As Enlil spoke, Namtar turned his face to watch and something in Ereshkigal's heart softened. He was watching his father, and his father was watching him, and neither of them knew it. And were it only Enlil's feelings involved, she might be tempted to keep the truth of it to herself. He was an adult, capable of dealing with hurt feelings in his own way.
But Namtar, her son, his heartache and pain she would feel herself. Even when he was grown and able to handle it himself, she would feel it. And life would give him enough of it without her adding to it. She would not shelter her child, he would never learn to be the man he must be if she taught him nothing of how the world worked. But this, this did not have to be part of that.
"This is my son," she told Enlil. Then realizing that admission did not necessarily negate her twin's participation, she added, "Mine, but not Enki's."
She swallowed, then looked up to meet Enlil's eyes with a level gaze. "His name is Namtar." Soon, she would tell him all. Soon. But she wanted him to get to know the boy first. To appreciate him, and what he meant to Ereshkigal, before his urge to lay claim took hold.