For the first time in a month, Hakuno awoke to an empty bed. She blinked slowly and stared at the spot next to her, not really believing it. Ever since her coronation, which occurred the day that he asked her to be his Queen (he did not want to wait any longer apparently) he was in her room every night. Thankfully a few of the nights she actually got some sleep as he was content with just sleeping next to her.

She thought there would be backlash against Gilgamesh for making her the Queen but unlike the nobles, who were a little leery, the people adored her. Despite her new position she still did not have much to do besides her usual duties of helping Ekur. She had been allowed to sit on Gilgamesh's audiences with the people every now and then. On those days the line seemed to go out the door and Gilgamesh had started complaining that they were coming to see her more than to see him.

She slipped out of bed and grabbed a fresh dress from her chest and slipped it on. Now clothed, she located her dress from yesterday and clicked her tongue when she saw the tear in the back. Gilgamesh just had to be rough didn't he?

"Breakfast!" Shub's voice was loud and cheerful as she entered Hakuno's bedroom with a tray in hand.

Gilgamesh had insistence for Hakuno to move into his room but she refused. Having her own space made it easier for her to work on text translations. Even if she was Queen, she was the only one able to translate the texts. She was not going to let that knowledge go to waste. After that conversation, Gilgamesh just kept visiting her every night. At this point, he was pretty much living in her room.

Shub set the tray with breakfast on the small clean corner of the table. "Did he ruin another one?" She held out a hand. "Give it here."

Hakuno clutched the dress to her chest. "No, it's alright. I'll take care of it."

Shub blinked slowly. "You do know that you cannot hide it? I'm sure everyone is quite aware of what was happening last night."

Hakuno groaned and shut her eyes. "Please do not remind me." Since she was Queen, there was always guards posted outside her door and when Gilgamesh was here, his guards were here as well. He might be used to everyone knowing his business, but she was nowhere near that point.

"I'll sew it right now while you have breakfast." Shub pulled a needle and thread from a pocket of her dress.

Hakuno sighed and surrendered the dress while she sat at the table and ate breakfast.

"Why, the King was very frisky last night."

Hakuno's face burned. "I need to stop teaching you new words," she grumbled. Louder she asked, "Where is Gil anyway?"

"I saw him go into the council room with Paebal earlier this morning. Hurriya-she's one of the kitchen slaves- served them breakfast and apparently it is very tense in that room."

Hakuno frowned. What was Gilgamesh doing with the captain of Uruk's soldiers? And why was she not at this apparently important meeting? She hated to think it, but it was times like this where she wondered if she would be better off as a concubine if he was not going to include her in the meetings she should be a part of.

Shub coughed. "Uh oh, the King's in trouble isn't he?"

Hakuno finished the last of her breakfast and put down the bowl. "Just a bit. I assume Ekur is in this meeting as well?"

Shub shook her head. "I am not sure."

"Well if he isn't and he comes here looking for me, these translations are the ones he's waiting on." Hakuno pointed to the finished pile on the table.

Shub nodded. "Oh wait! Don't forget your necklace!"

Hakuno stopped halfway out the door, turned on her heel and grabbed her amulet from the edge of the bed. Usually Queens were adorned with jewelry, but she felt incredibly uncomfortable. If it was an important event, sure, she would dress up, otherwise just the amulet stating her Queen status would be enough.

Now, time to find a certain King…

Gilgamesh let out a long sigh and rolled his shoulders. These kinds of meetings were so long and tedious. And to make matters worse, they were only on break for a short period of time! While Paebal and the others had lunch in the council room, Gilgamesh retreated into his own to have lunch in peace. Normally he would have gone to Hakuno's room but his Queen would be Gods know where at this time. By the time he located her, it would most likely be time for him to go back to that infernal meeting.

He sat on his bed and ran his fingers through his hair. Where was the damn slave with his lunch? If it was going to take this long he would have just waited-

He jumped to his feet when he realized there was someone else in the room with him. "Ha…Hakuno!?" He coughed and took a deep breath and tried to slow down the sudden increase of his heart. He grinned. "You could not wait until tonight so you came to my room?"

Hakuno raised an eyebrow but she didn't move from the table. Instead she plucked another grape from his lunch (huh, guess the slave was pretty fast with it after all) and ate it slowly.

Ugh. She was mad about something again wasn't she? Apparently it was worse than the time he was wrestling with the soldiers and then tracked mud throughout one of the libraries. He didn't know her voice could get that loud.

