"Bah, with the time you two are not in the city, you should just name me King and be done with it." Ekur sat in his seat, arms crossed, expression clearly showing how he felt about the news that Gilgamesh and Hakuno had brought back from the meeting of the goddesses.
"I'm sorry for leaving you in charge again Ekur." Hakuno dipped her head slightly to the baru. She was really beginning to worry about his health. From what she remembered, it was not good for older men to have that much stress in their lives and Ekur seemed to have ten-fold more than the average person.
Ekur sighed. "Well obviously this is not a matter where you had any choice in what occurred."
"That's right," growled Gilgamesh. He cracked his knuckles. "We are going to find and bring Enkidu back."
Hakuno nodded. "However, I worry how you are going to travel the Underworld, Gil. I have the blessing of Gula." Wow, it was still odd for her to say. Who knew that this whole time the claim of her being blessed by the Great Mother would actually be true? She knew when this was over, she was going to need to take plenty of visits to Gula's temple and leave, many, many offerings.
"It will not be a problem for me," replied Gilgamesh lightly. "My mother is the lady of wild cows, Ninsun so divine blood flows in my veins."
"Huh?" Hakuno stared at her husband blankly as her mind tried to come to terms with what he had just said. "Wait…you have the blood of the Gods in you!?"
"Only partly," replied Gilgamesh, like he was talking about the weather. "My father, Lugalbanda was mortal. I think my mother told me once that two thirds of my blood is of the gods while only a third is mortal-Hakuno, why are you looking at me like that?"
"When were you planning on informing me of this fact?" She tapped her foot on the ground. "Somehow I feel like this should have been brought up much earlier in our relationship." Gods, did that mean Nungal was partly a god as well? How did this sort of thing work?
"I'm surprised you did not tell her my King," said Ekur. Even he was looking at Gilgamesh in disappointment.
Urash, who was standing behind Ekur just nodded like he figured out something that was bothering him. She would not have been surprised if the slave had figured out something was off about Gilgamesh but could not put his finger on it.
"Well you didn't tell me too much about yourself either!" retorted the King. "It took until we were in Suse and enemy territory for you to be willing to even give me stories of your time on the caravan!"
"But I did tell you," Hakuno pointed out. "And during none of me talking about my time before meeting you that you ever mentioned the fact you have the blood of the Gods in your veins. Gods, no wonder Ishtar took an interest in you. You were something unique and different to her."
"Can we stop talking about my parentage and focus on the fact Enkidu is currently trapped in the Underworld?"
For once Gilgamesh did have a point. She sighed. He was right, this was no time to be having this conversation. Enkidu needed them.
"Your mother might be a good place to start," spoke up Ekur. "She would probably know how you can get into the underworld. And from what I recall your mother is a minor deity so she will probably not invoke Ishtar's wrath about getting the help from a goddess. Besides, she is your mother and it is quite common for those with God-lineages to use them."
"Wait, you can easily speak with her?"
Gilgamesh nodded. "She lives upriver on the Euphrates. If we are on horsebak we should be able to reach her abode in under a day."
Hakuno added "having a long talk with Gilgamesh about his family" on the list of things she had to do once this was all over.
"We'll leave tomorrow when we're well rested," ordered Gilgamesh.
Hakuno knew the look in her husband's eye. He was already making mental lists of what needed to be prepared for the trip. She also knew he would want to run out of here tonight to begin their quest to get Enkidu back but they needed to be smart. They were no good to Enkidu if they were dead. Also she knew Gilgamesh was exhausted from fighting the bull earlier in the day but was too prideful to show it.
The meeting now over, Hakuno made a quick stop to her room to inform Shub of what was going on. Like always, Shub took it in stride and informed Hakuno she will take care of packing Hakuno's things for the trip. In any other situation, Hakuno would have insisted on doing it herself but there was someplace she wanted to be for tonight. So she accepted Shub's offer and went to Nungal's room. She did not know how long it would be when she would return, and she wanted to see her son's face and hold him while she still could. She knew Gilgamesh would join her once he was finished with his preparations.
