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Tranquility

Desc: In a world between House Atreides and Arrakis, Bene Gesserit and Fremen, Paul has many grievances, and he’s horribly lost. But you come along, as a Bene Gesserit student of the Suk School, and everything becomes clearer for him. Angst, fluff, and not a completely canon storyline, but it mostly is. Lots of hugging (Have you seen House Atreides? Touch is their love language).

Word Count: 12.2k

Again, another dream, another tale into deeply precise moments, that left Paul wanting more and yet never quite reaching his goal.

The girl that he kept seeing- the one with the brightest blue eyes, and a clear path that he was meant to follow- she exhibited something that seemed loving and yet all the same cautious, as if she knew something that he did not.

These visions did nothing to soothe him, no matter how much Duncan told him that they were just dreams. Paul knew better, that he was seeing a genuine place of the future, born out of his unnatural prescience.

Even telling his mother about these visions did not help, because as a part of the Bene Gesserit, Jessica tended to take everything far more seriously. Because of Paul’s potential to be the One, to be the Kwisatz Haderach, she would not see it as anything other than an omen.

Paul yawned at the table. He had attempted to use the Voice, to get his mother to give him water, but it hadn’t quite worked, and now she wanted him to practice. Study more. Undergo the same amount of training that she had in her youth.

When am I going to be enough? He wondered, not for the first time, as he played with his food carelessly. Paul had seen more pain than anything else in the future, and all he wanted was to be at peace.

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“Ow-” Paul winced, as Dr. Yueh tended to a minor wound after his training with Gurney Halleck. Duncan had gone off to work with the Fremen, and as a result, he was basically without a friendly face now.

It also didn’t help that Halleck had pushed him so far.

“My apologies, Lord Atreides.” He did sound sorry, and Paul let it go, knowing he was more stressed due to the current situation. “I’ve been completely distracted as of late.”

“Oh?” Paul looked at him carefully, and sure enough, Yueh looked absolutely exhausted. “What’s happened?”

“Well- it’s kind of a long story.” Yueh closed his eyes for a moment, and then continued. “You are aware of the Suk School, by no doubt?”

“Yes. Only the greatest medical school in the galaxy.” Paul nodded, knowing that if it hadn’t been for Yueh’s skills gained from the Suk School, the House of Atreides would be a lot lesser for it.

“Recently, they’ve given me an apprentice to mentor.” It was here that Yueh groaned, to Paul’s concern. “I haven’t even gotten the chance to bring this up with the Duke, and now- well, they’ve already asked me to watch over the student in the coming week.”

“I hate to ask, but do you think you could help vouch for me? I simply need to tell him that I… I need some time off to work at the school.” Yueh finished, and Paul felt incredibly sad for the man.

To be so nervous to even ask for help was not the way, especially considering how much Yueh had done for them already.

“Listen, Yueh.” Paul held his shoulders, and the older man leaned in, listening as he braced himself. “I can’t promise that Father will let you leave on such short notice. We’re always in need of you, but I know this is probably really stressful for you.”

Yueh nodded, about to say that it was completely fine, that he would figure it out, as he was already expecting this. House Atreides was always fair.

“Why can’t he come here? You can teach him the Suk ways, and you will still technically be our doctor. Is that a worthwhile compromise?” Paul suggested, unaware that this was more than Yueh hoped for.

“Thank you.” Yueh nodded at him, overwhelmed at the idea that Paul would let the student stay here, where there were already so many people to be concerned with. Yes, House Atreides was well off, but it was not always so likely that they would take someone under their wing.

Duke Leto was slightly less amicable to the idea, unsure of whether or not Yueh would be able to handle patching up the Atreides swordmasters and soldiers, as well as teaching the student, but Paul stayed true to his word and vouched for him.

“She’ll be here by the middle of this week.” Yueh bowed deeply in gratitude, while Paul and Leto looked at each other in surprise.

It wasn’t a problem, exactly, if it was a woman, but it did raise a few questions.

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You were not exactly excited about moving into a noble house, considering that wasn’t even supposed to happen.

As a Bene Gesserit, you were supposed to be rather incognito, behind the scenes of everything. Orchestrating events that were already recognized, but not ensured. It was going to be harder to keep everything going smoothly.

Your Reverend Mother, Aurelian Aria Abadi, was going to be displeased, that was unavoidable. The whole purpose of sending you to the Suk School was so you could reliably be one of the Sisters who could heal others.

The Bene Gesserit were not ones to be so open about their wishes. That was not your way, and now you were packing your belongings, leaving Corrin for however long. The School didn’t have a concrete location, but it would have been easier to stay outside of the hierarchy of politics.

There was a part of you that was excited to see House Atreides. Located currently on Caladan, you had never actually been there, and you wanted new scenery.

“It’s freezing there, Y/n. Picture rainy days, and dark, storming clouds.” Reverend Mother Abadi commented as she watched over you from the door. “Pack up as many extra wrappings as you can, you’re going to need it.”

“Yes, Mother.” You bowed, and she nodded in relief. You were always a good, respectable Sister, and even when you were just an acolyte, just being taught by Abadi, you never failed to give it your all.

“I know you’re going to be a great doctor.” She said, and finally hugged you, to your massive surprise. The Bene Gesserit were never so candidly emotional, instead choosing to be coldly calculating and hardly readable.

You nearly fell but then hugged her back, grinning, and Abadi nodded, her mouth set in a firm line.

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Dr. Wellington Yueh was not as intimidating as you thought he would be. As you arrived, walking down the ship on your own, with nothing more than the bag you were holding, as well as the clothes on your back.

He was definitely formidable, with the graceful hands of an apt doctor crossed in a greeting. You were glad for that, because it meant he was skilled, and would likely be a good teacher. His long hair was tied into the customary silver ring of the Suk School, and his forehead was adorned with a small black diamond tattoo, as every graduate would have, and you would surely have one day too.

Yueh looked smart, very neat, but nervous, as if he didn’t know what to say to you.

“Greetings, teacher.” You bowed, dipping your head and adjusting your veil. “I am Lady Y/n of the Bene Gesserit, but as your student, you may call me Y/n.”

“...Hello.” He swallowed uncertainly, and then held his hand towards you, and you took it as you came upwards. “Y/n. You can simply call me Dr. Yueh, or Yueh. The Suk School does not believe in such strong formalities.”

“I see.” You nodded, and smiled at him meekly, showing that although you were a Bene Gesserit, you were still young. “I suppose you did not expect me.”

“I… I simply did not expect a woman, or someone of your kind.” Yueh shook his head. “Forgive me, that sounds mean. I take it that the Bene Gesserit needs doctors, and that’s hardly a crime.”

“Come. We will begin our lessons soon.” He began to walk, and you followed him, admiring the luscious green forests of Caladan, seeing how the mist and dew kept everything relatively refreshing.

Maybe it was chilly here, but you wrapped your cloak around you with further excitement.

------------

Yueh wasn’t a particularly harsh teacher. Nothing like how the Bene Gesserit would be, with strenuous testing and constant practices. Here, he wanted you to work on a dummy, practicing incisions, sutures, bandaging, and injections and anything else.

After a year of studying theory, this was exceptionally fun, to see what you had visualized so often come into reality.