"What is going on Gil? What is this war council about?"

It was related to that? He took the seat opposite of her and pulled the plate of food towards him. "It's a meeting to figure out what to do about Nippur. Options are currently being weighed and most likely we will go to war with them and crush them." He eyed Hakuno. Attempts on his life he could sometimes let slide but not something that targeted her. He never told her but she had looked haggard for days after her prana or whatever was restored.

"Is that all?"

Gilgamesh thought about lying to her but dismissed it. She would find out soon enough. "Suse sent an envoy and they want to open up trade communications again."

"Suse…" She thought about it for a moment. "That is to the east of us, past the Tigris River correct?"

Like always her memory was impressive. He nodded. "Yes. During my grandfather's rule, there was a falling out between the two kingdoms. It seems like the bad blood has died down and they want to establish communication again."

"So it is more of a matter of going to war with Nippur or negotiating with Suse. Are you to travel there?"

"An envoy came by last night. He said his piece this morning and he would escort me to Suse. He's currently in a guest room under guard until I figure out how to-"

"Gil, am I your Queen or concubine?"

He stared at her. "You're my Queen of course! There was a coronation and everything!"

She let out a long sigh. "Well, if I am your Queen, shouldn't I be involved in these sorts of conversations?"

He opened his mouth to protest the thought but then remembered Ekur pointing out the exact same thing when he arrived for the meeting this morning without Hakuno by his side. Damn that baru.

"I know you are used to taking care of all of this on your own but I'm here now, I'm your Queen." Hakuno reached out and clasped his hands into her own. "I will not argue with you about Nippur. I know, there is no point in bringing that up. However, if you do wish to go to war with Nippur, fine do it. Let me take care of Suse then. Let me travel there and negotiate if that is the best course of action. I know we need trade routes and with Nippur being closed off we need a replacement."

Gilgamesh barely heard the rest of her words. Let her go? Of course that was a duty of a Queen. She was a proxy for him, she could lead negotiations while he focused on the war. However, that would mean she would need to be out there. Who knows what would happen to her in that time? Gilgamesh was not the type of person to care about other humans but he wanted to throw her into his vault of treasures to keep her safe if he could.

"Gil." She stared him in the eyes. "I am your Queen. Let me be your Queen."

He gritted his teeth. He knew she would not let this go. And once Ekur caught wind of this, the baru would not be silent about it either. She was his Queen. This was a part of her duty. And yet…

"Nothing has been decided." He stood. "I-we should go to the council room and continue with the discussion."

She stood, those eyes of her eyes sparkling with a different light than he was used to. "Yes. Let's."

Gilgamesh did not care too much about travel preparations, but he would be damned if he sent his Queen off without making sure every precaution was taken.

The meeting from a couple days ago ended the way Hakuno had predicted. While Gilgamesh led the army to the north to crush Nippur, his Queen would travel to the east and negotiate with Suse's King and Queen.

He made one final check of the caravan that would take his Queen to her destination. He had spared as many guards and soldiers as he could. Hakuno's personal slave was loading the last of the luggage, which appeared to be a bunch of tablets. Was she really going to translate texts on the way? Why was he so surprised that she would do something like that? She would bring the whole damn library if she could.

"My King, we are all set," said Ishne, after completing his check of the caravan. Made from the finest of treated wood, it should be able to withstand most of the elements and the oxen pulling the cart were of the best quality. If Gilgamesh wasn't planning on crushing Nippur, he would have sent Ishne along as well.

Hakuno patted an ox on the head as she approached him. She was dressed in a simple dress, a far cry from her actual status as Queen. "I really wish we did not need all of this fanfare." She glanced at the flags that adorned the caravan.

"You are my Queen." Gilgamesh wrapped his arms around her and kissed away any other protests she might have.

Her face was bright red when he finally released her.

"Gil please." She eyed the guards and slaves, who were all, conspicuously, finding interest in things around them. "I really wish you would not do this in public like this…"

"I will do whatever I want where I please," he huffed. "I am not going to see you in so long, let me indulge."

"You did a lot of that last night," she murmured. She sighed and embraced him. "Do not get into trouble when I am gone please. Do not get injuries that require my power."

"Do not worry, I am King, I will be fine!" He sighed when he saw the expression on his face. "I will be careful. The campaign will be long over by the time you return. Please use the runners I have given you. Keep Ekur updated."

"Oh I will be. Since I will be translating texts, I will be sending them back with updates." She smiled and caressed his cheek. "Do not look at me like that. I will not forget to send you updates as well."

