The Ambassador of Athena

My thoughts were unfocused, they jumped from the past to the present and on to the future. Why did I not feel sad? Why is there no difference than before?
I thought about what Jessy had said in the infirmary. Did I really want her back? All those years all I could think about was her, and wanting her back. Most of my friends pointed out that there were other girls, some even told me I just had to ask one out, one would definitely would say yes. But I was so fixed on Johanna I ignored them, and now, after the first shock of her dying and coming back to life faded away I saw my thoughts from a different perspective:
Did I love her, or have I just been crazy for her? There is a difference between loving someone and wanting someone. Loving means being on equal terms, being one in mind. Wanting someone just means possession, it has no love in it. Was it really that what I felt for her, or was it love?

I have no idea for how long I’ve sat at the cliff, but no one came to look after me this time. When the sun started to go down I finally made up my mind. I stood up and looked on my arms, covered in the tattoos from the gods. When I found the one I was looking for I pressed my thumb on it and said out loud:
“Lord Hades, I wish to speak to you.”
Nothing happened. I looked around, but still, nothing.
Just when I decided to try again the ground beneath my shoes opened and I fell into darkness.

I landed in a long hallway, the walls pitch-black and covered with dark grey curtains. The marble floor was, of course, black. I must’ve been in Hades palace, and the skeleton dressed in a toga wobbling towards me proved my point.
When it stood before me it bowed and signed me to follow it.
The skeleton led me through the hallways until we arrived at two high doors, guarded by skeletons in medieval armour carrying long spears. They opened the door for me, and I entered a big room with a throne on one end.
In it was the one I wanted to speak with:
Hades.

I bowed deeply.
“Lord Hades, thank you for giving me the chance to speak to you”
The lord of the dead didn’t look so pleased.
“At first I wanted to ignore you, but my wife – “He pointed behind his throne where I could see Persephone standing in the shadows, smiling faintly – “my wife insisted on letting you talk to me. So, what can I do for you, Ambassador?”
He spit out the last word, but I had my mind set on what to say.
“At first, I want to apologise, Lord Hades. For hurting your shoulder”
I bowed again, trying not to look at his shoulder still covered in bandages.
Hades looked surprised.
“Well, well. I can’t remember that the last one apologised to me after shooting a poisoned arrow at me, even though he had more than 3 millennia now. But continue, you certainly didn’t come to me just for apologising. I bet it has something to do with the one you loved and took from me, hmm?”
Hades sounded much friendlier now, my apology must have impressed him, even though it was just good manners.
“You are right, Mylord. I came here because of Johanna.”
“So you have found out that death is ultimate and cannot be reversed. Orpheus would have found out too, but he was too stupid and turned around. Maybe it was better for him, since he really loved that girl. But with you, the story is different, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
“I can say that I loved Johanna, but that was long ago. I told myself that I wanted her back more than anything in the world, but the world moved on, and I with it. Having her back alive now and being able to tell her what I truly feel is what I wanted to thank you for, Lord Hades.”
I bowed again, and the following silence told me that I made the lord of the dead speechless.
“Well, young Ambassador, “ –this time it sounded much friendlier- “, I have to say you surprise me. Not that you talk to me about your feelings, normally that’s Aphrodite’s job, you also thank me for something you achieved yourself. As you said a week ago, we are bound by the ancient law, and you followed it precisely. I must admit that you are truly worth the title of an Ambassador.”
I smiled faintly.
“To be honest, Lord Hades, Aphrodite is one of my least favourite Gods. She stirs way more ruckus than you do, but still you are more antagonised because of your… shady nature and your behaviour. I know it is not my job to give advice, but you should show yourself more often on Olympus, or even in Camp Halfblood. A God with such a bad reputation as yours can’t do anything to make it worse, you can just make it better. People shouldn’t see death as something to be afraid of, otherwise the fields of Asphodel wouldn’t be so full. More souls would be reborn again, to aim for the next death, and ultimately for Elysium. And maybe you should put some Walls around the Fields of Punishment, I agree that some people need to be punished, but showing everybody how is not something to improve your reputation.”
During my whole speech Hades looked at me bewildered while Persephone looked as if she tried hard not to laugh. Finally he spoke:
“Well, Ambassador, never has a mortal dared to give a God PR-Advice. But I see your point, and truly my wife has too.”
All Persephone managed was to nod, she still had to restrain herself from laughing.
“Maybe I will follow your advice.”
I smiled faintly.
“I have one last request, Mylord.”
Hades rose an eyebrow.
“Is that so? Then speak.”
“If Johanna comes down here in one year, let her year on the surface count towards Elysium, so she just has to be reborn one more time. She was more than courageous enough in her last life.”
Hades looked at me thoughtfully.
“I will grant your wish, Ambassador. It has nothing to do with you or your position as an Ambassador, but you are right about her deeds in her last life. And now, go back to Camp Halfblood, and tell my son, Nico, I greet him.”
With that he clapped his hands, and again a chasm opened beneath me that swallowed me.

I popped out of the ground right in front of the Hades Cabin, much to the surprise of a few young campers that just walked past it. They stared at me as I brushed dust off my shirt. I smiled at them awkwardly until they continued, now whispering agitated.
I looked up in the sky. I had a lot to do until sundown…

Notes

After all, i finally finished my story.
There are two more chapters after this, i will post them next week and the week before Christmas ;)
It has been way too long that the story remained unfinished, i hope you still enjoy it

Flo