Now it was time for dinner, and not just the regular dinners you would have on your own in your own time. House Atreides sometimes had dinners involving the entirety of their people, not just the noble family. This meant, of course, the swordmasters, the soldiers, maids, men of the council, and the family physician.

Yueh was told to invite you too, as apparently Lady Jessica was curious about you.

You dressed neatly, in an appropriately festive, dark navy blue gown that the Bene Gesserit would approve of, and combed your hair into a sleek ponytail. Then, you proceeded to the dining hall.

Duke Leto, Lady Jessica, and Paul, their son, were seated at the head of the table, and everyone else had already been seated. It was apparent that they were waiting for you, as the final guest.

“Greetings, my Lady.” You bowed deeply upon arriving, and Jessica stood up, bringing your hands to hers. Again, you were surprised. The Bene Gesserit were not supposed to be quite so obviously kind, but you figured it was different for a noble concubine.

“Hello, Sister. Y/n.” She motioned towards the table. “Please, sit with us.”

“Oh? Should I not be sitting with Dr. Yueh?” You tilted your head in confusion.

Paul smiled at that, finding it funny how you looked so aghast, as if you had forgotten where the Bene Gesserit typically stood during such events, and you were rather cute. You were unlike any of the Bene Gesserit he had ever heard of, and he took an immediate fondness to you.

“No, that’s alright, Y/n. The Bene Gesserit do not sit near the back like common folk.” Jessica answered, sitting down, again motioning towards your seat.

Right next to the son, the heir of House Atreides, the one that you had heard of multiple times before this. He was potentially the Kwisatz Haderach, the Messiah, and you could not help but stare reverently. After growing up hearing about the potential man, you were very surprised that it turned out he was your age.

Paul Atreides shouldn’t have existed yet. He was meant to be born a generation later, and even though you knew of this, you were strangely happy that you could see him now. You knew the plan, but you still felt that this was right, no matter what the Bene Gesserit sought out.

He smiled, incredibly calmly for who he was, if he was even fully aware of that. You nodded, reassured, a soft smile adorning your features for a brief moment, and you hoped that you hadn’t done anything particularly out of line. You sat next to him.

Paul pushed your seat in for you as you sat next to him, no doubt proving his ability as a gentleman, but it still was unlike other noble men. He had clearly been raised well.

“Y/n.” Duke Leto spoke, and you turned, wondering what he could have to say. “We are grateful you are able to learn under Yueh here, instead of on Corrin. If there’s anything you may need here, just speak.”

“How much can you really do until you go to Arrakis, anyways?” Paul chimed in, not exactly kindly, but Leto fixed him with a look.

“As Paul was trying to say, House Atreides has recently been given stewardship of Arrakis. This involves moving there-”

“Which means, you can’t justifiably help her.” Paul answered again, and Leto let him speak, as a patient father would. “I’m sorry, Y/n, it’s nothing to do with you, it’s that my father here just wants to ensure that you have a proper future in House Atreides, and he can’t exactly do that on another planet.”

“I agree. But you forget that I didn’t exactly ask for anything.” You remarked, and it was here that Leto chuckled.

Paul opened his mouth, and then closed it, not exactly sure what to say to that. Finally, he went with:

“Asking or not, it’s not right for us to fail to accommodate you, when you had to travel here on your own just for our sake.” He spoke readily, as if he was already convinced of that, but meeting your eyes, it made him feel shy. You had the slightly intimidating look of the Bene Gesserit, indicating the telepathic way they would almost instantly know if you were telling the truth or not.

Paul was usually fairly earnest. He had nothing to fear, and no reason to even feel this way, but he just wanted you to feel right. He also wanted you to know that he didn’t pity you or anything like that.

“That is actually very fair of you.” You admitted, and Paul felt somewhat victorious. “I’ll do my best to be sure there’s no need for ‘accommodation’, just because I hate to make a fuss.”

You smiled teasingly at him, to show that you meant no harm or trouble by being here, and he smiled back.

Perhaps Y/n will be a friend of sorts. Like Duncan. Paul thought to himself, as you began to eat the roasted meats and fruits that had been prepared. Oh, but I can’t distract her. She’s studying to be a doctor. And I’m meant to run Caladan.

“She’s like you.” Leto whispered into Jessica’s ear, and she rolled her eyes, a small smile.

It was continually amazing to see a family be simultaneously powerful, and well, just a family.

-------------

After that day, you became closer with the Atreides in a way that could be considered informal.

Jessica was quick to take you under her wing, because despite the fact that there was no Reverend Mother here, she was kind of acting like one. Albeit nicer.

To your slight disappointment, you did not see Paul as often as you wanted to. You only approached him at officiated dinners, or sometimes in the House Atreides library.

Unbeknownst to you, Paul was observing you just as much as you did him. He was used to Caladan, and spent a great deal of time studying how to be a better heir with his father, or using the Voice, with his mother. This schedule was repetitive almost to the point of boredom, but you were a welcome sight beyond that.

Sometimes he’d catch you making medical notes, deep in concentration as you bit your tongue, and he would find something so amusingly candid about that. Even though Paul knew your thinking face was not meant for anyone else to see, since the Bene Gesserit were always very careful in how they orchestrated their emotions, it made you more human to him.

You were all the more real to him, easier to grasp than the numerous lessons he had already gone through, and it was that that made him drawn to you. He would sometimes sit next to you and read his own papers, without saying a word, and this quiet, mutually agreed upon silence was something you always looked forward to.

You were too busy to see him any more than that, since you were always under Yueh’s careful tutelage, what with helping him make medicinal potions.

But now Yueh actually wanted you to watch, to see how he moved with a real patient, and you were eager to see how one was supposed to be when performing.

“You will be my shadow while I administrate some medicine to Duncan Idaho.” Yueh clarified, as you walked with him towards the quarters of the swordmasters and soldiers.

You had heard of Duncan in passing, more so about his great prowess in battle and in tactical planning. He was supposed to be rather intimidating.

Now though, you were watching Yueh bandage up a minor wound that he had already applied a salve to, and Duncan had spent the entire time laughing.

“It tickles, Yueh. What the hell did you put in here?” He doubled over, while Yueh twitched an eyebrow. “Ugh, way to make me look stupid in front of a girl.”

You blinked, not realizing that you were even noticeable, since you had spent so much time with just Yueh.

“You don’t look stupid.” You responded quietly, while Duncan seemed to hang on to every word. “It’s an involuntary reaction.”

“Haha. You’re kinder than your predecessors.” Duncan said, and you shrugged. “Like Lady Jessica. Now I know why Paul said you seemed like a good woman.”

You were taken aback for just one moment, one fleeting second where you thought about why Paul would have talked about you, and how glad you were that it was favorable to you. Then, in a typical Bene Gesserit way, you held your breath and pulled yourself together, choosing to exude calmness.

“I am glad to not be a hindrance towards you.” You remarked, and Duncan grinned.

“He said you were like that too. Tenacious. Good at saying what you mean. He didn’t get a chance to mention how pretty you are, though.” He added, and the only thing you could really do was smile slightly.

“Tell me, do you converse romantically with all the women you meet?” You raised your eyebrows, and Yueh suddenly came back to life, no longer just going through the motions of bandaging.

