Full Circle

Buffy spent nearly five months searching all the lands surrounding Eridu. While flying in falcon form, she was able to make out the borders of Marduk’s realm clearly. Nearly one hundred miles to the east of Eridu stood mammoth stone markers engraved with an ‘M’ rune as well as the image of a ram. The Slayer’s excitement grew when she realized that she had entered the renegade Vala’s realm. Much to her relief she would discover that only one city lay close to her own, Lagash, the rest were located several hundred miles northeast of her own little kingdom. Apparently, Marduk had marked off the area when Melkor forced him to surrender a portion of his lands to Illyria. Buffy was puzzled by the fact that her firstborn was not given control of the sixth and last city in that region.

When she came upon his great cities in the north, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy; they were magnificent and strange, rolled into one. The Slayer’s animosity towards the Vala only increased when she noticed that he had a lot more mortals under his command than she. Her newfound envy, together with the humiliation that she had experienced at the hands of Marduk, fueled her determination to defeat the renegade Vala, to defeat him and seize all that he possessed.

In falcon form, she entered all Marduk’s cities unnoticed, including his chief one, Nippur. Buffy was delighted that she managed to find and speak with several of the Valkyries. They were doing a fabulous job of sleeping their way to the top of the power chain. None in Marduk’s regime had a clue that the fair mortal maidens that had fled the wars in the south were actually the Maia spies of Inanna Ishtar. So captivating was their beauty that they easily ensnared those in high government positions. Already, the ladies had obtained a great deal of information regarding the goings-on in those parts.

When Buffy learned exactly what Marduk was up to, she was left completely dumbfounded. Evidently, the Vala was known for his great ‘scientific’ abilities. He had established a huge ‘research center’ in Nippur where he conducted bizarre experiments on the mortals. While he did some good, such as teaching man the art of healing, he also did things that were shocking and revolting. Marduk had successfully managed to splice human DNA with animal DNA, creating new horrid-looking species that Buffy remembered from mythology. She had always assumed that centaurs, satyrs, sphinxes and so forth were creatures created from the opium-induced imagination of some writer from ancient times. However, that was not the case, not at all. It appeared that those old tales were rooted in truth after all. It bothered her greatly that Marduk was playing ‘God.’

Since she wasn’t ready to confront the renegade Vala just yet, she focused her energies on finding more territories to add to her domain. She liked four areas north of Eridu best, due to their strategic locations to Marduk’s cities and the abundant natural resources that they offered. Potable water, rich soil, and access to a navigable river (the Buranun) were major factors in choosing those locations.

Constructing the new cities moved up on Buffy’s list of priorities. While she had no intention to halt the building of Eru’s temple, she felt that all would be better served if some of those laborers were dispersed to those other regions so that they could be fortified quicker. Besides, there were far too many people in Eridu attempting to work on the temple; their presence only slowed down the process.

As soon as Buffy got back, she summoned the councilors and leaders from all the races to a meeting. Once she had explained to them her intentions, the engineers began to work on the designs of the new city-states. Much to her chagrin, the dwarves demanded another (greater) payment for their services. The Slayer was so anxious for the building to begin that she readily gave in to their demands although she kicked herself for not utilizing the Brisingamen in her negotiations. A few days later, thousands upon thousands of laborers were transported to their various destinations.

The mortals that remained in Eridu begged Buffy to let them erect a temple in her honor. The gesture touched her deeply; she didn’t hesitate to grant her approval. Man, unaided by the other races, then began constructing the holy dwelling for the Slayer across the courtyard from the temple of Eru. While all the building was taking place, Buffy retreated to Folkvang in order to fulfill her obligations as the Fëantári. When she had finished her task of deciding man’s fate, she began working on a new project in Marto’s forges.



It was four years later when the Slayer finally returned to Eridu. Kit and Kat had come to Folkvang and brought her back to the chief city of Sumer in the new chariot that Marto had made. Since the death ray of Humbaba had damaged the old one, the Maia took it upon himself to build a new one for his mistress. The new gold covered cart no longer bore the image of the cross, only the eight-rayed star.

