Persephone made her way back to the banqueting hall in a daze. She could not stop replaying her conversation with Hades over in her mind. She longed to see him again, to speak with him again.

The hall was a large cavernous room; this evening, it was filled with hundreds of revelers, dancers, musicians and servants. Hundreds of candles filled the room with a golden, enchanted light. There was music and laughter everywhere. Yet, Persephone quickly found her attendants, more or less where she had left them.

"Everyone here is so beautiful I can hardly bear to stand it!" one of the nymphs pined.

"They are perfection incarnate!" another answered. "Persephone, which do you think is the most handsome here?"

Persephone tossed her golden hair. "I can hardly notice anyone in such a large crowd, there are too many people here, they simply blur together," she said airily waving her hands about her.

"Then you must not be looking very hard," they giggled.

"Oh I could feast my eyes on them for all eternity!" one cooed.

"Speak for yourself, I can hardly see a thing for being dazzled!" another countered.

Persephone rolled her eyes as they chattered on like this. A servant came to fill her golden goblet with wine and she drank it in heavily, her thoughts still with the mysterious lord of the Underworld.

"My lady Persephone."

She looked up to see another servant bowing deeply to her. "My lord Zeus requests your company at his table," he continued.

"Praise, Zeus," she muttered under breath and followed him to where the Olympians were seated. Her mother and all the most powerful gods and goddesses were in attendance.

"My lord Father," Persephone murmured as she sunk into a deep curtsy, stopping in front of Zeus.

"Ah, Persephone!" Zeus exclaimed loudly. A golden god, he sat in the middle of the large table. "You are truly a woman grown now, half the men in this room must fancy themselves in love with you!" he smiled at her.

"My lord, you flatter me," she replied, bowing her head and sinking again into a curtsy.

"My dear Persephone," said Hera, queen of the goddesses. She sat on Zeus' right arm. She was smiling but the warmth did not seem to reach her eyes. "How good of you to accompany your mother today. Are you enjoying yourself, my dear?"

"Indeed, my queen," Persephone curtsied to her. "Thank you so very much for asking."

"Persephone, my love, you must dance for us with the nymphs," her mother Demeter suggested.

"My lady mother needs only to command." Persephone swept again into a deep curtsy to all the gods present and went to find the nymphs so that they could dance for the enjoyment of the gods.

The Olympian gods watched as the fledgling goddess of spring danced merrily in a circle with her coterie. Her very presence made the room seem lighter and she seemed to radiate light and she moved with exceptional grace. Many would swear they fell in love with Persephone during that dance; it was the first time they really saw her.

Hera watched the performance through narrowed eyes. "My dearest Demeter," she began. "I daresay it is high time you found Persephone a husband. She is a pretty age, is she not?" she said, turning to Zeus.

Demeter bowed her head. "How kind of you to take such an interest in her, Hera my queen. I fear however that Persephone is still quite young yet and knows very little of the world."

Hera smiled a courtly smile, "How nice it must be for her then, to come and feast in our palace this evening. I hope it will be very educational."

"It is truly our humble pleasure."

Aphrodite tossed her long flowing hair and said kindly, "Well when you are ready, Demeter, I am sure my Eros could bring about whatever union you deem fitting most prettily. She would be desperately in love with her husband, she would be ever so happy." She smiled at Demeter.

Demeter turned a steely stare upon the goddess of wanton love, "I thank you for your kind offer, Aphrodite," she began. "But I do not believe we will be needing Eros' services. I daresay there is not a man in all the realms worthy of my Persephone," she said haughtily.

"How convenient, then, that there are no men present here!" Hermes quipped. All the gods laughed heartily at this joke but Demeter could not have been less amused.

"Have a care, Hermes," Zeus laughed. "One does not simply invoke the ire of a goddess without dire consequences."

Demeter rose from her seat. "I believe it is time that I take my leave. I bid you good night," she said tightly. She left to gather her daughter and all their attendants.

"Where is my brother skulking about, I wonder?" Zeus slurred, having been drinking steadily throughout the night.

"Well, my lord, I daresay the nymphs of Olympus are safe from his attentions this evening, don't you think?" Hermes countered slyly.

"My lord Zeus," one of the servants stepped forward. "His lordship departed for the Lower World some time ago."

Zeus waved him away, "Well, no matter-all the more wine for us!"

Hades thought about the young girl as he made his descent into the Underworld on his chariot. There was something about her that captivated him. Persephone was beautiful as all young goddesses were but more than that she had spirit and a thirst for something greater. And she was so vital. But was it even possible? He steered his flaming horses through to a special realm, for he wished to consult a higher power.

For here, in a far corner of the Underworld resided the Fates, the tellers of the future. They were expecting him, of course. Though they could not change destiny, he hoped they could provide him with some information. He dismounted, his dark robes swirling about him.

"Clothos, Lachesis, Altropos," he called. "You know that which I seek. I beseech you tell me what you see."

"My Lord Hades, you know it is not our way to meddle in the affairs of gods," they chorused.

He gave a small smile. "Humor me, then."

The Fates consulted their shared all-knowing eye. "Persephone is not destined to belong to any mortal, my lord, of that we are certain. But we can say no more of her future."

Hades nodded his thanks and began to ride out to his palace, as they bowed deeply in his wake.

The Upper World had just become infinitely more intriguing.

Author's Note: Yay character development; if you like this, please review it! I'm still working out some things with my writing. If things are confusing, let me know I am still trying to figure out how to show characters and trying to get them across effectively.