Gilgamesh woke and was confused why his bed was so lumpy and crowded. Fast asleep, next to him was his Queen, in the body of a boy. Incredibly confusing as Enkidu saw her as a woman but it was still her. As he sat up, he saw Enkidu was also awake. It had surprised him to find out that they slept in the same bed with their backs to each other. With anyone else, he would have been furious for someone sleeping next to Queen but with Enkidu it was different. Perhaps it was the friendship they shared and the trust he had in them, but he knew there was nothing more to their relationship.
He gestured for the ur-sal to follow him and both carefully got out of bed, to not disturb Hakuno.
It was still early so the palace was quiet, the gardens devoid of any slaves. His guard waited by the entrance, their back to the gardens to get a semblance of privacy.
"What is it Gil?" asked Enkidu.
Gilgamesh kneeled before Enkidu without a word and pressed Enkidu's hand to his forehead.
"Gil, my King, what are you doing!?" Enkidu's voice had a hint of panic in it.
"You brought her back to me. You protect her all this time. You healed her and stood by her side. You protected her even against me. I am in your debt Enkidu."
"Gil please." They pulled their hand out of Gilgamesh's grasp and helped the King to his feet. "We are friends and as she has taught me, friends care for each other. In a way, I have to thank you. If you had never accepted her as your Queen, if you had never let her go, I would have been unable to meet her and in turn never have met you."
"That Queen of mine." Gilgamesh had to shake his head. "I want to lock her away with my treasures sometimes."
Enkidu chuckled. "I do not think she would like that very much."
"She would probably escape from there and then chastise me for it," he grumbled. He gestured to the bench. "That is where it all started. I met her here, in these gardens."
"Oh, so this is when she kicked you." Enkidu's eyes twinkled with mischief as they sat down on the bench.
"Remove that memory from your mind right now." Gilgamesh sat down next to Enkidu and crossed his arms.
Enkidu laughed. "I refuse. It is a precious memory for both of you-well a more painful one for you."
Comfortable silence descended upon them. The morning orange light washed over the gardens.
"I have been meaning to ask," spoke up Gilgamesh.
"Yes Gil?"
"Why do you always wear that?" He eyed the oversized white clothing Enkidu wore. "I have given you so many clothes but you always wear that thing the most."
Enkidu smiled and gently touched a sleeve. "This was the first real clothing I have ever had. Hakuno made it for me. It is precious. Although she has been commenting on it as well, saying I should change to something else. I mean, I allow it time to get cleaned so I do not see the problem." They frowned.
A flare of jealously sparked in the King. Hakuno never made him clothes! He would demand her to make him some!
"Well I will have to give you something to!" He grabbed the fabric that was slung over his shoulder and pulled it off. "Here."
"I cannot take this," Enkidu said in surprise.
"Nonsense, I have plenty more. My Queen should not be the only one you wear the clothes of!"
Enkidu blinked slowly and laughed again. "Yes, I can see the childish nature in you."
"Now you better not start as well. I get it enough from her."
Enkidu slung it over their shoulder. The fabric was a simple pattern, white that transitioned to black on the bottom with gold and white designs. It did not contrast too badly with his oversized white tunic although he was sure Enkidu did not care about that.
"Oh there you two are." Hakuno hurried over. "I woke up and both of you were missing."
"I am sorry for scaring you." Enkidu got up and gestured for her to take their spot on the bench.
She shook her head. "I got an idea on what to do about…this." She gestured to her male form.
Gilgamesh perked up. Anything to get his Queen back to who she was. "I knew you would come up with something. Let us hear it."
"Well, first we are going to need Ekur what is going on."
Oh Gods. He was not looking forward to that conversation.
Gilgamesh was exhausted.
His knees ached from having to kneel on stone and his head ached from the sounds of music and the crowds, but he knew it was almost over. For the past week he had been going around to all the temples in the city. Before each one he prostrated himself, begging forgiveness from the Gods for his wicked actions and deeds. Marduk, Ishtar, Sin, Shamush, Dumuzi, the list went on and on. He even had to go to the small temples for Gods he had not even heard of!
Today was the last one though. The temple of Gula. The goddess's temple had two dog statues out front, both in the process of mid howl. The head priestess of the temple stood at the entrance, her clothing covered in the dog motif from the embroidery work to the headpiece.
The King stepped into the chalk drawn ritual circle and the priestess wafted incense around him. He scrunched up his nose and resisted the urge to sneeze. That was another part of him exhausted. His sense of smell. Why did everything have to involve that blasted stuff?
The incense complete, the priestess stepped back. Gilgamesh turned and faced the crowd of onlookers, the people of his kingdom. With every temple he visited, the crowd had grown. From the raised platform he could see the crowd pushed deep into the streets. The biggest turnout yet.
Near the front were the nobles and his advisors. Ekur was in the front, his arms crossed into his robes. He had given them an earful and then some after finding out the truth. However, once his temper had calmed, he had agreed with Hakuno's plan and helped set this all up.
Gilgamesh just wished it did not involve so much kneeling.
The King turned away from the crowd and settled on his knees, his head touching the stone, warmed by the sun. It was very hot today and he could already feel the sweat dripping from his back but he did not move. This was the most important one of them all. He had to make it seem like this was the truth.
His bones ached and his body protested but he did not move. The sun was merciless and he wondered if he would end up as a dried husk in front of this temple.
And then the howl came from inside of the temple.
Gilgamesh sat up but stayed on his knees, his head bowed.
The howl again. A piercing sound, like that of the wild wolves. Even though he knew it was Enkidu, it sent a shiver down Gilgamesh's spine. It was magical in a way, the unnatural sound of something real but yet not.
A collective gasp came from the crowd behind him. He finally lifted his head and saw his Queen walk out of the temple. She was in full Queen regalia, the jewels and clothing of her status mixed with the symbols and design of Gula. Her hair was short, it barely reached her shoulders but other than that it was her. It was the woman he knew with those damn curious eyes of hers.
She stopped before him and held out her hands. "Arise my King."
He took her hands and stood, his aching knees and head forgotten for now.
He turned to look at the crowd, to look at his people. Behind them, he knew Enkidu was sneaking back to the palace from the back of the temple.
"I did not realize your hair would be that short," he murmured.
"It is growing back, do not worry, it will be back to its original length in a year or so."
Really? A year? He had to wait that long!? He forced a serene look on his face as they walked down into the crowd, their right hands clasped together. The crowd parted as they walked, the look of awe on all the faces.
Of course, it was not every day that a Queen was revived through the power of the great healing goddess. But of course, not every Queen was thought of as being blessed by Gula either.
Word of this would spread fast. There might have been miracles by the gods out there, but an apparent revival was something else entirely. Suse would find out soon enough and in turn they would probably respond in some way or another. Of course, Uruk would not let that happen without a reaction of their own. No one injured what was his.
But, for now, he would live in this moment. The moment of being with his Queen again. The moment of having a close friend. The moment of his kingdom being a part of him.
That was all he needed.
With this chapter, it ends part 2. I'll be going on a short hiatus for now so I can finish writing out part 3 and make it through this convention season(I'm drowning in stuff I need to do)