To Belong ✰ ✰ ✰ Paul Atreides (ON HOLD)

two

We find ourselves on one of the cliffs by the castle, overlooking the ocean whose waves' aggressiveness still made the most melodious sound that has ever made its way to my years. We are just walking around, taking in the beautiful scenery.

"Tell me more about yourself, please," Paul says to me.

I take a while to think before speaking up. "Very well," I begin. "I am seventeen, like you. I have spent most of my life on Wallach IX, training, and learning. I have never been on Kaitain, but I would like to go there, see where I was born," I tell him.

"What about your sisters?" he proceeds to ask.

"There are five of us. Irulan is the oldest and the one who is closest to father. Then there is me. Wenscia is the middle one, but since I have been taken to Wallach IX, she became the second oldest and from what I know she was mother's favourite. Josifa is the second youngest, very calm, quiet, and collected, at least that is how father describes her. And last but not least, Rugi is the youngest," I explain to him. "In all honesty, there are five of us, but it has always been the four of them. I never got to grow up among them, never got to know them, their likes and dislikes, their passions, their hopes, and dreams."

"I had a half-brother, Victor," Paul says, his voice coming off as barely a whisper.

We stop in our tracks and turn around, watching the turmoil of the water.

"What was he like?" I ask.

"I don't know," Paul sighs, "I never got to know him."

In this moment, I can perfectly understand his pain, what he is going through. In this aspect, we are the same. He never got to meet his brother, nor have I, my sisters. Maybe, this is something we could bond over.

"I'm so sorry for your loss," I say sincerely.

"I can still see the pain in my father's eyes whenever he is brought up. I know he loves him, and I know I will never be able to help ease my father's pain. Victor died right before his eyes," he explains.

I put my hand on Paul's shoulder, as a form of wanting to tell him that he is not alone. Even though our situations are a bit similar, the pain we feel is rather different.

"You know, I made a promise to myself as a child," I speak up, breaking the silence that has seem to fall between us. "I promised myself that I will never let my children be apart. I promised myself that they will never feel the same pain I did, the abandonment, the fear, the resentment."

"Why didn't you leave the Bene Gesserits if they caused you so much sorrow?" Paul asks, taking my hand off of his shoulder and into his.

I sigh. "Once you're in, you cannot go out, unless you are handed a quest," I try my best to explain.

"And what is your quest, Chalice Corrino?" Paul asks, turning around and looking at me.

I do the same, staring into his deeply greenish blue eyes. "You, Paul Atreides," I answer. "At least that's what I was told when I was sent here." I know I did not say the whole truth, but part of what I have said is true.

We stay like that, just looking at each other for a short while before I remember that I am in charge of Paul's training for the day.

"I think it's time we go back inside and start training," I say.

We walk back towards the castle and make our way to the training room. I am planning to assess Paul's skills when it comes to the Weirding Way. I know that Lady Jessica has been training him in the way.

"Today we shall see how good you are with the Weirding Way," I say, dropping on the floor the veil I had put on me before leaving for our walk.

"I cannot," Paul responses quickly, and I am able to sense his nervousness.

"And why is that?" I ask curiously.

"I don't want to cause you any harm," he answers honestly.

"Paul Atreides, I am almost one hundred percent sure you can never cause me any harm," I assure him with a smile. "Plus, I have been taught to master the way ever since I was a child. I know my way around it. I am tough, I can manage anything."

"You are very sure of yourself," Paul points out, taking his jacket off.

"Darling, I like to call this an incredible sense of self-confidence," I joke.