From a young age, Adhara knew her destiny; she would help her sister rule the galaxies by being the best war master that ever lived. Her training was never ending and the more powerful she became. the more her family started to fear her, that is all...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The years passed like sand running through fingers and soon the twins were reaching their 10th birthday.
Together they had been taught their history, politics, sciences and the ways of the Bene Gesserit, both girls becoming more intelligent as the days passed. Irulan, was taught how to lead, how to negotiate and how to be a respectable lady; Adhara however was much wilder. While her sister was listening to their father's business, Adhara was training in the war room, either with her weapons or her sharp brain. Her daggers were always strapped to her body in one way or another and the weapons master would train her night and day in war strategies and strengths.
The morning of the girls' birthday week had arrived and the girls were dressing into their ceremonial outfits that they would greet the great houses in: Irulan wearing a beautiful floor length dress that screamed royalty while Adhara was dressed in preparation for the fight that would take place later in the week. The younger princess would challenge any child of the invited houses to a duel, which would determine whether she was worthy of her future title. Adhara was ready for the fight to come but she couldn't help but be fearful of the outcome. The only people she would be fighting would be the children of the Dukes and Barons who happened to all be older and also be boys.
"Stop frowning so hard, you will end up like father soon"
"Old and unloving?"
"You know that's not what I meant"
It was true, Adhara knew Irulan didn't mean harm by her comment but over the years the former's relationship with her father had changed and it wasn't for the better. Shaddam only ever showed affection towards his first daughter even as his wife gave birth to three more, and while Adhara was happy her sister enjoyed their father's presence, she could not say the same for herself. The Emperor forced his second child to train relentlessly which wedged them apart as nothing Adhara did was ever good enough for her father.
"Never mind, let us greet our guests"
"Of course Addie"
Irulan pulled her sister into a stiff hug that despite its awkwardness, both of the girls appreciated the physical touch of reassurance.
After pulling away, the girls made their way, hand in hand, through the lengthy hallways and into the throne room where each Duke, Baron and their families would greet and be introduced to the royal family, especially the two eldest girls. This week would allow the Bene Gesserit to make the future matches that would effect the rest of the galaxies.
The room itself screamed regal beauty with its gold decorated seats and high ceilings. The walls were decorated in the finest ornamental art that anyone could afford, handing grandly against the muted colours of the wall. Everything bellowed royalty and expense to the extent that no other house in the galaxies would dare to even try and match it. The Emperor knew how to show off his wealth to those that could look upon it.
Lined against the sides were the rulers of each planet, and their families. Man after man; boy after boy; wife after wife. They were the same sentence in a different font, repeated over and over and over again until it was the only thing that Adhara could understand. Looking at them, you could see each different between the humanoid families. Some were taller with stronger, broader shoulders that were clearly of farming power, some had darker features like the sea that covered their homes and others had no hair covering their bodies from the years of their own evolution.
Adhara and her sister went to stand on either side of their father's throne, their mother and sisters sitting on a cushioned bench that easily sat them all as well as the maids that cared for the youngest of the girls. The twins mirrored each other in their stance of a highly held head and a straight posture, showing off their power.
"We welcome you all to Kaitain in celebration of your future empress..."
Adhara quickly lost concentration and her gaze wondered around the room and at the dozens of eyes that were looking in her general direction. The parents of the families were lasered onto the Emperor but the sons - and a few young daughters - were looking at her sister and her beauty. Irulan looked just like their mother with her soft features and big eyes, Adhara was the opposite with her sharp jawline and broad shoulders.
One pair of eyes were looking at the younger twin, not that she could see him and his pale skin. His bright blue eyes were the same colours as hers and he could see the same pain, disgust and boredom that reflected in his eyes. She was beautiful and from the attire she was dressed in, she could fight well too. This excited the young warrior who was shoved unhappily behind the beast that was his older brother, who was almost drooling at the sight of the other twin, the lighter twin. Feyd Rautha had no interest in the older twin, anyone could read her like an open book - attended her royal duties and was an example to all the younger girls in the galaxies - but her sister, the twin with a darker aura was much more difficult to read.
"House Atreides"
They all walked forward and bowed in front of their rulers
"House Harkonnen"
Adhara's eyes found a pair of beautiful blue ones that were sat on a well structured faced, with a strong jawline and a bald head.
The Reverend Mother who was sat on the same side as the youngest twin and witnessed the interaction that took place. Her plans could start into their motions.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
