"I remember that day, on that pure perfect morning, when Vyakles, with his troopships on the tide, discovered our hiding place on that lush isle.., I remember that day well.., for when I walked down to the beach I discovered you all kneeling before King Vyakles, you were each poised and posed for your voluntary execution." here Thera paused the thought of that memory alive before her eyes as she spoke "You, my friends, my sacred sisters.., so honorable, so loyal, with such a show of respect and unity.., unlike the World has ever seen. So it was by the divine wisdom of my beloved Vyakles, this Great King bestowed upon us his mercy and pity and grace, sparing our lives, putting all our transgressions aside, bringing us here to the luxury of his palace, reuniting us with our breeding partners, we now have the father's of our sons!" here a loud cheer arose from the spirited women. "Ah yes.., those fine men! So brave! So handsome! So strong! With hearts of warriors which beat like our own!" here more cheers and a round of wine for everyone, and the men hidden from sight, wished to cheer for themselves but they remained silent with wide smiles flashing across their faces. "Those god-like men, our vigorous lovers! The fathers of our priceless sons!" Thera continued cutting into the meat of her story. "So listen to me, my ladies, and I will tell you about those Spartans.., for they have all made it perfectly clear to Vyakles and his councilors that, in order to demonstrate their love and loyalty for us.., those Spartan men wish to make us their wives, so we may be welcome as citizens and provide us with homes to raise our children together, united as a family against all adversities. They wish to pledge us their troth in matrimony." Thera's words were swallowed up by gasps from the stunned women who sat there now in a shocked silence.
Ia, the scholar, and most learned in the group stammered "Ma..rr..i.age??" Ia looked up at Thera eyes wide in disbelief "Please forgive me.., I am.., confused.., I thought men only married young virgins brides, with dowries from their families of gold, silver, land and riches? And clearly, there are no virgins here!" a few laughs came up from the uncomfortable shift in the mood. "And what dowry do we have to offer.., our horses?"
"Our dowry is our heritage; which we have proved by more than word of mouth! Our dowry is our warrior blood, remember this society had held our nation in myth and legend. Our dowery is our sons! I ask you this my most dearest sisters! Are not we, ourselves, as living, breathing, beautiful creatures worth more than the price of rubies, are we not more precious than gold or pearls stolen from the sea?" Thera spoke clearly and plainly knowing even a warrior was not above flattery.
"But Thera.., no one in our culture has EVER entered into marriage. It is against the laws of our nation." Johanna added to the discussion.
"Oh my sweet sister, the laws of our former nation no longer apply to us. Besides, we have already broken so many laws by now.., what does one more broken law matter?" Thera asked and no one had an answer but they still sat and listened. "Prestige, Power and Honor that is what every Spartan bride receives from her betrothed for that is her right by the laws of THIS nation, the nation of our son's fathers, this magnificent place.., Greece. Marriage is not like death, it is not such a frightening thing."
"Must we?" Kayla asked the trepidation of this new prospect sitting unsettled in her thoughts.
"No, Kayla.., if even one of you is opposed we shall all tell them no." Thera said with a concerned look.
"If we all agreed, then for you, indeed, this would mean you would become the new Queen of Sparta if you become the wife of the King." Amarra commented taking this into careful consideration.
"Aye.., and in doing so shall secure aid to be sent out to those in our former nation who suffer from hunger and disease." Thera reiterated.
"This proposal could prove most effective." came the words of Scotia.
"Marriage?" Iona said the idea filling her mind for the very first time in her short life.
"Yes, marriage, for this is what happens in the real world. All the civilizations on the face of the Earth are based upon marriage, for the unification of the family is the only hope that keeps them going. So we have changed our way of life, so we must change our way of thinking."
"And what say you Thera?" Katara asked "What does your heart tell you?"
"My heart says to listen to my head.., and I must admit.., I think it would be most pleasing and satisfying to wake every morning beside Vyakles." Thera said with a clever smile as she went back to her seat at the head of the table telling them "Take sometime to discuss this amongst yourselves while I drink my wine."
Now Thera sat back and watched and waited and it was curious to her as all her words and the idea of marriage had left them all in a complete silence there under the trees in the warm summer night. Each of the women spoke not a word to one another, nor did they ask any more questions of Thera, who sat there amazed staring at her brave ladies who all sat in the stillness of deep contemplation, going over each scenario in their mind of a future with, or without, the father's of their sons. Those Spartan men anxious in anticipation of a pleasing outcome waited on baited breath. Then after several tense minutes of unsure uncertainty it was Scotia who spoke up "It is true Thera.., we had all agreed to follow you to our deaths, that day.., just to give you a little a company in the eternity. For we told Vyakles that we would rather die beside you than live our lives without you. So I, myself, would follow into the mouth of hell, even if that hell is called matrimony!" Scotia raised a cup in tribute and then to the great happiness of Thera's warrior heart she watched as her friends, her sacred sisters all stood up, one by one, raising there cups.
"For the the deep love we hold in our hearts for you! Thera, the last daughter of the Royal House of Themiscyra! And we shall hail you with our husbands as we salute you, the next Queen of Sparta!" Jessa said with a delight in her voice lifting the hearts of those who witnessed the joyous scene.
