#dune fic

Once, you had thought he would've, could've, loved you. A child's dream, you realize now. An arranged marriage could never bring forth love, not when it was put in motion by scheming parents who thought of a future long after they were dead. Your marriage to Paul had made sure your family's name would never fade into obscurity, your parents had gotten your weight in jewels and coin’ a thousand times over, your marriage had meant everything to them. To you. But to Paul, to his family?

You had been a punishment. The closest and prettiest broodmare. His parents had thought it would stop his wandering, his rebellion in loving a savage girl who lived planets away. You had looked similar enough, curly hair, brown eyes and brown skin, they thought you enough to quell his hunger. But one can not simply trade swords, sand and love for silk, stars and a willing cunt. They never stopped to think how this would affect you, how his anger towards them, towards the universe would slowly turn to you.

Paul never hit you, never yelled and, somehow, this was a fate worse than any death.

Paul seldom spoke to you. You could count on one hand how many times he looked at you in the past four years. For four years, you had raised your son with the echo of his father, a shadow you caught out of a corner of your eye. You knew he made time for his son, the boy never kept these things a secret, the man dragged his son everywhere and anywhere, they rode horses together, danced and painted. In your eyes, he had gathered all the stars in the sky and displayed them for Oliver and left you in the dark. You both raised your son, never in the same room, never speaking ill of each other or to each other. It was, is, a cruel existence.

“Mama,” Your son's voice is a whine, he pulls at your hand for your attention, letting his body go limp in the opposite direction trusting you wouldn't let him fall. “‘M hungry.”

He's not hungry, you think. He had just eaten an hour or so ago, snacked a few minutes before. He's bored, his coloring forgotten in his effort to bother you and that somehow, worked up his appetite. Ollie whines when you don't so much as move under his effort, you keep your arm locked, your fingers gently wrapped his smaller brown hand. Still, you relent, caving just a bit as you think back to all the times you went hungry in childhood because your mother was worried for your figure. Sure, he wasn't hungry but he was willing to eat. You rather him eat something now than him having an unhealthy relationship with food in the long run. “Yeah? What do you want, Bubba?”

He brightens, drawing closer to you but never letting go of your hand. “Can I haves pie?”

You give him a look, wiggling your fingers in his grasps, he giggles as the tips of them dance under his chin and curls further into your space. “It's ‘can I have’ and no you may not.” You shush his annoyed whine with a kiss to his forehead and you stand from your chair, picking him up as you go. You sulked long enough, motherhood never ends and now your son wants attention and you are eager to give it to him. “But, you can have a sandwich. Do you want turkey or–”

“Can I haves–” Oliver interrupts excitedly then pauses, starting again just as excited. “Can I have the jam one? The one grandma gives me?”

You're already nodding your head in agreement before he even finishes, a short hum leaving you. You haven't the faintest idea what he's talking about, of course, your mind goes to the simple answer: a grape and peanut butter spread, a simple and favorite of yours when you were pregnant with Oliver but then you backtrack almost instantly. Jessica has a taste for the finer, sweeter, things in life. Expensive things. You love your mother-in-law dearly, deeply, but whatever jam she's giving your son is probably from some secret collection she only pulls out for him and with her being off planet, you have no access to it. No matter, you've dealt with worse and Oliver will survive without her expensive jam. You'll just make sure he gets a little something extra with this snack, not a slice of pie but maybe juice… a few candied nuts, even?

You ponder silently to yourself as you leave your room. Ollie talks your ear off— something about his grandfather, about the older man taking him to see bulls and whatnot, you respond halfheartedly, humming in acknowledgement. As you walk from your wing of the estate, servants bow at their waist, greetings of, ‘My lady,’ wash right over you as you pass, you only truly pay mind to the ones who greet Ollie before the greet you, slowing your pace to let the boy twist in your arms and greet them happily. A talker he is, curious and somewhat loud, the various servants respond just as eager to him as he is to them. It's an endearing sight and you find yourself smiling as he converses, a smile that quickly falls at the sound of a familiar name calling out to you.

“Lady Wife!”

Your eye nearly twitches at the title. You dismiss the servant with a dim smile and Oliver squirms out of your arms to rush to his father. You hesitate to turn and face him but having your son out of sight so close to him makes you a bit nervous, you turn only to pause. Paul kneels before his son, running a delicate hand through the boy's curly mass of hair, his green eyes sparkle as he smiles at his son. He pokes at the boy's chubby stomach and smiles wider, brighter, when Ollie giggles leaning into him. He looks handsome today, more present than he ever was for you. His hair looks clean, freshly washed, glossy and swept out of his face— you've grown so used to him wearing ridiculously fancy suits that seeing him wearing a tunic and a simple pair of pants sends your mind blanking.

You only realize you're staring longer than you should when Duncan— has he been standing there the whole time?— clears his throat. There's a slight humor that dances across his face when he sees your own mortification but it's gone quickly as he bows his head towards you, your name leaves his lips in a pleasant, near whisper as he regards you, “Where are you off to?”