Buffy’s arrival was marked by a great celebration. Both temples in Eridu had finally been completed. She looked upon Eru’s temple and saw that it was exactly as she had envisioned it, except for a banner with a red cross that flew high above the structure. She decided to overlook that icon, as the temple was the most beautiful thing that she had ever laid eyes on; it was spectacular. She blessed the sacred halls, naming them Eanna, which meant ‘House of Eru’ in Sumerian. The Oracles, at the command of Ilúvatar, set up their high seats in the centermost chamber beneath the glass-domed roof. From that position, one could see the multi-leveled galleries that encircled the room along with the many sweeping stairways. Everything was constructed from white marble. Long corridors led to a series of different chambers. ‘Cult rooms’ were made for the visitors to ‘worship’ privately with Buffy’s priestesses. At the rear of the building, there was a splendid porch where a cascade of water formed three of the ‘walls.’ Marto called it the ‘cooling terrace,’ as the water flowed from an aqueduct along the roof’s edge keeping that area consistently cool. It would become a favorite gathering place during the dog days of summer. Lavish gardens and fragrant trees surrounded the mammoth temple, courtesy of the Green-elves. The Vala of Love coveted that temple, for her own was not as lovely as Eru’s.

Man had constructed a ziggurat in honor of Buffy across the courtyard from Eanna. While looking upon the imposing structure, her dwelling place, she did her best to conceal her displeasure. It immediately brought to mind the torments that she had suffered long ago in the mystical pyramid. She couldn’t imagine why mankind would build something that caused her such anguish by its sight alone. She hated it. It was not what she was expecting. As the mortals gave her the grand tour, their enthusiasm and pride in accomplishing such a feat meant that the Slayer would have to live with her aversion of the temple. Yet, once alone in her private chambers, she looked out one of the windows only to see the splendor of Eanna gleaming brightly across the courtyard. She wept knowing that her temple would stand as a constant reminder of the pain that she had endured at the hands of Daehir. Not only that, but she now knew that Marduk was the power behind the vampire lord, the renegade Vala had ziggurats in his lands too.



Ten years later, the time had arrived to appoint new kings, governors and high priestesses to two of the four cities. Fifty miles north of Eridu, they had established the city-state, Ur. That area was located just south of the Buranun River and became the domain of Marto. Buffy appointed him chief god of that city and all were commanded to follow his word. The former cities of the Slayer’s followers (Admah, Zeboim, and Bela) that lay south of Marto’s realm had been deserted by the race of man during Dagor i Thelaith Thrynin. Out of those three cities, only one would be rebuilt in times to come: Bela, which the Slayer would rename Larsa. Thirty miles to the west of the vacated lands lay Buffy’s new city, Uruk. It was situated on the northern shores of the river and was within striking distance of Lagash. Only sixty miles separated it from Marduk’s city.

Only the Slayer had the authority to appoint kings and high priestesses. However, she did permit the kings to choose their own governors. All titles passed on in succession to the firstborn child of the officer, whether male or female. Since Orran’s eldest son was heir apparent to the throne in Eridu; his only daughter was befittingly proclaimed as the first queen of Uruk. His youngest son was made king of Ur.

Olofin’s city, Borsippa, was ready for the appointment of its rulers two years later. Buffy turned to the younger siblings of Orran’s father, Orrin, to fill the position as king of that city-state. The children were many and felt that they were entitled to hold prestigious titles in Sumer as well. The Slayer attempted to placate the descendants by offering them large allotments of land. That along with holding esteemed positions in the armies that she had begun to build seemed to appease them.

Borsippa was located about six hundred and twenty miles northwest of Uruk. Buffy had deliberately placed both Olofin’s and Luthor’s cities far from her own since they tended to disagree with her the most. While her son’s realm lay on the southern banks of the river, Luthor’s was positioned about thirty miles northeast on the opposite side of the stream. Both cities were within one hundred miles of Marduk’s chief city, Nippur.

Luthor’s city had not been completed to the point of appointing a king just yet. The Maia’s domain was the largest of all the new settlements, and also the most fertile. Instead of devoting his energies to erecting a massive stone city for his people, he formed smaller scattered townships first. Luthor taught the mortals the art of husbandry, (which he mastered during his time at the Deeper Well), and planted the first seeds in Sumer brought from Folkvang. In times to come, Kish would become renowned for agricultural production and the makers of the finest wine east of the Red Mountains. Because of Luthor’s eagerness to cultivate the lands, it would be four more years, Yr 184 F.A., before he sent word to Buffy that the time had arrived for her to choose a king for the Maia’s realm.

