Through their exploration, Enkidu realized this was not a pit but instead a huge cavern. A cavern that no matter how much they walked they could not find a way out. A few times they ran into a dirt wall but those were far and few in between and there did not seem to be a rhyme or reason to them. Enkidu had tried to make a mental map of this place, but it was no use. Even their homing sense that pointed them towards Uruk was not working. They were truly trapped here.
To make matters worse, those shadow-people were everywhere. All dressed in colorful feathers, they did not seem to notice Enkidu as they ate the dirt from the floor and some had their faces turned to the sky as liquid poured down from above.
Enkidu found it alarming that the longer they were here, the more details they were beginning to make out on the shadow-people. Now they had well defined noses and fingers and out of the corner of Enkidu's eye, they could catch the hints of eyes and mouths on the shadow-people's faces.
They had to get out of here.
"There you are, creature of the Gods."
Enkidu whirled around, alarmed. They had not sensed anyone approach and someone that could speak as well. As soon as they caught eye of the speaker, Enkidu jumped back and dropped on all fours, a snarl escaping their lips.
It was a woman. Or something in the shape of a woman. Large brown wings that tapered to a point erupted from her back. A headdress with four horns adorned her head, covering her dark hair. Her bright gold bracelets and necklace was a stark contrast to the setting.
"Be still Enkidu of Uruk," said the woman. "I came personally bearing a message for you."
Enkidu relaxed slightly. The woman did not seem like she was going to do harm, but Enkidu's danger sense was still going off. "Who are you?"
Enkidu caught a flash of annoyance in her eyes. "I am Ereshkigal." She frowned as Enkidu just stared at her. Was that name supposed to mean something? Had Hakuno mentioned the name when discussing texts? Probably but they could remember it at all.
"My dear sister has asked me to inform you that your companions in Uurk are traveling here to retrieve you."
Gilgamesh and Hakuno were coming? The hope lit up Enkidu's eyes.
Ereshkigal turned away. She paused and then turned her head back towards them. "Because if your companions succeed my husband live." She gestured to the liquid dripping from above. "That is the living giving drink to the departed. It will help keep you tethered to the world above as this place eats away at your mortal coils."
Before Enkidu could ask what she meant, Ereshkigal was gone.
Whatever she was, it seemed she was not an enemy, although it might be stretching it too far to call her an ally.
Enkidu put a hand on their chest. Their dear friends were coming. They were coming for Enkidu! All they had to do was survive long enough. They looked at the shadow-humans, who were now becoming more human than shadows and grimaced before approaching the closest stream of liquid falling from above.
The King was well-traveled, he was a King of a nation with lots of territory after all. But even he had never traveled this far east before. Months of travel had finally led the King and Queen of Uruk to a vibrant green mountain range that reached up to touch the skies.
"We're finally here." Hakuno sighed and patted the flank of her mule.
For some reason that he did not understand, his Queen could ride a mule without praying to every God under the sun. And she was surprisingly good at coaxing the beast to do her bidding. They had bought the animal two months ago, so they would have another beast to help reduce the load on the horse.
Well, it reduced the load a lot now that his Queen rode the mule.
"I think your mother was referring to that mountain." Hakuno pointed to the tallest mountain in the area. She frowned as she gazed at the path they still had to travel. "Maybe if we are lucky we will get there in a few days. I'm assuming in a week or two though. The terrain looks tough."
Gilgamesh checked the position of the sun in the sky. "Might as well get started while we still have some sunlight left."
She nodded. "Yes. It's been so long. I really hope Enkidu has not lost hope."
Gilgamesh nodded as well. Now closer to the goal, it really hit home for him that soon they would be traveling down into the Underworld.
"Hakuno, do you fear death?" he asked once they had set up camp for the night.
"Fear death?" she repeated, the surprise evident. "What brought this on?"