“Yes, Y/n. The man never ceases his constant wooing of random women-” Yueh tried, but Duncan instantly interjected.

“Pretty women. Anyways-”

“They don’t call him a ladies’ man for nothing.” Yueh sighed, as if disapprovingly, and you laughed, a short, quiet chuckle in your throat, and Duncan’s eyes seemed to light up at that.

---------------

“I’m telling you. She smiled at me.” Duncan said, and Paul shook his head, laughing to himself.

“Maybe you just saw what you wanted to see. The Bene Gesserit are more serious than you think.” Paul stated, as he would know very well. In actuality though, the Bene Gesserit were still human, and he had seen his mother smile more than once.

He just found something slightly irritating about the fact that Duncan had made you smile. Sure, that was his greatest friend and all, but he wanted to kind of… keep you aside, like a little secret of House Atreides, and that wasn’t very rational of him either.

If Paul was totally honest with himself, it was because the little solitude he had with you was sometimes the only reprieve he had from being the heir, and the Kwisatz Haderach, and all these other intentionally stressful identities. In a way, he had almost placed you in his mind as a symbol of peace.

He just didn’t want you to be taken away, or to be absorbed into something like everything else was. Into another concern of his.

“Hey, Paul, she was into it.” Duncan raised his arms, shrugging, and Paul sighed. “I’m kidding, she mostly shot me down anyways.”

“Oh.” Paul found an inordinate amount of solace in that. “That’s… don’t feel too awful, Duncan. It’s normal for a Bene Gesserit to become a concubine, like my mother. They don’t commonly associate, uh, casually with men like that.”

Duncan stared at him, as if he had suddenly grown a second head.

“Wow. First off, that’s certainly a way to refer to intercourse. Second of all, I have never seen you become so entranced by someone, that you would defend her against me.” Duncan supplied, looking entertained by this new development.

“I’m not-”

“You are, and you know you are. I’ll leave her alone for you.” Duncan winked jokingly, and Paul had no idea how to respond.

“You should have heard her laugh.” Duncan added, finally, because he liked teasing him, and Paul felt the last bit of his restraint disappear.

He needed to see you again, closer to him.

------------

Lady Jessica didn’t commonly call you very often, but it made sense that she would. You figured that she probably wanted to see the extent of your knowledge as a Bene Gesserit.

So here you were, in her sitting room, sipping on citrus tea as casually as you could be in the circumstances. It was hard, because Lady Jessica was incredibly formidable and you could barely read her. She was practically a Reverend Mother when it came to it.

She sat across from you now, stirring her tea with almost too much force, and it was then she spoke.

“Y/n. How are you?” She finally took a sip, before wincing at the flavour. “Oh my. That doesn’t taste very good. How have you been drinking that?”

“I don’t find it customary to refuse a drink when it is offered to me.” You answered, and she raised her eyebrows.

“Oh, by all means, you can refuse it if it does not suit you. You are a Bene Gesserit.” Jessica smiled, and you felt at ease knowing she trusted you enough not to hide herself. “For all you know, that awful taste could have been poison.”

“But then you would have to have a reason to poison me.” You responded in turn, getting nervous. Why would Jessica need to talk to you, other than for Bene Gesserit reasons? It didn’t seem to click in at all, from the way she kept taking a look over at you.

“Correct.” She inhaled. “I absolutely abhor having to do this, but I must ask you for a favor, Y/n.”

You leaned forward, expecting the woman to talk about something medically related, maybe to do with her handmaidens.

“It’s Paul. He struggles a bit with using the Voice, and I want you to help him.” She admitted, to your astonishment.

“Me? But you would obviously know the most. I doubt I would have the same extent of knowledge.” You exclaimed, and Jessica nodded.

“You aren’t wrong, but you know as well as I do that the Voice does not just exist as a means of skill.” She began to play with her dress, as if she was talking about nothing so significant. “It conveys emotion, pitch, and mental stability, all of which are vulnerable and take more than simply practice.”

“Yes, true, but-”

“Paul trusts you. I know he does, and that is why I’ve spoken with you. He can only get better in a more nurturing environment.” She said, and you shook your head. “You think because I’m his mother, I’m all the support he needs.”

“Yes.”

“Well, truthfully, he needs something new. To learn is to seek more, to crave the final answer, and Paul is on the precipice of either finally fully grasping the Voice, or letting go because it has become a chore to him. He cannot lose his will to keep going.” Jessica leaned back in her seat. “His potential is incredible.”

“Kwisatz Haderach.” You commented quietly, and she smiled.

“Then you know I cannot squander him.” She returned, before speaking with full force. “Come here.”

You walked forward towards her, before realizing what you had done. It was as if it had happened instantaneously.

“Give me the tea.” She reached her hand out, and you gave it to her promptly.

“Stop.” You retorted, and Jessica blinked, losing whatever she was about to say, before grinning.

“Your pitch is perfect. And you were able to use the Voice quicker than I expected.” She approved, and you smiled despite feeling a bit caught off guard. “Please, consider my request. I understand if you feel poorly about it.”

“I’ll do it.” You stated, and she stood up, taking your hands.

“Really? So sure, already…”

“Well, I don’t mind helping Paul. That’s all.” You clarified, and Jessica laughed.

“You two will probably be good friends.” She looked at you, her eyes piercing into your own. “Just don’t take on anything you can’t handle.”

Lady Jessica was right. You needed to be kind to yourself first.

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You were so hesitant, this morning, that you had to teach him. You arrived at his door, and stood there, second guessing if you should knock, or to just wait until he was ready. Even though Paul was expecting you, because he had to have been told already, you just felt intimidated by this.

To have a real conversation with him felt dangerous, like you were playing with something you should have kept far away from.

He was practically a prince. The son of a duke, the heir to House Atreides, a Lord in his own right, the Kwisatz Haderach, potentially, and every single important thing that could be rolled up into one person.

And here you were, about to teach him something, even though you felt as if he already probably knew the Voice well enough.

Lady Jessica was depending on you, though.

You knocked on his door, and waited. Paul opened it after a minute, and you could tell he had just been resting. His black hair was disheveled, as if he had just rolled off his bed, and he was wearing a light, ivory coloured set of linen nightwear. His under eyes were dark, and he blinked for a moment.

You immediately felt guilty, and ducked your head downwards, hoping he wouldn’t be angry. You had just burst into one of his most vulnerable, intimate spaces, and here he was, open, softer than usual, and not on guard. Something you shouldn’t have seen.

A small part of you cherished it though.

“Y/n. I’m sorry, I was told you’d be coming.” He yawned, before rubbing at his eyes. “What time is it?”

“The sun has just risen.” You shook your head. “Never mind, Paul, I can come back later. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

You began to walk away.

“Wait, wait, no. You didn’t disturb me.” Paul motioned for you to come back, and then whispered. “I’ve just… been tired lately, but I sleep restlessly. I’ve even been meaning to ask for sleeping medicine from Yueh. Just know it’s not you.”

“I’ll be sure to tell him. That doesn’t really sound normal, but I think using lavender essence might help.” You said, tone a little lighter, and Paul beamed, glad that you didn’t actually seem upset. He had reassured you.

