Months after returning to Uruk, my life continued with total normality,
but this time, with my great friend accompanying me in all my decisions and
problems of the empire. Thanks to Enkidu I also learned to improve my
relationship with the people and empathize more with them. To be honest, I did
not expect such a change, because they began to look at me just as they did
with my father when he was king. I no longer saw those expressions of fear in
their eyes, but I could see the admiration they felt for me.
Enkidu and Shamhat finally decided to make their wedding official, as
these two loved each other more and more, and I became more and more proud of
them. Surprisingly, they decided that I should be the one to bless them at the
altar. Of course, my surprise did not come from Enkidu, as I expected this from
him due to our friendship, but rather I was surprised that Shamhat had agreed.
She couldn't stand me for a long time, although I think this decision is due to
my sudden change.
The wedding day was spectacular, music was playing everywhere and people
were celebrating like crazy. I offered them the greatest luxuries of the
empire, the best cooks and the most competent organizers, all to give Enkidu a
wedding worthy of the king's brother. I not only ordered the inhabitants of
Uruk to attend, but also all of Babylon, since I felt that everyone should be
present at their wedding.
To follow the tradition of my people, if the husband had a brother, he
had to accompany him in all his grooming, as well as helping him trim his beard
and comb his hair. Therefore, if you do not have it, you must choose your best
comrade for this task, luckily for Enkidu I was both. The same thing happened
with women, only a woman could be present in another's preparations, and never
someone of the opposite gender. These things were done more than anything to avoid
possible infidelity at the time of the wedding, both on the part of men and
women, since infidelity was an unforgivable sin in the eyes of the gods.
Although knowing how much Enkidu and Shamhat loved each other, I know this was
never going to happen.
—What excitement! —Enkidu exclaimed as he helped him with the
arrangements. There was only one hour left to join the wife and the others at
the sacred shrine of Anu.
"Don't worry... Everything will be fine," I tried to reassure
him a little.
—And you, Gilgamesh, when will you find love?
—Loving a woman has never been one of my priorities.
—So, what is your dream? What do you aspire to? —he asked me again.
—Now that I think about it, my brother, I have not the slightest idea. I
would like to be immortal, continue with my life and my luxuries forever. But
apart from this, I don't aspire to anything, I don't like to think so much
about the future, but rather I focus more on living in the moment and enjoying
myself.
—I believe that your destiny is to be a great king, Gilgamesh.
After this little talk, we proceeded with trimming his beard. From being
so big that it reached her chest, she had now become small, elegant and
youthful. We also trimmed her hair a little, to polish her look before the big
moment. His appearance changed greatly, as if ten years had been taken off his
age.
—Incredible! I will be the most attractive man at the entire event.
"When I'm dead, maybe," I answered proudly.
After completing her arrangement, we were transported in a luxurious
golden carriage to the sanctuary, where the wife and guests were waiting for
us. Just by entering through the door, Enkidu became very nervous, because in
front of him he had the woman of his life, this time more beautiful than ever.
Suddenly, a river of tears arose in his eyes, because the happiness could be
seen in his eyes from miles away.
"She's beautiful..." he told me excitedly as he placed his
hand on my back.
—I know you will take good care of her, Enkidu.
All the guests knelt when they saw me passing through the great hall
next to Enkidu, as the king was passing, and forgetting the true protagonist of
that day, they made that gesture. This bothered me quite a bit, since they were
ruining Enkidu's moment, so I ordered everyone to sit down with a wave of my
hand.
—It's okay, Gilgamesh. It is normal for them to kneel, after all, you
are the king of the most powerful empire in the world - luckily, he was not
offended by that gesture of the guests.
Already at the altar, Enkidu and Shamhat stand face to face, holding
hands and staring into each other's eyes. I had to give them the blessing, so I
also had to make the preparations.
—Enkidu, do you swear on your life before the gods that you will
protect, love and respect Shamhat for all eternity? —I began the ceremony,
since Enkidu was getting impatient.
-Yeah!
—Shamhat, do you swear on your life before the gods that you will
protect, love and respect Enkidu for all eternity?
-Yeah! —she also accepted.
The two kissed passionately while the entire audience applauded. But at
that moment, I noticed two quite disrespectful guys in the crowd, they were
laughing at my comrade and his wife. This lack of respect made me very angry,
therefore, I decided to approach them and punish them.
—What do you think is so funny?
"Nothing, sir..." answered one of them.
"Gilgamesh, leave them!" —exclaimed Enkidu from the altar.
—These two unfortunates are laughing at you!
"They're not worth it, brother," he continued trying to defend
them.
Annoyed by this lack of respect, I grabbed one of those boys by the neck
and began to beat him brutally, to the point of falling unconscious.
-For! —Enkidu shouted as he tried to get me away from them—. You're
going to ruin my day!
—Enough, Enkidu! "I won't hurt them anymore, but let me go," I
said, trying to calm myself.
