Promise //Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen// Dune

25 - KHALA

Arrakis, 10191

"Your encounters with the Harkonnens have caused quite the stir, I've heard," Lady Jessica remarked, her tone carrying a weight of understanding. Khala acknowledged her words with a solemn nod, the gravity of their situation etched into the lines of her expression. As they sat together with paul, the flickering torchlight casting shadows across the chamber, Lady Jessica steered the conversation toward lighter topics, attempting to offer Khala a momentary respite from the turmoil that weighed heavily upon her shoulders. They caught up on what had happened in the three years Khala had disappeared.

"I recall Gaius speaking highly of your unique abilities with your voice," Lady Jessica remarked, her curiosity piqued. Khala hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice tinged with a mixture of pride and reservation.

"My voice can manipulate objects," she explained, her words carrying a hint of weariness. "Though it comes with its own price—often leaving me drained, both physically and mentally."

Lady Jessica's eyebrows rose in surprise, a testament to the rarity of Khala's gift. "Fascinating," she murmured, her gaze lingering on Khala with newfound interest. A heavy silence settled between them, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging in the air like a shroud. Khala's thoughts drifted to Feyd Rautha, the memories of their shared past clouding her mind like a lingering fog.

"And what of Feyd Rautha?" Khala ventured tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper. Lady Jessica's gaze softened, a silent acknowledgment of the pain that lingered beneath Khala's words.

"He's changed," Lady Jessica admitted, her voice heavy with sorrow. Khala's heart clenched at the confirmation of her worst fears, a wave of guilt washing over her like a tidal wave.

"Like for the better?" Khala asked, though she already knew the answer before it was spoken. Lady Jessica's response was a sobering reminder of the irreversible damage that had been wrought upon Feyd's soul.

"No, I'm sorry," Lady Jessica replied, her voice filled with regret. "He's become something... monstrous. I cannot begin to fathom the depths of his cruelty." Guilt gnawed at Khala's insides, the weight of her actions crushing her spirit.

"It was my fault," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. "I changed him."

As the gravity of their conversation settled over them, Paul remained silent, a silent observer to their exchange. His presence served as a stark reminder of the complexities of their shared destiny, a fate intertwined with the shadows of their past and the uncertainty of their future.

"Excuse me, woman, a word please," Stilgar's commanding voice cut through the air, drawing Khala's attention away from her conversation with Lady Jessica. With a respectful nod to the departing Bene Gesserit, Khala turned her focus to Paul, who remained seated beside her.

"So, you're the Kwizatz Haderach?" Khala's voice held a note of curiosity as she regarded Paul, her eyes searching his face for any sign of the weight he carried. Paul's expression tightened, a fleeting grimace crossing his features.

"I may be," he admitted reluctantly, the weight of his destiny evident in his words. Khala's mind raced with questions, the implications of Paul's revelation sparking a flurry of thoughts.

"I was supposed to produce a backup. With Feyd," she confessed, her voice tinged with regret. Paul's understanding nod spoke volumes, a silent acknowledgment of the intricate machinations of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.

"Seems like a Bene Gesserit type thing," he remarked, his tone laced with bitterness. As they lapsed into a contemplative silence, the weight of their shared burdens hung heavy in the air, casting a pall over their thoughts. Each carried the weight of their respective destinies, their lives intertwined in a complex tapestry of prophecies and betrayals that seemed to stretch endlessly before them.