He shrugged nonchalantly and stared into the fire. "With Enkidu in the Underworld and us so close to there, I was thinking of the future, of my own death that is to come. What is the point then? To be forgotten with the times?"
"Oh." She slid over so she was next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't think you will ever truly be forgotten," she replied softly. "I'm serious," she added when he scoffed at her response. "Just think of all that you have done. Created Uruk into the nation it was and expanded the territory far beyond what it had before. Defeated the great Huwawa. And now, in a trial with the goddess Ishtar to reclaim a close friend. Honestly, there is a lot there that I could see being written down in the tablets I spend so long translating."
"Well none of that would happen without you there. If I were to be remembered for those deeds then you should be as well." he replied. He was no fool. He knew the role his Queen had played in all his endeavors.
Hakuno shook her head. "I really do not care for that. If the people that know me remember me, then that is good enough for me. I do not need to be remembered forever. Not like there is anything wrong with that Gil. I like reading the stories of others, I think it would be very odd to think about, having others read about myself."
Well he thought it would be amazing for the future generations to know the accomplishments of him and his Queen. And Enkidu of course. Who, no matter what, would be saved.
"Well I say you get some tablets of information as well. And probably a statue." Now that he thought about it, there were no reliefs of Hakuno in the palace. Oh, maybe they should get something done and donate it to one of Gula's temples. That would probably not be as obvious then!
"All I really want right now is to save Enkidu and then go home," she said softly. "Nungal is will close to a year and I want him to recall happy memories of his parents being there for him."
Oh. That was right, she probably did not have many memories of her birth parents. He put an arm around her. "It will be fine. We'll be home soon and Nungal won't even know we were gone." Did people even have memories from when they were this young?
"True," she replied. She nodded. "Yes, we will be home soon."
It took about a week for Hakuno and Gilgamesh to locate the entrance to the Underworld on the highest mountain.
"Looks like we're going to have to travel on foot." Gilgamesh tied the horse and mule to a nearby tree. The lead was loose enough that the animals could flee if a predator attacked them but would prevent them from wandering.
"I wonder how far down it goes." Hakuno peered down the staircase leading down, deep into the mountain. Much to her surprise, lit torches were attached to the dirt walls. Was the Queen of the Underworld, Ereshkigal, informed of the trial? "According to the texts, the Underworld is below the Abzu so it's going to be a long trip down."
"Below the what?" Gilgamesh was digging through the packs on the animals, transferring supplies into satchels for them to take down with them.
Hakuno stared at her husband in disbelief. Although why was she surprised? He generally did not care when the matters did not directly involve him. Of course, he would not care about the body of fresh water deep below the earth that supplied to all of the lakes and rivers, and streams that flowed throughout the land.
"It's probably going to be a long trip to get to the Underworld," Hakuno said finally.
"Well, I took all of the food and drink we have. If we ration it well, it should last us a time. I'll carry it," he added when she held out a hand for a satchel.
"Gil, come on now, I'm pretty strong and I don't want you carrying all of that on your own."
"But you're my Queen."
"Yes but you are the better fighter. How are you supposed to move quickly and defend me if you are carrying all of our supplies." She had to bite the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from smiling as her King struggled to think of a response to her comment. "And do not think of making one lighter now just because you are giving it to me," she added when he went to do just that.
Gilgamesh grumbled under his breath about an "ungrateful Queen" but he handed her a satchel.
"Well, let us get this trial over and done with so we can go back home. I think I'm out of practice now for wrestling without my sparing partner." He rolled his shoulders before taking point.
Hakuno followed close behind him. While Gilgamesh continued to list off things he did with Enkidu, Hakuno was silent and worried. It had been so long. Would Enkidu even remember them? Were they fine? Or had Enkidu been here for so long that they refused to leave? What would happen to the people of Uruk then? The bull would be allowed to run rampant and Ishtar would do as she wished. The fears swirled around Hakuno's head as they walked down the stone steps, the sound echoing off the walls.