Troy
Summary: Unfortunately even Enkidu, the man created by the gods, the High King of Uruk's equal in all things is having trouble dealing with his egotistical friend and King. So, the gods decide to create something else that will indefinitely draw the eye of the troublesome demigod. What better way to bring about the downfall of a man than by the use of a woman?
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Humor/Family
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Chapter 2: Rabbit Heart
'Here I am, a rabbit hearted girl, frozen in the headlights. It seems I've made the final sacrifice. I must become a lion hearted girl-ready for a fight before I make the final sacrifice.' –Florence + The Machine
"What do you want from me?"
"Pandora, you and your brother are children of the previous emperor-my sister's husband. The allowance of you keeping your title is out of respect for the dead."
"What's your point?"
"You have no power here. You have no purpose." She never had and never would. Strangely, she was content with that.
She smiled sweetly, though it was anything but, tilting her head to the side. "That's the first true thing you have ever said to me. Tell me, did spit your usual lies on that night or did you tell him the truth out of shame?"
"The truth? Certainly not."
"Not even going to deny it. You must be pretty confident that you got away with it. But you didn't, I know everything and I'll make sure that everything which was done in the dark comes to light."
He sighed, running a hand through inky black hair. "This is my problem with you. You pretend to have a say in any of this despite the fact you know nothing. You are nothing without your father's legacy and contradictory to what the masses say, he wasn't a great man. You would be appalled by all the things he did in the dark, let alone me."
A smirk not unlike pure malice colored his face.
Pandora winced, sneering at the man and hands forming tight fists in her chains. "What do you want from me?" She questioned, thinly veiled rage becoming increasingly apparent.
"I will carry on the previous emperor's will. We will become the law of this world and I require your assistance."
"You must be out of your goddamn mind," she spat.
"I assume it's useless to ask now but you'll come around. I'll make sure of it."
Gilgamesh found himself in quite the predicament. He was an individual who was accustomed to getting his way if life. But one day, in waltzes this perpetually smiling ghost of a girl whose intolerability ranged from mild to murder.
Somehow this story seemed familiar.
"Why are you still here?" He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers. Pandora shrugged as she meandered lackadaisically about the throne room, admiring every inch of opulence with childlike wonder.
"I don't know," she smiled like a goddamn angel. "Why are you such a hardass?"
She had been flinging insults this way and that from the very moment they met although some were more subtle than others. He considering killing her again but why waste anything on this girl whom he knew would not drop dead even if he asked her to?
Cutting out her tongue was also an option although his gut told him that the ending to such a drastic measure would not play out well for him. It would probably just grow back. Like a lizard. He shuddered.
Gilgamesh was truly between a rock and a hard place.
"Woman, what do you want from me? Your information is appreciated but your presence, however, is not. I have no need of assistance from you or your ilk in order to be able to wipe those Assyrian infidels off of the earth."
He regarded her carefully as she continued to roam. A sneer came over his features as it came to his attention of how unbearably thin she was. The off-white tunic she wore accentuated her unhealthy pallor and he was reminded somewhat of a starved dog as he watched her shuffle back and forth.
"Putting that aside, you have also committed grave offenses against me," he continued. "I show you mercy, allow you leave without injury, and yet you stay. So, I will ask you once more-why are you still here?"
She huffed in offense, hands on excessively bony hips. "I already told you. I do not want to be immortal and you are my best bet at getting this curse removed."
"Another utterly foolish notion. Mine is a unique case but you…" His eyes cut to her, practically burning holes into her soul. Shivers pricked her spine as she squirmed underneath his gaze. "-greed is an inherent trait of mankind. What human being does not want to live forever? Or do you believe yourself to be above such pitiable desires with your new-found immortality?"
Pandora did not consider herself to be a reckless person, daring, but never reckless. Oh, but it was absolute gut busting hilarity to witness the incredulity scribbled all over Gilgamesh's face at her comments. She could hardly resist. "I haven't thought about it that deeply but I'll let you know once I figure it out, mmkay?"
The golden king snorted. The absurdity of the woman before him was nigh comical. "Are you sure that your head is screwed on right? Surely you were dropped on your head multiple times as a child or possibly kicked in the head by an ox. That is the only explanation for such insanity."
She resisted an eye roll, a vexed expression painting her features. And yet, Pandora felt a dull nagging in the back of her skull. There was a certain sensation that walked hand-in-hand with being near the insufferable man, a small part of her unable to resist the smile that spread across her face whenever she laid eyes on him. The feeling gripped her as a bright smile crossed her face like a wildfire, green eyes shining mischievously.
"It was the ox, my liege," Pandora began, sarcasm drenching her words. "It happened two summers ago. I remember that fateful day like it was my last. The sun had just started to set when-"
"-Do not test me, girl."
