Just after the poem of Nabonidus, a terrible sadness fell on each of them, no one could move, no one could speak, it was like a vision was shown to them, it felt like their souls left them, it fainted them.
everyman could feel their lives play on a mirror, as flashes of their cruelty was shown to them again, but all this is possible because of a poem from Nabonidus.
King Sargon looks at the crowd, seeing grown men with tears on their eyes, he knew he had escaped today's cruelty and failure from the hands of those that do not understand the burden to rule.
So king Sargon open his mouth and said, "this is the man that bribed the executioner."
Everyone began looking at each other, refusing to believe that it was Nabonidus, a man shouted from the crowd [man] "who is he?"
Nabonidus replies, "it is I... It is I who bribed the executioner," speaking with a broken voice creating resistance as though he doesn't want to speak.
a man spoke from the crowd [man] "why did you do it?"
Nabonidus replies "after the death of kalumtum, I felt bad in a way, I was devastated, for some reason I felt weak like I could have done something to save him.
my king, pardon my tongue, but I found the death of kalumtum unjust...
King Sargon interrupts him "well then, what should we do to him, seeing that he has agreed to such a thing?" Everyone was afraid to speak, so as to avoid being in thesame position as Gilgamesh Sakkanakku, so the hall went silent.
King Sargon resting his hands on Nabonidus shoulder, shouted "we are done here."
Everyone left the kings hall quietly, as though shame was set on them all, leaving only Nabonidus with king Sargon.
King Sargon began pacing around and talking to himself, then he suddenly stops and said "what should I do with you Nabonidus?
although I had previously thought I needed to do away with Gilgamesh, but right now, I don't know anymore, I can't get angry at what you have done, neither do I truly know the reason for such an action"...
Nabonidus interrupts the king "neither do I"
"pardon?" The king said.
Nabonidus continues "neither do I, I just couldn't shake that feeling of me, something lead me to doing it, you know... trying to bribe the gods,"
King Sargon replies, "oh Nabonidus, what you did had no effect, you should have most likely sat down at home,"
"what do you mean my king" Nabonidus interjects.
king Sargon continues "the executioner mentioned it to me, it wasn't the time for Gilgamesh to die, he new it but just went ahead...
Well, I must allow you to go, but go with this Nabonidus, for some reason you are now a part of something tremendous, you must play your hand by all means."
Nabonidus quietly walks away, leaving the kings hall, feeling extremely terrible towards himself.
When it was dark Nabonidus carried himself so that he could drink strong drinks, just by the way side he finds Gilgamesh Sakkanakku, drunk and extremely exhausted with rags all over him like a master of disguise.
Nabonidus looks around and carefully picks him up, whiles speaking to him in the process.
"Is been over three months since you disappeared, and I find you like this? What is this even, upon all the people that could possibly find you, why me?, [scuffs] I guess this is me playing my hand."
He then took Gilgamesh Sakkanakku to his home, where he cared for him.
Gilgamesh Sakkanakku will not speak to Nabonidus, he stayed silent and quite, this went on for a few more days, it was just in an out for Nabonidus, until it happened.
Gilgamesh Sakkanakku spoke, "why are you helping me Nabonidus?"
Nabonidus replies, "Because it is the only sane thing to do, at least you are not a fugitive, you where cleared by the gods...
"Don't speak about the gods, especially not to me," Gilgamesh Sakkanakku interjects.
"but the gods have kept you thus far," Nabonidus replies.
"Then they should kill me, why take me through so much pain, if their desire is to keep me alive?" Gilgamesh Sakkanakku responds.
Nabonidus looks at him and said, "you lack alot of knowledge, and you still do not need to know, even now you are not in your right mind, maybe I should have left you there...
"To die? You would have done me much favor, I have been living like that ever since, anywhere I find myself I wake up and look for a strong drink, I did search your house but I couldn't find any strong drink here," Gilgamesh Sakkanakku interrupts.
Nabonidus replies, "that's because I quit drinking some years ago,"
Gilgamesh Sakkanakku scuffs, and replies Nabonidus, "it is because of a woman, it is always because of a woman,"
Nabonidus replies, "yes it is because of a woman: she would drink like a man and come home late, she would curse anything that stood in her way.
I had always wondered why she act in such a way, I do not have a memory of her playing with me or caring for me, once, she came back home drunk and exhausted, staggering with each step she took.
My father was tired of always seeing her in such a way, he wouldn't have it anymore, so they fought, in her despair she reach out for a knife, just in a moment, no one could explain, the knife was driven through her chest, [scuffs] you know, at that point drunkenness disappear.
at least that is what I think, (Nabonidus voice broke more and more as he explains and talks with Gilgamesh Sakkanakku)
my father simply let her fall to the ground, I can't forget the sound of her body falling to the ground, that woman was my mother and that was the day I left home."
Gilgamesh Sakkanakku looks at Nabonidus softly as though he wants to apologize but couldn't find the right words because he is too broken to speak out loud, saying I apologize at that point will break his character, even though he isn't acting, it will hurt him more to say it.
Nabonidus continues to speak, "Gilgamesh, you are not the only one in despair, I still do not know if my father is alive or dead, but I know one thing, I died the day my mother died, not because she didn't care for me, because she brought me into this world, I don't even know what I am saying.
But, it is not in my place to hate her, now that I am this older, I have learnt to love her more, I owe her a poem... Gilgamesh, forgive yourself, forgive everyone that hurt you, including the king, and since your quarrel is with the gods, forgive them as well, and see what will become of it".
Gilgamesh Sakkanakku looks at Nabonidus and said, "why don't you write a poem for your mother now?
You will play it openly in the woods, where the winds move like the wave of the sea,
even the trees are carried by the wind, and when they hear you, they will dance at the magnificence of your voice,
They will awe in the sadness of your tone, they will succumb to the stillness of your soul.
The flowers amidst them will die for the sake of love, the earth will mourn for the sake of indifference, and the oceans close by will sing a new song to the sailors at sea, and the birds that hear you today, will have a new story to tell."
Nabonidus looks at Gilgamesh Sakkanakku with teary eyes, then he spoke, "I did not know you had this in you,"
Gilgamesh Sakkanakku replies, "a broken man should at least have wisdom for himself,"
"then why where you drinking? Shouldn't a wise man know better than to put himself in stupor?" Nabonidus responds.
Then Gilgamesh Sakkanakku replies, "a wise man is one that learns everyday,"
he said so looking at Nabonidus in a suspicious way, like he is expecting him to know that he has just acquired a new knowledge from him, and it is to stay away from drinking.
Nabonidus began laughing and said, "alas Gilgamesh, alas. So am I expecting you back at the kings court, your presence is missed, and you have several responsibilities.
Gilgamesh Sakkanakku replies, "I am not sure they need me, but yes, I will be returning to the king,"
Nabonidus responds quickly and said, "the king wants you back, he has been restless without you, I think his conscience is guilty, anyways, they have been rumors about you, some say you had gone mad for real,"
Gilgamesh Sakkanakku replies, "I did not know I was important to him, if I was, yhen why did he try to kill me? anyways, I understand, he was scared, however, my friend, we must go now so I can hear you make a poem, so the soul of your mother can rest."