A: N/ Surprise! Double-chapter upload! Felt that the third chapter was too short! So, here you go!
Aria had to admit that the palace was beautiful standing out in the bright, glorious sunlight. The long, steep stairs that led to the entrance was what she could do without though. "Ha. At least I found one insult." Aria thought, with a grim smile.
The room that she was assigned in was extravagantly open and bright. Her balconies overlooked the best scenery and was spacious and not closed off. Her bed was as comfy as feathers and soft to her touch. Her wardrobe consisted of varieties of colors, which mostly stayed in the red and gold family. As of now, she wore a dusty rose-colored dress that matched the one desert flower that adorned the right part of her hair. It was a beautiful place, but with an irritated sigh, Aria faced the one person she couldn't stand in this place.
Gilgamesh was leaning on her door frame with crossed arms complete with an arrogant smile and a mischievous glint in those red orbs.
Why did she ever agree to this?
She acknowledged him with one snide look and she resumed her position of enjoying the breeze on the balcony with her right arm on the banister and her head placed on her hand, admiring the view.
She heard loud footsteps from behind her and didn't bother to look at Gilgamesh when he stood next to her, leaning towards her as he stared at her side profile.
"Yes, may I help you?" She asked, in a sarcastic sickening sweet tone, turning her head towards the intruded of her room.
"I am just checking to see if you're enjoying your first day, my dear Aria." Gilgamesh answered back, with a charming smile. Aria rolled her eyes.
"I'm fine. You can leave now." Aria responded, curtly. Gilgamesh tilted his head, slightly, in amusement.
Aria finally decided to look at Gilgamesh, glaringly. With a smug laugh, Gilgamesh began to take his leave.
As soon as she heard him leave, Aria groaned, inwardly. What was she doing here?!
Yesterday… (Flashback)
Aria felt her right eye twitching in slight annoyance as she watched King Gilgamesh walk in circles around her as if analyzing her.
The Golden Throne Room seemed bigger with no one but the King, Enkidu, and her inside. Enkidu was standing in front of her with a slight smile on his face.
"I did not agree to be analyzed like I'm a piece of meat, Enkidu." Aria hissed, her patience wearing thin.
Enkidu just placed his index finger on his lips in a motion for her to be quiet. Aria began to open her mouth in protest, but was hushed by Gilgamesh's sudden hand grabbing her chin.
Bringing her face closer to him, Gilgamesh hummed his approval. Aria, annoyed, pushed his hand away.
"Are you done?" She asked, impatiently. Gilgamesh gave a soft chuckle and with a wave of his hand, "Yeah, you can stay. I just wanted to see you annoyed. You're beautiful when you're flushed with anger."
That man was infuriating. Aria sighed, the sooner she proves his injust actions, the sooner she can go back to the heavens. All of a sudden, a loud commotion was happening down in the common marketplace. Crowds of people began to gather and angry yells were deafening to the ears. Aria caught a glimpse of a woman with torn clothing in the middle. Alarmed, Aria ran down to the Golden Throne Room where Gilgamesh sat with his pet lion and lioness on his lap. Enkidu was busy flirting with the skimpily dressed consorts. The room was filled with writers, accountants, and scientists busy doing their trade work and filling out pieces of paper in research. They all looked up at the arrival of such a beautiful woman. Surprised, Aria realized that the king of Uruk was never alone. Shaking off her surprise, Aria realized that Gilgamesh was staring at her, curiously, and Enkidu was gaping at her.
Oh, she forgot she wasn't supposed to be in sight yet. Aria placed the heel of her right hand on her forehead in realization. Recovering quickly and with a light "ahem", the room suddenly turned quiet.
"King Gilgamesh, there is a fight starting in the marketplace." Aria announced, formally, with her head held high.
With a sharp nod, Gilgamesh stood up, quickly, and made his way towards Aria. Grabbing her arm, he steered her outside. Enkidu met Gilgamesh's eyes and they both nodded with some passing understanding with each other.