"I'm not leaving until you help me. Just accept that right now as a fact." Pandora swallowed, the courage in her eyes flickering. Was she pushing it? Abso-friggin-lutely. But better to scope out her boundaries now than finding out on the receiving end of a spear later.
He was beside her in an instant, hand slithering around her neck, fingers digging into her skin. "I have given you incredible leniency, girl. Immortal or not, insulting me is great cause for a death sentence."
"If you help me get my life back, then you can make good on that threat. But you cannot make due on your threat right now which leaves it null and void," she replied flatly.
His grip tightened, danger swimming in pools of deep red. Pandora found herself dreading the possibility of the scene becoming a common occurrence. "I will say this once. Know your place. There are many things in this world worse than death and I will gladly see to it that you experience each and every one of them in full, if you wish to continue on."
She gave him a curt smile.
It was small, sweet, and in it appeared something that it caused his imperious gaze to waver. Gilgamesh reluctantly let go of the young woman's neck and Pandora inhaled deeply, meeting his stare and then bowing her head. "I've never been so good with words, you see. I apologize if I have offended you." If? Did he catch an 'if' in that sentence?
"I'll leave for now."
Her eyes met his one last time and the blonde king watched as she waved good-bye-as if he was an old acquaintance-and scampered off. If it wasn't clear before, it was crystal now.
The girl was insane.
Insane but this girl had managed to create a large distortion within the monotonous buzz that plagued the repetitious life of an absolute king. He had made his decision. Lips turning up into a bemused smirk he decided he would let this play out, wherever it may lead him. She had said it herself, she would return.
And he would wait patiently until she did.
A warm breeze playfully tugged on white locks. Pandora sat perched on the palace steps, head in her palm, green eyes admiring vast azure sky. Her mind wandered. Of all the times to start feeling guilty, it had to be now. Mentally, she cursed the atrocious timing of her conscience.
She was jolted from her musings when a familiar voice spoke, condescension and admonition transparently clear. "What was that?"
She stiffened in surprise, whipping around and a hand flying to her now racing heart. "Malak-I wish you'd stop doing that. One of these days, I'm gonna keel over from a heart attack," she chided.
Malak rolled his eyes and took a seat next to his energetic companion. "Extremely unlikely but whatever. Like I was saying before, what the hell was that? If I didn't know any better I'd say you were deliberately trying to provoke him."
"I was."
"Why?"
She snorted, light laughter pushing past dry, chapped lips. "Sorry, sorry I couldn't help myself. From what I've seen so far, he's the type that's super fun to play around with. That and I wanted to knock him down a few pegs not that that plan went over well."
"It never will, not with him. I speak from experience, watch yourself. Whatever you think he is, he isn't. You have a knack for offending people and Gilgamesh is all for fun and games but there's a thin line with him. Although knowing you, you'd rush over that line like there was hell on your heels."
Pandora beamed. "You know me so well."
"It's my job. Rest assured, we'll accomplish what we came here to do." Almost instantaneously forest green eyes flashed dangerously, mouth forming a thin line as the girl was abruptly reminded of her purpose for her unconventional meeting with Uruk's young king.
It was a cold, unshakable reality that loomed over her. Even within the depths of her dreams, a place where most find solace and serenity, she could feel its presence. And it frightened her.
"…Is it worth it though?" She asked softly.
Malak arched a questioning brow.
"The Assyrians will come here indefinitely. They say that Uruk is flourishing thanks to its newest ruler. Imagine the prestige those cretins would gain by slaying such a king. They'll likely make Xerxes participate in the war. They'll have him joyfully rushing off to his death on the front lines," she explained, fingers digging into her palms in bony fists to the point where blood was drawn.
"And when an enemy spear skewers him through the chest, they'll shake their war starved skulls and say what a shame it was that the second prince of their great nation should have met his end without having cut down a single enemy. He'll die in obscurity, the scribes not bothering to mention his name in the tablets, just like his failure of a sister." Green eyes flicked toward to the dusty ground.
"And we came here in order to prevent that."
Lips parted and a calming breath was drawn. "Yeah we did, didn't we?"
"Yes, my lady. We did."
"My lady. Haven't heard that one in a while. You're not usually so respectful. What gives?"
He scoffed, arms folded across his chest and dark eyes carefully studying her visage. "The only time I am not respectful is when I have to chew you out for your recklessness."
"One cannot truly live until he takes chances. Life itself is a gamble."
"Precisely. That way of thinking is precisely why I cannot take my eyes off of you."
"Lighten up, Malak. No girl wants to marry a lifeless piece of wood."
"And no man wants to marry a crazed hellion."