"My Queen." Elutil was pacing the room, her arms cradling Nungal, his head on her shoulder. Nungal was obviously fussing and unable to settle.
"Is everything alright?" Hakuno took her son from Elutil and he immediately settled as soon as his head touched her shoulder.
"I wish I could say it was." Elutil gave Hakuno a sheepish smile. "I think the prince is searching for Enkidu. They are usually here around now to help him go to sleep when the sun sets."
Hakuno tightened her grip slightly on her son. "Don't worry," she whispered softly. "Enkidu will be back soon. Your parents will do everything we can to bring them back. You'll see."
Enkidu was tossed to the ground, the dove body transforming back to their usual form. They turned around, hands curled into claws, ready to strike at the lion-man but the lion-man was gone. A quick sniff of the air to attempt to track the creature but all they could smell was cold, damp, rotten air. Air that had not had a summer breeze flow through it in a long time.
It was then that Enkidu really took in their surroundings. They were in a large pit of some kind, the walls made from dirt. A few torches were scattered about, the light emitting from them weak and pitiful but Enkidu's night vision was good. It was probably thanks to that vision, that they caught sight of…things in the pit as well.
They were human shaped but they appeared to be shadows. Devoid of any human features, these things were sitting near the torches, the light doing nothing to illuminate their dark forms. They were clothed in what appeared to be bright bird feathers. They did not seem to notice Enkidu, all of their attention was on picking up parts of the dirt floor and putting it up to where their mouth would be if they had one.
What kind of place were they in? And how were they going to get out of here?
"Hakuno, we're here, you can open your eyes now. And please let go of the reins, your fingers look like they are going to break."
Hakuno slowly opened her eyes as her husband began prying her fingers off the reins of the horse. She knew it was important to meet Gilgamesh's mother as fast as possible so they could know where to go to find Enkidu but did it really have to involve riding horses? And the terrain was so bumpy as well.
Pretty much she spent the whole time clutching her reins with her eyes tightly shut, trying not to think about what was going on around her.
"I still cannot believe your mother lives all the way out here." The sun was beginning to set, they had been traveling by horseback since the early morning, only taking two brief breaks to have meals and go to the bathroom.
"She likes the quiet countryside." Gilgamesh shrugged. "She does have a couple rooms in the palace set aside for her but after my father passed and I became King, she moved out here. I think she just likes being with her cows."
Hakuno had a feeling that might be the case. Ninsun, the former Queen of Uruk lived in a clay and thatch hut by the Euphrates. The land around it was lush and green, unnaturally so even. On this green land, were cows. Lots of cows. Despite the lack of a fence, the cows wandered around without fear and Hakuno had a feeling it was probably Ninsun's connection to the animals that prevented any wild lions or wolves from picking off these very healthy animals.
"My mother is probably waiting for us inside." Gilgamesh led the way up to the hut. Hakuno noted the lack of cow patties on the pathway.
"I don't recall you sending a messenger out yesterday."
"Oh she knows. She always knows." He opened the door without knocking.
Hakuno was hit by the smell of spiced cooked meat and soup. The interior was warm as the food and decorated with simple furniture and elegant rugs.
Sitting at the table, the chair facing the door was a woman. Just from looking at her, Hakuno could tell Ninsun was a goddess with her unnatural beauty. It was not as prominent and alarming as Ishtar and Gula but the sense was there. The sense of something just not quite human. She wore a simple dress, the only adornment, a ringed necklace. Hakuno had a feeling she had met Ninsun before but could not place where or how. She also did not have the same sense of being on edge as she did with Gula and Ishtar. Ninsun had a more matronly feel to her, a sense that she would not take a transgression personally and throw harsh curses in retaliation.
"My son, you have come to visit me." Ninsun stood and approached, her arms spread wide.
"Mother." Gilgamesh accepted the hug. "Mother this is Hakuno. My wife and Queen."
