Enheduanna: The First Author - Wattys Winner 2021

19. Death Of A God

This could not be true.

It simply couldn't.

I could see them when I closed my eyes. So strong, full of life, the embodiment of royalty. He was the king of kings, she the queen of queens. Like the divine twins, Lugal-irra and Meslamta-ea, they guarded Akkad together. And now they were gone.

"Enheduanna. We must go back to Ur, immediately." Idal said as softly as he could.

"I cannot. Father and mother will be buried in Akkad. I need to be there."

"I understand. You will go there. But Kituzda writes that there is an uprising in Ur. The people are in danger."

"Did Kituzda write this?" Dingira asked.

"Yes, why?"

"Well this is clearly a hoax. She is trying to lure you into a trap." Dingira argued, her arms flailing in the air like branches ready to break off.

Idal wasn't accompanying her in the hysteria. "Why in the name of An would she do that?"

"Because she wants to be high priestess. Isn't that obvious?"

"Yeah, right?" Idal snorted. "If that was the case, killing the current high priestess in her own city would be the most idiotic thing to do. It would insure the wrath of Nanna. Besides, Kituzda knows that Enheduanna is a good high priestess, she told me so herself."

Dingira stopped, "and you believe that? She has done nothing but obstructing Enheduanna each chance she got."

As Idal left my side, I could feel the cold air of the night chill me to the bone. "Dingira is right," I whispered. "It can't be true."

Death always hangs over life, like a veil, threatening to snatch away anyone. I knew that. Knew that death wasn't kind nor fair. It snatched where it could, taking people who were far too young, far too good. It didn't distinguish between kings of beggars, heroes or monsters. It just took. But it could not have taken them both. I refused to believe that even death would be so cruel.

"You don't believe she would lie about such a thing." Idal said, without question in his voice. "Besides, why would she include the death of your parents if it was a trap?"

I shook my head as I realized where he was going with this argument. There was a tone of reason I simply didn't want to hear. I didn't want to believe.

Idal knelt down beside me. "Enheduanna, listen, you two might have your differences, but she stood up for you when the lords questioned your claim, remember?"

I nodded.

"If she is saying the truth, Ur needs you more than ever. And even if she is lying, we won't go empty-handed. Call upon your brothers. Send a falcon to Akkad and they will come to your aid."

Death had never touched me quite so close. It felt like it had ripped out a part of my soul, the part that I loved the most. But sitting here wouldn't change anything. I had to live. That is what mother and father would have wanted me to do. To fight for our kingdom, our home. Without saying a word, I shot up, rushing back to the festivities when Lugal-ushumgal ran into us.

"Pardon me, my Great Lady. I came to offer my condolences." He said before motioning to the cloth. "I hope you don't mind it, but I read the message."

"Great Lugal-ushumgal, you have been most generous but I must ask you for one more favour."

"Anything for the en-priestess who saved Lagash."

Clutching the cloth in my hand, I made my decision. "We require three of your swiftest horses, and a falcon to fly to Akkad before the break of dawn."

"So you shall receive. My servants will accompany you with the gifts."

"No," I responded. "We must leave now. I will send word when all is safe."

Lugal-ushumgal nodded understandingly, leading us to the stables himself. As Idal readied the horses and Dingira backed up our belongings, I wrote a message on a ripped piece of my skirt. As soon as it was rolled up and tied around the falcon's claw, the bird was lifted into the sky by its master and disappeared into the night.

We followed not long after. Idal leading the horses in a gallop so fast it took all my strength not to fall off the stallion Lugal-ushumgal had provided.

Yet my mind was not on that horse. Instead of sand it saw a garden, green and lush, surround by corridors from which I heard the echo of boys running around. It was the place where we were happy. We were together as a family. Even if father was away most of the time, whatever time he did spend in Akkad, he spend with us. I never knew how much I could miss those days, knowing none would ever come.

Trusts are broken, lies are told.

Perhaps this was a lie as well. I so wished it was. That Kituzda thought so could lure me into a trap, and father would ride up with his army to free the Ur. As dawn swept over the dessert I could already see his white steed at the horizon. Its rider sitting as straight as a statue with furs blowing in the wind and a crown beaming brighter than the sun atop his head.

Father.

Without a second thought, I spurred my horse on, riding towards the smoking city walls as fast as I could.

"Father," I called out. Familiar hazel eyes met mine as Manishtushu turned to face me. His face was sunken and haunted, his voice rasp and desperate. "Dear sister. Thank the heavens you are unharmed."

I broke down, tears drowning my sight as reality crushed down upon me. Manishtushu wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly as I felt his tears falling on my hair. "It's alright, you're safe now."

But it was not alright. They were gone forever. How can the world be alright without its king and queen?

"Manishtushu, you received our message." Idal said as soon as he and Dingira caught up to us.

"Your message? No, a rider from Ur came to Akkad at nightfall begging for our aid." Manishtushu answered.

Dingira cocked an eyebrow. "Who had sent him?"

"The priestess Kituzda." Manishtushu replied before turning to me, brushing the tears off my cheek. "I feared the worst."

"My prince, we have secured all the city walls. Some of the traitors escaped, but we managed to capture the rest." A soldier announced, before noticing my presence. "High Priestess Enheduanna, I am relieved to see you are unharmed. Your priestesses have been worried."

Manishtushu nodded, "thank you, Nagal. Tell them I shall personally see to the safe return of their high priestess. And send archers out, the traitors could not have gotten far."

"Prince?" I asked as soon as the soldier was out of earshot.

Manishtushu smiled at my confusion. "Rimush will proceed father. He has always been more competent leader out of the two of us."

"Please, take me to Akkad. I want to be there when they are buried. See them one last time."

"Of course, it's what father and mother would have wanted."