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They met in the eternal summer of Elpis. Themis a musician of great renown, and Erichthonios naught but a Warder, a caretaker of some of Elpis's more vicious denizens within Pandæmonium. It was said they were the god's pets that he helped to care for, though Themis knew not of the truth of those tales. He knew only that Erichthonios caught his eye when the man, his dark skin glimmering in the sun, stopped to listen to one of his performances.
Themis courted him softly, gently. Serenaded him, amused and charmed by how shy he was when he had such an important duty. His eyes like perfect rubies, his skin like dark clay, and his hair—oh his hair!—like fire akin to what burned in Themis's breast when he thought of the other. Though the songs he sang were gentle and sweet, he longed to play his music against the other's skin and make a song all their own.
Erichthonios also yearned. Desiring to stare deeply into eyes that sparkled like sapphires, to touch hair that appeared to be plucked from the clouds themselves, and run his fingers over skin so perfect and pale it may as well be marble to see if it felt as smooth as it appeared. But he had trouble believing that Themis, a being who seemed so perfect, could see in him his match.
Despite Erichthonios's hesitation and disbelief however, Themis did eventually earn his trust and love. Often it was that they could be seen laughing together as they ate lunch, or walking hand in hand down a path, or with Themis sitting on a bench with Erichthonios at his feet, listening to him play his music. Even the parents of Erichthonios, who were Hephaistos and Athena, had to concede that there would be no parting them. It was as if the gods themselves blessed them, and when they announced they were to wed, it seemed there could be naught but joy.
Their joy was short-lived, however, as tragedy struck on their wedding day. There were no portend of doom that sunny afternoon, no signs that anything was amiss, but as Erichthonios walked through a meadow in Elpis to arrive at the place of the wedding, he passed under a young tree where a venomous asp lay. If he had not stumbled in that moment all might still have been well, but stumble he did. His hand flew out to catch himself, grabbing the branch which held the snake. The snake did as any animal suddenly grabbed might do and sank its fangs into his arm.
Erichthonios barely had time to gasp as the venom overtook him, and sank to the ground. None knowing the path he was taking, it seemed at first that he had quit the wedding entirely and fled. Only when others went in search of him was the tragic truth discovered. Hermes the first to find the body and calling to the other searchers, he knelt beside Erichthonios and bid him a safe passage, mourning for a day that should have been happy. Lovers torn apart before they had truly known joy.
When Themis came upon the scene he let out a scream of rage and grief as he ran to Erichthonios. Collapsing and pulling him into his arms, rocking his love while he wailed as only one with a broken heart might wail. There was nothing anyone could say or do to console him.
Indeed there was one who did not even try. "That you should live, while our son does not." Hephaistos snarled, his wife holding his arm. "Would that we could switch your places."
"To say such a thing in the face of his own grief is beneath you." Venat, Themis's mother, chided. "You mourn a child, and this I know, but this is not my son's fault nor doing. Mind your words!"
"If our son had remained in Pandæmonium, this would never have taken place!" Athena snapped in reply. "He belonged ever to Pandæmonium. I have lost a son, but this is a lesson of what happens when those seek above their station! We should never have allowed it!" She turned her face to her husband then and would hear no more, soon being drawn away.
Themis was deaf to their bickering, deaf to their venomous words and defenses spoken. He was deaf to all but his own weeping as he buried his face in Erichthonios's chest. His other half was gone, and he knew not why.
This grief persisted for days without ceasing. Even when the cause was reported, it brought him no relief, no release. There was no joy left in his heart, no music, no song or poem. Only emptiness. Finally he could bear the agony no longer. He packed a bag with all he thought he would need and went to Hermes.
"You were the first to reach his side, and I know you are often a guide to those who travel to the Underworld." Themis stated. "I do not fault you if you did your duty that day, but tell me; is there a way for the living to follow? Is there a way for me to enter the Underworld? Tell me true, I beg you."
Hermes was saddened when Themis asked him this question and looked aside."I know you are aggrieved Themis, but…." He sighed heavily and looked back at him. "Yes, I can show you the way, but I can do no more for you than that."
"It will be enough, thank you." Themis bowed.
Hermes summoned his Meteia to carry them to the entrance, a cave hidden away in a forbidding part of Elpis where nothing grew. There, surrounded by his Meteia, each and every one staring at Themis like a silent judgment, he looked at Themis himself one more time.
"I can only wish you luck." He said. "I cannot offer advice, nor show you the path. You must find your own way forward."
