A/N: Please R&R
As Apollo pulls the sun across the mountains of Olympus, Persephone hugs her mother goodbye, as she, Mela, Hades and his royal guard departed from Olympus and appeared at the gates of the palace of the Underworld.
Since she was a child, she could only remember small times when the Underworld was mentioned to her. Her and her cousins would whisper tales of the haunted souls that inhabited the realm, the fearsome depths of Tartarus, and the scary river Nyx that carried souls to their final judgment place.
Of all her visions and expectations, she had not expected the realm to be so…beautiful. The shiny ebony gates held her new husband's crest and the royal guards guarded the gate in their freshly pressed uniforms and stern faces. Beyond the gates she could see a vast garden with neatly cut hedges and statutes. The trees were green as if life bloomed in this realm.
The river Nyx was a mystifying dark blue and calmly swooshed against the palace river bank. Beyond the river she could see a forest of trees and beyond that mountains, and on the mountains appeared to be villages.
But of all the surprising things in the Underworld, Persephone was surprised to find light. She looked up into the sun, and suddenly realized that it brought no warmth, which was fine because the Underworld was not as cold as she had imagined.
"It was a gift from Apollo a few years ago" Hades explains, as he watches Persephone stare curiously at the sun. For some reason he'd been following her eyes as she examined her new home. He hadn't realized until now that he had been holding his breath, as if he was afraid that his kingdom would disappoint her, and he was unsure of what he would do with her disappointment.
Hecate led Persephone to her rooms as she watched Hades enters his across the hallway.
"Mela, you will have a comfortable room downstairs with the other senior servants
"Would you like a tour?" Hecate offers.
"Yes" Persephone says and bids Mela to follow her.
Hecate shows her the great hall, a few ballrooms, the dining room, the throne room, and lastly the library.
Persephone's eyes marveled at all the books in the vast room, it was right out of her wildest dreams. She imagined spending her nights curled up with a good book in one of the large comfortable chairs.
Then Hecate led them outside.
"Beyond the mountains are villages, where the souls of the good hearted live. There they live in peace and harmony, playing games, reading, anything they'd like to."
Persephone nodded, as Hecate explained.
"Of course, in the pits of Tartus are the souls of the black hearted. Mortals who were cruel, some murderers and abusers, cheaters, and thieves."
Persephone shivered at the thought of Tartus.
"What about the Titans?" Mela asked
Hecate hesitated before answering.
"Of course you all know that three Titans are still alive, one is Rhea, who played no role in the battle. The other two, were too powerful to destroy, Cronus and Oceanus, they are both imprisoned here. Deep below a forest to the west of this realm. We call the forest the dark forest because of it."
"Hades is responsible for guarding two Titans?" Persephone asked. She didn't know that Oceanus was still alive and also imprisoned with Cronus.
"Yes, but your new husband is strong, and the prison he has built for them is unbreakable, and the potion I used to put them into a deep permanent sleep. There's nothing to worry about" Hecate said and continued to lead the girls back inside the palace.
Standing at the palace gates tall and proud with his three heads, Cerberus jumped and blocked Persephone and Mela from entering the gates again.
"Oh down, you stupid hound!" Hecate said
But Cerberus wasn't deterred and he circled Persephone and Mela his three head all taking turns to sniff and lightly lick at them.
Mela who was shaken to her core stood perfectly still, while Persephone smiled and raised her hand to pat one of his heads.
"Who's a good boy." Persephone purred as she alternated her hands to pet all three heads.
Cerberus smiled and rolled onto his back and Persephone rubbed his belly.
Cerberus howled in approval.
Hecate looked at the display and laughed.
"Ha, you trained him quicker than Hades ever could"
Later that day Persephone is exploring the palace on her own, and comes across what must be Hades' study.
The door is open and she finds him reading a book that she instantly recognizes.
"I suppose when you have eternity to perfect something, you sometimes lose the objective of your story…perhaps it will be the downfall of all the gods writings, its perfect…but to what end" Persephone says as she sits atop his desk facing him.
"You enjoy the comedy of mortals?" she asked as she stepped into the room.
Hades looked up surprised to see her, and leaned back in his chair, placing the book on his desk.
"I find their humor sometimes better than the gods, ours is so fleeting" Hades begins.
Hades is very surprised to be having such an in depth conversation with his little wife. In all honesty he had expected Persephone to have more interest in flowers and being outdoors, than such philosophical ideas.
For an hour they talked and debated the merits of some of their favorite mortal and god authors.
