world beyond was heartbreaking. She nearly turned around and went back to where spring was still happily in bloom. But she shook off the horror, grit her teeth, and set off across the withered plain, determined to reach the other side before sunrise. But the darkness that had helped her escape unnoticed now became a problem. It slowed Primavera’s progress as she tried to find her way between loose stones and cracked earth.

The lights in Zephyrus’s windows served as her markers. Every now and then, she would glance back to see how much they dimmed. They gradually became smaller as she struggled on. Finally, they were nothing more than pinpricks in the distance. Primavera grinned at herself and turned around to continue across the plain. But when she took a step forward, there was no ground beneath her foot.

With a screech, Primavera tumbled into a ditch about half her height. She could just peer over the edge when she sat up, her skin littered with scratches. Grumbling at herself for losing focus, she dusted herself off and tried to get up. Pain shot through her ankle, and she hissed. Hopping on her healthy foot, she made her way to a boulder, sat down, and studied her sprained ankle.

It wasn’t red or swollen yet, but Primavera could practically feel muscle tissue swelling beneath her skin. Her ankle throbbed, and touching it made her hiss sharply through clenched teeth. The sound echoed down the length of the ditch.

Primavera paused and frowned. Shallow ditches didn’t have echoes. Her head shot up, and she peered into the darkness. A shadow moved in the distance, just barely visible against the blackness around it. She felt a shiver run across her skin.

Heart racing, she hobbled away from the boulder towards the other side of the ditch. Her eyes remained glued on the creature slowly taking shape as it stalked closer. She refused to turn her back on it until she felt the ground slope upward.

The creature growled softly. Its tail swept across the sky, and Primavera could just make out the snake’s head against the stars. The snake hissed again as it moved past the goat and lion heads, straining to reach her. The chimaera hunched its shoulders and crouched to the ground. Primavera spun around and raced up the side of the ditch as fast as her injured ankle allowed.

A sudden gust of wind swept past her, practically pushing her over the rim. She turned around and half-crawled backwards, expecting to see the lion’s head on top of her. Instead, she saw a wall of dust between her and the chimaera. It clawed at the wind, but every time its paw touched the wall, it got thrown back. Growling, bleating, and hissing in an ear-splitting choir, it refused to give up on its prey and kept attacking the wall.

Zephyrus landed next to Primavera and watched the chimaera tearing at his handiwork. ‘You’re completely insane.’

‘I’m insane? You’re the one living next to a chimaera!’

Zephyrus shrugged. ‘I usually just fly over it, so it doesn’t bother me much.’

‘Well, not all of us can fly,’ Primavera huffed as she struggled up from the ground. Zephyrus held out his hand, and she grabbed it with a sigh.

‘You weren’t supposed to leave without me,’ Zephyrus pointed out as he pulled her up and wound his arm around her waist to keep her steady.

‘I am not sitting in your palace and waiting for the Olympians to stop their drama long enough for the earth not to die!’ Primavera pushed Zephyrus away and winced as she fought to keep her balance.

Zephyrus watched her with a blank expression. ‘You realise you were about to die? Is this quest really worth your life? Is it really that important to you?’

‘Yes!’ Primavera shouted, fighting back tears. She had made it this far, but how was she supposed to continue with a sprained ankle? She wouldn’t make it two steps past Zephyrus, let alone all the way to Hecate.

Staring at the stars and the gradually growing moon, she sighed. ‘I can’t stand this drought. And now that I know there’s something I can do to end it, I’m not stopping until spring is back. It may be insane; I may be defying the Three and pushing my abilities far past their limits, but I’m going to keep trying.’

Zephyrus didn’t answer. He just stared at her while the chimaera snarled and glowered at them from behind its invisible barrier. Finally, he took a few steps forward and held his arm out to her. ‘I’m sure Hecate will have something to fix your ankle, but for now, we’ll have to settle with the tonics I have at the palace. Once it’s treated and the sun is up, I’ll take you to Hecate.’

Primavera frowned, eyes darting between Zephyrus’s face and arm. ‘You expect me to just go back to the palace and believe I’m not ending up locked in another room?’

‘I promise you won’t end up locked in again. I swear I will help you.’

‘Why?’

Zephyrus’s gaze flicked to her foot hovering off the ground. He gritted his teeth. ‘I told you I was interfering because I didn’t want you to get hurt. Well, you got hurt anyway, and that’s my fault. You’re clearly not giving up, so I’d rather help and make sure you get to Hecate in one piece.’

Primavera’s shoulders softened. She searched Zephyrus’s eyes for any proof that he was trying to deceive her, but he seemed sincere. Slowly, she nodded and hooked her arm with his. ‘Alright, but if you lock me up again, I will just climb out another window, and at least this time, I know what’s waiting out here.’

Zephyrus chuckled and shook his head as he picked her up again. ‘I can’t believe you climbed out of the window. I thought you were afraid of heights.’

Primavera took a sharp breath and clung to Zephyrus’s shoulders. ‘I am…,’ she muttered as they lifted off the ground.

True to his word, Zephyrus treated Primavera’s ankle and let her roam free around the palace. When morning dawned, he was at her door with two bags of food.

‘No horses?’ Primavera asked as they stepped outside.

Zephyrus gave her a pointed look, and Primavera groaned. ‘Fine,’ she relented and draped her arm around his neck again.

Somehow, flying was getting easier. It was also much better if the wind deity wasn’t racing like a madman. Primavera found she could open her eyes and watch the world go by without feeling her stomach clenching into knots. She even caught herself wondering what it would look like from above when spring had returned.

The journey to Hecate was much shorter. Within two days, they were standing outside her cave in the middle of Cape Malea. It was well past sunset, and the stars shone brightly beside an evenly balanced moon. Primavera couldn’t stop smiling. She had made it, with some help and twists, but here she was, at the end of the first part of her journey. She felt strangely excited to see what came next.

Written: December 2024