“Um… you could tell me a bit more about it, if you’re comfortable?” You asked, and Paul blanked for a moment. “It might just help you figure out how to remedy it, because a lot of the time these problems are more mentally sourced than anything.”

You didn’t want to pry, but you could see whatever it was had to be stressing out Paul more. It was so apparent to you that his sleep problems and his lack of capability in the Voice were connected.

“Yes. Yes, that’s smart of you.” He grinned, and you couldn’t help but smile back, feeling that funny connection again. That he was your confidante, still your quiet study partner, and now you were determined to help him.

“Let me get dressed first, and then I’ll explain more.” Paul continued, wondering how he was going to explain this, and you nodded, standing next to the wall, so as to give him some privacy.

“You’re not a servant.” He laughed, and then gestured for you to come in. “Take as much space as you want to.”

“Very well.” You complied by sitting on his bed, and staring out the large window. The forests and rocky terrain of Caladan never failed to impress you, and you had gone wandering through them in your free time more than once.

Paul stared at you for just a second, noticing how you seemed truly taken with this planet. It was unfortunate that soon the trip to Arrakis would begin.

He retreated to his washing chambers, and closed the door, before sitting on the ground. How did he explain?

I can’t tell her everything. It’s too much for anyone to hear. I haven’t even told my mother about the full extent of the visions. Paul tried to tell himself, but you were so earnest in wanting to help him. Never mind… I’ll just ignore certain parts.

Paul’s prescience was known by his mother, and Duncan, but he didn’t know what to make of it, exactly. At first, he had dreamed of a desert, what was most certainly Arrakis, as well as a young woman who appeared to be a Fremen.

But after meeting you, the visions had changed. Arrakis was still present, but he no longer saw the woman. He was taught the Fremen ways, and all the while, you were next to him, also studying, even there at his side during moments of terror.

Fighting by him.

He saw romance, friendship, confusion, grief, but no matter what, you were there for him, and it culminated into a couple of questions for him.

Why did that original woman leave his thoughts?

Which path was to actually happen?

The only thing he did know was that Arrakis was a constant throughout all of this.

Paul suddenly grew bashful, as he washed his face, thinking about how you were just sitting on his bed out there. After what he had seen, it was so difficult for him to act normally around you, because you were so likely to be someone special to him. Very possibly the love of his life.

It was why he had such a hard time putting together what to say when you were at his door this morning. He had just envisioned in his dreams, a sight of you and him, meditating together, foreheads pressed against each other. Paul could see that it meant familiarity, a strong attachment to each other, and he longed to be there.

Seeing you had nearly caused him to lose his composure, because you did not know, and he wanted nothing more to embrace you.

The warmth of those visions were not lost on him.

------------

Eventually, Paul exited the washing chambers, and sat next to you on his bed, now dressed in a black outfit, something that looked like a fitted tunic.

“Are you okay?” You asked, turning to look at him, and he thought for a moment.

It was endearingly stupid of him to think this, but he was okay, because he was with you.

“Yes.” Paul inhaled, and then stared at his hands. “I guess I should explain.”

“When I sleep, I often see these… visions, these premonitions of what’s to come.” He said, playing with his hands.

“The gift of prescience.” You added, and he nodded.

“Essentially, I’ve seen more than I can handle sometimes, and I don’t always know what to make of it.” Paul’s features suddenly took on a darker look, as if he had been very troubled by this. Deep in despair, he looked into your eyes. “I’ve told my mother of it, and Duncan knows as well. These visions can often be, well, horrifying, where I witness loss and death among so many people…”

He took another glance at you, to see if that was okay to say. You looked slightly more concerned, but determined to keep listening.

“There are also many good moments in these visions though. Love, life, closeness, warmth. But-” He thought for a second longer, how he was sitting next to the woman who would undoubtedly be all those things, and sighed, chastising himself, before continuing. “What I want to know is how seriously I must take it. How real is it?”

“What does Lady Jessica think?” You attempted.

“Such a Bene Gesserit thing to say.” He smirked, and you pushed his shoulder, laughing, which made his skin feel like it was on fire. The first real touch you had made, and it was barely a semblance of what he had already seen. “Sorry. She thinks these visions are significant, that they mean everything. Duncan, on the other hand, thinks they’re just dreams.”

You leaned in a little closer, without meaning to, and Paul was hyper aware of the scent of your skin, like cinnamon. Of how warm and soft you were, just a few inches away.

“What do you think?” You whispered, and he closed his eyes.

“I think it’s somehow both. They are too indicative of things that will come to pass, but on the other hand-” He opened his eyes and looked at you again. “They’ve also changed paths. And I don’t know what to think now, because it all feels so huge, and almost like practically nothing at the same time. I don’t know how to feel about something undecided.”

“That’s just it, isn’t it?” You interjected, to Paul’s confusion. “Prescience sometimes occurs in the Bene Gesserit. We don’t always know exactly what will happen, because it hasn’t happened yet, but you would be able to see all the potential paths. The more frequent the vision is, the more likely it is to be the one to happen. So, I would say, don’t place too much value into it, until you can guarantee its existence.”

“That sounds… right. At least,” He swallowed, feeling a big weight fall off his shoulders, and then rested his palm next to yours, on the bed sheets. “It sounds reassuring. Thank you, Y/n. That makes it easier to bear.”

“Not a problem.” You beamed, glad to have helped him so visibly. The man was looking less exhausted as you spoke. “I’m just surprised Lady Jessica hadn’t said anything like that.”

“Lady Jessica this, Lady Jessica that. You’re horribly attached to her.” He commented, and then began to giggle at how you looked entirely appalled.

“Paul, that is your mother.” You defended yourself, laughing, and he shrugged. “And she’s an incredible Bene Gesserit. Of course she would know more-”

“She doesn’t know everything.” Paul said quietly. “Otherwise she wouldn’t have asked you to help me with the Voice. Don’t blindly understate yourself, Y/n.”

You blinked, and then gently enveloped his hand with your own. “I won’t. I won’t anymore.”

Paul felt his face grow warm, now actually feeling your soft, nimble fingers against his own, and he absentmindedly wondered for a second what it would be like if you combed his hair with them. He had seen as much in the visions.

“Tell me, is it a Bene Gesserit way to constantly give credence to your elders?” He distracted himself, and you grinned.

“You know it is. I have to show my respect for them, and that includes Lady Jessica.” You retorted, tracing little circles into his thumb.

“True. If you were really that timid, you wouldn’t argue so much. Do you give Yueh a hard time?” Paul responded, and you raised your eyebrows.

“A good student listens. A better student strives for more. Yueh understands that.” You answered, and he nodded.

“I’ll keep that in mind for now.” Paul spoke quietly, signifying that it was probably time for a lesson, and you stood up, knowing you should teach him.

You walked to the far end of the room, right in front of the large window, and Paul watched you as you did. Then, turning on your heel, you looked at him.

“Come here.” You spoke firmly, and Paul found himself walking towards you. He knew he couldn’t have fought it, considering that you were using the Voice, but he knew that he wouldn’t have, either.

Maybe it was childish, but he trusted you, now especially so.

“Hum.” You tested, and Paul began to hum a tune that he eventually recognized as a common lullaby sung by the people of Caladan. Something he hadn’t heard in a long, long time.