“The kitchens.” You answer, smiling when he cocks his head in a silent question. “Not for me, Ollie is hungry and I was going to make him something.”

Paul makes a noise from the ground, a grunt but doesn't rise nor pull away from his boy. “We have servants for that, Wife.”

“And there won't always be servants, Husband.” You reply harsher than you intend and Paul's widen eyes snap away from your son to you in shock. You look away before your eyes can meet and they fall to the other guard by the mens' side. He's tall, taller than Paul but not quite as tall as Duncan; his dark hair is pin straight and slicked back but there are a few strands that purposely, stylishly, hang in his face. His eyebrows raise slightly as he watches you take him in and he puffs up under your gaze. He squares his shoulders, shifts his feet and folds his hands behind his back and when your eyes meet again, he gives you a wink.

Oh, you like him.

You huff a laugh, “Your name, soldier?”

“Emmett, My lady.”

You wave a dismissive hand, “Please, you may call me my name. Only my husband ever calls me Lady.” Duncan snorts and Paul doesn't respond, doesn't care to. He stands and your son is in his arms, still talking but in a whisper. Odd. “I haven't seen you around before, promoted recently?”

Emmett's lips quirk into an easy smile and his lips part to answer you but Paul steps into your line of sight and interrupts him. “I am going to visit a friend, but I must stop to visit my mother first. Oliver wants to go.”

Your brow dips. Your husband, Paul, didn't have friends. Not one. His words not yours, he has his parents, a guard and an advisor; Duncan and Gurney. He has you, his wife and even then you hesitate to describe yourself as much. Your mind racks itself for information and then it finds something. A sand covered, golden skinned, something.

It's been two weeks since he's stepped out on you for her. Two weeks— nearly three, he almost broke his record.

You will yourself not to be sick but the sudden bout of nausea is harsh, hot and it sends a bile creeping up the back of your throat. Your heart can't seem to decide what it wants to do, it tries to thunder— to pound its way out of your chests but it trips, stutters and damn near stops at the idea of him bringing your son to see that woman. You clear your throat and try not to scream; are you not good enough? You have wept for the man before you, bled and produce a fucking heir to continue his legacy. And yet…

You clear your throat again, you can't help it. Years of training fly straight into the sun. You know how to read, to cook and manage estates, you know how to hold a sword and parry a strike, you know because you were trained. Rigorously, endlessly. But it still leaves you unprepared because no one ever, ever trained to be emotionless in the face of the person who was supposed to love you the most. You were married off young to another young person for this very reason, the time spent together as you grew older was supposed to grow your love, to nurture it so by the time you were both older you would be an united front. An unshakable unit.

You wish you could throw the pieces of your marriage at all who thought it was a good idea. You want to roar; is this what you wanted? Is this the front you dreamed of? But the training, that god-damned training kicks in and you steel yourself. For the sake of your son. For the sake of your sanity. “Oliver has lessons he can't skip.”

Paul makes a face and your boy whines in his arms, “I'm sure he can afford to miss one, he's just a boy.”

Your nails dig into your palm and your lips pull up into a humorless grin. “You said that last time when you took him riding. Again when you said painting would be a better lesson. He has missed too many lessons, boy or not, he is a future leader and it is good we do this while he is young.” You unclench your fist and soften, just slightly as you draw closer to your husband, to the boy who pouts at you in his arms. You extend yours and he goes easily, much to Paul's dismay. “Come on, sweet boy. I promised you a snack, leave your father to play with his toys.”

Paul watches you leave with thin lips, his teeth clenching. He doesn't have to be smart to see the insult when you bare it to him unabashedly. Even if it wasn't directed at him, he is offended on her behalf. He lingers in his spot for a moment longer, stewing in a petty anger— how is he ever supposed to try with you when you hate everything he loves?

Duncan calls his name and when he looks at the man, there's a deep frown on his face. The look of disappointment is something he's familiar with, it's an age-old argument between him, between his parents, between her about how he treats you. Well, not you but your feelings. Duncan won't say anything about it anymore, not when he knows he won't listen, not when he knows the exact words Paul will say back to him.

'What of my feelings? Why do I have to suffer in a marriage I did not want— a marriage I protested the very idea of? I gave the family an heir. The least they can do is let me finally be happy.'

The two men look at each other and like always, Paul is the first to look away. He turns on his heels, his shoulder colliding with Emmett's who still stares after you instead of watching the tense moment before him and his oldest friend. He storms down the hall, his steps sure but fast, Paul runs from it all. From his responsibilities, his power, from you. Paul always runs.

Emmett lets out a whistle— he and Duncan linger behind their fuming ward— and Duncan raises a brow at the sound. Emmett smiles, dipping his head in your direction, “A proper one that one is. Real easy on the eyes.”

Duncan's brow drops, annoyed. “She is to command you.”

“Trust me, ser. I'd do anything she asked.”

Duncan resists the urge to roll his eyes. It's not like Emmett is the only one to fall for your looks, he has had to rotate multiple guards because of it— most, if not all, of them never tried anything other than looking but he couldn't bring himself to listen to all the vile things they said and when they tried touching, well. You could handle yourself just fine but Duncan doesn't deny the enjoyment he gets from acting on your behalf.

