To Belong ✰ ✰ ✰ Paul Atreides (ON HOLD)

one

Almost one year has passed since my arrival on Caladan, the home-planet of House Atreides. I have spent most of my time being educated and trained properly for my future.

My arrival stirred displeasure in the hearts of many, especially the one of Lady Jessica. She sees me as a threat to her and her son. While I have tried so many times to prove my allegiance to them, I have yet to earn Lady Jessica's trust. She is a rather calculated woman, with much wisdom.

Duke Leto has welcomed me into his home. He too was not fond of the idea of a promised marriage between his son, Paul, and I, when I first arrived, but he has changed his mind. A marriage prospect between a future Duke and a Princess would ensure the security of the Atreides linage.

Paul Atreides is a sweet boy. He is rather interested in combat and learning. I can see traces of Bene Gesserit training within him but have never pointed out my suspicions. My observations have shown me that the possibility of the Kwisatz Haderach being among us is in fact truer than we imagined. He has shown abilities I have not noticed in any male before him.

"Chalice, you shall help Paul train today," Lady Jessica informs me.

The two of us are sitting at the table, having breakfast, a usual routine that has been going on for the past three months. Sometimes, Paul would join us too, other times so would the duke.

"Yes, Lady Jessica," I nod my head. "Combat?" I ask.

"You have been observing Paul's training for a year now, I trust that your judgement will provide the answer."

"Of course," I say. "Anything else, Lady Jessica?"

"That shall be it, thank you."

We finish our breakfast in silence and then I proceed to Paul's room. I knock on the door four times, indicating that it was me who was at the door. As soon as I hear a response from inside the room, I slowly open the door and make my way inside.

"Good morning, Paul," I greet him as soon as my eyes land on him. "Today you will not train with Gurney nor Duncan," I inform the future duke.

"Good morning, Chalice," he greets me back, with a confused look on his face. "Where is my mother?" he asks.

"Lady Jessica has tasked me with your training today," I inform him. "I shall observe your training so far."

"And report back to your superiors?" he asks. Paul, like his mother, had a challenging time trusting me. He knew the officially announced reason of my presence on Caladan, and suspected the other reasons, too.

It is true that I report to the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, but my reports are filled with whatever Reverend Mother Mohiam wants to hear. In fact, I am quite happy to be away from all of them.

"My allegiance..." I begin to say, but Paul interrupts me.

"Your allegiance is with the Bene Gesserits, the ones who raised you and trained you as one of their own," he tells me.

I sigh deeply and walk closer towards Paul who is sitting on his bed. I sit down next to him and look out on the window by his bed. "My allegiance is with you, Paul," I say, meaning every word. "The Bene Gesserits whisked me away from my mother's arms when I was nothing but a babe, and it's true that they trained and raised me, but I always longed for a family, a true home," I explain, dropping all formalities. "I have never met my sisters, nor have I ever met my mother. My father writes to me, praising me as his beloved daughter but I know that I am to him what I am to the Sisterhood, a pawn."

Paul turns his head towards me and looks at me with a sad look. Over the year I have been residing within his household, he never got to know me, nor my story. I know that in his eyes I was just the Princess of House Corrino and a Bene Gesserit.

"Over these past few months, Caladan has felt more like home than Wallach IX ever did," I confess.

Silence falls between us and Paul keeps on looking at me with a saddened look on his face. From what I have been able to see, Paul Atreides is going to be an astonishing leader. Even at the age of fourteen, the young boy has been showing signs of a kind heart, a just mind, and an eagerness to help others.

I stand up, walking towards the window which is overlooking the water nearby the castle. The view is serene. The home of House Atreides is on a cliff. From the windows, I can see clearly the waves crashing into the stone of the cliff, the sound making the most beautiful melody that has ever met my ears.

Once I am done taking in the wonderful view, I turn my head around and look at Paul who is still sitting on his bed, observing me. He studies me with curious eyes, as if I am a complex riddle he cannot decipher. I smile genuinely at him before walking towards the door of his room.

"Get dressed and eat," I instruct Paul. "I shall be at your door in an hour, and I expect you to be ready, young duke." I regain my composure and the formalities make my way back.

Paul simply nods his head in response then watches me as I leave his room. I walk hurriedly back to my room, closing the door quickly behind me. I lean my back against the door and let out a deep sigh. I know I have to gain Paul's trust, but I did not imagine that I would have to be vulnerable in order to do so. Nobody knows my true story, and if they do, well there are very few who do and those people are members of the Sisterhood.

I drop my veil on the floor and walk towards the small dresser in which I keep all of my belongings. I take out some training clothes and begin to change. When I am almost done, I hear a knock on the door.

"One second," I say, beginning to hurry up. Once I am done changing, I run towards the door and open it, seeing Paul on the other side of the door. "What are you doing here?"

Paul Atreides is already dressed. He looks at me, his cheeks turning a crimson red. He lets out a nervous sigh before speaking up. "I thought maybe before training we could take a walk."

His words take me aback. Besides the times I oversaw him training, or the times when we were forced in the proximity of one another, Paul Atreides has never shown interest in spending time with me, talking to me.

"Lady Jessica shall be rather displeased were we to delay our training," I point out to the young boy.

"I know," he says. "But you have been on Caladan for almost a year now. We are to be married and our talk earlier made me realise that I know almost nothing about you, nothing other than the obvious," he explains.

His words leave me shocked, and I am unable to speak for a few mere moments.

"If you don't want to, we could just go to the training room," Paul quickly says.

"I'd like very much to take a walk with you, Paul Atreides," I say, a smile forming on my lips.

Paul's shoulders fall, an abrupt breath leaving from his lips. "Then I say we shall get going."