Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 12: Celebrations and Blessings at the Marriage Festival

The entire plaza suddenly fell silent, and the priestess seemed oblivious to what was happening outside. Without glancing sideways, she stepped slowly up to the platform and used her torch to ignite the brazier before her. The blazing flames represented the blessing of the gods.

Then, facing the plaza, she parted her lips slightly. Her voice—soft, beautiful, and incredibly penetrating—was hard to believe could come from her seemingly delicate body. The people could not help but be captivated.

With her leading, the acolytes together chanted a hymn to Hera. The song was filled with care for children, concern for women, advice on marriage, protection of the household… So it was neither high-pitched nor sorrowful, but rather like an elder, unhurriedly recounting wisdom…

When the hymn ended, the plaza remained quiet inside and out. The people seemed still immersed in the teachings of the song.

At that moment, the flames in the brazier suddenly flared up noticeably.

“Hera has appeared! She is watching us!” The crowd stirred at once, taking it as a good omen.

Priestess Agnes smiled slightly. That smile was like sunlight pouring into the people’s hearts: “Great Goddess Hera blesses you!”

As soon as her words fell, the people finally cheered, and at the same time, melodious music began to play.

Pairs of couples were let in by the patrol, one after another, and entered the plaza. Soon the entire plaza became crowded.

They started to dance clumsily to the music. Greeks were a people skilled at athletics but not at dancing. However, Davos had made simple adaptations based on ballroom dancing from his past life, and at last year’s Marriage Festival, specially trained couples performed it, which won the people’s admiration and made them eager to learn.

And this time, everyone mustered their courage, entered boldly, and showed off their family’s style. In the narrow space, husbands and wives moved to the beat, stepping in simple patterns, looking at each other, turning, changing gestures… Although the movements were simple and repetitive, the people danced with growing joy. Even outside the plaza, people began to sing and dance.

In the dance, wives found their husbands more charming, husbands found their wives more beautiful, and everyone was lost in the moment. This was exactly the intention behind Davos designing this segment: the family is the foundation of the city-state; if the family is stable, the state is secure.

Even the female acolytes on the platform could not help but gently sway their bodies and hum along to the music.

Then a lively young acolyte mustered the courage to whisper to Agnes: “Priestess, this dance was created by the Magistrate. Do you often dance with him at home like this?”

The acolyte’s words made a smile curl at the corner of Agnes’ rosy lips. She was a fairly traditional Greek woman. Back when the people of Rhegium rejected Dionysius’ marriage proposal, leaving no one daring to marry her, she had no complaints. Silently, she entered the Temple of Artemis to serve as a priestess. For several years she thought she would live out her days in such a plain, solitary existence. But then Artemis took pity on this beautiful maiden. The powerful threat of Syracuse endangered Rhegium’s survival, and Agnes, carrying the hopes of her entire city, was sent bewildered to the unfamiliar Thurii. She had imagined that the famed general, the wise magistrate of Daonia, would be a domineering and ruthless man. Yet Davos, with tenderness and consideration beyond that era, gave her a pleasant surprise.

But now she put on a stern face and scolded: “This is a festival. Hera is above us! We must devote ourselves fully!”

The acolytes knew that although Agnes was the chief priestess of the Temple of Hera, she had a gentle nature, was kind and friendly to her subordinates, and would not truly get angry. Still, they obediently stopped talking and stood properly again.

…

Inside the Temple of the Rainbow Goddess Iris, Ephialtes was now a mix of excitement and nervousness, feeling that time dragged. He looked around and saw that most men and women were the same. Only one young man caught his attention—he sat upright on the ground, eyes tightly shut, as if asleep.

Curious, Ephialtes scrutinised him carefully and realised he did not know this person. He had no idea this man was of no ordinary status: the former Spartan prince, Leotychides, was his name. After living in Thurii for several years, Leotychides had become a Daonian citizen and a platoon leader in the First Army Corps. Urged by his old servant, he had also found a partner. But Spartan aesthetics differed from those of ordinary Greeks. They preferred strong, assertive—even fierce—women, like his mother. When Leotychides went to war for the first time, she personally gave him a new bronze shield and told him: “Come back with it, or be carried back on it.” So Leotychides was betrothed to a strong-willed Bruttian girl from the city of Besidia.