“Tap the window.” You were having trouble thinking of what to command him to do, but Paul still did so, obviously out of no will of his own.

After tapping the window, he blinked, and then turned to you. It was common that after undergoing the Voice, the person would come back to their senses, and Paul was no stranger to the sensation.

“Okay, Paul. You know how it works.” You thought for a moment, and then continued. “Try it on your own now."

Paul was a bit nervous. "My pitch is always kind of off…"

"We can fix that when we get to it. I need to hear it at least, right?" You tried, and he agreed.

"Tap the window." Paul attempted, and your hand came forward just a bit, before resting next to you again.

"See? It's not good." He glanced at you, feeling annoyed that your hand hadn't even touched the window.

"It's not that bad, either. Lots struggle with even getting a person to listen." You explained. "The pitch is always the trickiest part. You should feel your larynx vibrating."

"What?"

"Oh, that's something that Yueh told me." You clarified. "When we use the Voice, we're pushing a certain pitch that causes one to listen to us without fail. Obviously, that involves not just a great mental strength, but a physical push of the body itself."

Paul was silent.

"Honestly, Y/n, I'm not sure what I'm having trouble with."

"It's really a kind of combination of both. You'll know when you really do it. You have to simultaneously believe in what you're saying, that it is the ultimate order, and that you must be physically forcing it onto the other person."

Your explanation made sense, and it was really just a slightly more anatomical version of what his mother had said before.

Paul inhaled, focusing on you, you being entirely under his control, perhaps willing or unwilling, but that was something he needed to get past anyways. He thought about trust, about letting go of his fear. He pushed, feeling a trembling in his throat, and he felt confident, confident in himself, having faith that what he said would be true- even for just a moment- and he used that.

"Tap the window."

You tapped it, not even feeling the slightest urge to resist.

You were surprised. Paul really had adapted far more quickly than a lot of Bene Gesserit would, but this was the Kwisatz Haderach after all.

"Did I do okay?" Paul asked, and you turned, slowly, as if he was purposefully being obtuse. "Ah, well, I mean to your standards."

"You did wonderful." You beamed at him. "Seems like I don't have much to teach. All I can say is you can't waver in your confidence."

Paul was lost in thought for just a second. He felt more composed with you.

"Thank you for teaching me, still, Y/n." He swallowed. "Is it alright if I try again?"

"By all means." You stood firmly.

He hadn't really thought it out very well. Paul could feel the push, again, the belief in what would happen, but he was focused on his prior visions of you, of how close you had been, and he could feel the vibrations in his throat.

"Come here."

You came forward, too close, brushing your face into his chest, before coming to your senses and stumbling.

Paul held you by your shoulders, but you were still very close to him, being able to make out the freckles across the bridge of his sharp nose, the soft green of his eyes, with beautiful, dainty eyelashes. It was almost as if he was too pretty to be real. Too pretty to be as strong as he was.

Was this okay? Was it okay that his hands lingered against your shoulders, and your waist, where he could feel the heat of your body through your dress?

There was the same unspoken thing you had experienced before, during your library trips. Where nothing else really seemed to matter. How long could you spend together like this?

Paul's breath ceased for a moment, because he did not expect this to feel so much more real. His visions did not compare to this, to how your face was just a breadth away from his, and if he was really, truly honest, he wanted to kiss you.

But Paul also knew this wasn't the right moment. The right time would happen in the future, and he didn't want to push you into this. It would be disrespectful to you as a teacher.

His Adam's apple bobbed for a moment, as he demonstrated some restraint, even though his eyes flitted from yours to your mouth again and again. Your pretty, ruby stained lips.

"...You are beautiful." Paul said hoarsely, and it really did seem to pain him to let you go.

"So are you." You whispered, not being able to help yourself.

He took a moment, still too close to you, before looking away, unable to speak about what had came over him. How did Paul tell you that it felt so right, but he wasn’t sure if that was because of his prescience? His hand brushed against your own.

“Thank you for the lesson.” He murmured, so quietly that maybe you wouldn’t have heard it, but you nodded, and then left the room.

Yes, maybe it was wrong, consorting with Paul Atreides like this, but it was too late now.

------------

You wondered if that was okay, the sort of random romantic tension that had occurred. What had happened hadn't left your mind, and you had been entirely absorbed by that feeling, that emotion of knowing that he did like you. That he saw you the same way as you did him.

Even focusing on helping fix up the soldiers of House Atreides could not distract you now. You wanted to see him again, but everyone was just so busy, especially considering how Duke Leto was preparing to leave to Arrakis, and that meant you as well.

You only knew that Paul was supposed to stay behind in Caladan, and that would be no good, considering this thing between you two. You didn’t want to leave without at least confronting him about it.

Eventually you heard that Paul had met with Reverend Mother Mohiam, and he had passed the box test, under the Gom Jabbar. One of the most difficult tests for any of the Bene Gesserit to go through, to prove that you were human. It was this that caused you to go and meet with him again.

Jessica was strangely not disapproving of your request to see Paul, even guessing that you weren't seeing him for teaching.

"I was so worried, Y/n. I repeated the litany over and over." She admitted. "I know you and Paul are closer now."

"You do?" You tilted your head in surprise.

"The boy will not tell me a lot." She frowned. "But I can see his attraction to you, whether or not he admits it."

"Do you think it's a part of his visions?"

"It has to be. Paul spoke about a Bene Gesserit girl of his dreams to Reverend Mother Mohiam, and he only knows of one girl like that." She looked at you pointedly.

"I… I didn't know." You were apologetic. "Is he okay?"

"You should talk to him." Jessica stared quietly at you. "He knows now. What the Bene Gesserit have been doing for eons."

"I understand." You bowed, and then left. You knew it must have been a lot for him to take in, to see that he was likely to be the One. Paul needed someone to talk to.

------------

Paul was distraught.

He was not actually physically harmed in any way, but whatever Mohiam had done to him had stuck. The box that his hand was in had shown him images of burning, of war, of a time where death would strike at any given moment, while fires raged around Arrakis.

The prickling, burning sensation was still present in his hand, and he couldn't bring himself to fix it. He didn’t know how, and he wanted to maybe ask for medical help.

The problem was that inevitably, you would be there. And Paul wasn’t avoiding you because he didn’t want to see you, if anything, it was because he didn’t want to alarm you. This was unlike anything he had experienced before.

He was sitting at one of Caladan's beaches. Dipping his hand into the water, and feeling only a minor balm when it came down to it.

"Paul!"

He turned abruptly, and saw you, running down past the large rocky terrain.

“Y/n-” Before he even got a word out in edgewise, you were hugging him.

He breathed in, the strong scent of your skin clinging to his own, and he was so thankful you were here. The fact that you came after he had been thinking of you only made him realize again that yes, you were the most likely vision.

You let go, and crouched down next to him.

“I heard about what happened. With the Reverend Mother.” You muttered, looking at how disturbed he seemed. “Are you okay?”

“Well, how would you feel if you were told that you were most likely a savior?” Paul began to pick at his palm. “The Bene Gesserit have planned my existence for eons, Y/n. I know you would have known, but do you really think it’s me?”

