It was spring, and all of the merchants headed south to Mesopotamia to sell their goods. One of them was a young man with his mother. He had come to Mesopotamia for the first time.
“Such beautiful scenery! Why did you keep me from this place?” The man exclaimed.
“After living here for sometime, you will understand Anshar.” His mother cautiously replied. “We have to sell these idols of our gods; we must not leave till then.”
While they set up their stall, a chariot rode by of a king blinded with his wealth. Behind him was his general, and after the chariot came a small army of soldiers who started beating up the beggars that were asking for alms on the street side.
“Please, don’t hurt us!” Cried the poor, begging for help.
“You all failed to pay your taxes!” King Ibilsin yelled.
“We don’t have any money! We cannot even afford to feed our children!” The beggars pleaded.
“So what? You need to pay to help our civilization of Mesopotamia prosper!” King Ibilsin demanded. He ordered the soldiers to capture them, and lock them up in the prison. Before the soldiers could chain them up, a man ran in front of the poor.
“Don’t you dare harm them!” Anshar shouted. Silence filled the crowds and many gasped. The King started boiling up with anger.
“Please forgive him, your highness,” a villager bursted out, “He is new and does not know of the ways and rules here in Mesopotamia. Please forgive him just this one time, it won’t happen again!”
“Fine, just this one time.” The King snarled. The soldiers captured the poor, chained them, and locked them up in the prison. Anshar just stood there, shocked. After their work was done, the chariot rode away. Everyone resumed their normal work.
“Thank you for saving him from the King!” Anshar’s mother thanked.
“Oh, It is fine! But, be careful here. Tell your son to never do anything like that ever again. This place is dangerous, leave as soon as you can.” The villager advised.
“Yes, we must. Mother, I cannot stay here any minute longer, let me pack up.” Anshar jumped in. The villager nodded, and walked away. 
“No, Anshar” His mother started to say, but Anshar didn't want to hear anything and began packing up their items. When packing, his eyes scattered around the town, staring into the distance.
Far off, near the center of the road, was a beautiful girl who looked to be a noble. She was wearing a unique colorful gown, and a gold and blue headdress. She looked gentle, and her eyes sparkled like the stars in the sky. She was trying on different types of jewelry on her wrist, but did not seem to like any of them. She put them down, and started walking towards Anshar’s stall, along with some of her friends behind her. Looking at one of the idols that Anshar was selling, she motioned for him to show it to her. He looked down at the idol, Goddess Inanna, and handed it to her. Their hands slightly touched, but that was enough for him to feel how soft her skin was.
“Your name?” He asked, while some of her friends were wondering why he did not know it.
“Inanna.” She replied. Like the goddess, Anshar thought.  No wonder she had liked the idol. She quickly paid for it, and started walking away.  Now, he had a reason to stay. 
“So shall we leave?” His mother asked, smiling.
“No.” Anshar rolled his eyes.
The next day, Anshar was again out selling the idols, this time without his Mother.  It was not long before he saw Inanna on the streets again.Suddenly, people started shouting, running away from the gates that were now opening.
“The bulls are loose, the bulls are loose!!” People shouted, running out of the way.
Out came the bulls, ready to take anyone’s life if they were in the way.  Inanna, along with her friends ran into the side, out of the bulls’ way, and watched. Anshar ran towards the bulls, taking flour, cloth, and food with sweet escents from the Merchants’ stalls around him. He threw the flour on the bulls, targeting their eyes, which led them to stop. Then, before they could run again, he covered the head bull’s eyes with cloth, leaped on it, stroking it’s back to calm it down, and rode it back to the gates. He then used the sweet feed to help lure it in the right direction. The other bulls followed. Everyone watched, including Inanna, who was surprised. When the bulls were in their pens, the gate guards, who had failed at their job, locked them. Everyone clapped and with joy, and lifted Anshar up in the air.