Now, the Slayer never forgot that vision that she had had nearly two decades ago regarding her affair with the first king of Kish. While she felt a certain amount of excitement as each city-state came into being, it also caused her to act aloof towards the mortals. In spite of that, over the years, she found herself becoming more lax in enforcing the law that restricted mankind from her holy cities. With the birth of so many children, Buffy was willing to bend the rule so that she could hear the laughter of the children as they played outside her doors. Yet she took it upon herself to restrict her interaction with mankind. Other than the priestesses in her service, no mortals ever saw her, except on Holy Days. She was determined to evade the will of Ilúvatar and assumed that by prohibiting mortal men from being in her company she would thwart the prophecy. Unfortunately, she would soon realize that none could outwit the Allfather, including her.

Buffy had received Luthor’s message one evening in late autumn. The following morning she left Eridu in falcon form for the long journey north. She chose to go in the guise of a bird so that she could fly over her kingdom and see the fruits of her labor. While airborne, the Slayer kept assuring herself that all she had to do was to go to Kish and proclaim one of the wise sons of Doran (second son of Orrin, son of Brolach) as king, and then return home. She would grant Luthor the power of placing the scepter in the future king’s hand on New Year’s Day. All kings ascended the throne on the first day of the year. Following that logic, she would be able to limit her contact with the mortals in that region and flee the area before something could happen.

As Buffy neared her destination, she saw men harvesting the final crops of the season: barely, soybeans and wheat. The fragrant smell of the freshly cut grasses along with her weariness from traveling enticed her to descend from the sky and take refuge in a tree near to where the men were busily cutting the tall stalks with their sickles. The Slayer perched herself on a limb in one of the topmost branches of the tree. She cocked her head to the side and observed the ‘gardeners’ hard at work. Buffy’s heart went aflutter when her keen eye fell upon a tall, broad shouldered, black-haired young man that stood much taller than the others - Sharru-kin. He was by far the most magnificent looking man that she had ever set eyes upon in her whole life. He was much more handsome in the flesh than in her dream. A warm, tingly sensation swept over he body; she was instantly smitten. From that moment on, she desired nothing else but the young mortal. All thoughts of her mission went out the window. Instead, she watched Sharru-kin toil in the fields throughout the duration of the day, contemplating her next move.

All the land lay shrouded in darkness after the sun sank behind Orocarni. Buffy had decided to visit the young man in his dreams as he had done to her years ago. After situating herself on a tree limb outside his bedroom window, she waited impatiently for Sharru-kin to become overcome with sleep. Little did she know that her life was about to change dramatically once she had encountered the mortal of her dreams. When she noticed his deep, steady breathing, the Slayer closed her own eyes and focused all her powers on the young man…

Buffy was amazed to find herself standing amongst tall stalks of wheat beneath a sun-lit sky. She stood there for a moment, honing in on the young man’s whereabouts. She pushed her way through the towering stalks until she came upon a clearing beside a large lake. There, at the water’s edge, sat Sharru-kin. He must have sensed her presence, for he immediately turned around and watched the Slayer as she made her way towards him. With his mouth agape, he rose to his feet and approached her. By the look on his face, the young man undoubtedly knew who she was.

When only a couple of feet separated them, Sharru-kin fell onto bended knee and said, “Greetings, o’ most Holy One.” His dark eyes looked at Buffy in reverence. While he had seen her from afar in the past, he never expected to encounter the Goddess of Love face to face. “What an honor it is to be in your presence, my Lady.”

Buffy smiled as her heart pounded wildly in her chest. “What’s your name?” she asked, eager to know his true ‘birth’ name.

“I am called Etana, son of Latham, from the line of Brolach.”

His reply stunned the Slayer. “How is it that one from the noble line of Brolach tends the fields instead of taking his rightful place amongst the mighty in the heart of Kish?”

“Our lord, Sin, has granted to my father vast lands as his inheritance,” answered the young man, who remained on bended knee. “My mother is none other than Abida, one of your beloved priestesses.”

Buffy concealed her anger upon hearing that revelation. How dare Luthor, whom the mortals called Sin, permit one of her priestesses to marry. It was unlawful for any of them to take a husband unless decreed by the Vala of Love. It became apparent to the Slayer that Luthor was attempting to undermine her authority in his realm. That was something that she deemed unacceptable and inexcusable. Yet she put aside those hostile feelings towards the Maia, for now. Rather than dwelling on Luthor’s impertinence, her heart filled with joy knowing that Sharru-kin was a descendant of Brolach. There was no longer any need to enter the city of Kish for Buffy had found its future king on the outskirts of the stone city.