"You better." He grasped her hand in his own.

"I should go while the light is still strong," she whispered.

Gilgamesh nodded and released her hand. "Go on then. And return to me."

"Of course," she promised. "I will always come back to you."

It took every ounce of willpower to not drag her off the caravan and keep her by his side. He did not move from the courtyard until the caravan was out of sight.

"I am proud of you, my King, I thought for sure you would be running after her," Ekur chuckled, a twinkle in an eye.

"She will be fine. I sent the finest guards to go with her." He did not know if he was saying it more for himself rather than her. "You will be taking care of things here while I am gone?"

Ekur nodded. "Of course my King."

Gilgamesh headed for his room to get his armor and weapons. He had a kingdom to crush.

Hakuno groaned as the caravan jolted and her pen flew off the page, leaving a smudged trail of ink behind. For the love of Ishtar, this was the fourth time she had ruined this page.

"Giving up?" asked Shub when she noticed Hakuno putting away the quill and papyrus.

"We're on too rugged ground, I cannot write straight enough. I can barely read my own handwriting."

Shub peered out of their cart. Hakuno got a glimpse of the trees and forest beyond before Shub pulled the curtain back, having finished asking her question to the nearest guard. "We will be out of the forest soon."

Well that was good. When they had first entered the trees and slightly mountainous terrain, Hakuno had found it interesting enough she had taken many samples of the local flora. However, they had almost been traveling through it for a week now and many a times they had to take long detours as the oxen could not pull the caravan through. She had suggested they go on foot but everyone had vetoed her idea.

Being the Queen could be so hard sometimes.

It also did not help she was getting very bored just sitting in the caravan. Back when she was living on the traveling caravan, the times on the road would be spent preparing wares, mending clothes and just getting work done that would not get done otherwise. As a Queen, she did not have any of that to do and there was just so many texts she could translate before going insane. And even now, text translations were too difficult.

A yell came from outside and a horse screamed.

Hakuno and Shub exchanged wide-eyes looks as an arrow pierced through the curtain, almost slicing through Shub's arm.

"Bandits!" yelled one of the guards.

Noise erupted from outside. Hakuno scrambled towards the curtain to peer out when Shub yanked her back.

"Hakuno, you must not go out there! Remember who you are!"

Hakuno clutched her Queen amulets and gritted her teeth. That was true. She was Queen. She could not go out there for her own safety. You will only get in the way if you go out there. Her guards were some of Gilgamesh's finest. They were trained for this. However, the cries of battle made her nails into her palms. How much healing would she need to do afterwards? Please let all of them be safe.

The curtain was suddenly pushed aside a human in all black peered into the cart. Shub let out a scream and Hakuno grabbed the nearest tablet, ready to club him with it.

The man's eyes widen in glee and if his mouth was exposed, Hakuno was sure he would have a wide grin. However, before he could climb in, a sword buried into his shoulder. The body was yanked out and one of her guards peered into the cart. His expression showed relief when he saw Hakuno unharmed.

"My Queen, it is not safe for you here. They are targeting the cart. They know you are here."

She thought as much. She knew they should have made it as inconspicuous as possible but, of course, Gilgamesh needed to "flaunt" her.

"Is there a blind spot?"

The guard nodded. "The back of the cart faces the forest. From the scouting mission, there is dense foliage you can hide in."

Hakuno nodded. Of course, they had discussed escaped strategies in case something like this happened. She looked at Shub, who grabbed one of Hakuno's expensive shawls from a chest and put it around her, careful to cover her slave tattoo.

"Please be careful."

"My life is not worth it if you die. Go." Shub pushed Hakuno's back.

The guard had taken up position in front of the cart, as if to draw the bandits attention while Hakuno slipped out of the back. Her nails dug into her palms as she moved away as quietly as she could. She did not look back, did not check to see if anyone was following. She might not have the nerve to leave her people then.

Once far enough, that the sounds of battle required her to pay attention to even hear it slightly, she hunkered down next to a fallen log, near a large bush with beautiful small purple flowers. In any other situation she would have spent some time looking at the flowers and wondering what kind of plant it was but her attention was in the direction of the battle.

Please Gula, Ishtar, Sin, anyone. Please. Hear my prayers and make sure they are alright.

A branch snapped.

Hakuno froze and she turned to the left to see a bandit looking right at her. It seemed like they were as surprised to see her as she was them.

