The former spiritual hub of Massilia, built on the spur of high ground north of the Harbor.  On the south side of Temple Ridge, the remnants of an older city wall still blocks off much of the ridge from the Outer Harbor area.  The wall is actually a retaining wall, high on the Harbor side, but only chest high over most of its length on the Temple Ridge side.  This creates a long terrace overlooking Outer Harbor.

Walls and steep slopes restrict the movement into this area.  Easy access is only at the east via the Temple Gardens, the west, facing breakwater harbor and the Greek Theater, and a few paths between the North Slope Homes.

The Gardens are on the east end of the ridge, arranged in a series of gently rising terraces, lined with exotic plants.  Maintained by the temples for meditation and relaxation, open to the public part of the day, and the only remaining “nice” gardens in the city.  The Temples of Venus and Bacchus both open to the Temple Gardens.   It's easy to tell which is which- follow the big flowers for Venus, and the grape vines for Bacchus.

It is on the cusp of evening, but both are still open.

When Belenus goes into the Temple of Venus, he is met by the doorkeeper, who has him wait on the "Duty Priestess", who of course is already with a supplicant. He's in luck, it's a very short wait before he can meet her, Marli, an attractive brown haired woman in her thirties.

Belenus smiles at the woman, dropping a coin into the offering plate. "Hello there. I am Belenus, and I am seeking guidance from the gods and priests for a bit of a problem. Well... I fell in love with my best friend, a young knight of Germania. The fact of both of us being men of noble blood... does not bode well with some. They want me to produce an heir with some woman... One to whom I will feel no attraction."

Marli considers this for a while.

Fortunately, it is not even unusual, from her point of view.  A standard "stock" problem every priestess of Venus encounters from time to time.  She has the ready stock answer, but needs some clarification.

"Some woman, you say.  Is it someone already known to you, or your parents, then?  Chosen? Or do they expect you to find one?"

In reply to Ben (msg # 3):

"Unfortunately, they want me to find some lady. I have no interest in finding one, though."

The priestess smiled.  Even better.  The simplest version of a very common, very simple problem.

"Meeting your own interest is something we all have to put aside, every once in a while, for a greater good," she says.  "In your case, it is simple.  For the sake of family, and lineage, and stability, you need a wife, for the sake of love, you need your lover.  You can easily have both.  All you must do is find a wife who accepts the situation."

She lays out the reality of the mating game for females in the 6th century, and it is no picnic for them:  The marriageable male population, somewhat depleted by war, is outnumbered and in demand.  In her view, Belenus taking himself off the list is actually selfish.

"Since you come from a family with wealth and property, you must look at this way:  if you avoid finding a wife, somewhere you deny a deserving woman a decent and comfortable home, not only for herself but for her children.  That can be a cruel thing, no?  Just find a woman who will accept you.  You get to keep your knight, your family is satisfied, you gain someone to manage your household as well, and she gains material comfort for herself and the children.  Everybody wins... yes, you may have to do something you have no interest in, but I can assure you, every day people do far worse than that, and that includes the daughters of kings."

In reply to Ben (msg # 5):

"It may be selfish... but I feel like I would be lying to my wife if I said I loved her. I don't feel comfortable lying to someone and then being happy with someone else."

"You're living an illusion, and lying to yourself," the priestess says.  "I can discuss it with you, and you might believe me, or you might not.  Or you can see the truth of it yourself.  I told you, available women outnumber available men.  The fact of it is, you have wealth, and for many who don't have it, life is not pleasant. My advice to you is, take a walk in the poorer quarters, like the South Quarter.  Perhaps even to the Slave Market.  It will not be hard to find a woman there who faces a life of hardship misery and they are every bit as deserving as the daughters of wealthy families.  Tell her what you just told me- you would take her away from her fate, and make her a gentleman's wife in a pleasant home, but you'd rather not lie to her because it makes you uncomfortable.  Stop making her choice for her, unfairly- give her the opportunity to decide whether she can endure what you would put her through."

She thinks for a moment, and adds:

"Did you see that a slave ship came in to harbor today?  Maybe you can buy a wife.  Consider what her life may well be if you don't."

Belenus sighs. "You are right. I'm sorry."

Belenus gets a crash course in the subject of marriage in the 6th Century.

For a great many people, likely the majority, it's not about love at all.  For the noble families it is about politics, alliances, and wealth- sons and daughters are traded around like livestock to be bred.  For the poorer classes choice is generally overwhelmed by necessity.

The priestess encourages Belenus to see the good in his situation- perhaps there is a woman in similar circumstances, who needs a marriage in name, and will be happy to have Belenus lead a double life while she leads one too.

"A lid for every pot," the priestess says.  "But in your case I can see a number of lids that would fit."

"Who would you recommend? If my wife... if she dies, could I marry my friend?"

"A specific recommendation is a much harder thing, Belenus," the priestess says. "Now there are two lives I am interfering in, and only one has invited me to do it.  There are rules.  I am forbidden to give you a name, unless she has also seen us, and asked that I act as matchmaker.  Is that a service you wish?  We go through our records, and match likely prospects, and then invite them both here.  I do not think it would take long, in your case.

"If, on the other hand, you wish to do it yourself, this is what I recommend.  Understanding that you seek a wife purely for the social and economic advantages of marriage, you must find a woman who values that as well- and as I said, the best places to look are those where you will find women who do not have happy lives ahead of them.  I told you that a slave ship just arrived.  Usually, new slaves are on display in cages at the slave market for a few days and then buyers bid on them.  I am fairly certain that if you bought any one of them, they would be guaranteed a far better fate than if you did not. Or, if that is not what you prefer, you might head to the poorer quarters of town, and in some shop or alehouse or such, quietly let it be known that you are a man of comfortable wealth and in need of a wife.  Tell that to any woman, and within a few days the news will be spread across Masillia.  Be honest to any prospects you might meet this way, though.  If you are open and truthful about what she is signing up for, then there is no shame, and no guilt on your part.

"Now, about marrying your friend... the Temple of Venus does not care who you marry, as long as it is the free will of two.  But Kings and Dukes and Nobles care very much about who is the rightful heir of what, and blood is spilled over disputes.  If you own any property, you must beware of the consequences of disputes between heirs.  Any children born to a woman that is your wife... even if you are not the father... will be able to make a claim. You must be careful with this, or blood can be spilled long after you are gone."

"It is a service I would wish, if you would be willing."

Of course by "service" this means this is a service the temple of Venus sells and charges for, not simply free advice.

A gold piece later, Belenus is officially enrolled, and when the temple selects his "match" they will arrange a meeting.

Of course, most don't know that most of the work is done by the novices, who have the time and patience for this.  Higher priestesses approve their selections, but still...

Belenus will cautiously and optimistically wait until he hears back.

Assuming Belenus tells the priestess how to contact him, he can rejoin the others at this point, at the luncheon the following day.

Belenus will head back to the lunch, disappointed yet optimistic.