“Then your blood is much nobler than I originally perceived,” said the Slayer. “From this day forward, you shall be known as Sharru-kin, the future king of Kish.”

“That is indeed a lordly name and I will gladly take it,” answered the awe-stricken young man. “But is not the king supposed to be chosen from the House of Doran? I am from the House of Dalzell (third son of Orrin).”

“You are still a descendant from the line of Brolach, that’s all that matters.” Her smile widened. “Besides, only I can choose kings and I’ve made my choice.” Buffy took a step forward and placed her hand on Sharru-kin’s stubbly chin, lifting his face so that she could study him closely. He was so tall that while on bended knee, they came face to face. “Do you remember meeting me before, Sharru-kin?” The young man shook his head. “We met long ago… before you were born. Our destinies are intertwined.” She slid her hand to his cheek, caressing it gently. “It’s my desire to take you back to Eridu with me. There I’ll mold you into the greatest mortal king that ever set foot in Arda. Do you desire the same? Will you come with me?” she asked hopefully.

Sharru-kin gently took hold of the hand that hung at Buffy’s side. He clasped it between his own before pressing his lips to her flesh. Such an innocent and simple gesture awakened the amorous nature that had lain dormant within her for many years. “I will go with you to the ends of the world, my Lady. No greater honor could you bestow upon me.”

“That remains to be seen,” she replied coyly as she leaned in closer to the young man. The Slayer pressed her lips against his before whispering, “Wake up, my love. Wake up and come outside… ”

Buffy opened her eyes. She immediately changed into mortal form before leaping gracefully to the ground. A few minutes later, as she stood waiting impatiently at the entranceway, the door swung open and Sharru-kin emerged from his dwelling. He approached the Slayer and fell on bended knee out of respect for the Vala of Love.

“I have come, o’ beloved Inanna.”

Buffy’s heart was racing. As she passionately kissed the young mortal, Kit and Kat materialized with the chariot in tow. “Let me show you your kingdom, Sharru-kin,” she said, cupping his cheeks. “Let me show it to you as you’ve never seen it.” She took his hand and the young man rose to his feet. Together they climbed onto the chariot. The lions then started running on the ground before gradually rising into the moonlit sky. The Slayer stood at the helm of the cart clutching the front panel while Sharru-kin stood closely behind her, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other placed on top of her hand. The young man was amazed to see his future kingdom from the air. They spent a couple of hours sailing though the skies looking down upon Sharru-kin’s homeland.

When the tour was over, Kit and Kat vanished and reappeared at the courtyard between Eanna and her own temple, Zabalam, which meant ‘House Full of Brightness’ in the tongue of the mortals. The elves and Maiar that were on watch duty were flummoxed to see a mortal man in the company of the Slayer. They were also taken aback to see that the two did not hide their affection for one another.

Once inside her dwelling, she instructed her male servants to prepare a bath for Sharru-kin and to garb him in the finest linens. Despite the late hour, Buffy wanted to enjoy a decent meal with her lover before they retired to her bedchamber. While the cooks busied themselves in the kitchen preparing a roasted duck, the Slayer retreated to her private rooms and took a hot bath. She wanted that night to be perfect.

Buffy and Sharru-kin ate within the confines of her private chambers, not wanting any around to distract them. She learned much about the future king and the things that he enjoyed in life. His father had given up any claim to the throne when he took Abida as his bride. Since both had a love for nature, Luthor bestowed upon them a great deal of land for them to farm. They passed that same passion for growing things to their only child, Sharru-kin. The Slayer was shocked to learn that at his age, he had not yet taken a wife, which was custom in those parts. Not only that, but he had never taken a lover nor fathered any children. Buffy became more incensed at the Maia Lord, for he seemed to scoff at her laws in his own realm.

When the couple had finished eating, they left Zabalam and traveled through one of the underground passageways that led to Eanna. Buffy often took refuge within the Halls of Eru as she felt more at peace there and delighted in the beauty of the temple. Traveling by tunnel allowed her to avoid any awkward confrontations with the mortals who had poured their blood, sweat and tears into the building of her mammoth dwelling. Aside from that, the Slayer thought that it was most befitting for her and Sharru-kin to lose their virginity in the sanctity of Eru’s temple, since He was responsible for bringing them together.