“We don’t really know for sure, but if the signs point to you, then that just has to be accepted by you. You are in charge of your own fate.” You responded softly, and he sighed. “Don’t worry.”

You touched his shoulder. “I heard you passed the test with ease. Well done.”

“Not just with ease…” Paul frowned. “My hand has been aching ever since then.”

“Oh, Paul.” You picked up his hand, and the poor man winced, which made your heart ache. “There’s nothing physically wrong with your hand, but the box is more of a mental stigma than anything else. It will go away soon.”

“...It hurts.” He admitted, and you were too kind to let that go, to let him sit there in pain.

“Okay. Let’s go to Yueh.” You tried, and attempted to stand up, but Paul yanked you back down.

“I don’t want to waste his time with this.” He said, his brow set in a determined line. “There are better soldiers of House Atreides who need help.”

“...” You were silent.

“What?”

“So headstrong, like a real Duke.” You teased, and he laughed before wincing again, causing you to look to his hand in alarm. “Listen. The pain will go away, but if it hurts this much, then you must will it.”

You pulled his hand into your palms, and he inhaled, clearly troubled by how much it hurt.

"I must not fear." You whispered, and he continued.

"Fear is the mind-killer." He responded. “Fear is the little-death that brings about total obliteration.”

“I will face my fear.” You spoke, a little louder now. “I will permit it to pass over me and through me.”

Eventually you came to a rhythm, of repeating the litany, over and over until eventually you spoke it together.

“Only I will remain.” You affirmed together, and he felt the last prickle in his hand disappear.

Paul was delighted, that it was as simple as Mohiam’s test had been, and he hugged you again, his arms wrapping tightly around your back. You were quick to nuzzle your face into his neck, feeling his soft black curls with your hands.

"What would I do without you?" He uttered softly, entirely serious. "Twice now, you've helped me more than you could know."

"Lucky for you, you'll never really be without me." You alluded to what Jessica had told you. "I know you dream about me."

"Oh." Paul looked gutted, until you grinned. "I hope that doesn't make things odd."

"No, it's just incredibly flattering." You remarked, and he raised his eyebrows, looking amused. "It's not odd. Our lives are naturally strange, so the fact that you were already thinking of me, that you already knew what was to come? It's reassuring. It means I'm not alone."

"You were never alone here." He said seriously, a kind of sharp tone coming into his voice, because he really did believe that, and you smiled.

"But still, Y/n. I won't be without you, even with my visions. I'm coming to Arrakis." Paul clarified, looking into your eyes for recognition.

You breathed in, pure relief coming through your veins, realizing that you never wanted to leave without him, and that was all that mattered now. You had a fear of Paul potentially forgetting you, but now you knew better.

He hugged you once more, as you held his face in surprise, and then he did something uncharacteristic for him. Paul ducked his head, so his forehead touched yours, and it felt like a gesture that symbolized something of the future, but also intimate and close at the same time.

It only lasted for a moment, as he pulled away quickly, but you still held onto him, your hands intertwined.

------------

Arrakis was astonishingly hot, in comparison to the colder, misty winds of Caladan. You felt as if your skin was drying up as you arrived there.

Although you were dressed in a traditional veil, you felt stuffy, and staring out the window of the ship didn’t help you. The sun was bearing down through it, and you felt

“Y/n.” Paul whispered, and you turned slightly to acknowledge him. “It’s so vast.”

“You’ve seen it before.” You looked out the window again, seeing how the sands of Arrakis were swirling, different hues of brown and crimson mixed together.

“Yes, but not like this.” Paul gripped your hand again. “This is real.”

The Fremen began to crowd around, no doubt taking a look at the newcomers, the people would who rule over them. They began to chant, and you stood back, knowing their true meaning, as the Bene Gesserit’s plan detailed, before Jessica clarified that they were yelling for the Messiah.

Paul rolled his eyes, before crossing his arms and accusing his mother of creating superstitious beliefs in the Fremen.

“No, Paul. They’re getting ready.” She replied, looking at him reverently.

When the doors of the ship opened, Paul and Duke Leto walked downwards to greet the people of Arrakis.

Jessica pulled your arm, indicating that it was time to step off the ship, and you looked at her, covered in a veil and in golden jewelery. She looked regal, made to be a queen instead of a concubine.

Not that that really mattered, because Leto refused to take a wife anyways. It made you think in the back of your mind if you and Paul were meant to go that far, to really be in love, or if it was another typical Bene Gesserit relationship, where you’d be his concubine and the mother of his children, or maybe even just his friend.

But he called you beautiful, and even now, Paul had not really taken his eyes off you during the trip. You were dressed in a deep burgundy, with gold accented jewelery, something that felt acceptable to Arrakis’ culture but still your own, and it was unlike anything you had been wearing before.

In fact, as you, Jessica, and her handmaidens came your way down to the ground, the hot winds whipping your veils and hair around, Paul turned to take another glance at you.

If he was honest, you looked like a noble. A princess of the emperor, maybe, if looks factored into such a thing. Too pretty. He blushed as you smiled from a distance, your eyes twinkling.

He felt more levelheaded now, although there was not much reason for Paul to even worry about Arrakis.

“Duncan!” Paul ran forward, hugging him tightly.

“Paul. Young Master Atreides.” Duncan said, before Paul snickered and he had to stop. “I see you’ve brought the girl.”

Paul narrowed his eyes for a moment, before Duncan clapped his hand on his back. “It’s good for you. She’s there for you, you know.”

Paul grinned. “You were right all along.”

------------

He was in pain again, in distress in a way that didn’t make sense to him.

How did things go so wrong for Paul so quickly? A carry-all breaking down like that wasn’t even likely, and yet, here he was, failing to breathe, incapable of comprehending what he was seeing.

The tour suggested by Liet-Kynes, where they would witness a harvester take spice, had quickly taken a turn as the equipment of the carry-all broke down. Even worse, the harvester made the rhythmic movements that would attract the sandworm, and Leto could not let the workers die in such a callous manner.

There wasn’t much time. Paul had left the ornithopter just to help out, to save more men, but the sand began ripple.

A huge cloud of these grains overswept him, and now he had fallen to his knees, overcome with hallucinations, of visions that were stronger than the ones he usually had, and he couldn’t breathe.

He coughed, barely hanging on, feeling the spice swirl inside his lungs. A soft, burning cinnamon flavor, just spreading inside him, the deep orange-red flakes singeing his insides in the most delectable way, going fast enough that he didn’t have time to rethink his actions.

If Paul was sober, he would’ve known to run. That the ripples meant his imminent death by the sandworm.

Instead, he was focused on what he saw.

There you were. Holding a knife? A sharp, twisted knife, and you were cutting open something, someone, maybe him, and you shrieked as you witnessed the blood, flowing around your hands. Paul got the sense that it was invoked in his name.

Behind you, in the dunes of the desert, an army raged, killing, and a man in golden armor stabbed his way through the battle. Then, his helmet opened, and Paul saw himself, his green eyes a deep blue, his expression caught between exhaustion and being driven.

You began to weep silently, blood pouring from your dark blue eyes, and a solemn chant began rising out of the soft timbre of your voice. It sounded like a prayer, and the Fremen around you were praying to Paul as well. He wondered why.

