The Gods Must Be Crazy
Written by Amazonia V
Chapter 2
2008
"You must marry! I command you to do so," Queen Hippolyta frowned down at her eldest daughter, Diana, who looked back obstinately at her.
"I won't! I'm not interested in marrying. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever."
"You must! I made a promise to the Goddess Hera when you were given life. That was the condition on which they allowed you to draw breath."
"Why did you make such a promise on my behalf? Recant your promise."
"Ah, daughter, if I could, I would. I wanted so much to hold you alive in my arms. My promise was made and witnessed by the Moirai. And so Clotho has spun your life and bound it to the survival of the Amazons. If Atropos is not to end all our lives, then you must fulfill my vow."
"I don't mind losing my life."
"When you die, so will all the Amazons, if you have not married before your death. Do you wish to be end of your race?
"And the only way I can prevent this catastrophe is to marry? And marry now?"
"Diana, it's not a simple marriage. You are the hope of the Amazons. It is the command of Hera herself. We need to bend our ways to home and hearth. With the birth of your first child, Amazons will recover their long lost ability to bear children. And then, we can, some of us, fulfill the desires that have long been suppressed. I can tell you surely that I know how much a woman longs to hold her own child. Even those of us who have been around for thousands of years! And not the very least, it is the command of the Queen of Olympus."
Hippolyta's forbidding features softened now, as she observed the tears well in her beloved daughter's eyes. "Marry, you must, daughter. But you may choose to marry as you wish. God or mortal, fair or dark…that remains your choice."
Princess Diana, heir to the throne of Themyscira, wished her mother had never reminded her of her duty. "It's cruel to make me marry when I don't wish to…but if I must do so, I will."
"Who will you choose?"
"Anyone will do. I'm only marrying because of you. It makes no difference whom I marry. What does my husband get out of the marriage?"
"Get out of the marriage? You make it sound like you are being bartered. Your husband, whosoever you choose, gets the most precious treasure of the Amazons – you!"
"Well, then, mother, I leave the choice of husband to you."
Queen Hippolyta sighed. Her daughter could be so stubborn at times. And lately, it seemed as though she was stubborn all the time.
"Well, then, if I am to arrange the match, then we shall borrow an ancient custom from India."
Diana's clear blue eyes narrowed at her mother. She didn't trust an amiable Queen Hippolyta. "Borrow an ancient custom?"
"The Swyamwara. It's a practice used by Aryan royalty in Asia to decide on the best suitor for a young woman, from among a list of suitors. Usually the parents of the young woman conducted the event at an auspicious time and venue. Anyone could participate, princes, kings, commoners, alike. On the appointed day and venue, suitors arrive at the girl's home and ask for her hand. The woman who is to be married can spend some time observing the suitor, noting traits and behavioral signs and can even ask them to complete tasks or participate in events that demonstrate their physical attributes. When the girl identifies the husband of her choice, she proclaims it to everyone and a marriage ceremony is held immediately."
"Mother, that's archaic. I don't believe you want to do this."
"Not really. It's no different from what young men and women do today. I think you call it dating?"
"Mother!"
"Diana, daughter, relax. Allow me to present the prospective grooms to you. You just choose which one you want."
Diana threw her arms up in the air. "Do as you please, Mother. I'm going to the training arena."
Hippolyta smiled.
She'd won.
Now she just had to send out the invites. To all the eligible males she knew and then some.