"Queen Hakuno?"

Hakuno cracked open her eyes. Shub's granddaughter peered at her with concern. "Sabit, I've told you not to call me that. I am no longer Queen."

Sabit shook her head and stood straight. Like her mother and grandmother before her, Sabit embodied the ideal slave. Shub was very particular about the training. Hakuno had to smile as she thought of her friend. After Puabi retired, Shub had taken on the position as the head of the slaves. She had been surprisingly adept at it and had kept it until her passing. Now the position was currently held by Shub's daughter.

"Would you like to go to the gardens my Queen? The grounds have a lovely bloom this time of year."

Hakuno shook her head. "Please get my son for me. It is time." For a brief second Hakuno caught Sabit's true thoughts on the matter but the girl schooled her expression to one of neutrality.

"Should I also retrieve Enkidu?"

"Of course. Thank you Sabit."

With Sabit off to complete her tasks, Hakuno looked down at her wrinkly hands. Hands that were now too shaky to pick up a stylus. Her vision was no good anymore for reading tablets. Even her blessing of Gula was unable to stop death's time from sneaking up on her.

"Mother!" Ur-Nungal walked quickly in the room.

She had to smile up at her son. Out of her six children, he was the one that took most after his father. His golden hair was already showing signs of gray and wrinkles touched the corners of his eyes. He was ever the King his father was though.

"My child, my sight is failing but my hearing is still good enough. You do not have to shout."

"But perhaps I do Mother." Nungal kneeled in front of Hakuno and rest a hand on hers. "Please. You do not have to do this too. You do not have to follow Father. You should be laid to rest here, in the city."

Hakuno smiled and put her hand on top of her son's. She had promised Gilgamesh that she would never leave him and she kept that promise. He, however, never made that promise to her. It had been two years since his passing. Unlike the previous royals, he chose to go to the forest and pass on there among the trees. Enkidu had gone with him and only Enkidu came back from that trip.

When asked about what had happened Enkidu responded simply, "Gil told me he did not want you to be alone and for us to go to him when you were ready to. He said he would be able to manage on his own until then."

"She has been blessed by Gula. She does not need to follow the rules set before for other royals." Urash stepped into the room, his long baru robes flowing behind him. Hakuno still wasn't sure if the years he had with Ekur had done him good or not. Sometimes, when she closed her eyes and heard Urash speak, she thought it was Ekur's spirit speaking through Urash from the Underworld.

"But Urash," protested Nungal.

"No buts about it," Urash replied simply.

"I'm sorry my son but I have to go. He's waiting for me." She patted her son on the cheek. "I know you'll be fine. I just wish your siblings were here for me to say goodbye to them." All of them were married off to other nations or had campaigns of their own. But perhaps she had been waiting for this perfect moment to go. It meant less heartache. She might be able to resist one of her children but not all of them begging for her not to do this.

"At least let me give you an escort if you must."

Hakuno shook her head. "I do not need an escort." She looked at the doorway and smiled as Enkidu walked in.

They, not being a mortal being, had not aged a day. Their green hair was still vibrant, their movement quick, their wit still about them. However, their eyes showed the passage of time. All that they had seen by Gilgamesh's and Hakuno's side.

"I'm sorry I took so long Hakuno. I got a horse ready for our trip."

"Of course we have to use a horse." Hakuno sighed.

"For old times sake." Enkidu walked over to her side and gently picked her up. "It was nice playing with you when you were a child Nungal."

"You too Enkidu. You were always a sibling to me." Nungal stood and bowed low.

"Bah. My old back cannot handle a bow anymore." Urash tilted his head in her direction.

Hakuno laughed. "I expect to see you soon Urash."

"Please. Ekur clutched to life way longer than a mortal man should. I am following in his footsteps."

As they walked through the hallways of the palace for the last time, guards and slaves paused what they were doing to bow at the passing Queen. It was never stated but everyone knew what this meant. The same occurred for Gilgamesh two years ago.

Hakuno's old bones creaked and protested the horse-ride but she did not complain. She would admit, this last horse ride was sort of fun after all.

"Do we want to stop by Gula's temple before we go?"

She shook her head. "Gula knows I'm coming. She does not need my prayers."

As they passed through the city, the citizens stopped and bowed. The loss of the previous Queen would be felt but the current King and Queen were capable. Uruk would be in good hands.

"We'll be there in half a day," said Enkidu as they shifted the horse into a run once they were beyond the walls of Uruk.

As Gilgamesh neared his death, Enkidu had begun to panic. As a creature of the gods, they did not age so they could not die from old age. Hakuno had pointed out that Enkidu could have watched over their children but Enkidu refused the notion. They did not want to be in the world if Gilgamesh and Hakuno were not in it.

Hakuno had went to Gula's temple and prayed. And for the first time since her announcement of Ishtar's loss, Gula herself had appeared before Hakuno. She stated the Gods would allow Enkidu death as they were the ones that gave them life. And due to Enkidu not having a choice of coming to life, Enkidu had the choice of when they would die.

"We're here Hakuno." Enkidu stopped the horse and carefully helped Hakuno off. They removed the reigns and gave the horse a harsh slap on the butt to send it running. "Hopefully it survives long enough to be found by a solider. It's a fine horse."

"You do not have to go with me Enkidu. You can stay here. Stay alive."

Enkidu shook their head. "I do not need it and I do not wish to have it without either of you there. Here it is."

A tree stood tall and proud. There was nothing there to distinguish it from the others around it but perhaps it was better this way. It was a cedar tree, she realized once Enkidu set her down before it. She laid there and looked up into the canopy.

Enkidu laid down next to her and held her hand. "I'll be here until you go. Then I'll be there as well," they promised.

Hakuno nodded and closed her eyes. Her life had been long and fulfilling. It was worth it. Every bit of it, the struggle, the friendships and the love she had. She would not wish for anything. Well, perhaps an adventure with Gilgamesh and Enkidu again when they were young, but that time was long past.

"You kept me waiting long enough you know. Seriously, the Underworld is not a fun place by yourself."

Hakuno opened her eyes and smiled up at her King and his grumpy expression. "I'm glad you learned patience." She patted him on the cheek and sat up.

And almost fell over as Enkidu hugged her from behind.

"Wow, the Gods blessing to you worked fast," she commented. "I was expecting more of a delay."

"I'm sorry we kept you waiting Gil."

"See! At least Enkidu is thinking of me!"

Hakuno laughed and stood. "Well, shall we go? We have an Underworld to experience and I think it would be quite interesting to meet Ereshkigal."

"Of course you would think so," Gilgamesh said with a sigh. "Anyway, follow me."

Hakuno put her hand in Gilgamesh's and her other in Enkidu and they walked towards the Underworld.

Together.