No one, mortal or god, not even a child of Anu, had the right to disrupt the order of the heavens. Nippur did not tolerate transgression. And so, punishment found you. For the seduction of Ninlil, for the violation of her innocence, you were banished from Nippur. Stripped of nearly all your divine power, save for the shackles of immortality, you were doomed to a wretched existence, unable to return home or even to stop your suffering. The council of gods cursed you with an eternal reminder of your sins, so you would never forget the weight of your transgressions.

And yet, though all seemed to abandon you, she followed. The one who should never have ventured into the deserts and marshes of Mesopotamia alongside you. The one who should have hated you above all others: Ninlil. Across the desolate desert, far from the safety of any city, she followed you. Her feet, unaccustomed to such harsh terrain, barely carried her weight. Her delicate skin was bruised and scraped, and patches of fresh blood stained the sand where she stepped. Yet, she pressed on, driven by a force stronger than pain or exhaustion. These physical trials were nothing compared to the agonizing thought of returning to Nippur, only to be left abandoned by you, just like her mother had so desperately warned. Above all, she couldn't bear the thought of her child growing up without a father.

"Please, let's rest..." Ninlil whispered, barely able to put one foot in front of the other across the desolate lands of Mesopotamia. She did not demand, never insisting. Your will was hers, or so she believed. All she could do was plead for your understanding, even as her voice cracked with exhaustion and unwept tears welling in her eyes. "Please..." As Ninlil spoke, her voice faded before she sank to her knees, the harsh ground scraping against her skin. Was it simply physical exhaustion and pregnancy that felled her, or the weight of despair that sapped her strength? Whatever the cause, Ninlil, as tragically loyal as she was, could not take another step. Her body, mind, and spirit were stretched to their breaking point, and she could go no further without rest and comfort.