A Sacred Wedding

The long wind carried singing, echoing through the prosperous Lake Capital. The sun slanted slightly west, casting the majestic Great Temple in light and shadow. Hundreds of thousands of celebrating people surged like tides through every part of the capital, raising joyful cheers. The Lake Capital thundered with laughter and cries of delight; only the palace and the Temple District remained solemn, for the sacred wedding ceremony was being held there.

The grand wedding celebration had begun at dawn, and before anyone realized it, half the day had passed. Two thousand men of the Eagle Legion and the Jaguar Regiment stood in formation inside and outside the king's palace, armored and armed, their expressions solemn and dignified. Envoys from the various city-states stood beneath the summer sun; though sweat soaked their bodies, smiles of blessing remained on their faces.

As the officiant of the wedding, Cacamatzin wore a solemn expression and chanted his address in a ringing voice. Only now could the sacred wedding truly be considered formally begun.

"...Rainwater brings glad tidings! An elder woman comes from the east, carrying a rope of agave, binding together the two sides of marriage!"

Soon, escorted by several noblewomen, an old woman in splendid dress, wearing feather ornaments on her head, slowly walked over from the east. She was about fifty or so, with a kindly expression and a smile on her face, holding a ceremonial rope in her hand. Under everyone's gaze, she first came to Cacamatzin's side and smiled gently.

"I trouble you, my wife!"

Cacamatzin lowered his head slightly and entrusted the important task of asking the intentions of both sides to his wife.

In the weddings of the Mexica People, asking intentions was the first stage, and the messenger had to be an old woman of high virtue