Chapter 12 Celebrations and Blessings of the Marriage Festival

The entire square suddenly became silent, and the priestess seemed to be unaware of the scene outside the arena. She walked slowly to the platform without looking sideways, and lit the brazier in front of her with a torch. The flaming flames represented the gods. Blessed.

Then, facing the square, she lightly opened her lips, and her soft and penetrating voice could hardly be imagined coming from her seemingly delicate body, which made the people unable to help but indulge in it.

With her at the head, the priests sang the hymn of Hera together. The singing is full of caring for children, caring for women, admonitions for marriage, and protection for the family... Therefore, the singing is neither high-pitched nor mournful, but like an elder, slowly and unhurriedly. ...

After the carols ended, the square was still quiet inside and outside, and people seemed to be immersed in the teachings of the carols.

At this time, the flames in the brazier suddenly became more vigorous.

"Hera has appeared! She's watching us!" The people suddenly shouted, and they thought it was a good sign.

Priest Agnes smiled slightly, and this smile suddenly shone into the hearts of the people like sunshine: "God Hera bless you!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the people finally cheered, and the melodious music also sounded at this time.

A couple were put in by the patrol and entered the square one after another, and the square quickly became crowded.

They started dancing awkwardly to the music. The Greeks are a nation that is good at competition but not good at dancing, but Davos made a simple adaptation based on the ballroom dance of his previous life, and let a specially trained couple perform at last year's marriage festival celebration, which immediately attracted the public's respect. , and compete to learn.

And this time, everyone held back their strength, entered the venue bravely, and showed the demeanor of their own family. The couple joined the rhythm in the narrow space, stepped on a simple pace, looked at each other, turned in circles, changed their gestures... Although the movements were simple and repetitive, the people danced more and more happily, and even began to sing and dance outside the square.

In the dance, the wife thinks the husband is more attractive, the husband thinks the wife is more beautiful, and everyone is intoxicated. This is what Davos designed this part of the heart: the family is the cornerstone of the city-state, and the strong family is the Bunning.

Even the priestess on the platform couldn't stand the slight movement of her body and hummed music in a low voice.

At this time, a lively priestess dared to ask Agnes in a low voice: "Master Priest, this dance was created by Master Consul, do you also dance with Master Consul at home on weekdays?"

The priestess' words made Agnes' ruddy mouth curl into a smile. She is a more traditional Greek woman. At the beginning, the Lijim people rejected Dionysius' proposal, so no one dared to marry her. She did not complain, and silently entered the Temple of Artemis as a priest. After several years, she thought that It will continue to live like this, alone until old age. Who knows, Artenis pity this beautiful girl. Syracuse's strength threatened Lijim's survival, Agnes shouldered the hope of the whole city, and was sent to the strange Turii in a daze. She had thought that the rumored famous general and the wise consul of Dionia would be a tyrannical and domineering person, but Davos surprised her with his tenderness and thoughtfulness beyond this era.

But at this moment, she raised her face and scolded: "It's a celebration now, Hera is on top, we must devote ourselves to it!"

The priestesses all knew that although Agnes was the chief priest of the Temple of Hera, she was mild-mannered, treated her subordinates kindly and friendly, and would not really get angry, but they obediently stopped talking and stood up again.

…………………………

Effieart, who was in the temple of the rainbow goddess Aerys, was intertwined with excitement and tension at the moment. He looked around and found that most men and women were like this. Only one young man attracted his attention, but he was upright. Sitting on the ground, eyes closed, as if asleep.

Effieart looked curiously and carefully, and found that he didn't know this person. He didn't know that this man's identity was extraordinary. The former Spartan prince, Leotizides, was his name.

Having lived in Turii for a few years, Leotizides was now a citizen of Dionia, a division commander of the First Legion, and at the urging of an old servant he had also found a partner. But the Spartans had a different aesthetic than ordinary Greeks, they liked women with strong bodies, strong personalities, and even tough ones, just like his mother, who personally sent Leotides when he first went to war Give him a new bronze shield and tell him, 'Either fight with it or be carried back by it. ’ So, Leotides was engaged to a Brutish maiden of Vicinia with a strong personality.

"Everyone, please arrange in order as soon as possible, the blessing ceremony is about to start! As soon as the music starts, you will follow me slowly into the square one by one, understand?!" The priest in charge of guiding reminded the newlyweds again. .

