Page 19 of The Snow Queen

If Skadi was stamped as a traitor, she’d be beheaded on the spot.

She came from the north, a relic of the old kingdom which had fallen eons ago, and as they liked to remind her, she lived by the grace of the gods. Apollo had claimed her as his ward, and raised her in a home where she’d witnessed his treatment of mortals.

Rape, slavery, murder. He didn’t see them as anything but entertainment.

By the end of her first century, she’d seen enough to understand it was common practice; the way most gods conducted themselves.

It had been different in Valhalla, or back when the Titans had ruled.

“I know a way to stop it,” she’d said, one day, and unbelievably, Aphrodite had cared to listen.

“Nothing can go through my ice, not even Apollo.”

She’d stopped calling him father long ago.

“And Zeus?”

She shrugged.

“He tried, too. I thought we might lock them out at the next meeting.”

Every time something they deemed important needed to be discussed, most gods were invited to stand on Olympus, a perfect world Zeus had shaped to spite mortals.

“We’d need to get them all in, and then, I’d ice up every way out.”

There had been a number of minor gods they might have tried to forge an alliance with, but they had to be careful. In the end, Aphrodite resolved to speak to Persephone and Amphitrite – the only other gods who didn’t visibly relish in their power over those who were weaker.

“She’s ready,” Amphitrite said, suddenly stopping her offensive.

“Baby girl’s all grown up and as deadly as her ice.”

Aphrodite grinned from ear to ear.

“Yes. I believe she is.”

“We need a plan; a way to get all of them up for a discussion.”

Persephone was the one who came up with the idea.

“Well, to be entirely forthcoming,” she said, “he may be rather gloomy, but I kinda like the look of Hades. I thought I might seduce him.”

Skadi wondered howthatwas supposed to help; most females with a pulse liked the look of Hades, and at least half of them had done something about it.

“In his land,” she clarified. “I’ll go to the underworld tonight and well… You know what they say about enjoying a forbidden fruit down there.”

“I hear the pomegranate seeds are particularly scrumptious.”

“That could work,” Amphitrite nodded. “Your mum willdefinitelyhave something to say about it, and Zeus will call everyone to act as witness.”

It was settled: when the drama called the gods to Olympus, Skadi would sneak out and seal the entrance.

“Wait! If someone finds out we’re behind this, they’ll butcher us.”

They consequently decided on building gates they’d keep secret, for their sole use. Skadi was to stay behind, as she’d shoulder the blame for all this, and the three other goddesses would come out of it seemingly innocent.

“Father is going to hate me after this.”

She couldn’t help it; to humans, elves, fays and everything in between, he was a threat, but until this day, he’d acted like a doting father towards her, at least.

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