“I marvel at the secrets concealed within these temples,” remarked the future king as they ascended a spiral stairway hidden inside the walls of the temple. “Do all the holy shrines have these underground passageways?”

“Yep. I had the Maiar dig a series of tunnels connecting all the important buildings in the city-states… even in Kish,” she answered, the scuffling sound of their soft soled shoes against the stone steps echoed in the dimly lit space. “I’m surprised you don’t know about them.” She glanced over her shoulder as she continued to climb the winding staircase. “Haven’t you ever been to the halls of your kinsmen? The passageways under their homes link to all the others.”

“This is the first that I’ve heard of it,” replied Sharru-kin dejectedly. He had been to his kinfolks’ dwellings on numerous occasions and not once was he told of secret passageways. His own mother failed to mention that as well and she was a priestess of Inanna! “Perhaps my kin deem that I am too young to know such things.”

“My ass!” exclaimed the Slayer, as they passed through a gigantic secret door that led to the suite of rooms that she claimed as her own. She closed the door that resembled an ornate mirror from within the chamber. Buffy faced the young man before continuing. “You’re way old enough to know. As the future king of Kish, you’ll know a hell of a lot more than they. I can promise you that.” She wrapped her arms around his waist before softly adding, “You’re special, Sharru-kin. I can see that. You’re nothing like the others, you’re better than they are. There’s an air of greatness about you. And soon, everyone will see that.”

“I hope that’s true.”

“Of course it is. Don’t underestimate the wisdom of Inanna for I’m a Vala and can perceive greatness in people.”

Sharru-kin pulled her into an embrace; Buffy rested her head against his chest. She smiled, listening to the rapid beating of his heart. “Do you believe in love at first sight?” asked the young man as he caressed her back affectionately.

“Most definitely.”

“Then you will not find it strange that I love you even though we’ve only just met,” said Sharru-kin as he lifted her chin, fixing his eyes on hers.

“No, not at all. I feel like I’ve known you forever… ” That warm, tingly sensation was becoming more pronounced. “I love you too.”

“It brings me great joy knowing that you feel the same,” he said before kissing Buffy passionately. His kiss was fiery, making her weak in the knees.

Sharru-kin scooped her up into his arms before carrying her to the bed. She allowed him to be the aggressor thinking that it would be good for him. That turned out to be a bad call on her part. Their first sexual encounter was nothing like she expected. Instead of mind-blowing sex, it was awkward and over way too fast to her liking. Thankfully, Sharru-kin was in the prime of his youth and their second time proved to be much better than the first.

Buffy lay in her sleeping lover’s arms, unable to fall asleep. For the first time in many years, she felt safe, content. The loneliness that had been consuming her was beginning to wane at long last. Nothing made her feel better than knowing that she could share anything with her young lover. The Slayer’s heart told her to trust Sharru-kin completely. And she did. How could she not? Sharru-kin was an agent of Ilúvatar, sent to aid her in her quest to tip the scales in good’s favor.

Yet, deep down, she wondered why she felt no remorse or regrets for betraying her wedding vows to Maglor. Here she was, a married woman, lying naked in the arms of a man that was not her husband. Was it possible to love two men at the same time? Or was Buffy attempting to rationalize her adulterous behavior?

No, she thought. I love Sharru-kin, no matter how creepy that may seem. Ilúvatar sent him to me. We’re meant to be together. I know it. I feel it.

In the end, she believed that her actions were the will of Ilúvatar. She was merely carrying out His wishes. Isn’t that what an obedient servant was supposed to do? As the sun rose in the east, Buffy finally drifted off to sleep.

It must be told that Sharru-kin’s parents were deeply dismayed when they discovered that their only child had gone missing from their home. Search parties sought for the young man but to no avail. Out of desperation, the grieving couple dispatched a messenger to Luthor, who upon hearing the news, visited Latham and his priestess bride at their homestead. The Maia was puzzled by the sudden disappearance of the gardener’s son. He believed that it warranted a visit to the Oracles.

Over the course of the next few weeks, word of the Slayer’s relationship with the future king of Kish began to spread throughout all of Sumer. The mortals were astounded that she took a personal interest in one from their own race. She had avoided contact with them for so long that many men of great stature and power in the various city-states envied the young man who had earned the Vala of Love’s favor. Eager were they to set eyes upon the ‘gardener’ who was plucked from the fields and placed on the throne.