He let go of me instantly, trusting my word. At the same time, the boy
was bleeding to death on the floor from so many hard blows I gave him. However,
I was not satisfied with the performance of those two, and I still didn't know
the reason for their mockery.
—Answer! What did you think was so funny?
"We will tell the truth, great Gilgamesh, but I beg you to have
mercy," answered the other boy who was still standing.
—Okay, I won't kill you. However, rest assured that if you lie, then I
will give you the worst of deaths.
The public watched the scene in terror, fearing for the boy who was
lying in a pool of blood on the ground. Shamhat also looked very worried, and
on her face I could see some hatred that she felt for me at that moment.
Meanwhile, Enkidu stayed by my side to avoid anything.
"We were laughing at them, sir," the boy who was still intact
said again.
—Of them, why? —I asked.
—Because at the time we thought they were funny, sir. He is a savage,
while she is a cheap prostitute hiding under the guise of a priestess.
His response made me extremely angry, but since I had promised not to
kill them, I avoided losing control. I looked at Enkidu who was clenching his
teeth tightly, I guess it was his way of calming down and not doing something
crazy right on his wedding day. We both looked towards the altar, where Shamhat
was still standing, who had lowered his head because of the shame he felt in
front of everyone.
"The savage and the prostitute..." I breathed deeply so as not
to lose control. This savage is my brother, and Shamhat is no prostitute, she
is the most talented priestess that Babylon has, the only one capable of making
all the gods hear our prayers.
"Gilgamesh, let them go!" Shamhat shouted from the altar.
Please!
—Where are your parents? —They both seemed quite young, therefore, I
assumed that their parents must still be alive somewhere.
"We are brothers, sir," answered the boy, while the other
still did not get up from the ground. Our mother works for you at the palace,
she's probably there right now cleaning.
—Well... And your father? —In those moments of anger, my head only
thought of the most twisted revenge possible.
—Our father is a prestigious warrior in his army.
It was a shame that parents also have to pay the consequences of their
children's immature acts, however, it was part of my revenge, and my pride
could not be affected in front of so many people.
"I'll tell you what we'll do..." I told the boy. You and your
brother will go to prison for 100 years, basically longer than you will live.
You will be tortured daily, and you will eat only once a week.
"Gilgamesh, no..." Enkidu whispered to me, disagreeing with my
decision.
I looked back at the altar, where Shamhat was still embarrassed without
raising her head. So I decided to ignore Enkidu and continue with the
punishment.
—I will send your father to the most dangerous forests of Sumeria,
unarmed and without tools. We will see if he can become a savage like Enkidu,
capable of surviving all the dangers that nature offers.
"But sir..." the boy was about to cry, and only regret for
that tasteless mockery could be seen on his face.
—I'm not done! —I exclaimed—. I will send your mother to the army camps
to work as a prostitute. There he will have to satisfy thousands of soldiers
exhausted from their training, who at the end of the day, long to sleep with a
woman more than anything.
The boy couldn't take it anymore and began to cry uncontrollably. The
crowd looked on in distress, clearly disagreeing with my harsh words. I could
also see the disappointed expression on Enkidu's face, because it seemed that,
after all, he had not changed as much as they thought.
—Don't you dare! Shmahta screamed, approaching me angrily. Their parents
are not to blame for the actions of these idiots!
"Shamhat, they disrespected you on your wedding day," I said,
confused, since I thought I had done the right thing. However, I understood
that what is correct has a very fine line that not everyone would break.
—Do what you want with them, but leave it to the parents!
"You are right, brother," Enkidu joined the conversation.
"Okay..." I responded to please them. They will continue to
have the punishment that I imposed on them, but I will leave the parents alone,
they will continue with their same jobs.
—Take them away from here! —I ordered the guards.
"Thank you very much, Gilgamesh," Enkidu spoke again. There was no need
to order such an unpleasant idea that you proposed.
—What a disaster of a wedding! —She could no longer hold back her
tears.
—All because of these unfortunates! —I still thought that they were the
main people responsible for this event.
—It's their fault?! Shamhat complained. It's your fault, Gilgamesh!
—Mine, why?
—You always put on a show! It was enough to ask them to leave the
sanctuary, but no... You want to be the center of attention even at your best
friend's wedding.
—Enough, both of you! exclaimed Enkidu. Let's not extend the show, all
the people are watching.
I looked sadly at Enkidu, I could see that he was still disappointed
because of me. Shamhat didn't even look at me, he hated me more than ever at
that moment. Therefore, I decided to withdraw from the wedding, because I
realized what I had done, and the damage I caused them by ruining the most
special day for them. I didn't want to continue spoiling what was left of the
wedding, so I returned to the palace with my head bowed, while guilt consumed
my heart. What hurt me the most was that Enkidu hadn't even tried to stop me, I
think deep down he wanted me to leave.