Mythological Fiction
4 min
The Song of Euridice
Eleanor Luedke
"I agree," Orpheus said, as he placed his right hand to his heart and bowed his head to the god before him. Hades turned to Euridice. The nymph shrunk under the cold gaze, looking toward her love. Orpheus did not return the glance, and so she whispered, "I agree," to the deity as well.
The exchange only lasted a few minutes. Orpheus had performed a love ballad to the God of the Underworld, and Hades's heart was drawn towards his wife, Persephone, through the melody. He offered the boy the chance to take his wife-to-be from his realm under the condition that he does not turn back to ensure Euridice is following him. If he does, she will be eternally trapped with the Evil Lord, and never again will she and Orpheus reunite.
Persephone, who had been standing quietly beside her husband without an expression on her face until now, smiled reassuringly at the young nymph. She knew that if Euridice could feel confident in her husband – and he could feel confident in himself – they would both make it to the world from which they came.
The nymph's gaze traveled up to the goddess's face. Persephone looked just as Euridice had always imagined. Her soft tan skin reminded the young girl of the sunlight, her warm brown hair of the new growth of the trees, and her brilliant green eyes of young leaves. She wore a long pink dress that appeared softer than a fawn's coat, and a crown of fresh flowers rested upon her head. The Spring Goddess was beautiful.
"Very well. You leave now," Hades said. Orpheus and Euridice both bowed to him, then began marching away from the throne, Orpheus in the lead. He began to sing a simple, happy tune and the skeletons shrunk from him. The song's joy frightened the monsters, but it was comforting to the fairy of nature, Euridice.
So, they traveled. Orpheus led the girl through winding paths made of rotting bark and sharp stones. Though she wore no shoes, her feet were not harmed by the dead land. Only her heart was, which longed for the twirling butterflies and flowing rivers. She yearned to hear the songbirds, which had long been her favorite creature. She wanted to watch the sun rise and the flowers bloom. She wanted spring to come again.
Finally, the two travelers reached the gate from the Underworld. Orpheus paused, then reached for the soft grass and pushed himself from the hole. A tune still floated from his lips, a burst of joy in his heart that he shared with the world. He walked a few paces from the gash in the earth so that Euridice would be able to emerge as well. Then he waited ten long seconds before turning to her.
Euridice was a forest creature, and a beautiful one. Orpheus's heart was drawn to her immediately, and he rushed forward to hug the one who possessed his love. But she had only begun to crawl from the land, and as he turned to face her, she began to dissolve.
As her head disappeared below the earth, Orpheus ran to the spot where she had been. He knelt and began to dig, hoping to discover her just below the surface. But she was gone. Then, with a sudden burst, she popped from the ground and into Orpheus's lap. Moments later, a shriek filled the land.
It was Persephone's cry. She had pushed the girl to the surface just as the ground closed. Her deal with her husband, though, made it a rule that she would never be allowed to the world above if she passed through the portal, even partially, during the colder months. And her arms had.
Immediately, the earth began to die. The land knew the queen was never going to return. The grass curled in on itself, blackening as though it had been burned. Trees fell to the ground and shattered, their wooden splinters scattering about. Birds dropped from the sky, lifeless.
Euridice sobbed. The birds had been silenced, and her heart was broken by this truth. She rose until she was the same height as Orpheus. Then she kissed the tip of his nose, then flung her arms out wide and shouted, "O Lord Hades, please take me back and let your wife come tend to the dying land once again!" Her small voice was carried by the wind, which twirled and danced, the only happy thing around.
Then Euridice was gone, and Persephone stood above the young musician. Orpheus sat there, stunned. Persephone looked at him with a sad smile before bending down and placing a gentle finger on the grass. It came to life immediately. She touched everything she could; birds, trees, the land, and even the sky, which was cleared of clouds immediately.
But she did not touch the man, who still knelt in the grass. "Orpheus," she said at last. He nodded once in acknowledgment of her. "Sing a song," she commanded. He opened his mouth, but no sound came from his heart, and he shut it again, looking sadder than before.
He got up and, watched by the Spring Goddess, walked towards the trees. They waved at him playfully, but he shook his head and they stilled. He walked until he reached the babbling creek, where he sat gently on a smooth stone just beside it.
From his bag, he produced a lyre, and, slowly, began to play the small instrument. The forest stilled, listening to his music. He only hoped the girl he would love forever could hear the gentle tune as well. Then he began to sing her a song, so sweet that the forest froze completely.
He sang of the happy seasons and he sang of love. He sang and sang until another voice joined in. A dove twittered along, which inspired the pigeon and robin and junco and blackbird and many others until an entire chorus sang The Song of Euridice.
This was an entry for a writing contest held in conjunction with Center for Fiction and The Decameron Project
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