DUNE-A False Haderach (OC X Shishakli) (OC x Alia)

Part 26

Chapter 16

STILGAR

Arrakis was slow to change, despite the flash storms, life rarely changed on the sandy planet for living in such an environment was hard, living in such an environment under the authoritarian rule of the Emperor's dog, even harder.

On Arrakis things did not change in days, no they took years, their customs were older than himself going back nearly hundreds of years, having been passed on from one generation to another through the passage of time.

Yet change was coming to Arrakis, it had been percolating through the air for some time, and this was not the slow change of the times bygone. No, this change came fast, and came to uproot everything Stilgar had ever known about life in Arrakis.

It was not difficult to point out when this had begun, for he had watched its beginning with his own eyes as they had brought back that fated child to their Sietch from the broken remains of that ship. That had been the day of the beginning of this storm that threatened to envelop their whole way of life.

And it all had never been more apparent until today as the Naibs from Sietches all over the desert planet came to Sietch Tabr, pouring over from all parts of the globe, some sending their representatives. Such a gathering had not happened since they had decided to end the accursed people of Jacurutu centuries ago, and yet now it happened once more infront of his eyes as he sat in the Great Hall, watching the leaders of the Fremen gather and mingle in a single place, all at the behest of the youngest amongst them.

Inzal, the young man who had called this Council and had gathered them all here today, stood there near the center, watching everything with those blue orbs of his, scanning the crowd alone.

The young Naib represented not one Sietch but hundreds, if not thousands, for the little twenty people who had left with him all those years ago had now become thousands and were renowned throughout the land.

The famous 'Ajniha,' the wings.

For years, they had fought the Harkonnens, looted them, and saved and rescued thousands of Fremen, many of whom would go on to join his cause as their strength continued to grow. He would also warn a Sietch about any imminent Harkonnen attack, allowing them to escape in time, even replenishing their water reserves through his own wealth to buy them more time.

Many of the Naibs sitting here owed their lives to him, and that was why they had gathered with such haste at his call. He walked up to the young man as the lights began to dim until only one remained focused on the raised platform that acted as the stage.

"Stilgar," the young Naib greeted him, and once he had thought that the young man would replace him taking up his own mental once he had grown old and weary, yet a shame it had not gone as he had thought.

His own thoughts on Inzal remained conflicted to this day, and the young boy had grown up infront of his eyes. Yet the boy also stood against his very beliefs, stood against the tradition, and the values he had always held sacred. He had done good, much good, saved thousands, and provided for even more, yet the young boy spat on their beliefs, on their hope of a Messiah, on their prayers for a Greenish Paradise.

"Do you have any idea of what you are about to do?" he asked again, knowing full well the implications of the Council they were about to have.

The Fremem prided themselves on their unity. All Fremen, no matter from what corner of the planet, were united as one, yet Inzal's proposition threatened to divide them, to create a chasm that could uproot their very society.

"I do," he answered, looking into his eyes with his own blue orbs. He noticed that the young boy was now of equal height to himself, and then he began to move forward as the whispers began to die down, adding with a whisper.