Kore stayed in the Underworld for a few more months. The hyacinths in her garden grew perfectly. She wished she could grow different types of flowers in the garden, but she din't have the access to any other flowers. She couldn't complain though. The hyacinths were beautiful. It made her happy just looking at them everyday.

Kore never regretted her decision to stay in the Underworld. She was quite happy here despite being so far from the sunlight. The darkness of this place never really seemed to bother her.

Hermes had come once again, only a few days after she had sealed her fate in the Underworld. He had come again to confirm the Kore was not here. Hades probably would have told him the same thing he had the last time Hermes was here if Kore had not been in the room when Hermes came to visit. He had seemed surprised to see Kore there, despite all the suspicion that Hades was keeping her captive. He seemed even more surprised to learn that she had eaten food of the Underworld. Kore said nothing about how she had done it voluntarily or that she knew it would keep her bound here forever. Hermes seemed sad to see her "trapped" in the Underworld and left promptly, most likely to inform Zeus of the circumstances.

The two of them heard nothing of the other gods until now, when Hermes had returned. Kore was in the throne room with Hades, now with a throne of her own made up of equally beautiful jewels as Hades's. He had told her that since she was here, he could use an "advisor" to help him keep track of the dead souls. Kore happily agreed. She wanted to learn more of how the Underworld worked and was grateful to Hades for giving her an opportunity to do so.

When Hermes entered the room, he had told the two of them that Zeus wished to bargain with Hades for Kore's fate. He had said that Demeter would not accept the circumstances, despite being knowledgeable of the rules of the Underworld. Demeter would not allow any crops to grow until Kore was returned to her.

Hades sighed in exasperation, seemly used to the stubbornness of Demeter. He agreed to go with Hermes to Olympus to speak with Zeus. In his absence, he asked Kore to look over the Underworld.

It had been a few days now and, with the help of Thanatos, Kore managed to keep the Underworld intact. Thanatos told her that he was impressed with the way she handled everything. Very few problems had come up, but she still managed them quite well.

Kore felt pleased with herself. When she saw the throne room doors open she jumped up and was ready to tell Hades just how well she'd done when he returned. However, when she saw the look on his face, she quickly forgot about her own sense of pride and whispered a haste "What's the matter?"

Hades grabbed her hand as he approached her.

"You cannot stay here," he said bluntly.

Kore stared at him with confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"I spoke with Zeus and Demeter and we came to an agreement. Forgive us for not consulting you before making the final decision, but what is done is done. We have agreed that, since you have eaten food of the Underworld and are bound here, you will stay with your mother for six months of the year, so she might not completely destroy the mortals. The other six months you will spend down here with me," Hades explained. He watched Kore for a reaction to this news but found none.

"I think that's a perfectly fine agreement," she said after a brief silence. "I like it down here, but I like on earth, too. Half a year in each place seems reasonable." She smiled at Hades knowingly. "It's not the agreement you had hoped for, is it?"

"It is selfish of me to ask you to stay here," he said. "It is for the best this way."

Kore nodded. "I agree, but I do not think you selfish."

Hades smiled at her faintly. "Hermes will be here in three days to bring you back to your mother. I ask only one thing from you before you leave here."

He took both of Kore's hands in his and looked at her. Kore's heart seemed to beat faster for some reason. She couldn't fathom what Hades could want of her, but the way he was looking at her left her flustered.

"Will you be my bride?"

Three days with Hades seemed to fly by. Kore couldn't express how thrilled she was to be his queen. She wasn't exactly sure if she was in love with the man yet, but she was happy to be his anyway.

When Hermes came by, he noticed something different about Kore. He knew immediately what is was when she kissed Hades before following him out of the Underworld.

"It is good to see you again, Hermes," Kore said as she walked beside him. She was smiling and the air around her just seemed so bright compared to the rest of the Underworld.

"What was that?" Hermes demanded, not noticing how cold he had sounded.

Kore's smile dropped slightly. "What was what?"