Still. Still, there are ones that you enjoy. There are some he can't send away and he pretends it doesn't bother him. It's the game, the chase of it all, he sees how you blossom under the attention, his attention. Sometimes, he sees it. The flickering lust in your eyes when a pretty soldier leans in real close or when he cradles your face. But you aren't like your husband, not like Paul because you never give in and while Paul has been stepping out on you for years, this small streak of rebellion only started up a few months ago.

Duncan shakes his thoughts clear and then swallows his annoyance. It goes down like shards of glass and lemon juice; he can't send Emmett away, not yet. Not when he's good at what he does and not when you blossom under his attention. He settles for indifference, a dry indifference as he mutters. “She’d eat you alive.”

He ignores Emmett's cheeky reply of, “Stars, I hope so.”

“How is she?”

Arrakis smells sweeter than he remembers. It's hotter too, the sun set a few hours ago but the heat still clings to the air, to the sand that's almost uncomfortable to sit on. He sucks it up though because it feels like home and the sight is as pretty as it is familiar.

Said sight shifts when he doesn't answer, the fire light is gold against her face and her eyes are sapphire jewels in the night. Her fingers move quickly, steadily as she weaves her basket. Two bowls sit before her, one bigger than the other filled with a liquid that isn't water but safe for enough to handle and thin pieces of wood, the other bowl is filled with beads made of rocks, wood, bone and whatever else the carvers deemed bead worthy. “Muad'Dib,” She says and when he still doesn't answer her, she snaps. “Paul.”

It's enough to pull him from his thoughts, he blinks at her then he frowns. “She’s fine. I tell you the same thing every time you ask, I doubt it will change.”

Chani pauses in her weaving. “You told me she was sad once.”

He had. It was an off comment from years ago, when you cried and cried, and cried. Back then, it was rare to see you dry-eyed, rare to see you outside your room but you had gotten over it. You are fine now, you don't cry, you don't shout or pitch a true fit like he's seen other women do. You're just… fine. He thinks of your face when he told you he was leaving, that practiced control but the twitch of your lips giving you away. You were angry, maybe. But not angry enough to lash out, you were okay stewing in it. And that was fine. To you, to Paul. Everything is fine.

When Chani sees he isn't going to reply, she sighs again. Her fingers start to move again, faster than before and Paul tries not to be awed at the sight. She's a master at her craft, something he so rarely sees nowadays, “Nevermind.” She says and before he can speak, she asks, “How is Oliver?”

The smile that falls on Paul's face is easy. “He’s wonderful. His studies are going well– his tutors say he's picking up reading faster than I ever did.” He looks away from Chani and plays with the fabric of his pants, “I wanted him to come today.”

The thin piece of wood between Chani's fingers snapped. She looks up at him, her blue tinted eyes furious, “No, Paul.”

Still, he tries, “He would love you. If she only gave it a chance–”

“Do you hear yourself?” She hisses and he flinches at the tone. “You want to bring another woman's child to me? Do you hate her so much that you'd go this far to disrespect her?”

“I do not hate her. I could never hate her she is the mother of my child–”

“She is so much more than that.” She snaps. “She is your wife. She is the keeper of your estate, she is a person, a woman, you continuously hurt by visiting me.”

Again. It is always that argument, always the flag they throw up, the sand they throw into his eyes. It's always you, you, you. Why can't it never be him? Why can't he ever think for himself? Want more for himself? Paul shifts where he sits, “You wouldn't understand.” He whispers. Chani wouldn't, couldn't, get it. She's not him, she has never been in his place, she has never loved him as he loved her, she just wouldn't get it.

There is a certain fury that settles on Chani's face. It is thunderous, all consuming, a lightning storm that threatens to strike him thrice over and then, it clears. Faster than he can blink and she's standing, throwing the rest of her weaving into the fire. “Grow up, Paul.”

And he's at a loss for words. “What?”

“Grow. Up.” She says again, as if she hasn't said something world tilting. Paul feels like his chest is collapsing, like the sand around him is starting to swallow him whole. “I have put up with it for years. You complain about things not being fair to you.” She shakes her head, gathering all her finished baskets and her bowls of beads. “You complain and complain and complain. Do you see where I live? Do you see what my people have to do to survive? What do you know of struggle? Of suffering? You cry and whine about loving me, about caring for me but having to suffer a fate of never having me. I am not an object to own. I am not a prize to wave in your wife's face.”

She looks at him then, her face grim, haunting in the fire's light. “What do you know of suffering when you are here with me and she's alone with your son? What do you know of pain when she bled to produce an heir for you? I love you, Paul. As a friend, always a friend. Only a friend and I can't just sit here and pretend like you aren't ruining lives over petty childishness. Go to her, love her, see her as she is.”

“I–” Paul stumbles to his feet, nearly tripping to reach out to her. “I can't– do not do this to me, Chani– please, do not do this.”