"I understand." Themis said. He thanked him and turned away to descend into the darkness, pausing only to light a torch. With new determination and a willingness to do whatever was necessary, he plunged into the absolute darkness and traveled downward.
The journey was at first quite easy in a way. Though the walls widened up so he could not see the opposite side unless he walked in the middle, there seemed nothing yet to fear in this place. As he continued lower however, there came to his ears a mighty sound like the rhythmic rushing of air. Getting closer still, he felt it begin to pull and push him by turns. This then was to be his first obstacle.
Much to his surprise, as he came closer yet to the strange and terrifying sound, the walls around him began to softly glow with a greenish blue light. The ceiling ahead seemed to twinkle with strange stars. With this gentle light to guide him, he extinguished his torch for the moment. By now he had gotten used to the rhythm of air, and was leaning forward and back in turns. But then he came upon the source and nearly forgot himself.
Before him, fast asleep, lay an enormous beast. A dog with three heads quite as large as Themis was long, snoring in tandem. Dark was the fur, but white were the spots. This then was Cerberus.
He sleeps! How lucky! Themis began to creep forward, thinking he could perhaps sneak past the guardian. This was not to be however, for the three large muzzles wrinkled as they got a good whiff of his scent. Three pairs of eyes opened, and three heads lifted. Themis froze, staring back at them. Slowly however, he straightened up and bowed deeply.
"Cerberus. Fierce protector of the gateway to the Underworld. I am Themis, and I–"
"You are living." Cerberus interrupted. His voice traveling to Themis as an unavoidable thought, echoing thrice in his head and making him stumble in surprise. "The living do not belong here."
"I…I do not intend to stay, but…" Themis trailed off, staring at the three mouths slightly open, lips curled up enough to show the edge of teeth. Would the mighty beast slay him? He would assuredly join his beloved then, but no….he was not ready to see himself or Erichthonios meet their eternal rest so soon, and he was determined to wrest his love free from the grasp of Hades no matter the cost!
Passion and determination thus enflamed, he pulled his lute off of his back. "Mighty Cerberus, I propose to you a bargain. If I can make even one of your proud heads weep, you will let me past you unharmed."
The three heads huffed and looked at one another. "Very well." Cerberus decided. "We do so rarely hear music. Impress us."
Themis closed his eyes and let his will to achieve his goal flow over him along with the love he had for his lost Erichthonios. He began to pluck the strings, swaying slightly with the movement, and then he began to sing. He could not have recalled the words he offered the mighty guardian, but in the moment they did their job, for when the song ended and he opened his eyes, he found that not one or two heads were weeping, but all three and indeed he found himself standing in a small puddle of the tears.
"A bargain is a bargain, lyrist." Cerberus intoned. "You may pass us by."
Themis bowed to the mighty beast and packed his lyre away to continue on his way.
Down he continued, the walls beginning to drip around him, the floor damp and slick, at times threatening to pull his feet out from under him from the slope. He continued on stubbornly and finally reached his next true challenge; the Acheron. At its shore he found a dock, and here was his first encounter with the dead. Shadowy wraiths half-formed waiting in line, a line which he joined and watched as the ferryman, Fandaniel, patiently took each and every soul across. Only once did he see a soul be turned away, lacking the necessary coin to travel.
This, at least, he was prepared for and had his own coin held tightly in his hand by the time his turn in the line came.
Fandaniel eyed him from beneath his cowl, his dark eyes shining in the dim light emanating from the water itself. A maddened gleam, one might say. After a few moments, he chuckled and shifted to lean on his boat pole.
"My my, and what's this? A living person!" The ferryman grinned. "A little lost, aren't you? This is the realm of the dead!"
Given that Themis had not heard him speak a word to any of the souls that had come before him, not even to the soul he had turned away, he was a bit taken aback and took a moment to answer.
"I know where I am, and that you are the ferryman." He opened his hand to show the coin. "I have the payment for my passage."
Fandaniel glanced at the coin, then laughed. "The toll is for the dead! Are you so anxious to join the masses that you forgot about the dying part?"
Themis's mouth turned down unhappily. Fandaniel was clearly going to be harder to convince than Cerberus had been, but perhaps in the end music would serve him here as well.
Tucking the coin into his pocket, he unstrapped his lute. "If a coin will not grant my passage, then perhaps music will suit you better."
"What use do you think I have for music?" Fandaniel cocked his head and waved a hand. "Be gone from this place."
