Surprise? [ancient, ancient, ANCIENT times] (tag: Enlil)
Ereshkigal smiled with a gentleness that very few would believe her capable of. But then very little in her life, since Kur had stolen her away, had inspired such a reaction. Which she did not regret, as it gave her the independence and autonomy that she craved above all else, but that did not mean hers was an easy life. Fulfilling and wonderful, yes, but not easy, though she could never regret that. What Kur had done had changed her life for the better.
And now her life had changed again. And nothing could have prepared her for how she would feel, what it would do to her. And absolutely nothing could have been better. Nothing.
Her gentle smile turned to a soft laugh as the small creature in her arms blinked at the brightness. It was the first time she'd brought Namtar out of Irkalla, to the middle lands between her realm and the Heights Above. It had been just under half a year since his birth, and though Ereshkigal had tried to prepare him, it was all still new for him. It was the first time he'd seen sunshine, and he looked about with such wonder and discovery in his eyes, Ereshkigal loved him all the more for it, even though she hadn't thought it possible.
Her son. Her child. He was a miracle, and a joy, and so much more. Things that she could never fully put into words now resided in her heart, and Ereshkigal knew that she was happy. She had been satisfied with her life, but had she truly been happy? Perhaps. But this was different. It was on a different level of emotion, and it showed on her face.
They were settled under a tree near a marshy area. She wanted to be certain that Namtar didn't get burned on his first day out in the sun, and the dappled light coming through the trees seemed to be about as much brightness as he could stand anyway. There would be other days, in the future, to get used to other things.
“What do you think, my clever little man?” she asked him, waiting for his quietly babbled response. Lately it had seemed that he was trying to emulate conversation, rather than just making noise to be heard. He would make his adorable little sounds, then look to her as though anticipating a response.
“Yes, it's quite big and bright, isn't it?” Ereshkigal continued. She did not care in the least that his reply was unintelligible. It was happy, as evidenced by the pleased squeal at the end, and that was the only thing that truly mattered to her. “This is a treat, now and then we shall visit, and perhaps see your uncle Enki. But not today, I think. Today shall be just between parent and child. That is perfect. Just like you.”