The marriage of Hades and Persephone was arranged long before the girl could walk. Zeus, her father and the young King had discussed the joining on a hazy summer's day not long after Demeter had brought her into the world. The gurgling baby was passed between men unknowing to her mother. Zeus, disinterested with his daughter found a snide pleasure in watching the tenderness and uncertainty in which Hades handled her, such a prudish, uptight young man trying to comprehend the offer that Zeus presented him.

"I don't understand, brother" whispered Hades, mindful of the sleeping infant. "You would want your daughter taken from this world and into another?"
"She would be Queen?"
"She would,"
"Then what better life could I ask for her?" smiled Zeus, reclining and sipping from his goblet. "And you would be kind to her?"
"I would never hurt her," swore the younger man. He looked down at his bride to be and smiled, she had her mother's piercing grey eyes. He started. "What about Demeter?"
Zeus rolled his eyes and scratched the greying beard at his chin; the majesty of his being filled the small space. His face darkened at the mention of his wife, one of his many wives. But Demeter was determined, and this displeased him.
"She will do as I say," he hissed. "She is my wife. A woman. And I have planned our daughter's future and that is the end,"

Hades, a powerful man in his own right shrank away and nodded in reply, returning his attention to the baby in his arms. He could see many fine features in Persephone's face, attributes of her mother and her father- both great beauties. But there was earnestness in her that her parents lacked, and as she slept peacefully in his arms Hades felt an overwhelming affection for this child.

Zeus smirked. "You like her,"
Hades felt an unfamiliar warmth creep to his cheeks. "She is a beautiful child, and I wish her to remain that way a while,"
"Beautiful, or a child?"
"A child," Hades snapped, earning a chuckle from Zeus.
The elder man rose from his chair and summoned a servant to remove the child. Hades watched as Persephone was carried away, knowing full well that would be the last time he would see her for a long while. He looked out onto the sky, the sun was setting and soon it would be time for him to return to his home. He stood, the cloth of his robes billowing behind him. He stood slightly taller than Zeus, and his pale complexion different from his brother's olive skin.

"I must leave you, brother,"
"Indeed you must," started Zeus, grasping his brother's arm and pulling him into his chest. He looked up into Hades' dark eyes and saw a longing; he had been distant from Olympus for a long while. "You will have a companion soon, and all will be well,"
"Is that why you're giving me your child, Zeus? You pity me?"
"Of course I pity you," Zeus said blandly, "You live a torturous existence as you have for decades and you isolate yourself from your family. Why wouldn't I pity you?"
Hades glowered. He pushed past Zeus and summoned his black carriage. It formed from the soft clouds they stood on. A great, regal carriage pulled by four horses, towering over the two men. The horses whinnying and reaching up on their hind legs. Hades climbed onto the intricately patterned carriage and grasped the reins.
"I will take the child in sixteen years," Hades snarled. Zeus raised his eyebrows, Hades could be a fearsome man if provoked and he realised he had possibly jested too far with the young king.
"Brother!" Zeus exclaimed, "She might not be ready-"
"I will take her when I am ready," he snapped the reins and with a final exclaim, the horses hurtled towards the earth, the ground parting to allow the God of the Underworld passage to his home.