"This is a gift only the living can give, is it not?" Themis replied. "The dead do not sing, for they have no reason to. They do not pluck strings, for they have no instruments to play. I say this is a priceless treasure, for how many living have you seen?"
"Oh you are not my first, though I admit your offer of music is new." Fandaniel tilted his head the other way. "Very well. Impress me with your music and I will ferry you across."
Themis plucked the strings and considered his options. Cerberus, being a dog, was a creature inherently sympathetic to the pains of man, Fandaniel however could not afford to be easily influenced by emotion.
So he did not sing of love. Instead he sang of beauty. He described Elpis, its sky and grass, its streams and lakes. He sang of sunrise and sunset, of clouds and rain. He sang of all the things he yearned to see again with Erichthonios by his side.
When the last notes faded, he looked to Fandaniel to see him frowning, perhaps even scowling, and his heart sank. But then he realized the ferryman was looking beyond him and turned to view the souls that had been lining up behind him. They stood in silence, staring at him with mournful yet somehow peaceful expressions. He thought that if they still could do so, that they would be weeping. How tragic it was that his own pain kept being projected onto others this way. Yet, they did seem at peace.
But they weren't the one he needed to impress, and so his gaze returned to Fandaniel. "Have I paid my toll, ferryman?"
Fandaniel let out a heavy exhale. "If not for the spirits, I would think you had described things of pure fiction. Impressive descriptions all. Aye, you have paid your toll." He straightened up on his boat pole in preparation.
Themis was visibly taken aback. "You have never seen these things?"
Fandaniel gave him a dour look. "Unlike my brother Hermes, I reside only in the Underworld. Now are you coming or not?"
Deciding it better not to push his luck, Themis carefully entered the boat and sat silently, watching the opposite shore. He climbed out just as carefully and turned back to thank Fandaniel, only to see him heading back to the souls that patiently awaited passage.
Nothing to do but continue forward then, and steeling his nerves, he headed deeper into the Underworld, wondering what other challenges would await him before reaching his goal.
He decided the best way to do this was to wait for the next soul to come across and follow them, and so he found a spot nearby to hide and wait, concerned that Fandaniel would pull some trick to prevent him from following the spirit. While he waited he took the opportunity to eat some of his rations, and was soon witness to an amazing transformation.
As the soul stepped off the boat, their previously distinct appearance faded away to be replaced by a cowled robe and blank white mask. This change didn't seem to alarm the soul, but Themis found himself quite concerned indeed. If this is what they became upon stepping foot in Hades, then how was he to find Erichthonios?
For the moment however, there was naught to do but follow the dead, and so once Fandaniel was making his way back across, he hurried to follow the soul.
The soul led him deeper into the Underworld, but Themis soon realized it had no true destination and ceased following it. He instead began approaching random souls and asking them if they were Erichthonios, though not a one would speak to him.
"Ho stranger." A voice, light and amused, carried to him and he turned to behold a man of lavender hair and eyes. "You appear to be quite lost."
It took Themis a few moments to realize who this was. Hythlodaeus, who ruled the Underworld beside the god of death himself, Emet-Selch. He bowed deeply as soon as the revelation hit him. "Lord Hythlodaeus." He straightened up once more. "I am not lost....well, I am but I mean to be here. I have traveled far to seek my beloved, stolen from me too soon by an asp's bite."
Hythlodaeus smiled a patient but pitying smile. "You have traveled far, but I'm afraid it's for nothing. This realm is for the dead, and the dead ever remain here."
"Please. Let me speak to Emet-Selch and I will plead my case to him. Let me have this much, having come so far."
"You aren't owed for your journey." Hythlodaeus chided. "....But never let it be said I am cruel. Follow me."
Themis murmured his thanks, his heart pounding in his chest. This then was his final obstacle; convincing the Lord or the Underworld himself to let his beloved go.
Hythlodaeus took him deeper still into the Underworld until they came to a grand structure and within that, a grand hall. At the back of this hall were placed two thrones. One was empty of course, for it belonged to Hythlodaeus. The other however, was occupied by a scowling individual. His piercing golden eyes, like that of a bird of prey and curtained by pale hair, stared at Themis as he followed Hythlodaeus in.
"Hythlodaeus, what is the meaning of this?"
"Mortal seeking his lover. You know how it is." Hythlodaeus gave his husband a sunny smile as he motioned for Themis to wait where he was and took his seat on the empty throne.
"I do not have time for this rubbish." Emet-Selch stared at Themis, who tried not to flinch back. "Be gone from this place. It is not for the living."
