It's been a while I know. I've been very busy lately. I've been occupied with moving my stuff to my new place. I was hoping to get everything done by this week, but I sprained my ankle so I'm focusing on recovering for now. Anyway because of all the things I have to take care of this chapter is a bit shorter than normal. I also feel like it lacks something, but while rereading the chapter over and over again I decided that it doesn't feel like there's anything to add. Well, whatever can't be covered now will be covered later.
Anyway, enjoy. My thanks again to Midori for Beta reading.
A heavy sigh escaped Arturia's lips. It has been a little more than a week since she had found herself in Uruk and there was still so much she did not understand. Too much. And no matter how much she tried, thinking about it resulted in a heavy headache. And to worsen her frustration, she still hadn't found an escape route. In her current condition, it seems that that wish was impossible.
Even if she were to miraculously find an escape route, she knew she would not last long outside the city.
She was still not used to the heat, and her sleeping schedule had become completely uneven. She hadn't even been able to memorise the layout of the Palace, nor had she ever visited the city. She couldn't even imagine how the landscape outside of the city looked like and by the end of the day her appetite would disappear completely, her energy hit rock bottom and she had already started to lose count of times she had requested to be sent back to her home.
Those thoughts alone were a deep insult to her pride. If Merlin and Kay were to see her in this state, Merlin would tease her while Kay— No she didn't want to think about it. She was still angry at him for the stunt he had pulled during their last sparring session. She believed he would be disappointed in her. But the disappointment would probably be directed at her current situation and that thought would infuriate her even more.
Arturia glanced awkwardly at the tablet in front of her. She swallowed the saliva that was slowly piling up in her mouth and she turned her head to swiftly glance at Enkidu.
Enkidu stood behind her, their arms crossed and they were eying her expectantly. Despite their gentle expression, the woman could detect strictness from them.
"I cannot read these full sentences out loud. It's too hard for me." Arturia finally decided to break the silence between them.
"You won't know unless you try. Besides, this is your punishment. You're lucky I'm being lenient with you. Or should we do this in front of Gil?"
"That is not necessary. I already apologized for my actions."
"An apology is not enough. Human society would not survive if everyone could get away with just an apology. Besides, apologies have no value if you don't mean it."
Silence lingered in the room. Arturia and Enkidu continued to hold each other's gazes with firm determination and a bit of stubbornness on Arturia's part.
"Well, it's not like I could call that little incident from today an escape attempt."
Despite the calmness in Enkidu's tone, Arturia could swear that they were enjoying themselves. "You got stuck in a tree." This time they were unable to hide their amusement and almost let out a chuckle. "I wish I could tell this to Gil."
Arturia's face quickly turned into a deep crimson that she could not suppress. "You promised to keep it a secret!"
"Yes, but you do have to accept this punishment. If you don't comply I don't see why I should keep a broken promise. I've given you the whole day to study them."
"These are tongue-twisters!" Arturia held the tablet in front of Enkidu. "I spent the first half of the day trying to figure this out! I still cannot understand half of what's written on this tablet! How do you expect me to read this out loud?!"
She could not help but curse in her mind. This was the most embarrassing moment of her life... no, that had been a few hours before when she attempted to search for an escape route from a higher place.
How she had ended up in that tree, even Arturia couldn't figure it out. The heat must have been driving her crazy and she hadn't even made any noise. She had not asked for help, she had been silently contemplating her next course of action when Enkidu had found her. How he had found her was also beyond her understanding.
They had ended up in a staring contest before Enkidu— to Arturia's amazement— jumped to the top of the three and carried her down. She had been too stunned to realise how Enkidu easily dragged her back to her chambers where she was forced to learn how to read tongue-twisters and was supposed to read them out loud in front of her tutor.
"Oh, and Gil will send a priestess to take a look at you. To make sure you're not starting to become malnourished," Enkidu informed Arturia.
"Priestess?" Arturia's brow furrowed. This was the first time she heard that word. "What is that?"
"A priestess is a woman who devotes herself to the gods," Enkidu explained. "Enkidu explained. "They work at the temples; they pray, heal the sick and wounded and they tend to the gods."
That sounded familiar. "Like clergies?"