Her years in the traveling caravan kicked in as she got to her feet in one smooth motion and began running.

A shout from behind but Hakuno did not stop to look.

She needed to get away. She did not come this far to die now!

Bush branches grabbed at her dress while the trees grasped her hair and arms. An arrow whizzed by her ear and she ran faster.

Need to hide, need to hide.

She jumped over a fallen log and almost tripped on the landing. This was bad. She did not know this terrain at all.

A quick look back.

She regretted it as the forest had many eyes trailed on her. Her foot met air, and a scream tore out of her as she tumbled down a steep hill.

Pain erupted through her body. Sharp rocks tore against her skin, the cracking of a few bones loud in her ears. A snap and her chest felt lighter, the jingling of her amulets gone. She landed on her back, the wind rushed out of her in fear. She wheezed, trying to bring the breath back to her as her vision flickered in and out.

The bandits seemed to appear out of nowhere, all looking at her with twisted expressions-or was that her own mind at work?

She needed to stay awake. She couldn't fall asleep here! But it hurt so much, the pain was too great. Before her vision faded completely, she thought she saw something drop out of the trees. Something that seemed to scare the bandits…

Gilgamesh rode into the kingdom with his head held high. A grin on his face, he led his soldiers through the city of Uruk and his citizens cheered at the return of their King.

Nippur was nothing. The kingdom had not recovered from the previous war so it was easy to crush them. Unfortunately, Nippur's rulers had fled the palace and gone to Gods know where but that did not matter to Gilgamesh. Nippur was officially now territory of Uruk.

Of course, now the real work began of getting laws and taxes in place but that was a problem for another day. Tonight he wanted to feast and his soldiers get the celebration then deserved!

Reaching the palace, he spotted Ekur waiting for him in a side hallway. Grinning, Gilgaesh jumped off his horse, handed the reins to the nearest guard and hurried over to the baru.

"Did you really doubt me?" he said with a laugh. "You were so worried when I left, talking about ill omens and all." His face turned to one of disgust as he noticed Urash next to the baru, with clay tablets in hand. His slave brand was embedded in his left cheek. Gilgamesh had wanted the boy killed but Hakuno and Ekur had convinced him to have the apprentice demoted to slave. Apparently he knew about "magus" matters.

"My King," said Ekur slowly. "We need to speak."

"Why do you look so upset?" Gilgamesh spread out his hands. "I have defeated Nippur, tonight is one of celebration!" If only Hakuno could be here for this but she was probably close or in Suse right now.

"Urash, leave us for now. Let me take care of this," Ekur said quietly.

Urash looked at Ekur with wide eyes, and then at Gilgamesh. He nodded and scurried away. Huh, Gilgamesh had to admit, the mongrel did scurry like a slave should.

"Please do not tell me you got another bad liver reading," Gilgamesh sighed. He wanted to be celebrating right now, not listening to divinations!

"My King…" Ekur reached into his robes and pulled out something metal. A necklace?

"Ekur what…" Gilgamesh stared at the amulets on the necklace. The ends were broken, like it was hit with a massive force. The metal was tarnished, and there seemed to be rust on it in a few places. Not rust, he realized a moment later. Blood.

His hands shook as he took the necklace from Ekur and examined it. Once. Twice. A third time. "Where did you get this…?" He knew this necklace. He had put it on her neck when she was coronated. This was the necklace she wore to show her status.

"A runner came back a few days ago," Ekur said quietly.

Gilgamesh listened in horror as Ekur explained that the caravan had been attacked by bandits. How his Queen had fled to avoid capture. Many in the caravan had perished but a few of the soldiers as well as Hakuno's personal slave had survived and was able to repel the attack. The plan was to have Hakuno wait nearby, until the coast clear. She had been found and chased. The necklace found at the bottom of a rocky hill, surrounded by carcasses of bandits.

"The bandits were torn apart, the report said. As if by wild animals. It…it was hard to tell which body part belonged to which body. There were a few women in the bandits."

"What are you saying?" Gilgamesh looked at Ekur and then at the necklace.

"My King, I tried to do a reading on her. The Gods were silent."

"No. No." The necklace dropped from his hands, the sound of clanging metal on the ground, loud to his ears. "No! She is my Queen! She was supposed to come back to me. She promised she would come back to me! She promised me!"

"My King."

Gilgamesh moved away from the baru. A trick, it had to be a trick. There was nothing else it could be. He was lying. Ekur was lying.

One does not make promises to Kings that they cannot keep.