So I've based the relationship between two of my MC's off of Greek mythology, the rape of Persephone where Hades abducts her and all that with my own variations of course. I thought it would be interesting to have the relationship find true love and not be some horrible experience the way we often see portrayals of the Persephone and Hadies. I've figured out a few things like not having rape but that’s mostly it. She is young in her early teens, about 14 he is about 25. I've been going back and forth writing and rewriting the outline, chapters etc unable to figure out how to portray the relationship. The big problem I'm having is how to make her active. He kidnaps her, at her fathers consent but she doesn't know, he convinces her father that he likes her. Her father is in need of help and agrees in part because gives him an ally but also because she would be better protected. The MC, he is doing this because he believes she has knowledge that he needs to kill an angel. She has her own arch but in the relationship I get the impression she is mostly just a victim. I'm having a very hard time figuring out how I can have her as an active participant in the relationship and without it becoming Stockholm syndrome or become weird.
The only thing I can think of is an idea I got from my grandmother. She told me that she knew my grandfather was the man she wanted to marry when she first met him as a little girl, and now I exist so.. I figure I could have her meet him beforehand and have something similar happen where she has a crush or something and then later as they spend more time together that becomes something more. Yet I am unsure if it is a cop out like I'm saying 'no look it's not what you think she already like him so now it's all ok." I kinda think going that route is worse, yet I do like the idea of her knowing from the start that she already knows she is going to marry him. I like it because for her there is no question she knows exactly what she is going to do, which is very much in character for her.
Any thoughts?
The only thing I can think of is an idea I got from my grandmother. She told me that she knew my grandfather was the man she wanted to marry when she first met him as a little girl, and now I exist so.. I figure I could have her meet him beforehand and have something similar happen where she has a crush or something and then later as they spend more time together that becomes something more. Yet I am unsure if it is a cop out like I'm saying 'no look it's not what you think she already like him so now it's all ok." I kinda think going that route is worse, yet I do like the idea of her knowing from the start that she already knows she is going to marry him. I like it because for her there is no question she knows exactly what she is going to do, which is very much in character for her.
Any thoughts?