The Atreides Twins

Chapter 6

As the weeks went on we were training with fremen day and night. Duncan was never far from where I was, always within eyesight. I had still been having nightmares about that  day and since then as reassurance Duncan stayed with me. My mother had noticed our closeness since our return from the outpost and wasn't blind to what she saw. She knew eventually though we would reenter the political world and an oppurtunity to build alliances rested with me marrying. She hated that she thought this way, but she thought it was the only way to protect her children. She refused to acknowledge that even a small part of her was filling with pride that she had succeeded in creating what others had not. She walked towards me with a stern face as I spoke with the fremen I was working with. I ignored her as I always had since arriving at sietch Tabr, but still she approached me. "I need to speak with you daughter," she said giving side glances to the ones who stared at her. For a moment I wanted to just keep ignoring her, but something told me she and I needed to have a conversation. I nodded and followed her a little out of the way and out of the ear shot of others. I recognized she was trying to stay where she thought I would not create a scene with what she was about to say. "Yes mother," I said with an icy tone, still angry with what she had done. "I feel the need to remind you of your duty in the future," she started feeling a sting from how I was acting towards her. "And what duty is it that you feel I am forgetting mother," I said my tone going hard now. Though others could not hear the words, they could hear my tone and they began to go quiet as they continued working. "Your brother is a Duke now, he will need to build alliances and the easiest way is through marriage," she said not meeting my eyes. I glared at her as I realized what she was implying. "Oh mother, how little you understand," I said pinching the bridge of my nose as I shook my head. She had finally reached her breaking point, she could handle my ignoring her, but what she believed was my naivety wouldn't do for a Duke's sister. "Oh stop acting like a child, this is not a game," my mother said raising her voice in frustration. Anger shot through me at the audacity of her comment. Everyone near us had gone quiet drawing attention from Stilgar and my brother. They joined the crowd with Duncan, watching the exchange between us. I stepped towards her and watched as she shrunk back in fear. "My brother and I have discussed at great length what our duty is for the future to come, you're right mother this is not a game," I started stepping closer and closer to her, "One thing we had no trouble agreeing on was that the bene gesserit are no longer going to meddle in the lives of others, they wanted to bring forth the Kwitzachs Hederach, now they have to deal with the fallout that comes with that." She looked at me stunned and speechless at the venom that dripped from my words. 

"I..." she tried to say, but with one look from me she went silent. I didn't notice Paul, Duncan, and Stilgar move up behind me as I spoke again. "We are not what you expected mother, and you are the one who signed her own children's death sentence," I said and before anyone could say anything I stormed away from her heading towards my quarters to prepare. Paul looked at our mother disappointedly before moving to follow. Duncan and Stil watched with concern in their faces at my words but let Paul and I be. No one spoke as my mother made her way back to her quarters realizing despite her own wish to avoid a scene it was her fault one had occurred. Something I said though kept replaying in her mind, "you are the one who signed her own children's death sentence," tears came to her eyes unwanted as she finally reached her quarters. Paul and I finally stopped at an outcropping that looked out into the desert. I replayed the last moments with mother over and over in my head. I realized in my anger I had said too much and that may have a part to play later. "We could have had normal lives, or as normal as possible, had our mother not  been so ambitious," I said hugging myself as we stared out into the desert. I could hear Paul's sigh in agreement but he stayed silent. I didn't know that Paul was already putting together a plan that would save me. He knew if I knew, there was nothing he could do to prevent me from trying to save him. He placed an arm around me thinking of what was to come and knowing I wouldn't understand right away. He was glad I would have Duncan at my side to help through the things he would not be able to. Eventually we made our way back inside of the sietch and were met with the sight of a cart that had just arrived. When it opened I looked up and met the eyes of my mother as the Reverend Mother for the Fremen stood. She met my mother's eyes before turning to me and my brother. Her eyes widened for just a moment when she met my eyes. Stilgar approached us and explained the Reverend Mother wanted to meet with us. We made our way inside and changed out of our dirty clothes before joining the others in my mother's quarters where the Reverend Mother was waiting. As we entered a feeling of familiarity washed over me. I saw Duncan with Stil and joined my brother by their side. I listened as everything was explained about her not being able to make the trip to the deep desert and needing someone to take her place. My mother said nothing about her being pregnant as they explained the process of what would happen and I watched on on terror. 