"Oh come now, Emet-Selch." Hythlodaeus spoke up. "Let's at least hear his plea. It isn't often you see ones like this. He doesn't even carry a weapon."
Emet-Selch leaned forward to peer at Themis. "...So it seems." He grumped. "Fine." Sitting back, he flipped his hand dismissively. "Say your piece, and be glad I deign to give you this much."
Themis bowed. "Mighty Emet-Selch….I have come seeking my beloved, Erichthonios. He was taken from me on the day we were to be wed by the bite of an asp. I implore you to return him to me."
Emet-Selch scoffed. "Boy, do you know how many heartbroken lovers I see? Your plea is not the first, nor liable to be the last I ever hear. I am numb to your begging. Return to the living."
"I know what I ask for, and I do not ask it lightly." Themis replied. "We all come to your realm eventually. I but ask for a lifetime to have him by my side in the sun and the rain…and if you will deny me this still, then take me as well so I may see the dead as they see themselves and know my beloved."
"I said I am numb to your begging, did you not hear?!" Emet-Selch snapped. "Return to the living world by your own feet, or be thrown out by my will!"
Themis responded by straightening up. "If my words will not move you, then perhaps my music will."
"Oh, to play us a song, will you?" Hythlodaeus spoke up before Emet-Selch could. "Yes, by all means, mortal. Play us your song."
Themis bowed, and with hands that had begun to shake, he unstrapped his lute. The first few notes were discordant, but looking at Emet-Selch's face and knowing this was his last chance, he steeled his nerve and tried again.
He closed his eyes and let himself sink into his feelings. His desire to see his beloved Erichthonios again, touch his face, know his skin, see his smile, hear his laugh. The music his hands crafted was truly ethereal, something he would surely never be able to repeat twice. It felt like he played for an age, a melody of yearning and love, pain and loss, and a desire for rejoining.
When finally his fingers found the final notes, he stood for several moments in silence, letting the dying notes flow through him before he slowly opened his eyes to look upon the two before him.
Emet-Selch had covered his face with a hand, head slightly bowed and shoulders hunched. Hythlodaeus meanwhile was openly, if silently, weeping. The tears left tracks on his pale skin before falling from his cheeks. Somehow Themis found himself convinced that flowers would surely grow where the tears had fallen.
Themis remained silent, still and quiet. He had surely convinced one of them of the depth of his love, but had he convinced Emet-Selch?
After a long stretch of silence, Emet-Selch straightened up. Though he did not seem to have been crying, his eyes were reddened nonetheless.
"Such audacity...." He intoned. "To manipulate a god so. You are either foolish or truly desperate indeed...."
Hythlodaeus reached out to put a hand on his leg. "Now now, Emet-Selch." He murmured softly. "We did challenge him to move our hearts with song."
"You did. I made no such challenge." He sighed heavily when Hythlodaeus continued to just look at him, and finally his gaze shifted to Themis.
"...Very well mortal. Let it not be said that the God of Death is without sympathy." He raised a hand and snapped his fingers. At first nothing seemed to happen, but then a shape began to take form, and a few moments later, one of the souls of the dead was standing there.
"...Themis?" The soul looked the same as the others, but that voice. That voice!
"...Erichthonios?" He quavered in reply, nearly dropping his lyre as he ran to him, his beloved meeting him halfway. They clung tightly to one another, and Themis wept. This was him! This was his love!
"You may take him with you on your ascent." Emet-Selch stated once Themis had calmed somewhat again. "But there are caveats, so attend well to my words." He waited with some impatience while Themis separated from Erichthonios to look at him, though he clung to his beloved's hand.
"The ferryman will not take you back across, so there is another path you will take." He began. "Once you have reached it, your Erichthonios will be rendered mute. You in turn may not turn to look upon him, nor may you touch him. He will follow in your wake, and once you have both stepped upon living ground, he will know life and breath and voice once more. But until that moment, it will be as if you travel alone. Break my terms and he will be returned to me at once, and I'll not tolerate this nonsense twice."
"But–" Themis began. How was he to be sure Erichthonios was there if he could not even touch him or hear his voice?
"These are my terms!" Emet-Selch interrupted firmly. "There is no negotiation. You obey or you return alone."
After a few moments, Themis hung his head. "...I understand, Lord Emet-Selch."
"Good." The god of the Underworld turned away. "Now begone from my sight and do not tarry in your departure lest my patience wear any thinner."
