"You look very happy."
Hakuno looked up from the clay tablets as Enkidu walked into their room.
"Oh, how did you know?"
Enkidu shrugged. "You just look happier. Does that make sense?"
Hakuno had to laugh at Enkidu's confused expression. "Yes, it does. And yes, I am happy. I got to meet an old friend today. What about you? How was it, your first day alone with Gil?"
"I am not sure if I am judging it correctly, but I assumed it went well. We had a wrestling match in the guards training yard. I think both of us got a little too into it, as you would put it."
"Are you alright?" Hakuno looked Enkidu over with a critical eye and held out her hands. "Does anything hurt?"
Enkidu shook their head. "No, I am alright. We kept it clean this time, just did a lot of rounds. I heard the guards placing 'bets' while were wrestling. What does that mean?"
That did not surprise her. Anyone who was able to keep up with the King was bound to draw attention. She was about to tell Enkidu what a bet was when she heard a voice from the doorway.
"I have brought dinner!" Shub did not wait for the okay before walking in with a tray of food.
Enkidu looked at the girl in surprise and then at Hakuno. "I thought…"
"This was the person I was talking about." Hakuno took the tray of food from Shub and put it on the table. "Is it safe for you to be here though Shub? We are pretty close to the King's quarters."
"I was careful, and I took the slave passages." She grinned. "In case you forgot, I know how to be invisible when I want to be."
"How did you convince Paubi to let you come over here though?"
"I just told her you wanted to ask me a few questions about taking a few jobs in the palace."
"I think I am rubbing off on you." Hakuno shook her head. Realizing Enkidu was watching them curiously, she gestured for them to join the girls. "Enkidu, this is Shub. Shub, this is Enkidu."
"Oh, I remember you. Hakuno has spoken about you. You are her slave friend." Enkidu smiled. "I am glad you survived the bandits."
Shub seemed taken aback by Enkidu's demeanor. "Thank you for taking saving and helping Hakuno."
Enkidu shook their head. "No. Hakuno helped save me. She taught me so much of the world."
"She taught me much as well. I can read now and write a little bit thanks to her."
"Can we please change the subject?" Hakuno asked quickly. It was weird, having her friends praise her like this.
Shub giggled. "I have noticed you are never good with compliments." She sighed. "Anyway, I should get back to the kitchens before they worry that the King has spotted me."
"Be careful, please Shub."
Hakuno and Shub shared a hug. After a brief moment, Enkidu joined them, wrapping them both in their embrace.
"Who is upset right now?" asked Enkidu when they separated.
Shub gave Hakuno a funny look.
"People also hug when they had not seen each other in a long time," Hakuno said quickly. "I am still teaching them about the world," she explained to Shub.
"I can see that." Shub focused on Hakuno and seemed to be searching for something.
"What is it?"
"I just hope someday I can see your actual face soon. It is a bit unnerving knowing it is you, but you do not look like you."
"I hope someday I can show it too."
Enkidu was like a breath of fresh air.
Gilgamesh was amazed by Enkidu's view of the world. It wasn't just the beauty of Uruk but how Enkidu viewed and noticed the mundane such as the way the dust particles floated through the air.
Also, Enkidu did not seem like the type to bare a grudge. Even after Gilgamesh had left them in the room with the pond, the next day they were willing to wrestle. He thought, over time, Enkidu would crack, show a side that would reveal their true nature. But no. Enkidu seemed to just be a kind individual.
Kindness so deep that even the skittish of horses in the palace stables calmed in Enkidu's presence.
"I cannot believe it." Moumis, the stable master, said in awe as Enkidu gently stroked the muzzle of one of the Arabian horses. "Mili would not let any of the stable hands close to him."
Gilgamesh grinned. Of course, his friends would have amazing talents such as this. "Do you have an interest in horses?" he asked once Enkidu was finished talking to the skittish horse.