Pity. There is only pity on her face. “Go home, Paul.” and she leaves him. Standing alone in the Arrakis' desert, surrounded by sand, stars and the sweet smelling wind, Paul begins to weep.

It is hard to play dumb but…

“Higher, my lady…”

Emmett's voice makes you shiver slightly and you all but let yourself relax in his warm arms. They circle you, his hands on your elbows raising and steadying the bow in your hands. You force yourself to let your fingers shake and smile when his hands leave your elbows to hover over yours. He slides a forefinger over the back of your hand before it hooks under your wrist and holds the bow true. “Release.”

Whoooosh! Thunk.

The arrow misses.

Emmett lets out a polite laugh, his breath brushing against your ear and it's enough to make you bite your lip. If playing the role of the defenseless noblewoman was enough to get him this close, you think you'd do it all the time. “You’re laughing at me?”

“Not at you, my lady.” He chuckles. His warm embrace leaves you as he takes a step forward, a hand playfully gliding past your waist as he does— he goes for the many missed arrows from the previous tries and shoots you a smile. “At the situation, I suppose.”

“Oh?” You ask, coyly. “And what's funny about the situation, Ser Emmett? My lack of skill with the bow or my streak of missing the target.”

He gathers the arrows, his smile growing a tad impish as he picks up the last as twirls it between his fingers. Your eyes follow the movement instinctively— it glides between his nimble fingers, around and under, under and around— Emmett ends the small show with a flip of the arrow, catching it by the small bit of the notch, the dull arrowhead tapping against his lips. “What's funny is… the famed daughter of a very noble hunting family needs help with a bow.” The arrowhead presses into his lip when he smiles, “I heard said daughter used to bring down bucks the size of small shuttles but now she stands before me as if she never handled a bow.”

You tut, annoyed you've been caught but delighted he knew so much about you. “You aren't the only one who can do research.” You say, you move forward with graceful steps, till the both of you are face to face. “Emmett Deacon. That is an old name, you know. But strange as Lord Deacon has no heirs or living relatives besides his wife. Now, it is unbecoming of me to gossip– to listen to the words of those who whisper behind backs but… but I was, am, curious about you, Emmett.”

This close, you notice his eyes are green. They are far darker than the eyes of your husband, Duncan or Jessica. Emmett's eyes are the color of the forest after a thunderstorm; when everything is still dark near black underneath the clearing clouds. Emmett grins at your closeness, his eyes glinting, promising some type of mischief. “Careful now, my lady.” He teases, his voice light despite the subtle redness creeping up his neck, “You walk a dangerous line, some men would take offense to what you are attempting to imply.”

Carefully, you pull the arrow from the man's grasp, your lips quirk up in a humorless smile as you take a step away from him. “Attempting, Implying? Make no mistake, Emmett, I know what you are.” You give the man your back as you face another untouched target. Mentally, you thank yourself for having the thought to scatter them about the training area before approaching Emmett under the guise of needing guidance. This target is much closer to the door, just a few paces to the right.

“Do you?”

Suddenly you are warm. He is pressed right up against you, his hands on your hips pulling you flush against his body and you barely bite back a shiver as you right your posture as if he wasn't there. His breath comes out ragged, fanning against your ear and he holds you so tight he scrunches your silks. Emmett is pretty as he is eager for you, desperate almost. It is not what you usually go for but the men you usually do go far were always so hesitant, reminding you of your husband or the ever watchful Duncan. Emmett fears neither, it makes you like him more but you are not an idiot, Emmett Deacon doesn't exist outside of the Atreides Castle. Lord Deacon has no legitimate heirs, only bastards, hundreds of bastards he refuses to recognize unless they make a name of their own. There is no Emmett Deacon, only Everett Brightwater. Son of a working mother and elder brother to a handful of other siblings.

But in the Atreides castle, the castle of a bastard, those types of things tend to go overlooked. Most like to forget that technically, Paul Atreides was born out of wedlock, that he was legitimized by the former Duke Leto— it is a story all bastards wished for, what Everett wished for. Pity it is you, that always seems to take a fancy to them.

“I have bedded a bastard before, Brightwater. Void-forbid I don't recognize the touch of another.”

The sound that leaves the man is downright sinful, a ragged gasp and his hips damn near hump into you. “And you have made heirs–”

“A singular heir, Oliver has no siblings.”

“But he could,” He rolls his hips against yours backside again and you bite back a grin, “I could give you–”

The door opens and it startles you. Your fingers slip from the bowstring and the arrow is sent flying, hurtling towards the target as Emmett rips away from you like he's touched fire. Your husband stands at the door, his eyes red rimmed and looking downright furious. His eyes never meet yours, staying trained on Emmett who looks everywhere as the arrow hits its mark. Bullseye.

Emmett's voice is choked as he speaks, “Congratulations–” His eyes flicker over to Paul for a brief second as he rasps your name. It makes your heart nearly jump to your throat as you blink absurdly at the man but he pushes forward, inclining his head as Paul prowls closer, “Your talents amaze me–”

“Leave.”