They were so engrossed in their conversation they were startled to hear Thanatos knock on the door.
"I'm sorry to interrupt…but we must speak urgently" Thanatos said standing at the threshold of Hades' study.
Hades nodded as Persephone slid off his desk.
"Perhaps…we could have dinner tomorrow?" Persephone offered as she was leaving.
"Uh…yes of course" Hades said, and watched her retreating figure.
As the door closed behind Persephone, Hades turned his attention to Thatonos.
"What is it?" Hades said clearing his throat.
"There is a problem with the shield" Thatonos informed him
"We must go now!" Hades says rising from his chair.
While Hades walks to the dark forest his mind is trying to focus on the shield holding the Titans, especially his father, but in the back of his mind he revisits the nice conversation he'd had with Persephone earlier.
He was surprised to find that they had so many things like literature and art in common.
As Persephone leaves Hades' study she makes her way back to her rooms with a smile on her face. She is happy that her and Hades were able to have a conversation and discuss some of their interest, she was glad she'd gotten the opportunity to learn more about him.
Persephone was beginning to think she would enjoy her new life in the Underworld.
When Persephone gets to her room, she writes a letter to her mother, telling her that she was enjoying her time so far in the Underworld, and how surprisingly beautiful the realm was. Lastly she told her that she and Hades were getting along well, and hopefully becoming friends.
Persephone folded the letter nicely and placed her palm on top. In a flash of light the letter was gone from her desk.
In the mortal realm, Demeter was sitting by her fireplace reading a book when the letter appeared in her lap.
She quickly unfolded the letter and read. She held a slight smile, happy that Persephone was doing well, and safe in the Underworld.
When Hades and Thatonos arrived in the dark forest, they traveled through the wilderness until they reached the center of the forest where a number of guards were standing .
Beyond the guards formation was a steel trap door on the floor of the forest. Thatonos opened the door and followed Hades down the steep ladder. They travel for almost half an hour in darkness until they reach the bottom.
Hades illuminated the room when they both reached the end of the stairs.
At the bottom is a gigantic glass dome shaped prison. Suspended in the water from the river Nyx, float Cronus and Oceanus in their gigantic form.
Thanatos shivered, always forgetting how intimidating, even suspended in water in a permanent sleep, the Titans were.
"Here" Thanatos pointed to a small crack in the prison.
Hades looked towards the crack and his fathers solemn face in his eternal sleep.
"Is that all?" he asked.
"No…wait for it" Thanatos whispered for some reason.
They both waited.
Hades watched the Titan brothers suspended in their sleep for a while before he began to feel restless.
He was about to question Thanatos when they both saw it.
Oceanus' right hand twitched.
Hades silently cursed.
"How long has this been happening?" Hades questioned.
"The guard told me he just noticed it this morning"
"I'll work on fixing the seal, send for Hecate, tell her to bring her supplies" Hades ordered.
The next morning Persephone unconsciously searches for Hades.
As she walks the halls after breakfast she turns corners hoping to see him.
As she and Mela stroll through the gardens she looks up at the balcony hoping to see him.
She even purposefully walks past the throne room several times looking for him.
Finally she begins to ask some of the servants.
"I'm sorry your majesty, none of us have seen the king since last night"
Persephone gave a curt nod and headed to her room. It was almost time for their dinner, and she worried he would stand her up.
Hades works on the shield all night and for most of the next day, when remembering his dinner with Persephone he rushes back to the palace, to shower and get ready.
Persephone arrives in the dining room with still no sign of Hades. The servant pours her wine and she waits and drinks.
While she waits she wonders what type of marriage she will have. She's unsure if she wants a loving affectionate marriage with Hades, but she knows she'd like to get to know him and become friends.
Finally, Persephone actually being hungry asks the servants to bring her dinner, and that she will just dine alone.
As time goes by, and several more of her glasses have been filled, and Persephone eats her dinner. She thinks of how Hades probably was against this marriage. She remembers how this is the second time he's kept her waiting at a dinner table and how this pattern is starting to be disrespectful. She wonders if her husband doesn't respect her as a wife, how will this realm respect her as a queen.
When Hades arrives, hair still wet from the shower he'd taken, the servant is opening Persephone her second bottle of wine.
"Your late" slips from her lips before she can stop herself.
Hades is taken aback, he is King of this realm and has never been chided for his punctuality.
"I was busy"
"Oh…well I've already eaten dinner, for fear I would have to eat cold chicken" Persephone says standing abruptly as Hades sits opposite her.
