The Heart of a Lion by Kathy Hawkins

Author:Kathy Hawkins [Hawkins, Kathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8024-9338-5
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 1998-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Micah dressed in finery that Ailea had brought from Ziph: a long-sleeved purple undergarment topped with a sleeveless violet tunic that was pleated and embroidered with gold and silver thread. Around his neck hung a massive pendant that matched the armband he always wore. How had she found the ornament on such short notice? A heavy gold circlet provided by Ahithophel held his purple headdress in place.

Micah slipped through the back-door of the main house and went to seek out the family to see how events would proceed. In an ordinary situation, a bride and groom who lived in the same village would each prepare for the wedding by taking a ritual bath, and dressing in their wedding garments. The bride would wear bracelets, anklets, rings, necklaces, or earrings that were made of precious metal, maybe encrusted with jewels if the family were wealthy. This was her dowry. The groom would wear a circlet of gold on his head if he were rich, or a garland made of laurel leaves or flowers if not.

The groom’s friends would meet at his house, where the wedding feast would take place. The bride’s attendants would join her at her father’s house. The bridegroom and his friends would go with much celebration to the bride’s home to fetch her and her guests to his father’s house. Once there, the wedding feast would begin. In some instances the feasting would last a week.

Customarily, the fathers would pronounce a blessing on the couple, perhaps offering a prayer of supplication that the Lord would bless the union with many children. Then the bride and groom would retire to the bridal bower for the consummation. But in this case, with the wedding so hastily planned, Micah wasn’t certain whether protocol would be followed.

He found Ahithophel waiting in the common room. “Sit down, my son,” the old man said. “All the women of the household have gone to the home of my brother to await our coming. At dusk we will go and fetch them. But for now, I would assure myself that you are worthy to guard my greatest treasure. If you do not love her enough to persevere and overcome all the obstacles you will face in your life together, then I would have you tell me now, so that I can make arrangements to see to her welfare, and her mother’s.”

“I love her enough, my lord. I will protect her; you needn’t worry. But I am afraid that she feels that in going with me, she is deserting you, and that may prove difficult to overcome.”

“Nonsense. She will adjust very quickly to her new life in Ziph. She won’t grieve too long when I … when she leaves Giloh. Besides, I will speak to her again before she departs, and try to explain that though you and I are on opposite sides in war, for the sake of her happiness we will put that conflict aside.”

“I know that you are a persuasive man, my lord. I trust your efforts will be successful.

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