Emmett pauses mid sentence, he blinks once then nods, his lips set tight. He says your name again, lower, sweeter, then his dark green eyes cut to Paul as he gives a shallow bow. “Your liege.”

He is out the room faster than you can blink and it draws a scoff from your lips as you turn to face your husband. “That was rude.”

That makes his face twitch. Like he wants to scowl or even pout down at you but can't decide which one to choose and it settles as a sneer instead. “Was it, now? I walk in on one of my men pawing at you–”

The laugh that leaves you is sudden and sharp, “You are being ridiculous.”

“He was all but humping your leg and you let him!” He hisses. Then takes a breath to blink and shake his head, “It is disrespectful, my son is only paces away–

“Oh, that is disrespectful?” You ask. Your blood is boiling, your heart thundering in your ears. How dare he throw your son in your face? The very boy you put to bed alone, hushing his cries for his father. The very same boy that spent the day talking about his father and his mysterious friend that he insisted Ollie call an aunt. “What about you trying to take my child to see another woman?”

Paul flinches then, just barely, but keeps the sneer on his pretty face. “That is different, you know that is different–”

“What of all the times I've found your letters to her? All the times you've left me for her?” You press, “All the birthdays, my birthdays wasted alone waiting for you, all the anniversaries? What do you know about disrespect, husband?”

He is silent, silent but staring, gaping, trying to muster an answer he knows he can't. But it is strange, odd, that he hasn't tucked tail and ran. In the rare arguments that seemed to happen between the two of you, he'd spit his poison and then choke on yours; floundering for a rebuttal before escaping to his wing of the castle and yet… he still stands before you, unmoving. Then, he speaks. He whispers, “I am sorry.” He clears his throat, “I am, for what I put you through, for everything but I want better for us, I want–”

“She finally did it, didn't she? She finally turned you away?”

He doesn't respond and that's an answer all on its own. You cast your bow aside, not caring how it crashes against the floor and your quiver soon follows. “You’re pathetic.”

You don't look at Paul as you go.

Duncan stands beside you.

It's nothing new, of course. He is always there, whispering into your ear, a guiding hand on your back or teasing Ollie who was usually on your hip.

It's been nearly two weeks since the incident in the training room, since Paul came to you saying he wanted better for your relationship— nearly two weeks since you almost allowed Emmett to fall under your skirts and Duncan no doubt knows this by now and yet, he stands by you.

You're sitting on your bed with nothing but a thin sleeping shift with Ollie curled up into your lap as you gently twist and braid hair away from his face and Duncan watches, his eyes trained on your steady hands. Then, quietly, he speaks to not stir Oliver.

“It’s going to be cold tonight.” He says lightly, his eyes pulling away from your hands, letting them trace over the way the fabric hugs your form.

You don't look up as you finish a braid, using the tip of your nail to section out another braid, a distracted hum leaving your lips, “It is always cold, Duncan. It's Caladan.”

“It doesn't have to be.” He says and he hates how you pause when he says it, he hates the way his voice grows tender for you so he clears his throat, unwilling to unearth something you both ignore daily and plasters a teasing grin on his face, “Shall I call for Emmett? He is rather eager–”

He barks out a laugh when you toss a throw pillow at him, twisting out of the way before it even hits him. “Damn you.” You curse him despite the smile playing on your lips, “Speaking like that to your lady could be considered treason, you know.”

“Maybe on Somnus.” He teases as he slinks closer. He pulls the stool from your vanity and plops down on it next to you, his smiling falling just a bit as he asks, “How are you?”

“Fine.”

He levels you with a look that you don't meet, continuing to part and braid through Oliver's hair. He reaches forward then, to pull your hand free from the boy's hair and simply hold it— to command your attention towards him as he whispers your name, “I worry about you. Truly. I– Paul has told me what he said to you.” He holds your hand tighter when it jerks in his grasp, he searches your face, his eyes soft. “And it was cruel. You waited for him for void-knows-how-long and he comes to you when you finally search for another.”

Stubbornly, you purse your lips and force your eyes away from him. “I don't care.”

“It is not my place to call you a liar.” He says and it's almost automatic, years of training resurfacing as he searches for the right words. “But as someone who is close to you… as someone who cares for you, I think you do.”

You pull away and he lets you, your hands returning to Oliver's hair almost nervously. The boy doesn't even stir, “Your concern for me is endearing but it is misplaced.”

“Don’t shut me out.” He says, his voice tight and it makes your eyes slide back to him. “Your pretty words don't fool me, I know you. I see you, you have been miserable, you have suffered and it is okay to acknowledge that. It is only you, your sleeping boy and I in this room, you do not have to pretend.”

“What would you have me do, Duncan?” You ask, a touch incredulous. “Would you have me pitch a fit? You'd have me disgrace the Atreides name because what– my husband wants to be a husband?”

“I would like it if you cried.”

You flinch back, “What?”

“You haven't cried in years.” He says. “Oliver was born and you haven't shed a tear since, you have not mourned, you haven't grieved.”