Before leaving Kish, the rumor that Buffy had already chosen a young man from those parts to become king reached the ears of Luthor. The Maia was livid when he heard the news as he had hoped to appoint one from the line of Doran to the throne. When the kingdoms were set up, it was the chief god of that particular city-state’s responsibility to select the candidates for the kingship. The Slayer then chose which man or woman became ruler. Never before had she circumvented protocol. Until now. An angry Luthor had his men prepare a ship and he soon set sail down the Buranun River to the port outside of Eridu.

It was three weeks before the coronation, when the Maia had arrived at the sacred mount. Immediately, he headed to Zabalam in search of the Supreme God of Sumer. When Luthor entered the temple, he found one of Buffy’s High Priestesses sitting upon her throne.

“Where’s Bella?” he demanded as he approached the raven-haired beauty.

“Luthor, Luthor, Luthor,” began Rainë with a shake of her head. “You know very well that none are permitted to address Inanna by her ‘true’ elvish names. It’s forbidden!”

“I don’t give a damn… ”

“It’s her law. It would do you well to follow it, old man,” warned the Maia High Priestess. “Inanna is aware that you’ve been flouting her laws in Kish. Your disobedience will only lead to woe.”

“Where is she, Rainë?” asked the enraged old man. “I did not travel all this way to hear your disparaging remarks! Bella has taken one of my people hostage… ”

“Hostage?” she queried with a laugh. “Sharru-kin is no hostage. He is here on his own accord.”

“I speak of Etana, son of Latham, not this… this Sharru-kin,” he retorted.

The High Priestess did not conceal her amusement. “You are behind the times, Luthor. Sharru-kin is the one whom you call Etana… ”

The old man’s frustration was mounting. He roughly seized the High Priestess by the collar, yanking her from her seat, his eyes ablaze with fury. “I’m tired of playing your games. Tell me where she is, woman, or you shall feel my wrath!”

Rainë was terrified by Luthor’s brutish conduct. She had never seen him so angry. “She… she spends most of her time in Eanna. I’m sure you’ll find her there.”

After a long moment, he released his grip on the Valkyrie before leaving in a huff.

While Luthor was marching across the courtyard to Eanna, Buffy was indulging in one of her favorite pastimes: sex with Sharru-kin. When she wasn’t grooming the future king in the governing of his city-state, she was training with him in hand-to-hand combat. Their rigorous workouts were more like foreplay, for more often than not, they ended with carnal acts of some form or another.

Luthor found that gaining access to Buffy’s private quarters was not as easy as it once had been. Never before had he encountered so much security within a temple. He was an esteemed god of Sumer yet the Maiar guards waylaid him after he entered the holy shrine. The old man managed to bully his way to the topmost floor of the building where the Slayer’s private rooms were located. Once he had reached the top of the stairs, the Valkyries stationed there refused to allow him admittance into their mistress’ inner sanctum. The ladies knew that Buffy would be wroth if she were disturbed while enjoying her ‘downtime’ with her mortal lover.

“If you ladies do not let me pass, I’ll turn you all into boars,” threatened the old man, pointing his mystical scepter at the women. The Valkyries knew that Luthor spoke the truth, so they let him enter Buffy’s sanctuary. There he was met by even more of the Slayer’s guards, who were not so eager to let him go any further. A heated argument erupted outside Buffy’s bedchamber. Despite his aged appearance, the old man was deceptively strong; he literally forced his way into the bedroom.

A look of shock came to Luthor’s face when he saw the Slayer, glistening with sweat, straddling Sharru-kin, riding him like there was no tomorrow. He couldn’t believe it. He stood there, momentarily stunned, as the sound of the couple’s moaning and groaning filled the chamber.

“Bella!” he shouted. “What the hell are you doing?”

Buffy nonchalantly glanced over her shoulder, her lips curled into a wry smile. “I think that’s quite obvious,” she panted.

“Sin!” exclaimed an alarmed Sharru-kin. The unexpected arrival of the mighty god of Kish caused the blood to drain from both young man’s face and nether regions, which in turn, angered the Slayer.

“For Eru’s sake, make yourselves presentable,” barked the old man. He shielded his eyes the best he could, tossing a robe to the Slayer. It landed on her head. “I can’t believe you, Bella. Etana’s but a boy!”