"Aw, if you say it like that then it sounds like we're meant for each other."
"Neither in your dreams nor in mine."
"Right," she drawled.
"What are you going to do now?"
Pandora stood, stretching her arms towards the heavens. "I'm going to explore. I've barely had time to see the sights, meet the natives, having been arrested and killed and all that. I'm eager to see if Uruk is just as beautiful as they say."
He wasn't going to try to stop her this time. His lady, his queen was rambunctious by nature and Malak admittedly had to take a step back every once and awhile. "I'm not even going to try and stop you this time. I can't accompany you but a warning, my lady. People around here are a bit…jumpy."
"Aren't we supposed to be incognito? Call me what you did when we were younger."
There was a small pang in his chest as his mind recalled better times. "Fine, Pan. Whatever you want."
Forever and always.
"That's more like it."
Thank you, my friend.
In order to fool one's enemies, one must first fool his friends.
Was it cruel to again not inform her closest friend of her intentions to sneak back into the palace? Maybe. Was it wrong? Not entirely. Getting back in was surprisingly easy. If she got caught snooping around, Malak's cover would hopefully still be intact. The only one who would be able to prove otherwise would be that servant girl.
She would start there. After more than a few minutes of searching stone walls and empty rooms, Pandora stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of hushed and wavering voices.
Both were male, although sounded absolutely petrified in comparison to the calm timbre of the other-tossing around phrases like "it had to be done" and "for our great nation". The lilt in their voices confirmed her suspicions. They weren't natives and there was no mistaking that mindset. Damn, that man was thorough. To think he had already sent out spies, other than herself and Malak-the sly bastard.
She breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that she wouldn't have to dirty her hands and do the deed herself. She was the distraction. Her job was only to stir things up long enough for those two to sneak in and do what needed to be done.
It was a pity. She had tried to help the man but he wouldn't hear it. It was his own fault, not hers.
And yet...
The younger one was the first to notice her in the doorway. The poor thing was practically in tears.
"L-Lady Pandora?!" He must have been around fourteen years old, the other about eighteen. They were undoubtedly siblings.
"The one and only." She said with a warm smile.
"What are you doing here?" The elder questioned, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"The same thing you're doing," she answered calmly. "So, what's the plan? Kill him in his sleep or something?"
They exchanged skeptical glances. " Poison in his wine."
"Classy."
"It's already on its way over there," the younger boy blurted out, earning a sharp glare from his brother.
"What kind of poison?"
"Desert cobra venom."
Pandora was breathless. Her heart began pounding. Perhaps she had already made up her mind when she made herself known to those two. Or maybe even the moment green eyes clashed with blood red. As impossible as it seemed, she was resolved to have no regrets in this endless life of hers.
And leaving an innocent man, no matter how narcissistic and infuriating, to die without lifting a finger to stop it...Now there was a regret if she ever heard of one. Goddamn it all.
Pandora took off running.
Why am I doing this again, she thought, rushing frantically down seemingly endless winding halls. He was different from that day. He had changed. She had too.
They were no longer the little kids who in the spur of the moment had spilled their hopes and dreams to one other just because someone was there to listen. Her actions would have consequences. And painful ones too.
But the mere fact that she could recall the innocent smile he had once given her and the secrets she had told him, was enough to convince her.
She wanted to save him.
The unsuspecting servant held out the goblet, like an offering and Pandora skidded to a halt, chest heaving, looking relieved upon finding the young king alive and well.
"Oh, it's you. Couldn't stay away, could you? I tend to have that affect on people." He said, golden goblet in hand. Without missing a beat, Pandora snatched the cup from his hands and downed it in one fell swoop. Gilgamesh stared, utterly dumbfounded.
"I-I have an explanation," she said, struggling to catch her breath.
"You drank my wine. You would be suicidal to do so without one."
"Someone poisoned your drink."
"And who in the right mind would do that? I realize that it is impossible for all my subjects to adore me but let's be serious here."
"The Assyrians would."
"Are you suggesting that-"
"-Yes, there are-"
"Woman, let me finish," he interjected, silencing her with a sharp glare. "Are you suggesting that there are spies within my home?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
Blood red eyes locked onto the still bowing young man and a look of sheer horror crossed the servant's face. "No, not him."
Gilgamesh arched a brow and dismissed the terrified servant with a wave of his hand. "Do you have any proof of these spies?"
"I will... in about four hours or so." She replied, shrugging. "It depends. How long does it take desert cobra venom to kill a human being?"
"Three hours, twenty-five minutes, and fifteen seconds, give or take ten minutes."
"One word. How?"
"This isn't the first time some mindless fool has tried to assassinate me," he said as he stood, a smirk playing on his lips. He beckoned her to follow with a small gesture. "Come."