“Those are the same things.” You start frowning at him. “Besides, I am a mother, a Duchess to a growing empire. There are whispers that I could be Queen, what do I have to cry about?”

“Everything.” He answers, his voice true. “Yes, you are all those things and more. But you are also young, you may be a woman now but you were a girl when you were wed.”

“That doesn't matter.”

Duncan looks at you like you've grown a second head. “It does matter. The very concept of your love was crafted for you before you ever got the chance to make it yourself. Do you like laying down and taking it or is that what you were taught? Do you like that he walks all over you or were you told to accept that?”

Your hackles rise before you can even stop yourself, “He is your lord.” You hiss, “Watch your tongue.”

Duncan throws his hand out, his eyebrows nearly touching his hairline. “You defend him and call him Lord, you do not call him a husband because that is what you are taught.” He lets his hand drop, “When I was your age–”

“You are not that much older than me.”

He continues like you didn't speak. “When I was your age, I experimented. I built my ‘love’ from the ground, I know how to kiss, how to fuck because I have done so with enough people to know what I like. That is not something that can be taught.”

You flush at the topic, imagine Duncan in such intimate situations would not be a… first for you. There were many lonely nights in your marriage and your mind often wandered. It was natural, of course, Duncan is kind. He is strong and sweet with a silver tongue, it is only natural that your mind went there when your hand traveled between your thighs. It was only natural that you had toyed with him out of pure boredom and curiosity. Moans of his name often left your lips when it was his turn to keep your room guarded. You had left your door cracked, catching his wandering eye once or twice as you… reached your peak. For voids-sake, you are quite certain Duncan has seen you in some state of undress more than Paul has and has not once mentioned it to you, has not tried to close your door or turn his head. Duncan has stood beside you for nearly six years, watched you for the same amount of time. You know you could say one simple word, a plea more than a command and it'd be just as damning and he'd be in your bed.

And yet…

You clear your throat and shake your head. Ollie jolts in your lap but doesn't wake, turning a curling deeper into your warmth. You steer the conversation back on course,“What does this have to do with me crying?”

“You were young when you were married.” He says again, like he truly doesn't understand why you don't get it. “You were young when you had Oliver, it was scary. Traumatizing, even. No one prepared you.”

“Yes they did, my parents, my tutors even–”

“Did you even get to say goodbye to the girl you once were before you were ripped away from home or did you bury her– throw her into this fucking sea the moment your engagement was announced?”

When you don't answer, he makes a noise— it's nearly a scoff but it sounds much too pitying. “I know you.” He says again, “I know that you hurt. I see it in the way you carry that blasted bow— it is all metal and wrong because your planet crafts from wood and vines. I see it in the way you hesitate at dinner because you want a second helping but the teaching of tutors or maybe even your mother told you it was unladylike. I see it when you look at Oliver because you were only a girl when you had him–”

“Do not.” You interrupt weakly, your eyes darting to your son. “I love my son.”

“I know,” He agrees. “You love him more than life itself, I'm sure, but it does not negate the fact that your family, this family, was okay with a child having a child.”

You swallow once, twice, then you blink hard. There is an odd pressure building up in your head, a pounding behind your eyes. You open your mouth to respond but your lip wobbles unsteadily. You struggle to find your words, your breath leaving you unsteadily— pinched as you try to control yourself and Duncan only smiles soft and sad. His hand resting on your knee, he speaks. “I’d have you cry.” He says again, “For the girl you lost, for the woman you became. Cry because you are a mother, a good one and you do it nearly alone, cry because you can– because it's okay. Over spilt milk or broken glass, cry because it feels right and it's a start.”

“And then?” You murmur.

Duncan shakes his head, “I can not teach how to feel better.” He says, “I can not teach you to forgive. I can only give advice— guide you through your tears. I want better for you, My lady. To give Paul a chance, to see if his word is true, if you truly want to stay in a place that caused you nothing but grief.”

“What could I do?” You ask and it hurts to hear how helpless you sound to your own ears. “If I don't want to stay, what would I–”

And for the first time since this conversation has started, Duncan hesitates— then, much quieter than before he begins to speak, “It was Leto who granted your marriage, while your parents drafted the contract– he was the one who allowed it. Therefore, if you were to go to him– if you were to air every grievance you have with Paul, tell him of all the cruel things his son has done to you… he could void your marriage.”

You shift, pulling your son up your body, cuddling him close and Duncan follows the movement.“ But what would happen to me, to Oliver?”

“Nothing.” Duncan answers. “You are the one approaching Leto here. You are the injured party and if you were to separate, you'd get half of the Atreides… well, everything.”

“What?”

“It is an old tradition.” Duncan explains quickly, “It went by many names; dissolution, annulment, divorce. You'd get half of everything– if not more, you'd get to keep your status as Duchess, you'd probably have enough money to build your own castle free and far from all of this.” He sighs. “You’d get to decide if Paul even got to see Oliver–”

“I cannot do that to him, he loves his son–”

“You are the injured party.” Duncan stresses, “It would be your choice, all of these would be your choice. I can not tell you what to do, my lady. But if you were to ask me, I'd cry first. At least once.”