"I have not had any experience with them up close. Just oxen. And deer if those count."
"Well then, we need to change that." Gilgamesh gestured for one of the stable hands to come over. "Ready two horses so my friend and I can ride."
"Of course, right away my King."
As the boy scurried away, a flash of a memory crossed the King's mind. "You do not have problems with riding horses correct?"
"I do not have any opinions on the matter. I have never ridden before." They frowned. "Although I have to let Zaibu know where I am going. I do not want him to worry."
"Get one of the slaves to give the message," snapped Gilgamesh, in a harsher voice than he intended. Damn Zaibu. Always Enkidu worried about the slave. He had tried to ignore it but every now and then Enkidu would make a comment of "I have to tell Zaibu about this" or "Zaibu would like this".
Enkidu blinked slowly and nodded. "That is a good idea. Excuse me…" They walked up to another slave and passed on the message.
Once that was taken care of and the horses saddled up, Gilgamesh led the way out of the city and towards the Euphrates River. Despite this being their first time, after a quick explanation on how to control the horse, Enkidu was able to control their steed with ease.
"This is amazing!" Enkidu patted their horse on the flank. "I never thought an animal such as this could make traveling so much fun."
Gilgamesh grinned. "These horses can go much faster." He pointed to a rock further down the bank. "Let us race to that point. Then you can see the true power of these horses."
Enkidu smiled back. "I have never raced before but I assume this is where I say that I will not lose."
"And…go!" Gilgamesh tapped his feet against the horse's flank and leaned forward as the beast took off. He could feel the pounding of the hooves, the muscles rippling against his thighs, the wind ruffling his hair. A glance to the left and he saw Enkidu keeping pace with him.
A twinkle in his friend's eye as Enkidu's horse slowly pulled ahead.
What! Gilgamesh spurned his own horse. There was no way he was going to lose!
They crossed the rock that marked the finish line and Gilgamesh pulled on the reins to bring the horse to a stop. Who had won? He had not paid attention.
Enkidu patted their horse on the neck. "Good job," they whispered. "You did well." They looked up as Gilgamesh approached on his own horse. "I understand what you mean now. These horses can move very fast."
"They are not war horses for nothing," Gilgamesh said with a laugh.
"What are they building over there?"
Gilgamesh followed the line of Enkidu's finger to one of the stone ziggurats that were currently being constructed against the Euphrates. "It is one of my many temples."
"Temple…to which God?"
"To none of them. It is for me."
"For you?"
Gilgamesh looked away from Enkidu's questioning gaze. Why should he erect temples for Gods that do not help him? Why should he give something to the Gods that let her be taken from him?
His grip tightened on the reins and he pushed the thoughts and emotions that threatened to swell to the surface.
"I am sorry if I offended you my King. I am still much a child in the ways of man. I think I said something that caused you pain."
Gilgamesh's horse seemed to sense his unease as it fidgeted. He patted the neck to help the beast calm. "Come, let us ride a bit more before returning to the palace."
Hakuno crept down the hallway, the basket in hand, filled with tablets, her excuse for being in a place she was not allowed in. When the slave had come by to tell her that Gilgamesh and Enkidu were going out for a ride, she knew this was the perfect chance to check the divinatory library, near the King's quarters.
Besides the guards that patrolled the palace, Gilgamesh's personal guards would be shadowing the King, giving her a little more freedom of movement around the King's quarters.
She dropped her eyes and bowed without stopping to a couple of guards. Like always, the guards barely gave her a glance. Once the guards had turned the corner, she increased her pace until she reached the library.
She stepped inside and lit the lantern that was kept by the door.
From a quick glance it looked like the system her and Ekur had put together was still in place. Excellent. It would make finding what she needed much easier.
The slabs were organized in two sections. The left side had all the texts pertaining to reading the many types of divination while the right had the divination records. They were organized by date with ones older than one hundred years being put into the storage library. She found the divinations from the past couple of months and began quickly looking through them. Ekur's handwriting was messy, scrawly but he was meticulous in his notes, all with diagrams of what the reading had said.