Effie Alter refreshed: it's finally going to start!

A piece of soothing soft but solemn music was introduced into the temple. The priestess holding a flower basket took the lead out of the temple. Aifeiart's fiancée took his arm and followed him...

The moment they walked into the square, the two were stunned: this is already a sea of ​​flowers! The colorful petals were scattered from the hands of the people on the sidelines, from the hands of the children who were dressed in cute clothes and shuttled around the square... They fell one after another and turned into a carpet of flowers, letting them walk forward...

Outside the venue, thousands of people waved colorful cloths and cheered loudly for them. Some acquaintances and friends even called their names directly and offered their blessings to them.

In this lively scene, which attracted the attention of thousands of people, every couple was excited, as if they had become the happiest couple in the world.

When the music ended, they were already standing under the steps in front of the Temple of Hera.

Agnes waited for the noise outside the venue to calm down, and then she said loudly: "Young men and women, Cupid shot you each other with the arrow of love, and under the guidance of Aphrodite, you fell in love. , under Hera's attention, came here.

Hera asked me to ask the men on the field, are you willing to be the husband of this beautiful woman beside you? Are you willing to respect her until she is old, for the new home to be built, do not suffer from labor, do not break the law, do your best, become an excellent citizen of the city-state, build and guard your home? ! "

"Yes!" Every man answered loudly without hesitation, because the priest's question was their goal.

"Women on the field, Hera asked me to ask you, would you like to be the wife of the strong man beside you? Willing to love him, respect him, take care of him until old age, and take care of his housework and manage slaves for him , raise children and make them grow up to be excellent citizens of the city-state?!"

The delicate women answered with incomparable determination at this moment; "Yes!"

Agnes looked off the field: "Is there anyone who opposes any couple on the field becoming husband and wife? If so, please speak up now!"

No one objected.

Agnes sighed lightly, opened her arms, and declared loudly: "Now I declare that you will become husband and wife under the witness of Hera, and I hope you will love each other forever! If anyone destroys your marriage and family , then no matter who it is, he will bear Hera's wrath and the justice of the Dionysian Alliance! Now, every husband on the field can kiss your beautiful wife."

As soon as Agnes finished speaking, the flame of the brazier next to her suddenly rose again, and sparks flashed.

"Hera! Hera!" The people and the newcomers exclaimed.

At this time, the music played. Compared with the solemn and sacred melody at the entrance, this piece of music is beautiful, warm, affectionate and full of happiness.

Effieart's wife blushed and closed her eyes. When the lips were put together, there was only one thought in my mind: It was right for Effieart to insist on attending the Turiyi Marriage Festival, and there will be no regrets in this life! ...

And Leotidas's wife opened her eyes and looked at her husband who kissed her husband with tears in his eyes. She couldn't help but be a little surprised: the husband who has always been tough can actually cry? !

But she didn't know that Leotides was thinking of his humiliated mother who committed suicide amid the blessings of thousands of people. At this important moment, he still lacked the blessings of his loved ones! ...

At this time, it was already afternoon. The people who came to the temple early in the morning and the newlyweds in the square were all tired and hungry, but no one turned around and went home. Instead, everyone was eager to try, because the last celebration of the marriage festival was about to start.

When Agnes just spit out the word "splashing water", all the people immediately picked up the earthen pots filled with clean water and poured them on the people nearby. However, the children who were in charge of spreading flowers got into the arena and sprinkled water on the couple, causing the bride to scream and the groom to stand up to protect them. Among the playful children are Cynthia, younger brother Adoris, and schoolmates...

For a time, there was boiling inside and outside the venue, and water splashed everywhere.

The people who had poured the water rushed to the Krati River next to the temple, and continued to fight after scooping up the water. This is one of the reasons why the Temple of Hera was built by the river.

The water soaked Heaton, who was wearing it, and the men took off their upper clothes and tied them around their waists, revealing their strong bodies. The Greeks advocate physical beauty, and the Dionysians are no exception. Moreover, the population of this newly established city-state alliance is mainly composed of immigrants, and most of the immigrants are still young. The general Greek city-states had much more military training, they were stronger, more agile, and more willing to show the results of those trainings.

And the women's coats are all wet and their curves are full, and they don't care much, because everyone is like this.