After the joy, everyone returned to their usual work. Anshar who had now been known in the village for taming the bulls, therefore got a lot of attention, and was able to sell all of his items. Just as he was selling his last idol, Inanna slowly walked up to him.
“What are you doing?” Her friends warned. “You are to be married soon! Don’t talk to him!”
“Who are you? How were you able to do that?” Intrigued Inanna, ignoring her friends.
“Anshar, and I have been in such situations. ” He replied. They started talking a little bit, introducing themselves. Inanna then had to leave.
The next day, Anshar pleaded to his Mother if they could stay for a few days longer. She agreed, after a lot of reasoning, but said to be careful. When he was out exploring, he saw a girl who looked very familiar coming towards him, she was dressed as a regular villager, though something seemed different about her. He noticed her at once- Inanna, but disguised. He went towards her.
“No one is recognizing me here! I can do whatever I wish and no one will even guess it is me!” She flung her arms in the air. “Come, I will show you around!”
Together, they spent all day exploring Mesopotamia, talking and laughing along the way, going against what her friends warned. They shared experiences, told stories, and became very close. Soon, it was evening, and the chariot rode again into the village, the bells ringing to call upon everyone to come to listen to the announcement. Inanna hid behind the columns, hoping not to be seen.
General Sibi announced, “King Ibilsin has stated that from now on, taxes will be doubled for the lower class! Failure to pay will result in execution!”
“What! Now, we barely have enough to feed our children. How are we going to survive?” Inanna heard one of the villagers whisper.
“What now?” Another villager trembled.
“Everyone form a line!” The General demanded.
“No!” Anshar stepped forward. “We will not pay a single bit more than the original tax!”
“You are asking to die” The General growled.
“Starving my family is dying!” Anshar went on. The villagers stood in support behind him.
“You don’t know what you are doing!.” The General warned, turning the chariot around.
“This is not fair!” Inanna said to Anshar, while coming out of her hiding spot. She now began to understand the truth about the King. “Tax should not be doubled! And if it is, it should be doubled for everyone, not just the lower class.”
“Yes, but I have to find out the reason behind this doubling of tax. Stay here, and try to bring the villagers together. I will be back.” Anshar assured, and  Inanna agreed.
  Meanwhile, just as Inanna was walking to round up the villagers, the King, who had come back with his soldiers and general spotted Inanna disguised talking to Anshar before he left. He grew extremely angry, and told the general to capture her and lock her in one of the rooms in his palace.
“You are coming with me!” The general grabbed Inanna’s neck, doing as he was told.
“Let go of me!” Inanna cried. “Ah! Let go of me Sibi!”
“You are in huge trouble!” General Sibi yelled, chaining her up.
Villagers were shocked. Some, pretended not to care, while others went to go get Anshar. Inanna was shoved into the chariot and taken to King Ibilsin’s palace. There, General Sibi chained her to the wall.
“Why were you disguised in the village with someone else when you know you are going to marry me!” The King shouted, while coming into the room. “Who were you with?
“No one! Let me go!” Inanna screamed.
“No! And, get ready! We will be getting married tonight!” The King smirked, locking the door. He forgot to close the window.
After Anshar found out, he grew angry. He ran to Ibilsin’s palace, wondering how to free Inanna. Noticing the opened window, Anshar secretly killed a soldier nearby, took his armor, climbed up the wall, and went through window.
“Anshar!” said Inanna relieved, blinking back tears.
“Don’t worry.” He wiped her tears, unchaining her. Meanwhile, Ibilsin walked into the room, and stabbed Anshar in the shoulder, causing him to fall to the floor.
“Anshar!” Inanna screamed.
“He will die in a matter of time. Come on now.” The King shouted, stepping over Anshar.
During that time, Anshar managed to pull out the knife from his shoulder, stood up in severe pain and held Ibilsin’s neck with one hand. 
“Your tyranny is over!” Shouted Anshar, stabbing him multiple times. After making sure he was dead, she looked at Inanna. Then, holding her hand, they escaped through the window.