obsidian and emerald × feyd-rautha harkonnen

Chapter Three - Lull

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Two months quickly flew by, and Adalia had grown fond of her new home, the sand not so irritable on her throat anymore. The heat of the planet and its blistering sun was something that she would never get used to, but she did appreciate the warmth of colour it had brought to her skin.

After integrating with the people of Arrakis, Adalia soon realised that they were the type of people she would love to lead, including the Fremen outside of the city's border. They were fierce, and resilient. She admired these traits. If only she had been named heir. 

She had grown fond of their customs, but more importantly, their culture, always reading as much as she could to understand them better. As a lady of Arrakis, the least she could be is knowledgeable of the planet and its inhabitants.

When she hadn't been studying about Arrakis, her mother had continued training her in the Bene Gesserit ways, however minimal the sessions were. Adalia disagreed with their ideals, but she could see how useful learning how to use the voice would be. That was the only reason she continued listening to Jessica talk about her sister's teachings and 'prophecies’. To Adalia, they were mere children’s stories.

Jessica always spent more time with Paul teaching him, which frustrated Adalia. She never wanted to feel envy towards her brother, but she found it difficult not to when he was so clearly favoured by everyone. So while Jessica taught Paul daily, Adalia used the little teachings she had been given to teach herself. And surprisingly, she was a better teacher to herself than she realised.

Whilst Adalia had lived on Caladan, she had persuaded Duncan to teach her how to fight, despite it being frowned upon. Once again, she never found it fair when Paul would be whisked away by Gurney to train, whilst she had to idly walk around the palace with the other ladies, talking about their materialistic belongings and whom they hoped to be betrothed to. So, out of spite, Adalia had convinced Duncan to train her in secret after practically months of begging.

Duncan had been teaching her for almost a year when the sessions were prohibited by her father. He had caught them both in the training room after the Imperium council had run short. Adalia never understood why he had been so angry, she thought it to be a good thing that she learnt how to protect herself. He merely said that it goes against the traditions of noble women and never spoke of it again. Adalia had not spoken to him for weeks after the incident.

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“You know your father would punish the both of us if he found out we continued with these secret training sessions” Duncan puffed out, sweat beading on his forehead.

“I love my father, but sometimes he can be shortsighted. I should know how to defend myself.” Adalia retorted, taking a defensive stance, dagger in hand.

At lightning speed, Duncan lunged towards Adalia, making slashes aimed at her chest with his dagger.

“Noble women are supposed to be protected” he enunciated each word with a swing of his dagger.

Adalia swiftly dodged each of his attacks, ducking and rolling away from his last swipe, Duncan’s back now to her. She flipped the dagger in her hand before expertly throwing it in his direction, narrowly missing his head by a fraction which she had done purposefully.

“I can protect myself,” she replied with a smirk.

“Ah, but what will the lady do without a weapon?” he countered, swirling his own blade.

Duncan gave her little time to prepare for his onslaught as he took long strides towards her. Adalia's eyes widened as he raised his blade, making her duck. Duncan swung his dagger in the open air, missing Adalia. But he wasn't going to stop there. He rapidly repositioned himself in front of Adalia, his dagger rhythmically slashing at her vulnerable spots.