#massatu

you just have to set the right servant on him

it has been days since king gilgamesh disappeared - the little prince still runs to the gates every morning. and around early noon his tutors come to him, take him by the hand and pull him away. they are worried… the prince had barely cried, barely shown any emotions.

it’s one of those more silent days in the ziggurat when one of the women tasked with looking after him kneels before him. “ur-nungal do you understand where your father left to?” he tilts his head, nodding a little “looking for enkidu.” he simply states not understanding why her eyes fill with sadness. “…my prince, enkidu is gone. they will not return.”

what followed are perhaps words that he is too young for - to prepare a child to understand death is one thing, one assumes they will not come in contact with it too soon. but he had to understand because death had already entered his life. as he slowly understands, he jumps up, taking steps away from the servants, eyes filled with tears and panic.

“but… but enkidu promised. they said they’d always be here…!” they had talked about great adventures, about great futures. to ur-nungal it had seemed natural that his father would always be king with his faithful companion at his side, that enkidu would always be there to turn around, extending a hand and smiling a smile that would have the prince run into their arms.

“—- why did they lie to me?” he is still crying, and none of the servants is capable to calm him down for many hours. even when his sobbing stops, it would take weeks and months for him to not suddenly burst into tears. he spends the hours that he does not have to study at the gate, still stubbornly hoping for the king to return with enkidu. at night he sleeps among the lions, clinging to them like he used to whenever enkidu shapeshifted to amuse the child.

it’s a memory he hates. even when older, he often felt resentment towards those words spoken to him. empty words - it’s not until he holds his very own son in his arms that he understands. when he smiles and he too promises to always protect this little infant that peacefully slumbers in his arms. it’s not until then that he understands that enkidu had never meant for harm, nor to not fulfill those words.

… and he knows rather well the reason why he can love his own child so clearly, why he can smile down at his son is because he had been taught love by someone who had always called themselves nothing but a weapon ( perhaps they were, but to ur-nungal enkidu would always remain the parent to teach him the most about being human ).

but what kind of services?

Says this is the most lowest pitch voice ever.

                                                call nitocris cute ( accepting ) // @massatu .

oh — they are beautiful ! amethyst eyes widen a little bit upon seeing the other fully. really, what a beautiful being. cheeks darken quickly, but she only replies with a smile before moving to the side, revealing the sleeping golden king of uruk. for whatever reason he had joined the pharaohs when they were drinking and with the other pharaohs retreating to their rooms, the two of them had simply talked. the proud king had not mentioned much about the other, but nitocris recognized the gaze, the longing for someone gone. she is not surprised to see that enkidu seems to still keep watch, even if unbeknownst to those who are not attuned to the otherworld as she is.

How oft was it that that people thought to approach him? Content he found himself in own company and so, naturally, when camp was set he’d hovered upon edges with threat of vanishing into shadows entirely. Foiled he was though by other whose soul was vastly older than Merlin’s own, a curious being that had Merlin pausing before back might be turned in his retreat. 

Eyes settled upon them, a soft violet which belied something almost predatory as firelight caught them and set colour ablaze. Yet this was achild of the wilderness; a creature all their own, one who had tamed something within Tyrant King. It was enough to draw soft smile from Merlin, inclining head for Enkidu to join him. “Of course, my dear. What would you like to know?”

@massatu