"I see" Hades says. He is unsure of how he should react to this. Is Persephone mad at him?
"You will have to dine alone" She says grabbing her glass and sipping the last bit of wine in her glass, and placing it on the table.
"I am used to dining alone" Hades grunts as a servant sits a plate in front of him.
"Then tonight shall be no different your majesty" Persephone says as she stomps to the end of hall and makes her way to her room.
Hades blinks in confusion, unsure of what had just transpired.
As Persephone gets closer to her room her head begins to get clearer and she suddenly regrets her actions.
How childish had her behavior been? What had come over her? After that, Persephone knew it would be a better idea for her to stick with water or fruit juice.
Hades finished his dinner, and found his feet taking him to Persephone's door.
His hand raises to knock, but he quickly withdraws it. Unsure of what he should say. Should he apologize, or should he demand one from her?
Hades lets out a frustrated sigh and retreats to his room across the hall. He had other things, like his father possibly escaping his prison to worry about.
Hades goes to his room, and begins funneling through some ancient text to do research and figure out a way to permanently get rid of the last two imprisoned Titans.
"You have to apologize!" Mela says as she and Persephone lounge in the steam pools in the palace.
"I know!" Persephone says as she covers her face with her hands.
"I think…I think your just restless. In the mortal realm you were always helping Demeter with the fields and answering the mortal's prayers for bountiful harvests."
Mela says rubbing Persephone's shoulder.
"At least here, I can help the servants in the palace, there's always stuff to be done" Mela said shrugging.
"So I should find a hobby, to distract me from the fact that my husband barely tolerates my presence" Persephone said
"Don't put it so harshly" Mela says leaning back against the marble pool.
Later that day Persephone is able to find Hades sitting upon his throne as he waits to judge the mortals. She climbs the steps to his throne, and suddenly a nervous shiver runs through her body.
She has never seen him on his throne, and he looks so godly and intimidating, Persephone finds it hard to believe she is married to him.
She also finds it hard to deny, that Hades sitting in his throne, with his perfectly chiseled abs almost showing through his toga, and dark locs pulled back to show his symmetrically perfect face, that he looks quite handsome.
When she reaches the top step, she bows in greeting to him out of nervousness, he gives her a puzzled look, they are supposed to be equal yet she is acting as if she is the servant.
"Persephone" Hades says calmly. He is happy that she came to see him, he didn't want the awkwardness to continue between them considering the fact that they hadn't seen each other in almost two days, and Hades was certain that that was because Persephone had been actively avoiding him.
"Hades….I wanted to…apologize for the other day….I had drank too much wine…waiting on you…and…"
Hades holds up his hand to silence her.
At first Persephone thinks he is angry and is about to scold her, but instead she sees the casual smile adorning his handsome face.
"You are not the first god or mortal to fall victim to wine…and unfortunately you wont be the last" Hades gives a hearty laugh.
"If anyone should apologize…it should be me….for being late to our dinner. I'm sorry…I've been busy with work…"
"Is everything ok?" Persephone asks concerned
"Nothing to trouble yourself over dear" Hades says as he leans back in his throne. Hoping that his casual demeanor did not give away the stress in his tone.
Persephone nodded.
"Also…I have come to ask a favor of you…" Persephone says slowly.
Hades quirks his eyebrow listening.
"Your gardens surrounding the palace are full of nothing but narcissus flowers and white poplar trees. While they are beautiful, I was wondering if perhaps I could…tend your gardens"
Hades shrugs, he had never paid any mind to the gardens, and as long as it was tended and kept clean and neat he never cared what it looked like.
"Persephone, you are now Queen of this realm, so they are your gardens as well now. You may do with them as you wish, along with any of the other plants or decorations in the palace."
Hades said standing and taking her hand, leading her down the steps of his throne.
Persephone beamed at the thought of having the entire gardens of the palace to tend to and being able to decorate palace in any manner she saw fit.
Back home in the mortal realm she tended to the fields and grew the flowers her mother told her to. She was so excited at this new large project and her smile was so wide that even Hades found himself smiling as well.
He had no care for the gardens or palace decorations, but for some reason seeing her so excited and pleased, also made him happy.
"Thank you Hades, I can't wait to get started" Persephone said, so overcome with excitement that she wrapped her arms around his mid-section embracing him, and Hades hesitantly found himself hugging her back.
Persephone separated herself from him and glided back to her room for some supplies so she could start working the next morning.