"No, I will not allow you to do it," I said as I realized what my mother's plan is, "You can not, she is pregnant." Everyone looked stunned at the revelation and that she had said nothing. I stepped towards my mother with a look of hatred. "I will not allow you to do to her what you have done to us," I said in a whisper that only those closest would hear. I looked to the Reverend Mother who looked to me with an air of pride to her. "I will do it," I said knowing what this would mean for me. It wasn't supposed to be part of the plan, but it would help in the end. Paul stood silently not stopping me, but Duncan couldn't. "No..." he started but I looked to him with pleading eyes. He didn't fully understand but something about my look kept him quiet. Once it was settled we all began to prepare for the night. My mother tried to speak to me, but I avoided her needing to prepare myself for what I was about to do. Later everyone gathered where the little makers were held. We watched on as they harvested the water of life from the drowned worm. The Reverend Mother placed a hand on mine and watched on, "May Shai Hulud have mercy on us all." We made our way outside to where the others had gathered and I joined Chani and the Reverend Mother on a platform in the center. Duncan, Paul, and Stilgar all sat in front of us as the ceremony began. Chani approached me after speaking with the water of life and brought the spout to my lips. "You must drink," she said as I took it into my mouth and began swallowing the poison within. Within a minute pain rocked my body as the poison spread. I couldn't hear what was being said around me as I looked up to see the universe appearing to open before me. The Reverend Mother appeared before me with a smile as she changed from an old woman to someone young and beautiful. "I hold within me the memories of all the Reverend Mothers to come before me, I share them with you my brave child," she said as she closed her eyes. The memories of others rushed through my mind and as the came to a close both the Reverend Mother's and my eyes snapped wide. Paul tried to move towards me in fear as I writhed in pain, but was stopped by Stilgar who just shook his head. "What has she done," the Reverend Mother in my vision said with a tear. Behind her I saw a bright light that seemed to move closer, "Not yet girl, you are not ready, you must look away," the Reverend Mother spoke urgently. I forcefully looked away from it trusting her sincerity. "You must change the waters Y/N, now," she said again more urgently. Duncan rushed forward, stopped by another fremen, as my body began to collapse in convulsions. In the vision I worked quickly to change the waters and be rid of the poison. When I had succeeded I sprung upright gasping for air. When my eyes opened, Paul and Duncan were stunned to see my eyes were now fully Blue from the spice saturation. Paul knew then the chain of events had begun and I would now prepare to go where no woman was supposed to go. Preparation would now begin for him as well to do what he must to save me. 

I could hear the muffled voice of Duncan calling my name as I began to gather my bearings. "I'm here," I called back still exhausted from what just happened. I looked to the Reverend Mother and could see her head drooping down. "Reverend Mother Mahollow is gone, but she remains within me," I said still trying to catch my breath. Chani held up the contained water of life that I had changed, "The waters of Life are now safe for us all to drink." Cheers rose around me as Duncan finally made it to my side, holding me steady and kissing my head. Eventually he picked me up bridal style and with a nod from Stilgar he returned the quarters we were sharing. My mother watched us disapprovingly knowing this would put a hitch in her plans. Duncan carried me to our bed once reaching our quarters and laid me down gently. He helped me from the many layers of clothes I wore and laid with me holding me tightly. "Why do I feel like something terrible is going to happen, like I'm going to lose you," he asked in a whisper. I pulled his arms tighter around me, moving as close to him as I could. "I will never leave you Duncan," I whispered back as I fell into a deep sleep. He too soon fell asleep with me not partaking in the celebration that was unfolding outside. My dreams were filled with the visions to come, but there was a part I could not see, almost as if the future was uncertain. I was suddenly thrust into a world I could not see the path in, unsure of what decision was missing and why the future was now uncertain. I did not know that Paul was making plans to guarantee I would survive unable to tolerate a future where I was not there. Stil sat with him on the same outcropping we had been earlier. "There are things I must do Stil and I need something from you," he said beginning to put the pieces in place. "Anything Usul, you need only ask," he said playing with pebbles from the sand. "We must keep her safe Stil, she is the key to the future I see, the key to the peace we will need," he said and somehow Stil knew he was talking about me. He simply nodded, no words needed to explain that he would do whatever Paul asked of him. Paul sighed hating that he was keeping a secret from me, but knowing it was the only way.