After Ares revealed himself to her, Snow had stormed up to her bedroom, angry. She had fallen asleep crying at some point, waking up before the sun was fully over the horizon.
She decided to get up and get dressed. She could take some food and be on her way. No one would miss her.
She grabbed a small bag, hurrying downstairs. She went through the dwarf's cabinets, trying to take as few of each item as she could. She didn't pride herself on stealing and would prefer it if no one knew she was doing it.
Once she was satisfied with her new belongings she began to head out the door. She paused, looking at the blade that lay upon the kitchen table. Ares must have brought it here after she stormed off.
She decided to take it with her for protection. She tightened the belt around her waist, sliding the sword into the sheath on her left hip. She was ready to get going.
She quietly went outside, expecting Ares to pop up at any moment and demand she stay. But the god didn't make an appearance.
She made her way into the forest, wondering exactly where she would go. It's not like she had any family or friends she could return to. Everyone she had known was with the Queen and who knows if she had bothered to keep some of them alive.
Snow didn't make it far before she started hearing footsteps behind her. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and she turned, sword at the ready. But no one stood there. Yet she couldn't shake the feeling she was being watched.
"Ares, stop following me," she called out, knowing he would probably be the only one capable of doing such a thing.
Suddenly a man materialized before her but he wasn't the god of war. "I'm not Ares," said the man, "I'm Hades, god of the underworld."
"Why are all you gods suddenly so interested in me?" Snow growled, rolling her eyes.
Hades just smiled. "You're an important person Snow White," he said, "and the future of our world depends upon you."
"You're joking right?" she said, "I'm an exiled princess how could I be any help to you? And, after the deception from Ares, why would I want to help you?"
"The Queen is a very evil woman, Snow," said Hades, "and she threatens even the gods with her growing powers."
"So you're training me to be some kind of assassin? I may not like the Queen but I'm not a killer. Get lost!" she growled.
She turned her back on Hades and began walking away. She expected him to call out or follow after her but he didn't. When she turned to look back he was gone. Well that was easy. She thought.
But it wasn't long before a familiar voice rangout. "Snow you must go back to the safe house," he said, "you must learn to fight."
Snow turned around, tears stinging her eyes. This couldn't be real, it couldn't. But there he stood, prouder and healthier than ever.
King White stood in a magnificent white outfit, a smile on his pale face. "Dad I thought you were dead?" she reached out to take his hand, but was unable to touch him.
"I am dead, daughter," he told her, "but I was asked by Hades to come speak with you. He told me about the Queen and her powers. I fear for the twilight of the gods."
"How do I know it's really you?" she said, "This could be a trap."
"When you were but a child I caught you playing in a fine white dress in the mud. You tried to hide from me behind an apple tree but it was too late. We laughed and made mud pies for the rest of the afternoon."
"It really is you," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.
"Yes and it's important that you work with Ares so you can join with Borias's army and help them defeat the Queen."
"Why would I ever join with the men who killed you?" Snow asked.
"Borias's men did not kill me. My own wife used her magic on me, draining my life force."
Her father spent the next hour explaining the Queen's bizarre gift. Snow could hardly believe it.
"But how am I supposed to defeat the Queen, you know her better than I?" she said, "you must have something you could tell me."
"Snow, I loved the Queen, I was blinded. I saw what was on the outside, her amazing beauty. I'm afraid I wouldn't notice any of the fine details of her life. I was a fool."
"Daddy you aren't a fool," she said.
He smiled, "Trust me Snow, if you think hard enough I know you will think of something. I'm afraid I must go now, daughter, those who are dead cannot stay long in the world of the living."
"I love you, father," she said, the tears pouring down her face.
"I love you too, daughter," he said, "may we meet again in Elysion Fields."
And then he disappeared and the two gods, Hades and Ares stood in his place. "So what do you say?" asked Hades.
"I will help you," she said. Her eyes flashed to Ares, "but I'm still not happy about being decieved."
