Garden of the Lion and the Dove

Chapter 1

Gilgamesh was bored.

He shifted on his throne as he listened to another peasant from his kingdom plead his case about how the locusts were eating the crops. He rested his head in his hand as the peasant droned on and on. When he was finally done yapping, the king issued an order that the problem would be dealt with and the peasant should go home and leave it to him. After thanking him profusely the peasant left and Gilgamesh got to his feet before the next one could be brought in.

"Listen to the rest of them for me. I will be in the gardens if I am required to be present," he commanded.

Ekur, his baru, and most trusted diviner bowed as low as his old back would allow him. "Yes  my King."

Gilgamesh left the audience chamber without another word. He stepped into the inner gardens where he kept all of the lush plants he had collected over the years. There were a couple of pools and fountains scattered here and there in the garden. He had gotten the best crafts smiths to design them to his liking. A couple of slaves were tending to the garden but when they saw their king they scurried away.

He began slowly walking through the garden and took in the sights and smells. Maybe he should get some animals put in here as well. A lion might be too much but maybe some deer? Then he would need to worry about where he stepped. Better not then.

Reaching the first of many stone seats that were scattered around, he sat down and closed his eyes. It was a pretty nice day, not blistering hot yet. Maybe the gods were in a good mood today.

He was beginning to doze off when he heard the sound of yelling coming from nearby. He cracked open an eye, now incredibly annoyed. A figure was running in his direction.

Without thinking, he stuck out his foot and the figure tripped over it and fell to the ground.

The king got to his feet and grabbed the person's arm before whoever it was could scurry away again. He paused as the figure turned back to look at him. Or safe to say, when the woman turned back to look at him. She was clad in a ragged simple dress. Her long dark brown hair fell to her mid-back and had definitely seen better days. She was skinny to the point that it was obvious she was not eating well enough. Her face though was what the King focused on. Dark brown eyes gazed up at him, full of defiance. Her facial structure was odd, nothing like had ever seen before. Where in the land was this woman from?

"So where are you going?" he purred. He could hear the yelling of his guards from behind him.

The woman had none of his teasing. Her leg shot out and connected with Gilgamesh's only weak spot. He released her in surprise and hunched over from the pain. "Well you are feisty," he said through gritted teeth.

The woman scramble to her feet and made to run. However, he had delayed her enough that the guards had been able to catch up and they were able to grab her and pin her to the ground.

"My King," spoke one of the guards when he noticed Gilgamesh hunched over on the ground. "Are you alright?"

"I'm alright," replied Gilgamesh. He recovered enough to stand up. He looked down at the woman. Despite the fact that she probably had realized he was the King, she still glared up at him with those huge brown eyes of hers.

"My King. We found this woman raiding the storehouse and we gave chase when she began running. I am sorry you were injured because of her. We will have her taken to the court to be punished."