Her stomach clenched as there were many in the month or so after the bandit attack. Ekur had not specified what the subject was but they were all regarding a fate of an individual and all the divinations had come up blank. No wonder they thought she was dead.
"You are not here for this…" Hakuno searched forward in time. A lot of the usual divinations Ekur did about the crops, the people, and the kingdom as a whole. The kingdom one she did note, had a negative divination. "A trial that must be overcome. A visitor will change things in either direction."
Could that be referring to Enkidu?
"Here we go." Hakuno carefully pulled out the divination text. A sketch of a liver was in the center of the tablet, a hole in the upper left corner and lower right. "Unknown to what this means. Texts say consult the Gods. Previous appearances refer to massive changes within the kingdom." Ekur had also done oil and water readings and seemed to have gotten the same results. That probably explained why he was not here right now.
She bit her lip. She thought this would help her figure out when Ekur would return but depending on the number of temples Ekur went to, it could be months before he returned!
"So much for that plan…" She put the divination text back and retreated from the room.
Hopefully Shub could get her that list of all the slaves in the palace soon. That was the only lead she had left.
She stopped in front of Enkidu's room and glanced down the hall. Her room was down there. It had beckoned her ever since they got to the palace, but she did not think to go in, she could not go in. However, the hallway was deserted right now, a rare sight in the palace. A moment where no one was in sight…
She dropped the basket of tablets by the door and before she could change her mind, stopped before the room that was hers. The curtain that hung in the doorway was hers. Bright red inlaid with gold embroidery. One of the coronation presents from Gilgamesh.
Before her nerves could escape she pushed the curtain aside and stepped into the space that used to be hers.
She was taken aback by how dark it was in here. Curtains covered the small windows, the only light seeping through the doorway behind her. Thankfully the light was enough that she could see where everything was. Not like she needed it.
Nothing seemed to have been moved. The table still had pieces of parchments and a few tablets. A layer of dust clung to her finger. A quick check of the chests and bed told her much of the same.
It was like a tomb in here.
Her eye caught on something sitting on the small table by the window. A gasp escaped her mouth and with trembling hands she picked up her Queen's amulets. The chain was broken in the back and it seemed to be rusted in places.
Her stomach churned as she realized it was not rust but blood. Her blood.
"What are you doing in here!?" snarled a voice from behind her.
The amulets clanged against the stone floor as Hakuno slowly turned to face Gilgamesh's furious stare.
Why was this damn slave in here!?
He had thought he was seeing things. The two of them had returned with the thrill of the rides still within them. Gilgamesh had chosen to walk back with Enkidu in order to continue the conversation about horses when he thought he saw a shadow of someone walking into her room.
Of course, he did not believe it at first. It was off limits. Everyone knew that. Everyone except Enkidu's damn slave.
The same slave that stared at him with wide-eyed terror.
Not like he cared what this slave thought.
"Why are you in here!?" Gilgamesh moved from the doorway and into the room for the first time in months.
"It, I…" The slave looked around. "It is not what it seems like. I-" The slave took a step back and stumbled.
The king curled his hand into a fist. "How dare you come in here. How dare you violate this sanctuary!" He raised his fist, ready to beat some sense into this slave when a firm grasp grabbed his wrist.
Gilgamesh turned. How dare anyone lay a hand on the King!
Enkidu looked back at him unflinching. Their eyes were no longer kind. Hard with a hint of anger, they did not break Gilgamesh's gaze.
"We may wrestle whenever you like and you may hit me with all of your strength but you will not lay a hand on her. You will regret it much more than I."
Gilgamesh yanked his arm from Enkidu and took a step back. "This slave is not allowed here! No one is allowed here."
Enkidu seemed to ignore Gilgamesh's words and crouched in front of the trembling slave. "Are you alright?" they asked in a soft voice.
