cerberus || loki

zero

IN THE GRAND HALL OF THE UNDERWORLD, echoes of lost souls surrounded Briar as she stood in silence, watching the spirits dance around her. At the base of the king's throne, Hades, her father, emerged from the shadows, imposing and regal. In stark contrast, Persephone, her mother, sat in her own throne, a cascade of blossoms adorning it, infusing the hall with warmth that defied the chill clinging to the Underworld.

"Beloved daughter," Hades' voice resonated with a deep, commanding echo, "there is a matter of great importance we must discuss." He gestured for Briar to approach, which she did without hesitation.

Persephone, with a sad smile, stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Briar's shoulder. "The council have been in negations with the realm of Asgard to... to..." her voice hitched, tears coming to her eyes and she turned her body away from her daughter, not wanting Briar to see her cry.

Briar's heart filled with dread as she looked back and forth between her parents, "To what? What's going on...?"

Hades leaned forward, cupping his hands against her face, his piercing gaze fixed upon her. "I'm sorry, but it's been decided that you will be married to a Prince of Asgard."

Her heart stopped; it had to be a joke. "You cannot be serious?" She stepped back from her father's touch, a pleading look on her face. "You're joking, right?"

Persephone spoke softly, shaking her head. "You are the only unmarried princess in our family. There's no other choice, Briar."

"But we've coexisted for centuries without a problem. Why is this needed now?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

They needed allies. Having just won a war at a great cost, they had lost numerous gods and demi-gods. Almost losing members of the council, including her own father and it had left them vulnerable. Asgard would gain a princess, Olympus would secure an army, and both realms would find peace with each other.

She wanted to be angry, desperately seeking not to understand why this had to happen. Yet, she couldn't summon anger; knowing the necessity of the marriage and union for her race.

"You are strong, my love," Persephone reassured Briar, squeezing her shoulder. "Asgard is a beautiful world, you will find great happiness there and love."

The grand hall seemed to close in on her, its shadows dancing with the flickering flames as if echoing the tumult in her heart. She sought refuge in her mother's comforting touch but found no solace in words she was saying as an attempt to comfort her.

Hades, as soft as he could be with his words, continued, "The realms have been detached for too long, my daughter. Asgard and the Underworld must find unity once again. I wish it didn't have to be like this." he couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes.

In the discussions of this treaty he had fought long and hard to stop the use of his daughter, she was his firstborn daughter and only living one, he couldn't bare to part with her, to not have her in his castle, in his kingdom, outside of the greek world and far from his reach. He had done everything in his power to stop it but in the end, he was left with no choice but to accept the proposal.

Briar nodded at her father's words, her gaze drawn to the souls that floated around the grand hall. Souls that she would never see nor hear again.

"I— I need to be alone." she didn't speak another word as she rushed out of the throne room, the corridor stretched ahead, each step echoing as she passed the familiar skeleton guards. The dark walls seemed to absorb her emotions, bearing witness to the internal struggle that mirrored the ancient tension between realms.

Returning to her chamber, Briar gazed out of the obsidian window, her mind on nothing but the arrangement that would shape her future. In the still air surrounding her, shadows cast by the flickering flames danced on the walls. Briar's mind went through millions of different ways her life and marriage could play out. Her heart, torn between obligation and the desire to remain home, beat in tandem with the echoes of the Underworld.

The reflection in the mirror mimicked her internal turmoil. Seated at the edge of her bed, lost in contemplation, it felt as if the weight of the realms rested heavily upon her shoulders.

As the night deepened, a subtle scratch echoed through her chamber, drawing Briar's attention. The door creaked open, revealing the silhouette of her most trusted confidante and guardian, the three-headed hound, Cerberus. His eyes, resembling glowing red orbs, held an understanding that transcended mere mortal comprehension.

Guided by an unseen force, Cerberus approached Briar, each head nuzzling her gently. It was a silent assurance that while her path was now changing, she was not alone. Briar's hand found its way to Cerberus's fur, gently stroking his soft black fur.

"What am I supposed to do, Cerberus?" her voice echoed in the silent room, "I don't want to leave." Tears blinked back; her future in the Underworld was no more. She would have a new one in Asgard, one she didn't desire but would have to learn to accept.

Her beloved companion—more like a son—huffed in response, unable to convey human words, yet she understood his message. "You'll come with me, right?" she implored, gazing into all of his eyes, "I won't go without you; they'll have to let you come with."

Cerberus stuck one of his tongues out and licked her entire face in one quick swoop. "Thank you, Cerby. I know I can count on you." Of course, he would go with her, even to Tartarus if necessary; Cerberus would never abandon her.

Reclining on her bed, Briar allowed Cerberus to envelop every inch of her senses. His companionship served as a poignant reminder that even in realms beyond, she would always carry a piece of the Underworld with her.

With a newfound sense of calmness, Briar closed her eyes, letting the echoes of the Underworld fade into the quiet anticipation of a future yet to be written.