Why was it him? Not anyone else, but Paul Atreides, being sought after as the One.

“Paul.” You whispered, and then disappeared in a puff of spice, and he understood why the scent was so familiar.

As Paul kneeled in the sand, his eyes watering as he was overcome with the vision, someone came to rescue him, lifting him up off the ground, to prevent his death from the sandworm. The ripples echoed but they only made him think of his own prescience.

He shook it off, and ran.

------------

Paul’s head was heavy.

He was sure he had a migraine, in fact, and even though he wanted to come and see you, he knew he had to for this. For something that felt possibly induced by spice.

So he took his time wandering through Arrakeen, wanting to convince himself that nothing was really wrong, but as soon as he approached the medical quarters, his stomach sank with anxiety.

You looked up, hearing new footsteps, as you worked on giving Atreides soldiers their injections.

“Y/n, I need to- Can we talk?” Paul sat next to you, and the Atreides soldier you were helping bowed, before walking away out of respect.

“Paul?” You pushed your medical equipment to the side, before looking apologetically towards the soldier. “What’s happened? You’re incredibly pale and you’re sweating all over.”

You touched his forehead with the back of your hand, and he shivered, before taking your hand into his own.

“You’re ice cold.” You frowned, and brushed his hair out of his eyes.

“I’m so lost.” He began to toy with the hem of his shirt. “My visions have gotten less comprehensible, and worst of all, I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

You raised your eyebrows, before he looked to you again.

“The Bene Gesserit pushed me forward, Y/n. They ruined my family, they did everything to create me, when all I want is to be myself. I don’t want these innocent people to look to me as the Messiah,” He swallowed, and you nodded. “I know that the signs point to me. But no one ever considered the hardship that comes with this.”

He took a long, hard stare at you, to the point that you felt a bit unsettled, before continuing. “Do you really believe it? Do you really want to sustain what the Bene Gesserit have been planning for generations?”

“...It might be what I was taught.” You grimaced, and Paul furrowed his brows in disbelief. “But that isn’t what I believe, Paul.”

“Really?”

“You’ve seen the possible futures. You can place value on this, I swear.” You placed your hand over your heart, as solemnly as you could. “I don’t believe in the idea of predestination, and neither should you. Remember how prescience just shows you the different paths, and even those change?”

“Yes. Of course I do.” Paul was dismissive. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t believe I’m the One.”

“Listen. Personally… I’ve felt disillusioned by some of the ways of the Bene Gesserit.” You closed your eyes, feeling slightly humiliated by this, because it was the only lifestyle you knew, but you also knew Paul deserved to hear this. “To ensure our bloodline isn’t my understanding of how the world works, anyways. They can be selfish, and outright wrong about many things, but I owe a lot to them, you know? That’s why it’s so easy to defend them.”

Paul nodded, hanging on to every word you were saying.

“That doesn’t mean that they’re right, though. I think we owe it to ourselves to at least have the dignity of decision.” You were firm, and the more you talked, the more you knew this was a conclusion you had come to a while ago. “Even if things are going poorly, that you have a moral compulsion to act against them, even if you have strong capabilities that are unheard of, that doesn’t mean it’s you. To me, it’s obviously a belief system meant to push the Bene Gesserit’s own ideals. You are your own person.”

He was silent, mulling over what you had said, and then groaned, his head aching.

“Paul!” You held his temples, as he cursed under his breath.

“You’re more stressed than I thought.” You murmured, looking at him with a worried expression.

“Of course I am.” He swallowed, and then bit his lip. “You would feel the same, I know you would.”

“I do feel the same, Paul.” You confessed. “I’ve grown up my entire life to be… a concubine, nothing more than the mother of someone’s children. Even this career, as a doctor, exists as nothing more than to flow back into the Bene Gesserit’s livelihood.”

He shook his head, with so much force that for a second you thought he was agreeing with you.

“You don’t have to think that, Y/n. You’re not no one.”

“But to the Bene Gesserit, I am.” You muttered, and he caressed your face, his hand brushing against your skin softly. “I don’t know if that’s any better than being the One.”

“Listen to me. As long as I’m with you, you will never be no one.” Paul spoke too quickly, without really thinking about what he said. “You are extraordinary, okay? There's so much I've seen in my visions. So much I could speak about us, about what I look forward to with you. But I want to really experience it, as hard as that is. You could never just be the mother of my children, or my wife, or...”

You were silent, still processing the information that Paul had dumped on you. So much intel that he hadn’t ever alluded to before, even though you knew you were present in his visions. The mother of his children was a lot, but not just that, his wife too, which wasn’t common for Bene Gesserit, and even then, you were more to him.

More than you could even imagine at this moment. More than you had actually hoped for, that he cared for your well-being that strongly, that he recognized that love wasn’t just keeping you like an object or a treasure, like so many men across the galaxy seemed to think.

Even the Bene Gesserit maintained that belief, that you were nothing more than a womb to maintain certain bloodlines. But Paul of all people, when Dukes’ sons were so typically pompous, had righteously stood against that, that he could see you as a person, as someone to love wholeheartedly.

You hadn’t said anything in quite a while, your brow furrowed as you thought this over, trying your best to think of a response.

“Y/n- I… I should get going.” Paul tried to distract himself, because you weren’t reacting as he wanted you to, and he felt as if he revealed too much too soon. He worried that maybe his visions would alter further now.

“I’ll just be taking this.” He took a simple sleeping drug off your desk, and began to walk away, hurriedly, becoming irate with his own impatience. Had he scared you?

You watched as he did, moving after him, and opened your mouth, not wanting him to leave.

“Don’t go.” You whispered, not really knowing what else to do, a deep rumble reverberating through you. You couldn’t have said it any quieter, but the pitch was loud enough to speak to Paul.

He stopped at the doorway, and then quite literally ran back. The Voice might have compelled him to stay, but when Paul embraced you, carrying you in his arms, that was all his own choice.

Paul lifted your face, urgency in every move he took, and he kissed you, his mouth desperately pushing against your own as he pulled you closer against him. He wondered if this was right, too, but as you kissed back, your tongue intertwining with his, he realized it wasn’t important. It didn’t matter to him anymore if this was supposed to happen or not.

When you gently combed your fingers through his hair, the tips of your nail just scratching his scalp, he knew you were teasing him, but it felt godlike, as if Paul was just yours to pet.

He hooked his hands around your waist, and you smiled into the kiss, which was nice enough for Paul to just catch it, to laugh against your mouth.

You pulled away. “I can’t believe you… you love me.”

"Did you think I didn't? You are so distracting, Duncan could tell instantly that I was taken with you." Paul began to grin. "Are you forgetting I called you beautiful?"

"No." You immediately admitted, and he cackled. "Paul Atreides, stop that. I called you beautiful too."

"I haven't stopped thinking of that either." He admitted as well, letting his hand trace yours. “I don’t think you even know how highly I think of you. You are everything I’ve been waiting for, Y/n, the only person who brings me peace of mind, who kept me going on more times than I can even really count now. You’re not just beautiful, but even with that, you really are.”

You beamed, but then Paul came a little closer. “What?”

“You’re better than spice.” He claimed, entirely convinced of that, and you stood with your mouth agape, incredulous. “Even though you smell like it.”