Hesitantly, she trailed behind him. "Where are you taking me?"
"I am personally escorting you to the dungeons," he replied, tossing her a glance from over his shoulder. "You should feel honored." He hadn't given up on her just yet, considering his expectations of her were still quite high. If she failed to meet them, then it was never meant to be. He genuinely hoped that she would stick around.
"Oh, I am. Why, exactly are you escorting me to a dungeon?"
"So that I may ascertain the truth. If you are telling the truth then you shall be dead in three short hours, if not then you will spend all of your days, however numerous they are, within that dungeon."
"Sounds reasonable, except for that last part. Really? An eternity in a dungeon just for drinking your wine?"
"Clearly, you don't understand the delicate intricacies of wine."
"Clearly." Pandora echoed with a twinge of annoyance. Partially directed at Gilgamesh and partially directed at herself for getting into yet another life-threatening situation. Maybe Malak was right, she had never really considered it seriously, casually dismissing his rants as ramblings of an overprotective friend.
She sighed, biting down on her bottom lip as he ushered her inside the iron cage. "I don't appreciate sarcasm," he retorted.
To her pleasant surprise, Gilgamesh sat down directly outside her cage with legs crossed and arms folded, red eyes watching her curiously. "You're going to stay here," she asked, voice ringing with bewilderment.
"But of course. I personally escorted you here and I am personally going verify your credibility myself." Pandora hummed in acknowledgement.
Silence soon coated the room, thick and almost suffocating. The room was humid, lit only by torchlight and a certain stench permeated the area. Pandora was convinced the smell was coming from the misshapen lump in the corner of her cell although she refused to affirm her assumptions by closer examination.
She simply sat and waited.
"It smells awful in here." She commented, hugging her knees to her chest and mending the awkward break in conversation.
Gilgamesh paused, looking thoughtful. "I suppose there is a small chance that a handful of unlucky souls may have expired in there."
Pandora groaned, rolling her eyes passionately. "Joy."
"Why did you do it? Even if it won't kill you, I doubt this will be a pleasurable experience for you." Red eyes suddenly flashed impishly. "Unless you like that sort of thing."
He noticed her face pale significantly. "Um, no I don't," she responded laughing uncomfortably. "I just wanted to. I kind of need you, remember?"
"Oh, right," he said, recalling that morning's events. "Did you honestly come all the way here to try and help me just to get your little curse lifted?"
"Honestly? No, I could care less about that nonsense although it could become a pain later."
"Then, why would you willingly drink wine laced with snake venom?"
Pandora shrugged. "The thought of you dying doesn't sit well with me."
"So, you would go through all this for a complete stranger." Gilgamesh answered while Pandora stared at the cobweb-filled ceiling, her eyes withholding some emotion. "Is that what I am supposed to believe?"
Pandora nodded. "Yeah, pretty much. Except you are no stranger, not to me."
His eyes narrowed, cutting to her as he began studying her expression, searching for recognition that could only be found in her face. "...Do I know you?" He ventured slowly.
She sighed, nervously rubbing the back of her neck. The young king felt his skin crawl at the reemergence of her bittersweet smile. Blood red clashed with dark green and Gilgamesh was left with a dizzying sense of nostalgia.
"No, you don't know me."
And I no longer know you.
For starters, thank you all so much for your reviews! I'm so glad that you guys actually liked it with only one chapter up. I hope you enjoyed the second chapter of Troy.
I quite excited about introducing Enkidu to this whole setup-who will be in the next chapter. I have read some things about him here and there but I am really looking forward to messing around with his character a bit. Here's a small sneak peak of the next chapter.
Pale green eye widened as Enkidu caught sight of a young woman meandering aimlessly around the throne room. He turned to Gilgamesh and placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him aside. "My friend, I understand that as a man you have needs but I must confess something to you."
"What is it?"
"You see, whenever you have a girl around, particularly one you are rather fond of, the atmosphere tends to get a bit weird around here."
"I don't follow."
Enkidu sighed, putting both hands firmly on Gilgamesh's shoulders. "I hate to be the one to tell you this-I really do-but, Gil," He trailed off, glancing briefly at the floor and then looking firmly into his friend's eyes. "You are a creep."
"What?"
"You are an S-ranked, horror-inducing, nightmare-creating, classic creeper." Gilgamesh could only stare, jaw unhinged at the words coming out of his one and only friend's mouth. He was honestly a little offended.
"It's not your fault though!" He added hurriedly. "You have a sickness. I have spoken with some doctors about your condition and they believe that they may be able to help you."
"I-I don't believe you-what is this?!"
Enkidu smiled warmly, nothing but brotherly concern written across his face. "This, my friend, is an intervention."