And despite all the training saying otherwise, you let one tear fall. Then another and another and a–

Duncan lets you cry, his hand finding yours as you begin to curl around Ollie and bless the void— the boy doesn't so much as stir— and you sob for the first time in years.

The next few days are… odd.

Paul tries, you give him that. He is there before you wake, lingering just outside your door with Duncan by his side. He greets you with a smile, a kiss on the hand then he offers you his arm— it varies where he leads you. Sometimes it's straight to Oliver, the boy wakes with a big grin and messy hair delighted at the sight of his parents together and other times, he leads you to a hidden alcove; a well furnished cave on a cliff side overlooking Caladans’ main sea. These moments are often spent in silence— you eat a bit and Paul watches you, you spend more time pretending not to notice then actually enjoying it but it is… time spent together and that is good, you think.

Today, however, is proving to be a bit different from most. You eat as you always do, you watch the waves crash on the rocks, you count the seconds between each of your husband’s blinks and take little glances at Duncan when the man sighs whenever Paul clears his throat. He always clears it,you find, a nervous habit only ever shown amongst close family or friends and most times, nothing would follow it, Paul would fall back into silence and the both of you would eat then go back to the castle.

Paul clears his throat and you look at him curiously because that is twice within a minute and as much as you detest him, you wouldn't want to see him choke and when you do look at him, he's fumbling with a bundle of grey cloth wrapped in twine, “Oliver,” He starts, soft and unsure and it makes you strain to hear him over the sea. “He says you like these so–” His fingers are slick because of his nerves and it takes a minute or so for him to unravel the twine but once he does— he places the cookies on the table and slides them towards you with a smile.

You look at the oddly shaped balls and smile— they are obviously handmade. They're big, clumpy and some even sink in on themselves, a few have seeds on them burnt and crumbling but seeds nonetheless and it gives you some pause. Your eyes flicker up, past Paul to Duncan who is giving the cookies an equally puzzled look. This isn't lost on your husband who frowns— he looks between you and Duncan and his brow dips, he fidgets with the edge of the grey fabric, then the skin around his nails, “What?” He asks a bit louder than he should, “What is that look?”

Your mouth opens to answer then it closes just as fast. Paul is trying. You remind yourself that he's spent much of the marriage away from you in his own universe, he wouldn't, doesn't know much about you. He is trying and so are you, trying to give him grace— he has given you cookies, as ugly and deadly as they might be, they are made by his unskilled hand and you can't help but appreciate that.

Duncan, though, is not you. “Were these made with sunflower seeds?”

Paul continues to frown, looking up at the man. “Yes, why?”

“Ah.” Duncan starts, his voice flat as you instantly push the cookies away with the butt of your fork. “Your wife is allergic.”

Paul turns red. From the tips of his ears to the ends of his toes— his mouth drops open and he founders, a choked apology starts to leave him but he only gets as far as, ‘I'm–’ before he stops because you aren't cursing him out or banishing him away from your sight. Hells, you don't even move from the table, you just watch him carefully, your eyes dancing across his face and he wishes that a sun– any one of them, explodes and spares him from this experience, from this life.

Sadly, no exploding sun spares him from this. There is no blistering heat or quick death, just your searching eyes and your cool words.“You wouldn't know.” You say simply, smiling and Paul is shocked that it holds no maliciousness. “Ollie seems to have tricked you because these are his favorite not mine but… I appreciate that you thought of me.”

“I–” He's still red, still choking on his words but his mind spins as multiple things fly through it; he can't be mad at his son because he would have pulled the same trick on his father, he is embarrassed, incredibly so because he had almost killed you because he did not know of a simple allergy but Duncan knew. He is your husband and he didn't know.“Forgive me.” He breathes, pleads.

For once, he wants you to be mad at him but you only frown, your hand carefully intertwining with his. “You didn't know,” You say, “We are… we are only beginning to know each other. We have much to learn. You didn't know and that's okay.”

Paul nods but his head spins. Duncan knew. His green eyes meet his trusted guard and he frowns, he then notices your closeness— even though your fingers are locked with his, you're leaning back towards Duncan and he is standing as close as possible to your chair. You both are sharing the same air and it is not like you and Paul who sits across from you with only a hand connecting you both. You breath out and Duncan inhales– shifting somehow closer, his lips twitching when Paul obviously catches the movement. Paul thumb strokes your hand and any negative feeling that was starting to build melts away when you smile at him, he pushes Duncan from his mind as he refocuses himself on you, a smile of his own forming.

“Well,” He starts and his voice is still shaky from the embarrassment. “Besides sunflower seeds, is there anything else I should be aware of?”

Paul doesn't know how he never saw it before. The warmth in your smile, the light in your eyes. Paul had begged for a Sun to end him, blind to the star burning bright promised to him. These years of neglect had not dulled your shine, your heat— you glow and Paul thinks he'd happily go blind if it meant staring at your light forever. “Well…” You start, smiling wide and warm.

