Thread: Daughter Of Dune (Ursus Peregrinus & darkangel76)

Hersilia listened with furious intent and concentration as Marid spoke, telling of a past she'd never been privy to truly learn. She'd heard whispers from her mother before she'd been sent away from both her and Farad'n and being fully entrusted to Irulan's care. Whispers she was certain were between her and her uncleempress and emperor. Whispers she was certain she was not meant to hear. All too often those conversations ended with her mother crying, shedding tears that her uncle would lovingly try to quell and quash. But somehow Hersilia knew that Uncle Leto couldn't do anything to comfort her mother despite any sweet and tender words he could even attempt to try and utter. Fact was fact. And both pre-born twins knew that full well, both couldn't escape it... her uncle especially. They were Atreides, bound to prescience, bound to fate. Unable to escape or evade it. She lowered her blue eyes as she listened to Marid's rich voice as it filled the stilltent that surrounded them both, resonating in her ears as he spoke of a bloody past that brought not just a miracle, but death and devastation in its wake. What was the price to be paid for such legacy? Was that why her uncle kept to himself, spoke only to her mother? Was that why she was to be hidden, an attempt to make... change? Hersilia truly didn't know. Her own dreams were so muddled and she couldn't make sense of most of them. Not having her mother around to speak to about them made it difficult and Irulan thought it best she never speak of dreams unless asked to divulge and only by those she approved. As it was, she was breaking that precious rule by talking to Marid as she was. But something about him, something told her she needed to speak to him, to trust him... something. As Hersilia listened to Marid's tones waver and change, the barest hints of emotion rising and then waning as if never having been present, a sudden chill engulfed her body. She looked into his Fremen eyes and swallowed hard. Gone was all softness, any traces of emotion. Did he know who she was? Did her ties to Muad'dib upset him? She couldn't fault him if it did. After all, her family had done much to change Arrakis. Making what had once been pure into something else. Her family needed to right that error somehow and it was probably a price that could never be paid except for in blood and tears. It would be sweet justice to the planet and its people, giving them the source of their life for what they'd taken away. Even if it hadn't been intended... Looking up at Marid, he suddenly seemed to loom like an ominous shadowlarge, frightening, oddly cold despite the heat. Hersilia nodded and did as he requested, noting how he called her 'outlander' despite the fact that she'd been born on Arrakis, never even left the planet. Something about his tone struck a chord, made her muscles tense as a shiver ran along her spine and a vision of Shai-Hulud swirled in her mind. Biting down on her lower lip, doing her best to tamp down this new surge of emotion she was suddenly feeling, Hersilia checked the seals of her stillsuit. She made sure everything regarding it was in proper order and fitting the way it should. She would need it once they got moving out in the open. For out in the open, they were at the mercy of DuneArrakisdesert planet. I... Hersilia suddenly found herself stammering, cursing herself inwardly as she looked downward. I apologize for my prattle. She tried to force a smile. But, my suit is ready. I... I am ready. I'll face my tests. My grandmother would have wanted that. She paused for a moment. So would my grandfather... and my mother.