No response from the slave, just a quivering, sniveling creature.
Enkidu picked up the slave bridal style and turned to Gilgamesh with those hard eyes as if tempting Gilgamesh to strike. The King curled his hands into fists but did not move as Enkidu walked past him and out of the room.
The curtain swished shut and Gilgamesh released the breath he did not know he was holding. His fingers ached and his palms were slick with his own blood. He should get his guards. He should have Enkidu and that slave removed from the palace. They should be removed for doing what they did in his palace!
Instead, he picked up her fallen amulets like they were priceless treasures. Clutching it to his chest he sunk to the floor, his back against her bed. The dust in the room tickled his nose but he sat there, clutching the last thing that touched her.
He did not even dwell on the fact that Enkidu had referred to his boy slave as a "her".
"Hakuno, are you alright? Please tell me you are alright." Enkidu set her down on the bed and kneeled in front of her, their eyes scanning her face. "He did not do anything to you right? He did not hurt you right? I thought I got there in time but…"
Hakuno rubbed her eyes but the tears just would not stop forming. "No. You got there in time." She was stupid. So stupid! What did she expect to find in her old room? Nothing that would help her in her current quest. Instead she found her own tomb in a way.
"He was so angry and he had every right to be." She pulled her knees to her chest. "I am not me right now." She looked down at her hands. Not her own hands but boy hands. "I was a stranger looking around a room that was not my own.
"He had every right to be angry." She shivered. "I just…I have never seen that kind of anger directed at me. And I know if he knew it was me, he would not have spoken to me like that."
Enkidu wrapped their arms around her.
Hakuno clutched their tunic as she buried her face into their chest, the tears free-flowing. "Why did I think this was a good idea? He's hurting. He is hurting so much and I am right here but he is still suffering."
"I do not know what to say." Enkidu rubbed her back in lazy circles. "But from what I understand you are doing all of this for him. You are doing this to protect him in the long run. To help him in a way only you can right now."
They put a hand under Hakuno's chin and made her look up at them. "Whatever choice you make, I will always support it."
A fresh wave of tears rolled up and Hakuno again buried her face into Enkidu's chest. "Thank you. Thank you, Enkidu."
Gilgamesh took a deep breath and pushed the curtain aside. "Enkidu. May I speak…" He trailed off as he saw Enkidu sitting on the bed with their feet dangling off. The slave boy was curled against them, his head resting on Enkidu's head. Fast asleep.
Enkidu put a finger to their lips while their other hand gently stroked the slave boy's brown hair.
Gilgamesh looked to the table and saw a few tablets lying there. Huh, did Enkidu enjoy reading? "Is…is the boy alright?"
"Alright as he can be based on the circumstances." Enkidu's voice was barely above a whisper.
Gilgamesh grimaced. Damn it. He hated this feeling. He was a King, he should not feel this! Damn it. "That room was my Queen's. It was her room. Everything in there belongs to her." Belongs. Present tense. It was still hers. No matter what. Always hers.
Enkidu nodded. "I know. I understand. Zaibu understands."
"A King usually has his Queen and concubines but it was her, it was always just her." He smiled without any happiness in it. "I just did not know it until I met her. And I think she will be the only one. Even if she is not here. My Queen that was too smart for her own good."
Enkidu blinked slowly and seemed to mull over the words. They looked down at the sleeping slave and then up to Gilgamesh. "I will not say I truly understand that feeling but I assume it is similar to how I think of Zaibu. Zaibu is the most important person to me. He taught me much and I will do anything for him."
They met Gilgamesh's eyes and he could see kinship in them. Despite Zaibu being alive it was like Enkidu could understand the emotions behind Gilgamesh's words.
"I would like to hear more about your Queen if you are willing to tell me," Enkidu said softly.
"Maybe one day," replied Gilgamesh.
"One day."