"Is that how your people call priests and priestesses?" Enkidu asked.
"I think they are," Arturia confirmed. "They have similar, if not the same roles. But what did you mean with 'they tend to the gods' or goddesses' needs'?"
"Hm?" Enkidu gave Arturia a questioning look. "It's like I said. They serve the gods or goddesses of the temple they work at."
Arturia stayed silent. She contemplated Enkidu's words. Did they mean that they worshipped various gods? Like the Romans in the past? It was not like she judged people on their beliefs, everyone was free to have their own opinions.
"So, you worship multiple gods?"
"It's not uncommon, since they still have a lot of influence in this world, although their influence is waning." They eyed Arturia with a strange look. It almost seemed like there was something they knew that the woman was not aware of.
Those words mystified her and something in her mind started to turn. For the first time did she feel like there was something amiss. "You— what are you—"
"Ah! I'll have to leave you on your own for a short while. Keep practising, because you're not off the hook and I expect you to read those tongue-twisters perfectly out loud."
Enkidu got up and left Arturia in a completely perplexed state as they exited the room. The woman could not hide her astonishment as she watched her tutor's figure disappear. The room stayed silent for a while as Arturia tried to gather her thoughts and make sense of what had just happened.
"What... was that?"
A pleasing silence hung over the throne room. The King looked from his position over the city, a lot of things occupied his mind. His lion, Marduk, lay comfortably next to him, his tail wagging from side to side and his chin on the ground. The animal had no plans to move at all.
"You finished surprisingly early today," Gilgamesh commented. He let out a sigh but did not turn to look at the new presence in the room.
"Not really, I'm just giving Arturia some self-study time," Enkidu answered. They leaned against the throne and gave a swift glance at the lion before eyeing their friend.
"Then is there something you wish to share with me?" Gilgamesh finally met Enkidu's stare.
"Nothing that you're not aware of," Enkidu answered.
Their attention shifted towards the city and the two friends stayed quiet in comfortable silence.
"You know, I think her eating and sleeping habits will improve over time. She told me that her home is very cold compared to Uruk. We should give her some time to adapt to the changes." Enkidu stated. "She has no problems with learning. Of course, she will probably use any knowledge she gains to look for a way to escape."
"A futile thought, it's nothing to be concerned about." Gilgamesh let out a huff. "Those pathetic attempts of hers are quite entertaining to watch. Let's see how long it will take before her determination falters."
"You shouldn't bully her too much. She already has a negative opinion of you," Enkidu chastised. They knelt and began to caress Marduk. "No, that's just an understatement, she doesn't even want to be near you."
"If she was as obedient as all those women, I would not have paid her any mind at all." A smirk graced Gilgamesh' features when a certain thought entered his mind. "Besides, no matter how much she struggles, everything in this world is my possession. That woman can defy me all she wants, but it won't change the fact that she will fall into my arms."
Enkidu halted their actions and pondered their friend's words. "You mentioned before that she wasn't as radiant as in your dream, didn't you?"
They turned to look at their friend in his eyes and none of them exchanged any words at that moment. They had said more than enough.
"She might not turn out to be like what you saw in your dream. She could become someone completely different." Enkidu began to slowly tousle the lion's mane.
"That is for me to decide, Enkidu. I will judge her worth and I expect that you will guide her properly."
"What if you decide that she is not what you expected her to be?"
It was a rhetoric question. Both knew the answer, but Enkidu still asked.
"Are you getting attached to her?" Gilgamesh could not help but raise his eyebrows in amusement.
"She is the most interesting human I've ever met. While she seems distant and cold at first glance, there is still a juvenile curiosity in her," Enkidu explained, their gaze wandering towards the city. "She is loyal in regards to her beliefs and is a hard worker. There's also something that piqued my curiosity."
"Oh, and what may that be?"
Gilgamesh eyed his friend, his curiosity stirred and Enkidu answered with a smile.
"This is the first time I've seen a woman handle a sword. I do have to admit that she is very talented from what I was able to witness. Maybe many things have changed in her time."
