They first met at the midwinter celebration on Olympus. The young goddess had stolen away to the gardens to escape the chatter and boisterous celebrations. The gods were enjoying the sacrifices of food, drink, and sweet smelling perfumes that the humans below had provided. Kore had been raised on earth surrounded by sunshine, nymphs, and the warm embrace of her mother.

While the celebrations here at the top of the world were full of jubilance and frivolity, they were overwhelming. It was here in the gardens, surrounded by starlight and the soft tinkling of a brook that Kore felt peace.

He was used to the orderly nature of the underworld. Contrary to what many believed, he had not been cheated nor tricked. Hades was the eldest brother, it was his right to choose which realm to rule. They had discussed casting lots in the case of disagreement, but each brother knew the realm to which he was suited. It did not hurt that Poseidon had fallen in love with Amphitrite whose home was the sea. His comradery with Oceanus also made him uniquely qualified for the realm underneath the waves.

Zeus was a very young god in nature. He had a verve for life and light needed to dominate the realm above. Hades was more stoic and quiet. In the end, all would come to his realm and reap their eternal reward. Besides, among his brothers, he had spent the longest in the dark hell that Kronos had cast them into and he alone could abide their father's presence.

While there was a time for joy and celebration in the underworld, Hades often enjoyed this time with his family. However, his nature was calmer than his brothers. To put it bluntly, he was an introvert who treasured solitude. Thus he found himself wandering around Olympus, examining his family's creations. Tonight he found himself in the garden of Eros, designed to cut out the distractions of the world and entice lovers to that wonderful intimacy that could only be found in privacy.

Perhaps it was fate that he first spied her there, staring at white narcissus flowers. He was struck by her beauty. The sun kissed skin, red wavy hair, and beautiful green eyes that gave the promise of the first spring buds.

He announced his presence softly so as to not shock her. She did not show him fear or shock like many gods and goddesses of her generation. Rather she offered a gentle smile and introduced herself. They easily fell into a polite conversation and hours passed without either noticing. When the sun rose, they promised to meet again and parted ways as friends. "When will I see you again?" he asked as she drifted toward her mother's call.

Kora looked at the full moon, "when Selene hides in the sky,"

"And after that?"

Kora returned and hugged the imposing god, "when her light illuminates the world."

Their love bloomed and grew with each meeting. Hades would meet her in places such as a cave beneath a waterfall or the cliffs beside the ocean, Kore would meet him in the dark woods where they could truly be alone. Each time they met there were longer caresses, longer goodbyes, until one night under the full moon, Kore kissed him for the first time. It was gentle and chaste, but Hades could think of little else until their next meeting.

Hades would leave gifts of colorless flowers for Kora to find when she was out exploring with her mother. She would return them painted with colors she believed he would find pleasing; each flower was delivered with a kiss, on the cheek, the nose, the forehead...the lips were reserved for their farewells and greetings.

Kora's flesh ignited at every caress and Hades' heart raced with every word and whisper.

One night, Hades came to see his beloved in tears. "I asked her, my mother, how she would feel if I were to marry. She told me there was no one worthy and that I would remain a maiden, serving with her. She is one to talk, my father is Zeus!"

"Did you mention my name?" Hades asked, taking Kora into his arms.

"No," Kore sniffed. "Had I done that, even the darkness would be forbidden. You are not exactly favored on Olympus my love."

She continued to weep for she loved her mother and Aidoneus both. He had never asked her to choose between them and she loved him all the more for it. He cared not for the indignity in sneaking around and meeting in secret so long as she was happy.

"There is another way…" Hades ventured. His eyes were toward Olympus and his mind went toward one with more authority than Demeter, one who he himself had the power to command.

Kore sniffed and looked up at Hades' face. "Tell me."

"Are you sure? It could mean dividing you and your mother irreparably," he whispered.

"Please Aidoneus, I must know. At least that way I can choose."

"Your father. It is our custom that the father decides the marriages of their children. We are not like those to the north, the father's word here is final, especially when he is your king. If I were to ask for your hand, he would be foolish to say no."

"You are his elder brother, he couldn't refuse you even if he wanted to…" understanding dawned in her voice and also hope.

"And he would not want to. I am the king of the underworld, keeper of the gate to what lies beyond. You, my dear sweet rose, are a minor goddess. Our marriage would elevate you to that of a queen, equal to Hera and Amphitrite. No father could hope for less nor ask for more."

"I will think about this, and I promise you, that whatever I decide, it will be without doubt."

Kore tried to entreat her mother, make her mother see that she was not a child but a woman. She tried to extol the virtues of having the goddess of spring be married, but the more she pleaded the stricter Demeter became, tightening her hold. The bond that had once tied them together felt like a noose around Kore's throat. She could not get a message to Hades and, because of her mother, she had not seen him in months. Yet she knew he was watching for she would find white asphodel in the woods and in the fields. Sometimes it would even be placed as an offering in her mother's temple.

Their separation strengthened their resolve and, five midwinters after they had left, Hades took Persephone as his wife with her father's consent.

They spent a blissful year wrapped in one another's embrace, but Demeter was ruthless. So it was that they stood in their garden, Hades begging his wife to understand and Persephone begging her husband to not make her go. His love for his siblings and the mortals was his weakness and Persephone loved him for it. Herme's came to take her and, in desperation, Persephone grabbed the fruit of the pomegranate and crushed the ruby red pips between her lips and his.

"Persephone, what have you done?"

"Ensured my return dear husband. Now, we will be together again, it is the law of heaven and earth. Now that I have tasted of the fruit of the underworld, I belong to her and you. You know as well as I that if a person eats of the food of their captor, they are bound to them. I accept the underworld as my captor, as you did."

Over time mother and daughter reconciled. Even Demeter could see the joy that Hades brought to her daughter and could not resent him for it, especially when he called her to attend to Persephone in her labor. Hades would not leave the birthing chamber which annoyed Demeter to no end. However, she could not say no to her daughter who clutched her husband in her pain. The goddess of blessed death was born and that year Demeter moved her home near an entrance to the underworld so that father, mother, and daughter would not have to be parted.

Other children would come. The goddess of winter, the goddess of mourning, and the god of death in war. With each child Hades and Persephone were full of joy. Together they knew that birth and death were two sides of the same coin and through both, happiness and sorrow twined into eternal joy.