Hakuno was not sure how one was supposed to act when their mother-in-law was a goddess. However she was a former Queen but before Hakuno could drop into a bow, Ninsun gave her a quick hug. "Come now, I do not care for formalities, I am a minor deity and a former Queen." She put a hand on Hakuno's cheek. "I will say, I did chose correct in giving you my blessing."
"What? What do you mean?" Hakuno stared at her blankly.
"Mother, what are you talking about?"
"Oh that's right. It is not something a mortal would understand right away. Come sit. I prepared food for you to give you strength for your travels. Going to the underworld to save that being of the Gods will be a daunting task and you will need to keep your strength up."
"How did you know about our trip?" Even Gilgamesh seemed surprised by his mother's knowledge.
Ninsun laughed. "I was there of course."
"You were there?" repeated Hakuno. Gods, she probably sounded like an idiot. Not the best impression to give your mother-in-law. She took a sip of soup and was surprised with how tasty and rich it was.
Ninsun nodded. "I was. Oh, how to describe this. You know her as Gula."
Hakuno's eyes widen. Wait. Ninsun was Gula?
"You never mentioned this before Mother."
"Because it never mattered before my son. Gula is her own being and yet a part of me at the same time. So I can share her memories and thoughts and she mine but she is her own goddess. We used to be one but she separated from me a long time ago and became the Great Mother you know her as while I was content about being the 'lady of wild cows'. I do not have the power that Gula has and I do not wish it." She shook her head. "Thinking of myself in this way is odd. It is like if you mortals separated parts of your personality into separate beings. You are just is."
Hakuno had to take a moment to absorb all that information. What kind of stars had to align for her to be blessed with the gift of healing by Gilgamesh's mother (in a sense)!? She made a note to visit Ninun more often in the future, if she could stomach the ride here.
"I am sorry that I have not come by before to meet with you Queen Ninsun," said Hakuno. "I was not informed that you were so close to the city."
"That is alright. I have seen through my eyes about the trouble you two have been getting into. Honestly my son, I'm surprised it took you so long to seek my counsel. You used to come to me a lot when you were troubled."
Gilgamesh's face flushed. "Mother, we have no time for that now! Please tell us a way to get into the Underworld so we may save Enkidu."
"Of course, but eat while you are here my son, and my daughter." Ninsun chuckled. "In more ways than one."
Now it was Hakuno's turn to flush red.
Ninsun leaned forward in her seat. Go to the east. Keep traveling until you reach a lush green mountain range. There, look for a mountain that seems to eat the sun. You will find the gate to the Underworld down a long staircase."
"Thank you Mother."
"Wait my son. It will be for the best for you to leave with the rising of the sun. It is the only way you will have the strength to travel far."
"We've wasted enough time, we're already passed a day," growled Gilgamesh.
"We fear for Enkidu. From the texts, the Underworld is a place not fit for someone still alive. I fear Enkidu's gentle soul will be torn to pieces and they will torment being all alone in such a place."
Ninsun smiled and reached out to cup Hakuno's cheek. "You are a scholar after all. I was right." She looked at her son. "Alright, I will not stop you but please head my warning to be careful."
"I will, thank you Mother. Come on Hakuno. We still have some time before the night is dark."
"Right." Hakuno got to her feet, her stomach full of delicious food. She bowed to Ninsun. "I will visit again once our trial is complete."
"I look forward to it child of myself. Oh and you may call me 'mother'. You are my daughter-in-law after all."
"Of course…Mother." It was weird for her to say, having no memories of her own mother. It as nice though. Would it be as nice as when Nungal was old enough to call her mother? Before she slipped out of the hut, after her husband, she looked back.
Despite living by herself, Ninsun seemed content. Of course being a goddess, her concept of time and self were probably different. Especially if Gula was a part of her. "Mother, may I ask a question?"
"What is it child?"
"Did Gula, were you able to get a message to Enkidu? To let them know we were coming."
"I'm taking care of it. Do not worry. Go on. I know my son, he is probably ready to go. Go. Save your companion."