“I do?” You shrugged, while Paul took a deep breath of the sharp, warm cinnamon notes he had come to love. “Anyways, that can’t be true. Spice is an addictive narcotic. I literally can’t be better than it.”

“You always have to be such a stickler for logic, don’t you?” Paul snickered, before kissing you again.

-------------

That morning, you awoke in Paul’s room, his face nuzzled into your neck, the long black locks of his hair tickling your skin. His eyes were closed, and you stroked his back, watching contentedly at how he slept. His skin was sunkissed, with the early rise of the sun painting him golden, and you were so grateful you got to witness Paul in this sense. In a way where he was just Paul, not what everyone prophesied him to be.

He woke up almost a minute later, and yawned. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve slept and felt that safe.”

“Please.” You beamed, fixing his hair as he sat up. “I feel the same way.”

It was time for another big lesson with Yueh today, and you got ready fairly quickly, tying your hair back since it was a grisly, surgery based test today. Paul wished you luck, saying that you would probably succeed with high marks, and you thanked him and were on your way.

When you got to the medical quarters, though, Yueh was nowhere to be found. And that seemed strange to you, because it wasn’t often that he wouldn’t be here.

You returned to Paul’s room, and just as you came to open the door, he opened it himself, smashing the hunter-seeker against the doorsill as you shrieked in shock.

“I’m sorry!” He pulled you by the wrist into his room, and you looked to the mark in the doorsill to the little bits of machinery still in Paul’s hand. “I didn’t realize you were there.”

It was evidently obvious. Someone had attempted to kill him, no less when he was entirely alone, and with the most cowardly, potent form of assassination. You grew angry, thinking of how horrifying it would have been if you had seen Paul poisoned, dead on the floor of where he should have been safe.

A breach was reported, and Leto took every precaution to look for the mole, while you grew more and more skeptical of Yueh. It seemed suspicious that he was not around when you had looked for him.

------------

Soldiers were dying quicker than you could resuscitate them.

House Harkonnen had betrayed their end of the deal. They had brought Sardaukar troops, and now the Atreides soldiers were on the battlefield, while you desperately stayed on the sidelines, fixing up whoever you could.

Yueh was gone. He had disappeared without a trace, and you could not find him, despite your best attempts to locate his communications. It was becoming more and more obvious that he had been the cause of this.

As explosions shook the ground, you found it horrible to even stay here and breathe in the fumes, dying bodies and wreckage become more numerous by the second.

“Help me.” You tried one last attempt, one last resort into perhaps just enough time to plan a getaway, and the Harkonnen soldier you spoke to began to shield you from other assailants.

It wasn’t good enough though, and he was killed by the Sardaukar soldiers, who immediately laid their eyes on you. You were pulled by them into the House as you screamed out for help, and they were quick to begin to beat you.

You gritted your teeth, and snarled. “Kill him!”

One of the soldiers killed the other, and when realizing what he did, approached you again.

“Stab yourself.” You hissed, your voice coming out in a sharp, agonizing wail, and he did so, falling to the ground as he bled out.

It was only then that you noticed another body slumped over on the ground, not so far away. Duke Leto.

Before you could approach the man, who was clearly near death, or maybe just incapacitated, you noticed Yueh walk towards him, and you ran behind another pillar to watch what was going on.

“That bastard... I trusted him.” You began to tear up, watching as he administrated some sort of tooth device into Leto’s mouth. Likely to be poison.

You backed away, pulling your footsteps upward so as to not alert anyone, and began to walk rapidly, wondering if you could still use any communication service or device to get off Arrakis, or at least, Arrakeen.

You bumped into another man, and shoved him away, expecting it to be another soldier.

Instead, it was Duncan. Breathing heavily, his armor clamped around him

“Duncan?” You were aghast, and you hugged him close, as he firmly hugged back. “I-”

“There’s no time to explain. We need to find Jessica and Paul, Y/n.” He looked pointedly at you, as you inhaled, alarmed. “They’ve been taken.”

------------

You were exhausted, and afraid, and incredibly worried that Paul was hurt, or dead. The man was sensitive to a lot, and you hated to think about how he and Jessica had been taken at their most vulnerable.

What could you do, except help Duncan locate them? It was all you had left at this point. Nothing else mattered to you.

In the end, it hadn’t taken very long at all. Your worrying of their deaths was for naught, because you could see them, standing in the desert, entirely alone.

As Duncan opened the doors of his ship, you ran forward, which was incredibly difficult in the sand, but you needed to see him again. You wanted to see him, after witnessing the horrors in Arrakeen. You were desperate to explain what had happened, that you were so glad he was okay, that he was alive, and above all, with his mother.

When you saw him, blinking in the sunlight, you launched yourself forward into a hug, causing Paul and you to tumble downwards.

He squeezed you so tightly against himself, as you sat haphazardly in the sand together, the tears blinking in his eyes. “I thought you were dead.”

It came out in a broken sob, as he clung to you in anguish, and as he began to cry for real, you smoothed back his hair. Paul sniffed, and then did what he first saw in a vision, which felt much longer ago than it was. He pressed his forehead to yours, his tears staining against your face, mixing with your own.

“I will never, ever let you be on your own again.” He insisted, his voice softer than you had ever heard it. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to be there, to witness… so much pain. Did anything-”

“Paul, I’m sorry. I thought you were dead, too. I-I came to your room, and you were gone, and-” You began to weep, your hands clawing into fists, but he held your hands in his, pressing them against his chest. You saw the ring of House Atreides on his finger, and broke down further. “I couldn’t- I saw Duke Leto. He’s dead.”

Paul turned stony, his eyes hardening as he thought about his father. His last moments, alone, without his family, without even the proper funeral that a Duke should receive.

“I should’ve stopped Yueh, I had every chance to-”

“You couldn’t have, Y/n.” He held you again, his hand protectively over the crown of your head, reassuring you, and himself. “I know, okay? I know. It’s not your fault, it could never be your fault.”

“It’s not yours either.” You sniffed, knowing you were staining his shirt with your tears, and he stiffened.

You didn’t know how he had blown up at his mother earlier, out of belief that he was born a freak, no thanks to her or the Bene Gesserit. But now, as he was with you, Paul recognized that he was wrong. Tragedy had struck, but that did not mean he couldn’t make House Harkonnen pay.

He looked determined as he held you.

Jessica looked wary, and she looked down at her stomach, thinking of the unborn child, the last thing Leto had left behind before he had died. She began to quiver, feeling hopeless that Leto would never meet the child, and you let go of Paul, before bringing him to hold Jessica close.

“I’m sorry, Lady Jessica.” You whispered, and she shook her head, before hugging the both of you tightly. She was glad that out of so many potential people, you and Duncan had survived, because the both of you were people she could truly count on.

Paul had been right about you. Not only were you a calming force, a beacon of undisturbed, resonant serenity, but you were capable of reassuring others the same way. That was what he had meant far earlier, when he had said you were more than just the future mother of his children, or his wife.

You compensated for all the horrors and tragedies that happened so frequently to him. You would continue to help in the future, even though he knew things would get more difficult from here on out, if that was even possible, but you would always be there to maintain the tranquility of House Atreides.

You would help him bring peace to Arrakis.

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