Letting go of Aria's arm, Gilgamesh turned to face her. He gave her a quick wink and a daring smile and took off quickly towards the marketplace.
Confused, Aria turned to her brother, who in turn, held his sister's arm, gently, and steered her away from the group of people following their king's direction.
Once the group of people was far off, Enkidu pulled Aria, gently, towards the marketplace.
"You will now see how things work around here, Aria, it's up to you, no one else, me, or even the gods, to decide if it's justice or not." Enkidu informed his sister.
Eyes wide open, Aria arrived at the marketplace ready to see the King of Uruk in action.
Gilgamesh stood in front of the angry mob as two guards held a battered, ragged woman in front of him, who was kneeling in a begging position.
"Please, my lord, I know that the law says my son has to serve in your army when he comes of age, but he has been born with no use of his legs! This is why I hid him away! Please understand!" The woman begged, loudly, over the angry yells of the mob that had beaten her.
Aria observed Gilgamesh's face, calmly. Gilgamesh faced the woman with a concentrated face and seemed to have heard her pleas. He held up a hand to quiet down the mob. It was quiet and everyone strained to listen to what their king had to say.
"How many of you have a son as an only child?" Gilgamesh questioned the crowd, loudly. A couple of people said, "Aye!" in response. Acknowledging the answers with a nod, Gilgamesh questioned again, "How many of you are willing to risk your life for your only son?" The same people said, "Aye!" proudly.
Raising an eyebrow, Gilgamesh asked once more, "Even if it were to break the law?" Proudly, a little bit hesitantly, the same people still said, "Aye!"
Nodding his head, Gilgamesh placed his hands behind his back and began to pace slowly while looking at the ground.
"You all have just committed a crime against the law." Gilgamesh said, curtly. Horrified gasps were heard in the mob.
"But, my king, we didn't hide our son and break the law! This woman did!" One of the people, who has a son as their only child, cried out.
Gilgamesh acknowledged this answer with a low hum, "Yes, but you all have just admitted that you would've done the same thing she has done, did you not? If your son was crippled, you wouldn't do the same thing?"
The silence of the people gave away their ashamed and embarrassed answers.
"My goal as king is to lead my kingdom into an age of enlightenment! Not to kill someone over not understanding the cruelty of what it is like to have a son who cannot walk and proudly join my army at my side. It is punishment enough for him to not be able to stand by his king." Gilgamesh announced, loudly, to the people.
As the people lamented over this, Gilgamesh ordered the two guards to let the woman go. The woman bowed down, her head touching the ground, in front of Gilgamesh, in gratitude.
"Go attend to your son now, woman, and tell him about how the great King Gilgamesh saved his life." Gilgamesh ordered, softly. The woman got up and nodded and ran off.
Mumbling, the angry, now placid and sheepish, group dissolved, leaving the king and his two companions standing there.
Enkidu gave a proud pat on his friend's back while Gilgamesh returned it with a slight smirk on his face.
Turning to Aria, Gilgamesh smirk grew as he noticed her unusual pale face. "Are you okay, my dear?" He asked, smugly.
Aria stared at Gilgamesh and Enkidu with mere confusion written on her face.
"…If you please excuse me, I'm suddenly not feeling well." Aria finally said, softly. Casting a worried glance at his sister, Enkidu offered to walk beside her and she just gave a slight nod.
As Aria passed Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh gently grabbed her arm, "Tell the gods of what "injustice" I have caused today. Let's see what their ridiculous notions will convince you of this time." He whispered, heatedly, in her ear.
Aria shivered as soon as he let her go.
"Also, your punishment for revealing yourself will not go unnoticed, Aria." Gilgamesh smirked as he finished his statement. He turned to the walk into the marketplace to be praised for his wisdom by his people.
As Enkidu walked her back, Aria turned to look at Gilgamesh's proud, kingly stature.
What a complex, infuriating being he really was.