She pulled on the robe as she climbed off her lover. “Not any more,” she chuckled breathlessly. “He’s all man.” She planted a kiss on Sharru-kin’s lips as the young man pulled the covers over his naked body. He didn’t know what else to do.

“He’s only fifteen!” exclaimed the furious old man. “He is a child!” The Maia’s face reddened with rage, his nostrils flared as he spoke. “If you wish to make a sport out of fornicating with mortals at least have the decency to bed men that are older.”

The Slayer tied the sash of her robe as she approached the fuming old man. “Where do you get off saying that?” she questioned in a bitter voice. “Look at him, Luthor. He’s no fucking boy. How many boys stand over six and a half feet tall and have facial hair? No, he’s a man through and through.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself… taking advantage of… ”

Buffy cut him off. “He is of legal age!” she protested. “Need I remind you that we all decided that mortals reach adulthood at thirteen!”

“You decided, and coerced the rest of us into agreeing with you.” The Maia’s eyes bore into the Slayer’s. “Get dressed, Etana,” ordered Luthor, his gaze never leaving Buffy’s. The young man started to get out of bed. He loved Luthor dearly and feared incurring the Maia Lord’s wrath.

Buffy motioned for her lover to stop. “Don’t you move a muscle, Sharru-kin,” she commanded through gritted teeth. Her eyes remained fixed on Luthor. The terrified young man froze on the spot. The quarrel between the two Ainur left him reeling with confusion. “How dare you come into my halls and make demands… ”

“Your halls?” queried an appalled Luthor with raised eyebrows. “This temple was dedicated to Eru and all are welcomed here. Eanna may be your design, but it’s open to all, including me!”

“Not my private rooms.”

Luthor fell silent for a few moments, his chest heaving from the verbal sparring. He bit his bottom lip, attempting to regain his composure. “Your behavior is outrageous!” he chastised in a low voice. “What gives you the right to sneak into my realm and abscond with one of my people from his home in the dead of night?”

Buffy glared at the Maia. With each passing second, the tension in the room grew thicker. “I’m the fucking Supreme God of Sumer. I can do whatever the hell I want.” She took a step closer and hissed, “You’re my servant. Mine! Learn your place, Luthor or you’ll find yourself in big trouble.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, that’s a promise.”

The Maia looked hard at the Slayer. “I’m taking Etana back with me to Kish.”

“Like hell you are.” Buffy placed her hands defiantly on her hips. “If you want him, you’re gonna have to go through me, and believe me, old man… ”

Luthor pushed the Slayer aside as she spoke and shouted, “Get dressed, Etana. I’m taking you home.” He took one step towards the bed before Buffy grabbed the Maia by the arm and twisted it behind his back. Sharru-kin let out a shriek as the Slayer rammed Luthor face first into the stone wall. The blow opened a gash on the old man’s forehead; a trickle of blood ran down the dazed Ainu’s face. Buffy’s left hand remained tightly gripped on his arm while her right grasped a handful of hair at the back of his head. She kept the Maia pinned to the wall.

“I get it now, Luthor. You think you’re better than me, wiser than me,” she sneered, twisting his arm until the old man cried out in pain.

“No, Inanna! Please! Don’t!” shouted a frightened Sharru-kin, who remained cowering beside the bed.

Buffy ignored her lover’s pleas and continued to torment the Ainu. “Is that why you deliberately disobey my laws in Kish?” She kept tension on Luthor’s elbow so that every passing moment seemed agonizingly slow. “Don’t think for one second that I don’t know what you’ve been doing behind my back,” she hissed. “Who the hell are you to allow one of my priestess’ to marry? See, Luthor, you brought this all on yourself… You have the audacity to defy my will and think you’ll get away with it unscathed. It doesn’t work that way, old man.”

Luthor began working to free the hand that was trapped between his body and the wall. If he could get free, he’d then be able to use his scepter to restrain Buffy. Why does Dagnir have to be so damn strong? he asked himself.

“Is there no reasoning with you? Can we not discuss this rationally?” pleaded the Maia.

The Slayer cackled upon hearing Luthor’s words. “You’re the one who barged into my halls, forcefully I might add. You’re the aggressor here, not me. You forced me to defend myself.”

“I apologize, Inanna. I am truly sorry,” said the Maia in a defeated tone.