The king's laugh echoed throughout the room. It was a hearty one and Enkidu waited for him to calm down. "You know how to humour me, friend." The king breathed, he was not finished laughing. "As if those mongrels are smart enough to develop themselves at such a fast pace!" Another laugher escaped him before he continued. "No, she possesses a sword of selection. Whichever fool convinced her that she has the qualifications of a king must be enjoying themselves quite a lot. Hahaha!"
"So, that blade is derived from Merodach?" Enkidu enquired.
"Indeed, it is just a model, far inferior in power and worth, but still valuable. To possess a sword like that is a heavy burden for an inferior being. Whether they succumb to it or not decides the worth of the wielder."
Gilgamesh stood up from his throne, he walked a few steps before he halted and looked outside, his eyes were on a few servants and guards.
"But you won't be able to determine anything if she is isolated in her room." Enkidu's voice chimed throughout the room.
A smile graced the king's face, his red eyes shifted back to Enkidu who was still petting the lion. "Yes, that is true. If one's world is small their accomplishments cannot reach far. However, if they have a goal they will have to broaden their world and their accomplishments could grow according to that goal. Her stubbornness and determination will allow her to blossom."
Enkidu's patting slowed and Marduk did not miss the change in their movements. He looked up and eyed the green-haired beauty with expectant eyes.
"Sometimes, you're surprisingly more demanding than your master," Enkidu commented.
Gilgamesh scoffed at his friend's remark, contrary to the lion, who dropped his head as if he had not heard anything.
"Oh, now that I think about it! Are you sure it's fine to call for a healer to check up on Arturia's condition? I'm not sure if there is much they can do and then there's also that issue."
"I do not care about their opinions. If they dare to question me, those mongrels should face the consequences of their actions."
It was a blunt answer, but it was exactly what Gilgamesh was thinking.
"Is that what you've been telling your advisors too?"
Gilgamesh did not answer. Instead, he let out a sigh, he was sure Enkidu was looking at him right now. It was something they wanted to ask about for a while but never had the opportunity to.
"They have not mentioned anything to me, but they have always kept most of their opinions to themselves," the king finally stated.
"Well, the last time someone questioned you, it did not end pretty. It's not like you listen to anyone you don't agree with, except for me."
"Why should I bother with those who are inferior to me? Unless they come up with a proposal that is worthy for my ears, I will not waste my time with the ideas of a mongrel. You are the only one who, as my friend, has the right to share your thoughts and opinions."
"I'm just curious about how this will play out. What will become of her? Or how long will it take until she realises the truth?"
Enkidu got up after patting Marduk one more time. "I guess I'll head back," they stated. "I'll stop by again when I have nothing to do. Until then, please don't bully anyone too much."
The King huffed. "What I do is for me to decide."
The two exchanged one more glance before Enkidu left the room. The moment the figure of Enkidu disappeared, Gilgamesh's gaze shifted back to the city.
This time he wasn't exactly paying attention to what was happening. His mind was focused on Enkidu's words and the events of the past few days. During the few exchanges he had had with his bride, he noticed, that despite her immaturity, she was a proud and strong woman.
Her expression was most of the time hidden behind a stoic mask, but she had no qualms about showing her distaste with her piercing glares.
Gilgamesh found it extremely fascinating whenever she glared. The way her green orbs burned, like a lion waiting to attack its prey; it was her way of showing her defiance. The woman was well aware that she had to be careful with her words and actions. Nevertheless, that did not stop her from outing her thoughts.
And despite that pride, she also seemed fully aware of how much she lacked in experience or knowledge. Her expression had been far more youthful when she had laid her eyes on Marduk. It had been just a split second, but Gilgamesh had noticed.
It was very amusing for the king, that his bride thought she could hide all her thoughts and feelings. She wasn't even aware of how much her face gave away. It almost made him laugh.
Yes, she was far from boring him and he looked forward to what other qualities Arturia would show.
After one more glance outside, Gilgamesh called his lion and strode towards the door. There were still a lot of things that he had to take care of and he wanted to make sure he finished everything quickly.
Arturia felt trapped. It had been a while since Enkidu left the room and despite her efforts, she could not focus on her studies anymore. She had been cooped up in the room for several days already and it was driving her to the point of madness. She wanted to take a short nap to clear her mind, but she had to give up on that plan. The heat made it impossible to do so despite her sleep-deprived mind begging her to close her eyes.
