Eurydice

2

He played three more songs, and his music was so beautiful that Artemis' moon came out early to hear it. When he struck the last chord, everyone pleaded for more, but Orpheus shook his head.

"It's time to move on. I need to start my journey to the next city over, but I might come back one day." He smiled kindly. I adored how infectious it was, how he got the whole crowd to grin despite their disappointment. Everyone separated, the peasants going home while the nymphs stayed behind. They leaned on one another, giggling hysterically, and my nose wrinkled at the scent of wine radiating off them.

I looked away and tried to see Orpheus. He was at the side of the platform, nearly hidden by the darkness, but a tall woman gave me light to see him. Her blue robes and blonde hair had a soft, golden aura that brought Orpheus' face into focus. She must have been his mother, Calliope, by the way he spoke so casually with her.

At first, he looked confused and angry. His smile was pulled into a scowl, but he listened as Calliope tried to reason with him. Her gestures grew wild, then she pointed at me.

He followed her finger and seemed to freeze up when he took in my dark curls and honey-colored skin. Apollo had always told me that I was one of his prettier children, but I never really believed him until I saw the look in Orpheus' eyes. Just like me, he was instantly lovesick.

He grinned at Calliope and nodded eagerly. They shared a few more words before coming my way. I smiled despite how my knees knocked together, and Calliope took my hand. The muse had sharp, intelligent green eyes, but her face was warm and welcoming.

"I'm glad that Orpheus has such a beautiful bride," she chirped.  "Do you care for music, or poetry?"

I nodded. Being a daughter of Apollo, it was in my blood. "Very much, milady." She let me go with a bright smile, and I looked to Orpheus. We locked eyes, and it felt as if my tongue was frozen. "You played beautifully. I've never heard such wonderful music," I said, voice breathy.

He beamed. "Thank you, Eurydice." My name sounded like a perfect melody in his voice, and I suppressed a sigh. He took my hand and kissed it, and I could feel every callous on his fingers.

Calliope smiled in amusement. "When shall we have the wedding?"

.        .        .

After the feast, the ladies and I stood from our table and the men followed suit, the laughter dying down. I caught Orpheus' eye, and he grinned. I gave a weak attempt at a smile as everyone met in the middle of the field, marigolds surrounding us.

Orpheus and I stood facing one another. The crowd pulled away from us, leaving a wide, empty circle that seemed to swallow me. His grin, as always, was infectious. I returned it with a half-smile, and I saw his hand twitch, wanting to hold mine.

A reverent silence took hold of the field, and we both looked at the crowd. Everyone had parted, and walking towards us was a tall, bearded man in green robes. In each hand he held a lit torch, and the flames licked dangerously close to his red hair.

Orpheus and I bowed to Hymen, god of marriage ceremonies, and he nodded as he slipped between us. The torches brought a shocking amount of heat when it passed by my face, and I took a step back.

"The groom may remove the veil," he rumbled, dipping his strong chin at Orpheus. My love's smile disappeared as he turned to me, our eyes meeting through the lace. Again, a storm grew in my stomach. I watched, smiling, as his long fingers lifted up my white veil. A blonde nymph sprang lithely from the crowd and came to him, taking away the soft piece of cloth. He smiled at me, and I knew he was taking in the sight of my waist-long hair. It would be the last time he'd see it for a while.

"Give the bride the shears," Hymen continued, looking at me now. Another dryad, one of my countless cousins, handed me a pair of ice-cold scissors. She smirked and raised a brow tauntingly, but when I gave no reaction, she spun around and joined her cluster of nymphs. They giggled, and our guests didn't hesitate to shoot them a glare.

Lifting my long hair, I took a deep breath. I didn't understand why this was so hard for me; it'll grow back. Perhaps what it symbolized was making my stomach clench. Not able to stand the wait any longer, I brought the shears close to the nape of my neck and snapped them together. A heavy weight was lifted from my head, and I didn't dare look down as the same dryad from before sauntered up and took away my scissors.

Hymen looked to the crowd, his torches giving off curling gray smoke. "By cutting her hair, the bride has shown that she is cutting off her virginity, her maidenhood." I looked down, certain that an ugly red blotch had grown across my cheeks. Orpheus kept his eyes on Hymen, as if to spare me from embarrassment. "Now, bring the Loutrophoros," Hymen called out. "For with this sacred water, our couple will become pure and ready for marriage."

Two nymphs came with tall ceramic vases, their knuckles white from gripping the handles. Each one stood before us, and Orpheus and I held out our cupped hands. The dryads' arms shook as they gently poured water into our palms, the one before me struggling to straighten hers out when she was done. I gave her a sympathetic smile and she glared in return, and they both scampered off as fast as they could with the heavy vases.

We both splashed the icy water onto our faces, and I could feel it run down my neck and dampen the top of my robes. I looked at Orpheus, and when we saw the stain on each other's chests, we grinned.

Hymen chuckled at us. "Now pure and ready for marriage, you may all go and enjoy your feasts and celebration."

The crowd cheered for us, and a dozen hands pulled me into a whirlwind of embraces and kisses. I tried to thank everyone, laughing with them and trying to ignore the tears in some eyes. If I saw them cry, I knew I would too.

Orpheus was undergoing the same treatment, many of his loyal followers hugging him and patting him on the back. A lot of nymphs had lingering touches, yet he paid them no mind. All nine muses, his aunts, surged through the crowd and surrounded him. They looked proud, stroking Orpheus' cheeks and even singing congratulations to him. Then he looked at me, and I grew joyfully numb. 

I grinned as I tried to comprehend all the faces around me and what they were saying. Their laughter made my spirits rise, and I couldn't remember a time when I was more happy, more at peace.

My gaze swept through the crowd, countless eyes on me, and I spotted Hymen. He was a dozen yards away, walking into the sunset, but something didn't look right. I squinted, blinded by the orange sky, and then I froze.

Both of his torches, symbolizing happiness and good health, had gone out. Depressing wisps of smoke came from their charred tops, and Hymen walked slower than before. He seemed so much older, his shoulders drooping as if he was weighed down with a burden.

A slender hand took mine with surprising gentleness. My lip quivered from the sight of Hymen, but then I looked to find Orpheus with that wide, lovesick smile on his face again. His dark pink lips kissed my knuckles, and my mind seemed to go entirely - and hopelessly- blank.