"You know what I'm talking about."

Kore smirked at him, something Hermes had never seen her do in her entire life. "I'll tell you later," she said simply.

Hermes looked at her. He couldn't help but feel jealous. He had been fighting against Apollo for Kore's favor for so long. It seemed almost unfair that she would choose a man she hardly knew over either of them.

The rest of their journey to the Upperworld was in silence. Once out of the Underworld, Kore stopped. She looked around for a moment, not recognizing the earth. Everything was frozen in a thick layer of white. The trees had lost their leave and any plants that could be seen through the snow looked dead. Kore shivered and Hermes put an arm around her.

"I never thought the weather could get this cold," she said as she and Hermes began to walk again.

"'Tis the wrath of Demeter," he muttered. "Come on. This should all clear up once your mother sees you are safe."

The pair reached the place Demeter favored. The field were usually filled with grains and crops, but now there stood nothing but dead land and snow. Demeter was seated on a rock on the edge of the fields, her head in her hands.

"Lady Demeter," Hermes called out to her.

She looked up and upon seeing Kore, jumped to her feet.

Kore and Demeter rushed towards each other and embraced. Demeter cried while she held her daughter in her arms. They stayed like that for a while before Demeter held Kore and arms length and looked her over, smiling and crying at the same time. She hugged Kore once more before freeing her from the embrace.

"Where have you been?" Demeter demanded.

As Kore was about to respond, Demeter cut her off. "Never mind that, dear. I know enough of the details. To can explain more throughly on Olympus. Zeus wishes to speak with you."

Demeter hugged her daughter again.

"We should hurry. Zeus doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Kore and her mother began walking next to each other. Kore wasn't sure what she should say, but as they walked she noticed two things. The first was that Hermes had left them already; the second that with each step Demeter took, the snow seemed to melt a little more and the sun seemed to feel a little warmer.

When they had finally made it to Olympus, Kore was surprised. She had expected an audience with Zeus, not the entire Olympian council. She bowed to them all as Demeter took her seat upon the council. Suddenly Kore became very nervous. It felt as though she were being judged by each and everyone of them. She looked at Apollo and he gave her a wide grin. Hermes would not meet her eyes.

"I understand you have spent some time in the Underworld," Zeus began. Kore only nodded in response. "Demeter, Hades and I have discussed the matter at length, for it has also come to my attention that you have eaten food from the underworld."

"Yes, m'lord," Kore said, "Six pomegranate seeds, to be exact."

"Which is why we have agreed you must spend six moths of the year in Hades, while the other six you may remain on earth with your mother."

"Yes, m'lord. Hades has informed me of these circumstances." Kore looked to her mother, who seemed displeased with this whole ordeal.

"I see." Zeus looked at her with a calculating gaze. "Is there anything else we should know of this matter?"

Kore froze. He knew, didn't he? She couldn't see how, but then again, this was Zeus. He always seemed to know everything. She would have to say something eventually.

"Yes," Kore said at last, gathering up her nerves, "I married him."

Everyone on the council seemed shocked. Apollo stared at her, appalled. Hermes continued to keep his gaze away from her. Zeus seemed unfazed by the news, but Kore noticed his hand clench on the arms of his throne. Demeter, stood up from her chair in anger, but seemed to be unable to speak.

After Zeus regained control of the council, telling everyone to be quiet and demanding Demeter sit down, he looked at Kore.

"I see," he said again, "This changes nothing of the circumstances. However, Kore will now be known as the Queen of the Underworld."

"Kore is no such name for a queen of the Underworld," Apollo said, his expression having changed from surprised to amused.

"Quite right," Zeus agreed. "And what name would you suggest for such a goddess?"

Apollo smirked, still staring at Kore and replied, "Persephone."

"Demeter?" Zeus asked.

Demeter looked absolutely horrified and furious, but nodded anyway.

"Very well. From this day forward, the daughter of Demeter shall be known as Persephone, wife of Hades and Queen of the Underworld."