“Everyone, please line up in order quickly. The blessing ceremony is about to begin! As soon as the music starts, follow me, pair by pair, slowly into the plaza. Understood?!” The priest guiding them reminded the newlyweds again.

Ephialtes perked up: It was finally starting!

A gentle, sweet yet solemn melody drifted into the temple. The female acolyte carrying a flower basket was the first to step out of the temple. Ephialtes’ fiancée took his arm, and they followed…

The moment they entered the plaza, the two were stunned: it was a sea of flowers! Multicoloured petals were scattered by the people at the edge of the plaza, by children dressed cutely and darting through the square… petals fell like snow, forming a carpet of flowers for them to walk on…

Outside, thousands of people waved colourful cloths and cheered loudly for them. Even acquaintances and friends called out their names and offered blessings.

In this grand, lively scene under the gaze of ten thousand, every couple was thrilled, as if they had become the happiest pair in the world.

By the time the music ended, they were standing at the foot of the steps in front of the Temple of Hera.

Agnes waited until the noise outside had calmed down, then spoke loudly: “Young men and women, Cupid has struck you both with his arrow of love. Under the guidance of Aphrodite, you fell in love. Under the watch of Hera, you have come here.

Hera asks the men here: Are you willing to become the husband of the beautiful woman beside you? Will you respect her until old age, toil for the new home you are about to build, not break the law, do your utmost to become excellent citizens of the city-state, and build and defend your home?!”

“We are willing!” Every man answered loudly without hesitation, for the priestess’ questions were exactly their goals.

“Women here, Hera asks you: Are you willing to become the wife of the strong man beside you? Will you love him, respect him, care for him, until old age, manage the household for him, oversee the slaves, raise the children, and let them grow into excellent citizens of the city-state?!”

The delicate women now answered with firm resolve: “We are willing!”

Agnes looked at the crowd outside: “Does anyone here now object to any couple present becoming husband and wife? If so, speak now!”

No one raised any objection.

Agnes let out a light breath, spread her arms, and declared loudly: “I now announce that, in the presence of Hera, you are husband and wife. May you love each other dearly forever! If anyone disrupts your marriage or family, then whoever it is will bear Hera’s wrath and the just judgement of the Daonia Alliance! Now, every husband here may kiss his beautiful wife.”

As soon as Agnes finished speaking, the flames in the brazier beside her suddenly surged again, sending out tiny sparks.

“Hera! Hera!” the crowd and the newlyweds exclaimed.

Then music played. Unlike the solemn, sacred melody at the entrance, this tune was graceful, passionate, sweet with affection, and full of happiness.

Ephialtes’ wife blushed and closed her eyes. When their lips met, she had only one thought: coming to Thurii’s Marriage Festival with Ephialtes was the right decision. She had no regrets in this life!…

Leotychides’ wife, however, kept her eyes open. When she saw the faint tears glistening in her husband’s eyes as he kissed her, she was somewhat startled: her always tough husband was actually crying?!

She did not know that Leotychides, amid the blessings of ten thousand people, was thinking of his mother, who had been humiliated and taken her own life. At this important moment, he still lacked the blessing of his dearest relative!…

By now it was afternoon. The people who had come to the temple since early morning and the newlyweds in the plaza were all tired and hungry. But no one went home; instead, everyone was eager and excited, for the last celebratory event of the Marriage Festival was about to begin.

As soon as Agnes uttered the word “splash”, all the people immediately picked up the water jars filled with clean water that had been placed on the ground and threw water at those nearby. The children who had been scattering flowers now darted into the crowd, splashing water at the newlyweds, making the brides scream and the grooms protect them. Among these playful children were Cynthia, her younger brother Adoris, and classmates from school…

For a moment, inside and outside the plaza erupted into a frenzy, water splashing everywhere.

After emptying their jars, people rushed to the Crati River beside the temple, filled up again, and continued the fight. This was one reason the Temple of Hera was built by the river.

The clear water soaked the chitons they wore. The men simply removed their upper garments, tying them around their waists, revealing strong bodies. Greeks admired physical beauty, and the Daonians were no exception. Besides, this newly founded alliance’s population consisted mainly of immigrants, and most of them were still young. In addition to their labour and daily life, they underwent far more military training than was common in most Greek city-states. They were stronger, more agile, and more willing to show off the results of that training.

The women’s outer garments were completely wet, their curves clearly visible, but they did not mind much, because everyone was the same.