Hades' Second Chance

Drawing Lots

The three brothers stood around the hearth, speaking quietly to one another.

"Now that father is defeated, we need to figure out what to do with the world, how we will rule it." Zeus said, looking at his older brothers.

"Let's play it fair. We're all worthy of ruling parts of the earth-- The sky, waters, and underworld-- but none of us are powerful enough to rule all of it. So, why don't we draw lots to see who rules what? Longest stick chooses first, shortest last, the stick in between chooses second." Poseidon suggested.

"Sounds fair enough." Hades muttered, shuffling.

Zeus snapped, and three sticks appeared in his hand. He held his hand over the hearth, the sticks being hidden well enough that the length of the sticks was unable to be seen by the brothers, but Hades was suspicious.

"Perhaps we should have one of our sisters summon the sticks. This does not seem fair." Hades told his brother.

Zeus scowled at his brother. "We will do it this way, regardless of what you think."

Poseidon didn't bother arguing, and Hades pursed his lips. It still didn't seem quite right, and felt off. He had the feeling that his brother was not going to play fair. He knew this was not going to go well. He knew he would get "the short end of the stick". But he was left without a choice.

Zeus drew first. Like Hades suspected, he got the longest stick. Poseidon drew next. His stick was shorter, but Hades was uncertain whether or not it was the shortest, but he drew the last stick. Again, he had guessed what would happen, as he had drawn the shortest stick. He stayed silent, but knew his chance to become the ruler of Olympus was gone.

Zeus nodded. "I shall take the sky as my domain."

Poseidon sighed, and rolled his eyes. "I figured as much. Then I shall take the waters."

Hades frowned. "That leaves me with the Underworld."

The brothers nodded, and turned to walk away, leaving only Hades to wonder if perhaps there was still a way to reverse this, and take his place as King instead.