"You should be preparing to set out on a journey to find the Priestess when she's chosen" Aelia suggested the morning of the following day to Ares who was busy harvesting some crops with her for an old man and his equally old brother. These brothers never got married, a lot of people knew nothing about them except that they were brothers. They had migrated out of The Land Of Irho to settle in Thaleia for reasons unknown.
Aelia had taken a liking to the men ever since she was younger and she would often help them harvest or plant. She never inquired about their past because the men wouldn't like to tell her about it. So in silence, she would help them plant and harvest.
"What if the Priestess is right here before me?" Ares asked. Standing tall watching Aelia who was getting her clothes and hands dirty in the name of harvesting.
"You should've called some soldiers to do this, why must you do it yourself?" He asked again.
"As long as I can do it myself, why should I send for someone else to do it for me. The work here isn't hard, Veda and I can get it done before the sun sets" She replied casually without looking back.
From where he stood, he could see Veda at the other end of the farmland also busying herself with harvesting what was planted. Ares himself had initially joined them, but this was not a job he was used to, he grew tired and stopped.
"You're so kind, you are the perfect choice of the Priestess"
"There are many other kind people in Thaleia, many young, kind, chaste young women around." She stopped for a moment and turned to stare at Ares. "Ares, any thoughts or hope you have of me being the Priestess should be put away, you and I know that it can never be" She gave a sad smile and went back to harvesting.
Ares could not stand and watch her anymore, so he left the farm and headed to his home. While he was walking back home, he caught sight of the two men from the window of the house. One was busy feeding the other in the small kitchen, and the one being fed stared at the other with very soft eyes and an inherent smile. Ares' already scowling face, frowned deeper.
The moon eclipse was already before them, the whole people of Thaleia came out in celebration, a huge fire was lit in the town's square of the capital, the streets were flooded with children, adults and teenagers, it was like the night was not a time to rest anymore. The fire lit in the town square and every small burning torchlight lit up the city in a wondrous sight. People were dancing to the drumming of the local band, they danced, they sang along, it really was a beautiful celebration. The night was alive.
In that small village, a huge bonfire was lit in front of the house of the village head. The women were out, dancing to the drumming and fluting of some of the men. They were served wine as they all celebrated the disclosure of the next Priestess. Though it could not be compared to that of the capital, the small village could also be said to be lively and fun. Everybody was out to dance, including the young girl that lived with her aunts.
Other than the celebration of the next Priestess, she was outside because her friend, the sister of the son of the village head, her supposed soon to be husband, had informed her that her brother wanted to have a normal conversation with her. She was a grown woman, a normal conversation at night referred to having intimate relations with one another. Truth be told, that was what she was looking forward to. Melting in his arms under the eclipse, claiming his lips with her own, merging the speckles of their sweat. She smiled at the thought before heading out to the house of the village head.
Back at the capital, the King, his queen and the Princess also came out in celebration. There were thrones set aside for the royalty, placed where they could see in detail the activities of the night. The town square was big, it was in the middle of the capital. That night, it served as a stage where people gathered to watch a show.
Augustus, Aelia and Scylla, Augustus' wife all found their seats and settled in it, watching the liveliness of the night. On seeing the royals, the drums beaten louder, the flutes played more dexterous and the women danced more gracefully.
Veda couldn't contain her joy, she ran into the stage where the women were dancing and joined them though she was oblivious of the routine of the dance. She didn't care, she just danced, she danced with the women, danced to the music and to that particular pair of eyes watching only her in the crowd.
When she got to the house of the village head, she was shocked at the crowd, this was the first time she was seeing the celebration of the eclipse, only a few people had been opportuned to see it twice. She avoided where her aunts were sitting and surreptitiously searched around for her friend.
"Phaedra" someone yelled out her name, she turned to where the voice came from and saw her friend, Fen, at a side of the house that had not a single soul lurking around. She hastily ran to meet with her.
"I thought you weren't coming again" Fen said as she drank from the wine in her cup. Phaedra could smell the wine on her person, she guessed her friend had been drinking for a while now.
"I was so anxious, where is he?" Phaedra asked unsettled.
"Before we go to him, you should take a sip from this" Fen handed her the cup of wine "it is not going to be an easy fit as first, but I promise you, you will enjoy it"
Phaedra smiled excitedly as she downed the contents of the cup in one go. The burn and bitterness of the wine was not one she was familiar with, she scrunched her face.
"Let's go girl" Fen took her hand and led her into the big mansion of the village head. The two of them ran up the stairs and arrived at the room of her soon to be husband.
Phaedra took a deep breath and swallowed, but none of that could calm her erratically beating heart. Fen gave her a quick hug before leaving her to her fate. Phaedra placed two knocks on the door before opening it and walking inside.
However, before she could take the first step into the room, a great force, a great wind ostensibly coming from the room, pushed her away over to the wall.