Thread: Daughter Of Dune (Ursus Peregrinus & darkangel76)

Irulan just watched Ghanima and her nephew stand there across the way as they tried to console each other. Their arms wrapped about each other in what appeared to be a loving embrace. Love... what did anyone know of love. But she could plainly see the tears in the Atreides beauty's eyes. In that moment, Ghani was the child she once knew, the girl who'd run through the palace of Arrakeen hand-in-hand with the now Emperor Leto. Such times those had been! They'd been filled with laughter and almost with love, though she'd often times had to remind herself that it was all false. The children of Muad'dib were pre-born, knew things they shouldn't. And she had to remind herself that they weren't like most children though they bore the faces of such. Now, older, things were different, much different. And the times were becoming that much more treacherous. Ghanima looked deeply into Farad'n's eyes for a moment, her heart breaking as she thought of Hersilia being taken away once more. Only this time, this time she couldn't see any part of the future that would be coming. It was both a blessing and curse and something that must be played out. She knew Leto would want it this way and that he'd be proud of what she'd just done. And that was all that mattered. Just then, she felt a twitch, her blue-on-blue eyes shifting to glance at Irulan who'd already backed herself away toward the staircase. She looked at the woman who'd once been like a mother to her as well as to her own daughter. She looked tense. Pained, perhaps? No. There was something more. Something deeper. But for the first time, she couldn't tell. She couldn't see. As the 'Thopter flew over Arrakeen, Hersilia gripped tightly to the armrests of her seat, her muscles tense as more than once her eyes fluttered shut. She felt her tummy drop as Marid piloted the thing over the wall and then over the sandy dunes outsides. Despite her tension, she found herself trusting his skill, however that didn't mean she wasn't frightened. No matter how much reason and logic her mind seemed to bear, her body reacted of its own free will. She wished she could hide the reactions she was having, worried they'd come off as weakness when already she knew she'd been seen as the one at a disadvantage... and she was. She knew that and refused to think otherwise. This whole idea of her mother's was a great risk. Who knew if she'd even succeed! When the 'Thopter finally landed, Hersilia smiled inwardly, happy to finally be landing so that she could gain her bearings. Normally she did better with flying, though her fear of the situation was getting the better of her. Trying to clear her mind, she remembered the incantation her mother and Irulan used to recite and then said it to herself a few times. A she did, she began to feel a bit more at ease. Once Marid had checked her over and handed her the pack she was to carry, he told her to follow and do as he did. Hersilia could only nod, knowing she had no choice if she was to even remotely survive the harsh cruelties that the desert could choose to dole out at any time she chose. They were at its mercy and no doubt the desert was angry with all the changes that were slowly occurring to it, altering it, forcing it to recede. Oooff... Hersilia grunted as she hoisted on her pack. It was quite heavy and she wondered how she was to carry it through such harsh lands. But she kept silent, putting her faith in Marid that his intention wasn't to kill her on her first night out in this dry wasteland. Hersilia followed Marid's steps along the base of the dune. She then looked up into the sky. The stars were plentiful and so much brighter outside the walls of the city. Looking back down, she continued to follow her new protector and guardian, watching him closely as she did so. With each step, she could feel the weight of the pack, knowing it would become quite a burden as the day wore on especially once the sun rose up over the horizon and bore down on them all of its heat. But she wouldn't complain. She couldn't. No, she had to hold onto the thought that there was a purpose to everything that was done out in the desert. As the sun rose up overhead, the heat began to take its toll, the weight of the pack becoming heavier and heavier. Hersilia found it becoming harder to take each step, but she refused to let on how difficult things were becoming, fearful of what it might mean that she was having troubles so early on in their journey. But she needed a rest, if even a short one. Something. Perhaps there was something she could do that would make it more bearable for herself, something she was unaware of and needed to learn. Biting down on her lip, she wondered if she'd dare ask and risk ridicule or... risk worse, the possibility of fainting. Marid, Hersila spoke up, her voice only as loud as it needed to be. I need a moment. Hopefully, not too long of a moment, but... a moment. Her cheeks already reddened from the exertion and the heat reddened further from embarrassment.