Hearing Luthor call her Inanna made her happy. She believed that he had finally come to his senses.

“Fine, we can discuss this like adults,” she said as she released her hold on the Maia, and started walking towards the bed. Suddenly, Sharru-kin screamed and dove in front of Buffy. While her back was turned, Luthor sent a blast from his scepter at her, but the young man took the hit instead. The next thing the Slayer knew, her lover was turned into a boar.

Buffy let out a cry of despair before attacking the old man. She backhanded the Maia with all her might, sending him flying across the room. The livid Slayer pounced on top of the old man before he had a chance to catch his breath. She wrestled with him for the scepter as the Valkyrie guards came dashing into the room, horrified by the wild beast running around the chamber.

“Don’t let him out,” the Slayer yelled to the women. “That’s Sharru-kin.” The ladies quickly shut the door and attempted to keep the young man away from the dueling Ainur. A loud cracking sound was heard amidst the confusion, followed by a wail from Luthor. Buffy snapped his wrist in order to retrieve his weapon. She delivered another blow at the Maia before turning the scepter on her lover. “Keep him still,” she ordered the Valkyries. A blast of white light shot out of the magical implement and hit the squealing creature. In the next moment, Sharru-kin returned to his mortal form, he was naked, on all fours, trembling from the ordeal. The Valkyries cloaked the young man and hastily ushered him out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Buffy was fuming. She couldn’t believe that Luthor had tried to turn her into a boar. A boar! How vile.

“You’ve got some balls,” she said, slowly approaching the old man as he lay on the floor. “You fucking tried to turn me into a beast!” Luthor realized his folly, but it was too late. He was about to incur the Slayer’s wrath. “I know what your problem is, Luthor. You don’t fear me.” She crouched down in front of the Maia, the scepter pointed inches from his face. “You had said that I was like Melkor, that I was evil. If I were evil, I would disembowel your right here and now and wear your entrails as a sign of victory.

“But I’m a merciful God, I really am,” she continued in an eerily calm voice. “But there’s something to be said for fear… it keeps people in line.” Luthor’s eyes widened, he was terrified at the prospect of her retaliation. “It’s time for you to fear me, wholly and completely.” She sent a blast from the scepter, turning the old man into a boar. Luthor panicked at his sudden transformation and began running around the room, knocking over tables, sending many valuable objects crashing to the floor. Buffy laughed at the sight.

“Turnabout’s fair play, don’t you think?” she queried haughtily as she sat on the edge of the bed. “Yes, I am a merciful King… or am I.” A wicked grin came to her face. Luthor repeatedly rammed his tusks into the door attempting to escape. “Perhaps I should set you free in Eanna. I’m sure the hunters in this realm would be grieved to see an unclean beast running amok in these sacred halls. I daresay that they’d kill you, old man. They’d view you as a sacrifice for the mighty Ilúvatar.” She twirled his scepter in her fingers. “And I’d let them.” The Maia stopped and turned towards the Slayer. “That’s better. What you did was wrong on so many levels. I don’t want to hurt you, Luthor. I love you. But if you ever pull a stunt like that again, you will regret it, I promise you that.” She sent a jet of light toward the Maia, returning him to his ‘normal’ form. “This,” she held the scepter aloft, “is no longer yours. It’s mine. Get the hell out of Eridu. Respect me and my laws or you’ll find yourself on a spit. GET OUT!”

The Maia scrambled for the door and fled the room. Buffy examined the magical weapon closely. It was Luthor’s last link with Melkor, the one item that he had refused to part with after leaving Angband with her years ago. She slammed it to the floor, shattering the magical jewel clutched between the prongs of the rod. She tossed what was left of the scepter onto the bed before leaving to find Sharru-kin. She knew that her lover needed her more than ever. Buffy would comfort him as only she could.

Luthor was in tears as he rode galloping out of Eridu. He was living his worst nightmare. His mind was racing, his heart aching, his wrist throbbing in pain. He knew that he had made a huge mistake. He only hoped that it wasn’t too late to fix things. When the Maia reached the bottom of the hill, Kit suddenly materialized by his side, running alongside his horse. It took a few minutes for the lion’s appearance to register with him. The old man leapt off his steed and landed on the back of Buffy’s kitty. A second later, they vanished, only to reappear outside the gates of Olofin’s halls in Borsippa. The Maia sobbed, relieved to be in the realm of the only one who could help him out of his current predicament.