Here are the first thirteen. I'm not great at beginnings. All input welcome.

The goddess Gaiata watched the preparations for the festival from the roof of her Temple. She was always present at her festivals. She just wasn’t always visible. This was the winter solstice. The Day of Turning. Today the old year-king, Tobren, would fight to defend his crown. The loser would be sacrificed to her and the winner would be crowned as year-king. Then would follow the sacred marriage to the goddess herself. It was a powerful rite. The love and devotion it inspired would feed her power until the equinox.

Both Tobren and his challenger believed the loser would be sacrificed, anyway. That was the real power of the rite. It was their faith and their willingness to die for her that was important, not the blood.

Second version:

The goddess Gaiata watched the preparations for the festival from the roof of her Temple. She was always present at her festivals. She just wasn’t always visible. This was the winter solstice. The Day of Turning.

The people were gathering around the square to watch the spectacle. Trumpeters from the Palace were playing a martial tune, more to keep the crowd under control than for any connection to the ritual. Her priestesses were all busy inside the Temple, but the handful of priests that served her were already in the square, preparing for the ritual combat.

Today the old year-king, Tobren, would fight to defend his crown. The stakes of the combat were very high.

[This message has been edited by Meredith (edited March 03, 2009).]

What did the preparations sound like, was their singing? Was there some sort of yule log lit, what did the burning wood or incense smell like?

For a novel start, answering those questions above would fill out your first 13 nicely.

Here are few more that came to mind while I was reading.

What were her combatants wearing? Did she favor one over another, if so, why?

What purpose did this marriage serve, other than to exten Gaiata's power? Were they a country that needed this power desperately, or was it just a formality?

I found your first try a bit more like a well written synopsis rather than an exciting beginning that would hook me as a reader.

From what I can see there are two or three good lines of thought that can make a good start.

- Owasm