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Seraphina sat on a cliff that overlooked the ocean, her tail flicking to the side as the cold breeze rifted her short fur ever so slightly. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore was calming, bringing a sense of peace to the anxiety the young shifter was feeling. Ever since the ceremony, she has had a sick feeling of dread in her stomach that she can't really explain, like a shadow of grief that she can't defy is looming over her in the shadows, ready to toy with her at any moment.
She had heard a lot of people refer to her as a girl who was born in grief, someone who was helpless to defy fate. But she never understood that last bit, because wasn't everyone helpless to defy their fate? You can't escape what your purpose in this world is, you can't run from it, it will always chase you, it will always be hiding in the shadows, reminding you of who you really are. You can't beat it or outrun it, no matter how hard you try...
Her ears flicked, hearing faint footsteps behind her, and she immediately recognized them as Paul. He always had lighter footsteps, but he still walked with purpose. The young Atreides girl turned around, shifting back to normal and giving him a small smile, the chilled wind bit her skin slightly, making her shiver. Paul looked at her, he knew his sister well enough to know when she had been lost in her own mind, he had noticed that whenever she was pulled out of her thoughts she rubbed her arm a little bit, avoiding eye contact ever so slightly.
"You okay?," he asked, Seraphina shrugged. She really didn't know if she was okay, she was fine, but she wasn't fine.
"Just got a bit lost in thought," Seraphina dismissed as she walked over to Paul, her arms crossed in order to keep herself warm. She seriously needed to stop wandering to the cliffs without something warm on, luckily, Paul also knew Seraphina well enough to bring her a jacket and she handed it to her, the blonde girl smiled and put it on as her gaze flickered to where her father stood looking at their grandfather's tombstone.
Seraphina followed her brother as he approached their father, she knew what he was going to ask. Paul had a dream that his best friend, Duncan, died in battle on Arrakis, and he wanted to accompany him on the early trip to Arrakis to make sure that it didn't happen.
Some people say that dreams or messages from the deep, a warning of what is to come. Others say that they are simply images of our worst fears, and there are those who just choose to not try and seek out answers.
Seraphina believed the first one, she believed that dreams could be messages, or in this case, a warning – maybe even a threat. A telling for him to keep House Atreides off of the desert planet. But Seraphina knew that that wouldn't happen, they had to go to Arrakis whether they wanted to or not.
"Father, I'd like to ask to join Duncan Idaho on his scout mission to Arrakis tomorrow," Paul began, walking next to Leto as Seraphina trailed next to him. "I've studied the Fremen language, I'd be an asset."
"Out of the question," Lete replied, not even looking at Paul as he told him his answer. "You'll travel to Arrakis in a few weeks, like the rest of us."
"I've been training my whole life," Paul argued, "Seraphina has been training even harder, what is the point if neither of us are allowed to face some actual risks?"
Seraphina wasn't pleased that Paul was bringing her into this, although it was true, she had been treated like a child soldier and training like one for as long as she can remember. Jessica always said that it was for her own protection, but Seraphina wasn't stupid, she had seen how many differences there were in Paul's training versus her own. Her training was a lot more harsh than his, and whenever she brought that up, it was always dismissed, and she couldn't help but wonder why people treated her more like a soldier than an actual kid.
"You know why, Paul," Leto replied as his voice rose slightly, "You're the future of House Atreides, my son. Your sister has a future in leading our army."
"And grandfather fought bulls for sport!," Paul retaliated, he was getting agitated, Seraphina could sense it.
"Yes," Leto chuckled dryly, "And look where that got him." There was a long beat of silence before Leto spoke again. "I need you by my side. Both of you. When we get to Arrakis, we'll face enormous danger."
"What danger? The Fremen?," Seraphina asked, "The don't mean to be aggressive, they're accustomed to outsiders being violent towards their people and serving no creature or person except themselves, they're used to them consuming without producing. They have every right to feel hostile."
"Political danger, Sera," Leto sighed as the father and two children continued to walk, "The Great Houses look to us for leadership, and this threatens the Emperor." Leto inhaled. "By taking Arrakis from the Harkonnens and making it ours, he sets the stage for a war which would weaken both houses." He paused. "But if we hold firm, and tap the true power of Arrakis, we could be stronger than ever."
"What does that even mean?," Paul questioned as he looked over at Seraphina before turning his gaze back to his father, "Mining the spice? Keeping the Fremen in their place? We'd be no better than the Harkonnens."
"No." Leto stopped and turned to his two children, giving them a stern look. "By making an alliance with the Fremen. That's what I've sent Duncan Idaho to arrange." He paused once more, waiting for his words to sink in before continuing, "Here on Caladan, we've ruled by air power and sea power. On Arrakis, we need to cultivate desert power."
Paul nodded.
"I want you sitting in on my Council. Learn what I do," Leto said to Paul, he didn't assign Seraphina to anything as he tried to walk off but Paul stopped him.
"What if I'm not, Dad?," Paul asked.
Leto turned back around, "Not what?"
"The future of House Atreides," Paul sighed, watching his sister for a second before looking back at Leto.
Leto sighed, taking off his gloves as he showed Paul the ring on his finger, "I told my father that I didn't want this either." He said as Seraphina listened with interest. "I wanted to be a pilot."
"You never told us that," Seraphina said with a small smile as the cold breeze ruffled her hair ever so slightly.
"Your grandfather said, 'A great man doesn't seek to lead, he's called to it, and he answers'," Leto continued, "And if your answer is no. You'll still be the only thing I ever needed you to be, my children."