She could not deny it, her rationality had started to slip away from her being. By now she was pacing back and forth in her room, looking for the umpteenth time at its layout. A few changes had been added since she had come here. Aside from the closet now being filled with the native wardrobe, the jewellery that she always ignored —although she did notice a necklace and bracelets that hadn't been there before— a few more decorations added and her desk was covered in clay tablets.
The woman halted in front of her bed, after staring at it for a few seconds she sat down on her knees and looked at the linen sheets. They felt so different from the sheets in Britain, the colour and texture were not the same, and yet they felt similar. It was after all a sheet, used in the same way as the sheets in Britain. Just like the rest in the room, everything was different yet the same.
Arturia let out an exhausted sigh and closed her eyes. Something, anything, if only she could make sense of what was happening. But she still had not, she had accepted that she was not in Britain anymore, yet at the same time, she did not want to accept it.
She felt like she was trapped in complete madness. A hot scorching madness, where she had to drink a lot, where she hardly had any appetite, where her body felt sticky, where she found herself waking up in the middle of the night and could not fall back asleep. Which resulted in her feeling extremely tired and daydreaming of immersing herself in cold water and stay there until the bloody sun disappeared.
She heard a gentle knock. "My lady, I've brought you something to drink."
Arturia lifted her head when the door opened. Her tired eyes watched the servant as she entered the room. "Ah, thank you, Iltani."
Iltani was the same servant who had started serving her from the day she arrived and one of the few people, aside from Enkidu, with whom she could talk, even though their conversations were quite brief and did not occur often. The woman still kept a professional distance between them and Arturia understood this.
Iltani stared at Arturia's form, the young knight was still sitting on the floor, her upper body was leaning against the bed and her shoulders hung low. The bags underneath her eyes could be easily detected.
"Are you feeling alright, my lady?" She inquired. "Should I call a healer?"
"No, thank you. I was just taking a break. There's no need for concern."
The servant looked worried, but she did not pressure Arturia and accepted the woman's explanation with a nod. "Alright then, I will leave you on your own."
Arturia's eyes followed the servant as she left the room quietly. When she heard the door close, the knight finally let out an exhausted sigh. She was not used to this. Being served, needing to dress for evening meals, cooped up in a room. It felt strange, she preferred her independence and her freedom. But here she felt like that was slowly taken away from her and she hated it.
"I miss Merlin and Kay..." she muttered softly.
After continuing to brood on the floor for a while longer the woman finally got up and headed towards the garden. The sun was still shining brightly, but she endured the scorching sun rays and decided to sit in the shadow.
It lasted only a few seconds until she felt the heat of the floor. "Ouch! Hot!" She mumbled in frustration. While glaring at the ground, Arturia decided to return to her room and look for an alternative.
She regretted sending Iltani away, she could have used a cold bath. Again she looked around and her gaze fell on the goblet the servant had brought. It was filled with milk and next to it was a bowl with fruit. A small smile crept over her, the next time she found the servant she was going to express to her, her gratitude.
Without waiting any longer, Arturia sat at the table and grabbed the round orange fruit. She examined it carefully first. "If I remember correctly, this fruit is an orange," she mused, the name sounding funny to her.
Carefully she peeled the skin of the orange, she recalled Enkidu doing the same during the evening meals and mimicked the action. The inside of the fruit was the same colour as the skin, and Arturia blinked at the fruit curiously. She studied it carefully, wondering if it had the same texture of an apple or not. It didn't feel like it at least.
The woman continued to inspect the fruit for a short while before she finally decided to take a bite. To her surprise the fruit burst open, spilling droplets of juice on her face and clothes.
Despite the sudden development, Arturia did not move. She chewed carefully and swallowed. "It's surprisingly sweet."
Arturia took another bite and then another. She appreciated the freshness and cool feeling in her mouth. "... Delicious..."
Her voice was quite soft, but in her large room, it was easily audible. Arturia continued to eat in silence. The only sounds resonating inside the room were those of chewing and then of drinking.
It was then that Arturia felt, for maybe the first time, how truly trapped and alone she was.