"To our FUTURE! And our FUTURE HUSBANDS!" Queen Thera said in reply as a few tears of happiness fell from her green eyes.
So it was, the answer the Spartan men had long awaited, at last, had been delivered much to the sheer delight of their hearts and they found they could not contain their extreme pleasure any longer. So with great excitement and many cheers they leapt from their hiding places, sweeping the women into their arms. Surprising them with kisses on the mouth and the cheeks. Vyakles could not have been more pleased and he came off the roof climbing down one of the olive trees, just behind Thera, who turned and she kissed him sweetly as he held her tightly and Thera knew now how good it felt to be in the arms and affection of the king.
Ia, the scholar, and most learned in the group stammered "Ma..rr..i.age??" Ia looked up at Thera eyes wide in disbelief "Please forgive me.., I am.., confused.., I thought men only married young virgins brides, with dowries from their families of gold, silver, land and riches? And clearly, there are no virgins here!" a few laughs came up from the uncomfortable shift in the mood. "And what dowry do we have to offer.., our horses?"
"Our dowry is our heritage; which we have proved by more than word of mouth! Our dowry is our warrior blood, remember this society had held our nation in myth and legend. Our dowery is our sons! I ask you this my most dearest sisters! Are not we, ourselves, as living, breathing, beautiful creatures worth more than the price of rubies, are we not more precious than gold or pearls stolen from the sea?" Thera spoke clearly and plainly knowing even a warrior was not above flattery.
"But Thera.., no one in our culture has EVER entered into marriage. It is against the laws of our nation." Johanna added to the discussion.
"Oh my sweet sister, the laws of our former nation no longer apply to us. Besides, we have already broken so many laws by now.., what does one more broken law matter?" Thera asked and no one had an answer but they still sat and listened. "Prestige, Power and Honor that is what every Spartan bride receives from her betrothed for that is her right by the laws of THIS nation, the nation of our son's fathers, this magnificent place.., Greece. Marriage is not like death, it is not such a frightening thing."
"Must we?" Kayla asked the trepidation of this new prospect sitting unsettled in her thoughts.
"No, Kayla.., if even one of you is opposed we shall all tell them no." Thera said with a concerned look.
"If we all agreed, then for you, indeed, this would mean you would become the new Queen of Sparta if you become the wife of the King." Amarra commented taking this into careful consideration.
"Aye.., and in doing so shall secure aid to be sent out to those in our former nation who suffer from hunger and disease." Thera reiterated.
"This proposal could prove most effective." came the words of Scotia.
"Marriage?" Iona said the idea filling her mind for the very first time in her short life.
"Yes, marriage, for this is what happens in the real world. All the civilizations on the face of the Earth are based upon marriage, for the unification of the family is the only hope that keeps them going. So we have changed our way of life, so we must change our way of thinking."
"And what say you Thera?" Katara asked "What does your heart tell you?"
"My heart says to listen to my head.., and I must admit.., I think it would be most pleasing and satisfying to wake every morning beside Vyakles." Thera said with a clever smile as she went back to her seat at the head of the table telling them "Take sometime to discuss this amongst yourselves while I drink my wine."
Now Thera sat back and watched and waited and it was curious to her as all her words and the idea of marriage had left them all in a complete silence there under the trees in the warm summer night. Each of the women spoke not a word to one another, nor did they ask any more questions of Thera, who sat there amazed staring at her brave ladies who all sat in the stillness of deep contemplation, going over each scenario in their mind of a future with, or without, the father's of their sons. Those Spartan men anxious in anticipation of a pleasing outcome waited on baited breath. Then after several tense minutes of unsure uncertainty it was Scotia who spoke up "It is true Thera.., we had all agreed to follow you to our deaths, that day.., just to give you a little a company in the eternity. For we told Vyakles that we would rather die beside you than live our lives without you. So I, myself, would follow into the mouth of hell, even if that hell is called matrimony!" Scotia raised a cup in tribute and then to the great happiness of Thera's warrior heart she watched as her friends, her sacred sisters all stood up, one by one, raising there cups.
"For the the deep love we hold in our hearts for you! Thera, the last daughter of the Royal House of Themiscyra! And we shall hail you with our husbands as we salute you, the next Queen of Sparta!" Jessa said with a delight in her voice lifting the hearts of those who witnessed the joyous scene.
"To our FUTURE! And our FUTURE HUSBANDS!" Queen Thera said in reply as a few tears of happiness fell from her green eyes.
So it was, the answer the Spartan men had long awaited, at last, had been delivered much to the sheer delight of their hearts and they found they could not contain their extreme pleasure any longer. So with great excitement and many cheers they leapt from their hiding places, sweeping the women into their arms. Surprising them with kisses on the mouth and the cheeks. Vyakles could not have been more pleased and he came off the roof climbing down one of the olive trees, just behind Thera, who turned and she kissed him sweetly as he held her tightly and Thera knew now how good it felt to be in the arms and affection of the king.
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