Women of Greek Mythology

The chariot landed lightly in a clearing beside a fast moving river. Psyche stood up, having eaten enough of the bread she’d found in the basket. 

“Impossible!”  Psyche woke up to the sound of Aphrodite’s voice in the doorway. Apollo was just starting to pull the sun into the sky. Psyche got up.

“Mother is tipping over all of the grain,” Deimos said, surprised.  “Mother and her grain,” Phobos said. “She acts like it’s the most precious thing on earth.”

Psyche was bent over a pile of wheat, patiently picking out barley which had sprayed from a nearby bin. She had already set several of the bins upright and had scooped up multiple handfuls of grain where there had been minimal mixing. 

“Well, Psyche is off,” Eros said. “Any chance we can cancel this whole thing? Swoop in and save her?” 

Aphrodite knew the moment Psyche arrived.  She could feel the shift in energy as the mortal’s imperfect, dying frame entered her realm.

Psyche shivered against the morning air.  It was not yet dawn.

It was time to be rid of this mortal, Aphrodite thought. Psyche had been such a thorn in her side.

The three sisters made their way to Aphrodite’s temple in a regal line of chariots.  Psyche’s sisters had stared at her in bewilderment when she suggested they walk.  Of course they couldn't just walk! Not in this heat. They couldn’t arrive at the temple red-faced and sweaty.

The sisters had arrived and were waiting for Psyche in the family sitting room. Psyche had received word and had rushed back to the palace from her work in the village.

Eros was visible again and was leaning against a tree in his mother’s garden. It had been several days and he should have left the party, like some of the other guests. But, he wasn’t sure where to go. He would usually have gone back to his own home, but the thought of returning felt different now that Psyche was gone. 

Psyche and Iris walked towards Chloe’s house. Psyche started to feel nervous. Maybe Chloe had changed along with her house, matching the splendor with an intimidating air. It had been so long. Would Psyche even know her?

“I still can’t believe you married a god!” her father exclaimed as he regally settled into his chair. They had already performed the necessary formalities of greeting each other.  “Oh, Psyche, dear,” her mother said. “I am so sorry this happened to you. We’ve sent for your sisters to come as soon as they can.”

Psyche woke to someone drawing open the curtains, letting sunlight stream in. She blinked blurrily, adjusting to the light. “Princess Psyche, welcome home,” someone said.

Eros entered the grounds of his mother’s palace, wondering what she would do once she found out Psyche was back mingling among the mortals. 

“Psyche??” her mother said.  An attendant had led Psyche into their family’s private sitting room while the king and queen were alerted of their daughter’s return. Her mother had been the first to reach the room.

Psyche gasped as Eros’s eyes flew open.  Something had burned his hand. He looked at it and noticed a mark.  But there was something else too.  Light.

“How did you enjoy your sisters’ visit?” he asked. She stood up to greet him and he gave her a kiss.  “It was wonderful,” she said. “Thank you. Thank you again for bringing them to visit me.” Something felt off.

“Eros, haven’t seen you in a while. What have you been up to?” Urgh, it was Apollo, God of Pomp and Puffery.  And he was still wearing those leaves in his hair.

Eros was so glad to be heading back to Psyche.  It had been agony watching Psyche’s sisters constantly make a mess of everything.

Eros had been going to the village and returning to give Psyche all the news. It was fun. The normal ebbs and flows of the mortal realm were far more exciting when seen through her lens. She loved and appreciated everything. 

Eros thought he knew what love was, but he didn’t.  He hadn’t.  Never had he even a hint of an understanding of love, of passion, before Psyche.

Psyche had been true to her word. She had let Eros take charge of their home and she had accepted it. 

“Psyche,” he said. “What are you doing out here?” He was surprised to find her asleep, wrapped in a towel, in the garden.

Eros was pleased to find that Psyche’s corner of their home had turned into a beautiful palace.  The fact she was getting it, that she had made progress, made him so happy.