"You must be Cerberus," Kore said as she scooted backwards and found her footing.

One of the dogs blew air from its nose in warning.

"I'm Kore," she informed it. If Hades wasn't afraid of it, then surely she had no reason to. "I'm going to be Hades's queen!" She added, not knowing if the creature understood.

Cerberus stepped back and sat down, lowering its head onto the ground to rest.

Well, that's good enough, she thought. It was only an animal she convinced herself and reached out to pet the middle head. The dog warily recoiled and Kore didn't persist. "I hear you like music," she remembered, and sat beside her fallen instrument. She got it upright and ran her fingers against the strings. The other two heads went alert.

Kore laughed. "I can play much better than this, I promise," she said, and proved her statement by playing the new song she had learned. She got lost in the music, and kept on aimlessly playing well after Cerberus had fallen asleep. Sometimes its exhales weaved through the harp, adding to the melody.

"Traitor," Kore heard him say before Hades walked up from behind her to pet his dog. She didn't stop playing.

"Like master like pet," Kore said, referring to his distance from her.

"Do you think so harshly of me?" Hades questioned as he leaned against Cerberus.

"Why shouldn't I? You love me, but won't love me. You make vows to me, but won't make me your queen."

Hades chuckled. "No deed is without reason, sapphire," her eyes snapped towards him at the nickname, "no gain without l..."

His warning was cut off when the sky literally crashed down near them. Hades quickly put himself between Kore and the invader, Cerberus standing behind her.

Sparks of lightning flashed in the dust and debris, and Hermes walked out. "On the king's decree, Kore must return with me to Olympus at once!"

Hades looked to the ground behind him.

"Where's my mother?" Kore demanded, not taking a step.

Hades cocked a brow at the messenger. Hermes didn't reply.

"Answer her," Hades demanded.

"Y-yes. Demeter's the one who called the council," Hermes informed them.

"The council?" Kore asked, not yet familiar with it.

"Of course," Hades realized and turned to her. "The humans are suffering your mother's sorrows. Something has to appease her. I am certain it's not possible without your return."

"I can't go. Not now," Kore defied, and took a step away from Hermes as she paced the floor. She couldn't go back now, not when she hadn't... Forget marriage, the thought of murder influenced her more. Zeus had been furious, and had hurt mother for her defiance. What would he do if she...?

Her thoughts broke as she tripped on Cerberus's paw, and Hades caught her before she hit the ground face first. "Zeus!" She exclaimed. "He, he's angry with us! I," she tried shrugging his hands off her but couldn't, "I can't go back! Not now. Not when he's... when he's..."

"Kore! Kore," she finally heard him calling out her name. Hades grabbed her flailing hands and pinned them between as he pulled her closer. He hated seeing fear on her face, and wanted to strike Zeus down then and there.

Hades cupped her face, making sure she looked at him. "You'll be fine! He won't hurt you-"

"He almost blunted mother!" Kore recalled.

Hades kissed her, relaxing her, then placed his head against hers. "I swear you will be alright, love. The Council is there for a reason. They'll give everyone a chance to speak their mind. Zeus cannot harm you irrationally," the last part was a lie. Only Zeus had the authority to make the final decision, but Hades doubted their situation warranted such reaction.

"Come with me," Kore pleaded, placing her hands on his face. After all, this situation involved the both of them.

Hades grabbed her hands and kissed her palm. "It's best if I don't. I don't want to influence anyone's decision."

"I don't care for your bias. I can't stand The Council alone. I'll waver, I'll cave in to their decision."

Hades chuckled. "I don't think you've ever bent to anyone else's demands, my little sapphire." As he said the name, he was reminded of the sapphire on his hand. Hades took off the ring on his little finger, but happened to drop it. He knelt to pick it up, intending to stand up, but smirked at the opportunity before him.

Only Kore.

Hermes was amazed to the see the oldest Olympian kneeling before anyone else. Hades stayed kneeling on one knee and took Kore's hand.

"This ring is my strength," he said as he strung the ring on her finger that fit best. "If this is with you," he stood up and kissed her, "then I am with you."

Kore finally smiled, and he smiled in relief.

"Go. You've made him late as it is," Hades laughed, referring to Hermes who was still waiting. He handed her off to the messenger and she reached out one last time.

"I love you," she said, before stepping through a portal Hades had conjured.

"I don't believe I'd believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes!" Hermes exclaimed once they were in her tower on Olympus. "Hades! Kneeling before you, of all people! Hades doesn't bow to anyone!"

Kore smiled proudly as she ran to her closet. "Then imagine what phenomenon I can be!"

Kore picked any dress that wasn't in the state of her current one and fixed her appearance from all angles to make herself presentable to The Council. She made her appearance purposefully so as to look as mature as possible.

"Ready?" She breathed, one last fix of her dress.

"I'm not the one..." Hermes caught himself and walked Kore quietly to the throne room.

Hermes turned her to face him, gripping her shoulders in emphasis. "Good luck, princess," he said, and entered ahead to announce her arrival.

Kore walked forward when called, bracing herself to face the Council. Everyone was there: Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Hestia, Aphrodite, and Zeus. She saw her mother standing in court and ran to her, happy to see her well. The Goddesses hugged each other for the first time since her abduction, and held on long, to be separated by Zeus's cough.

"Demeter. You have gathered The Council. Present your case."

Demeter did as asked, telling them how Hades had abducted her, and how a goddess of spring certainly couldn't survive in the underworld. She tried appealing to everyone around her. She was sure to win her case. Fates be damned.

Zeus nodded and sent Demeter back to her seat, inviting Kore to the stage. Kore walked up and curtsied to the gods, flexing her fingers out as far as they would go, making sure that everyone saw the ring on her finger. Gasps confirmed her intended outcome.

Zeus smiled. "Do you still wish to say your piece?" He offered his daughter the chance to share her thoughts, even though her presentation had already triumphed.

"If you'll allow me," Kore took the offer. She turned to face her mother as she spoke.

"First off, the Fates prescribed me becoming Hades's wife. That alone is indisputable. But more surely than that, is the fact that I love him."

More gasps from the gods who hadn't been previously aware of this. Hera and Aphrodite exchanged glances.

"I have loved Hades longer than I have known what love is. That is why Cupid's Arrow drove him to insanity. Because he does not need any persuasion to love me. He already feels for me as I feel for him."

"He's soiled you!" Demeter exclaimed, standing up.

"Mother!" Kore chided her.

"He has influenced you. He's forced your heart!"

"He hasn't forced me of anything! In fact, I'm just short of forcing him myself!"

Hera chuckled.

"Kore!" Demeter scolded, raising her hand to smite her daughter.

Kore put her left hand up in defense, and got more than she wished for. Demeter had stopped, for she couldn't touch hellfire. Kore realized what she had done and quickly moved her hand down, suppressing the blue aura.

Demeter stood still in shock and Kore fell down on her knees at her mother's feet.

"You've known him longer than I could ever know him, mother. Aidonius has done nothing wrong."

Demeter looked at her daughter and knelt beside her.

"I love him as surely and as purely as I love you. Don't I deserve my chance?"

Demeter fixed Kore's hair behind her ears and kissed her head. "Did you eat anything down there?"

Kore was caught off guard, but answered. "No."

Demeter sighed, satisfied, but Kore continued. "Not anything he had to offer, at least."

Demeter cried and gods around her murmured. Kore quickly explained herself and gave her mother the seeds she had brought with her. Demeter tossed them to the floor.

"Mother! What is the matter?!" Kore asked, confused.

Zeus answered instead. "If you have eaten anything in the underworld, then you are bound to there, forever, Kore. You cannot come and go as you please."