There was naught to do but depart his company then, but though he had worried about finding this path mentioned to him, upon departing the grand hall he saw blue flamed torches leading off into the distance and knew this to be the way to proceed. Taking the hand of his beloved, touching him while he still could, he started forward.
Emet-Selch did not give them a time limit other than not to 'tarry', and Themis did not know what would happen if he tested the Lord of the Underworld's patience, so he simply clung to Erichthonios' hand until they came to a place where the torches stopped and an ascent began. Here Themis knew was where the true test was.
"My love....are you ready?" He asked, firming his resolution. The path down into the Underworld had taken a day as near as he could tell without being able to see the sun, and so it would likely take another. If he grew hungry or thirsty on the climb he would simply eat as he walked, and if needed, he would sleep while he walked as well. He could not risk losing this chance.
"I am ready." Erichthonios replied. His fingers brushed Themis' as he gently pulled his hand free of his grip, and no more words were exchanged as Themis then plunged ahead into the cavern.
Themis had expected the trip to take about as long as it had taken to descend into the Underworld, but he found that this too was part of the trial. He had to climb over obstacles, climb up or down and even crawl. At one point he even had to swim, and during all of this. He heard not a sound behind him. Not a pebble fall, not a breath, not a splash. Several times he almost turned back, only stopping himself just in time. He had to have faith Erichthonios was there, for to glimpse him was to lose him for certain. When he had to rest, he faced the wall and put his pack behind his back to keep himself from rolling over. He spoke to Erichthonios even though he knew he would not be able to reply and even sang and played music.
This went on for what he could only assume were days. His food ran out, and then his water. He thought perhaps he too would perish when finally he viewed sunlight. "Oh! Blessed day! Erichthonios, we're almost there!"
All exhaustion left him and he stumbled forward on feet that burned with blisters to burst into the green grass and clear sky. He lifted his arms up to the sky and laughed, and turned to view his love. There he was, his beautiful dark skin and red hair caressed by sunlight. His smile wide with joy as Themis reached for him.
For one frozen moment all was right in the world, but then Themis realized something horrifying. One foot was still shadowed by the Underworld. Horror overtook joy, and Erichthonios's smile turned sad. "I love you." He managed to say before tendrils of shadow shot forth from the cave entrance and wrapped around him, pulling him back into the darkness.
"ERICHTHONIOS!" Themis leapt forward only to slam into solid rock. The cave was gone with nary a seam to mark its place. He beat against the rock, screaming until his fists bled. Screamed until his voice broke, hitting the ungiving stone until he could do no more and collapsed, mute and bloodied, a heart shattered.
Venat found him there and picked him up in her arms to carry him home. There did she clean and bind his hands. There did she wipe his face as he stared unseeing. There did she feed him soup he did not taste and tuck him into bed to sing him a lullaby he did not hear. Day by day, faithful to her son she cared for him in his shattered state, to thereby coax life back into him.
For many fortnights did she commit to this ritual, and finally did some spark of spirit did enter Themis's gaze once more, but never again was he the same. Though he ate, and drank and breathed. Though he walked and sat and slept, he was as an animated doll. Slow to respond to voices which addressed him, mute when asked to speak. Never again would his voice ever utter word or song and though he eventually took up the lute again, the music which sprung forth from it was so wretched that grass wilted and rocks wept for his pain. For all his living days thence, he may as well have not lived at all.
Cursed he was with a long life. He had not seen Hermes again since that day, but when he appeared at Themis's bedside on his final day, he was not surprised. The psychopomp just as he remembered him.
Out did Hermes hold his hand to him. "Come, Themis. Emet-Selch has seen fit to call you to his halls. Long have you awaited this day, so come."
And Themis, mute and no more alive in death than he had been these last decades of life, lifted his hand to take that of the guide, and together they descended. Whence did Hermes take him the path he had taken once before, though this time Cerberus did not bat an eye at his passing. At Fandaniel, Hermes himself provided the coin for Themis's passage, the brothers nary heeding at one another elsewise. There Hermes left him, and across the Acheron he was ferried to step upon the shore of the Underworld. But hardly had he taken a step when a soul stepped forward to greet him, and much to Themis's surprise, he could see his face clearly. Within moments, he found himself embraced in the arms of Erichthonios and he felt wrinkles long etched into his skin smooth away.
"I have waited, and you are here as Emet-Selch said." Erichthonios stated. "Never shall we be parted again."
"Never." Themis agreed, his first word in decades uttered, his voice dusty but choked with joy. In death at last reunited, and so in this way Emet-Selch showed mercy, for the god of Death understands grief all too well.