The two of you spend the next five hours talking, laughing and trading stories of food illnesses to embarrassing ones from your youths.

When Duncan is called to Paul's study, he already knows for what. Emmett pesters him with endless questions but the Brightwater man quickly falls silent at the mention of your name, he pales and Duncan clicks his tongue when the bastard excuses himself from the room.

To think you thought that man was bold. You thought him brave and uncaring, Duncan pretends he does not hear him emptying his stomach into the toilets. He knows the man fears he'll lose his job and Duncan does not bother to reassure him.

The route there is easy, quick. It's as if he blinks and he is there, pressing up the door and taking a step inside. Paul is sitting, facing a large window that shows Caladan’s raging sea. The waves crash on the beach's shore and drag the sand out with it, the sky has grown dark since your outing with your husband— a storm raging in the distance. A storm raging in the man in front of Duncan.

“For how long?”

Duncan doesn't bother trying to play stupid, he doesn't sit nor does he take a step further in the room. “Does it matter?”

Paul turns just as lightning strikes the sea. His eyes flash and Duncan is taken aback at the rage that is there. He doesn't not flinch away from it, he bares the storm that spills when Paul speaks. “She’s my wife, Duncan. My wife!”

Duncan blinks. “I am aware.” He then looks away. “She is aware of that too. It is by her hand only that I haven't landed in her bed.”

Paul stands, he is shaking. Duncan is his friend but this— he smoothes a hand over his face. His eyes sting but he does not cry, he did not do so when he caught the beginnings of something with Emmett so why would he cry now? He looks at Duncan and his heart clenches. Duncan is his friend. “And if she said yes–”

“In a heartbeat.” Duncan answers. He is cruel in his honesty but he doesn't care, Paul has been crueler with his own and he can't help the smile that twists at his lips. “Castle Atreides would be filled with more bastards than you, Paul.”

Duncan does not flinch. Paul in all his anger and crashing tides has made his way across the room, his blade to his neck and drawing blood. The cut stings, bubbles with his blood and Duncan doesn't not break eye contact. He has hid his love for you long enough and this is freeing, Paul would not kill him. He knows that because Paul is a trained soldier, trained to kill and his blade shakes against his throat. “You will leave.” Paul says and his voice is shaking. There is a tear threatening to spill from his eyes. “You will leave and you will not return until I call for you.”

Duncan's heart drops. “What?”

“You will not come when she calls.” Paul continues. “And she will call and you will not answer. Not for her not for Oliver. Do you understand?”

Duncan searches his young master's face for some kind of tell but Paul is serious. The blade presses closer and when Paul opens his mouth, it is The Voice that leaves it. It is hundreds of voices all at once, it is his mother's, it is his fathers and it is yours. The commands sinks into his brain, pulling at flesh and his eye twitches as it forces it's will deeper. He is being sent on a mission, he is being sent to Arrakis. The voices dig deeper and there is a dull alarm that coils around his heart, Duncan hopes Paul will not take his love for you away. His lungs tighten and the blade is pulled away from his neck as he falls into a kneel before Paul who still commands his existence. He is to forget this. This confrontation, this moment of insecurity and rage, he is to forget why he never wanted to leave Caladin in the first place.

Please, please, please. He begs when the voice doesn't fade, there is terror building in his blood but as soon as it grows it is wiped away by The voice, by the soft whisper of your voice. He is to bring Deacon's bastard son. The voice fades and Duncan is gasping, clutching at his neck and his fingers slip in his own blood. Paul stares down at him, his eyes blank, the storm raging on behind him and Duncan remembers… nothing. Just his mission.

He pushes himself to his feet, surprised when he stumbles. His blood flows dark and Paul doesn't look away, a thin lipped smile on his face. “You slipped.”

Duncan knows that's not right but he can't bring himself to question it. Paul is moving away from him, back to his desk and fixing his chair. “Best to prepare for your departure and send Emmett to me when you see him.”

Duncan knows his way to Paul's office and he knows the way back just as well. But today, he couldn't help but get lost on his way. He has a headache brewing.

You like to believe you do not know who cries more when Duncan leaves. But Oliver stops crying within an hour, distracted by his grandparents and pulled away for a mini adventures and it is two weeks later when you burst into tears because you think you've smelt him.

It is embarrassing, unladylike but Duncan had told you he had wanted you to cry more and Paul took it in stride. Duncan had been your foundation for so long so for him to be sent away, you are left crumbling but Paul is there and more than eager to get to building. At some point, he had snuck his way into your rooms— he had wide eye amazement as he took in everything, the plants that climb their way up your walls to your blankets and how much thicker they are than his. Paul had smiled when he saw despite everything, you still favored his colors– your house colors. You and Paul sleep together but not sleep together. Your mornings had become shared, whispers and giggles shared the first time you both woke up together— you and Paul had talked into the night, Oliver curled into his side and his hand running through his son's hair.

Still days later, you find waking up next to him, your husband hasn't gotten old. Paul clings to you when he sleeps, he's incredibly warm and you find you no longer need your blanket when he wraps around you in the night. Emboldened by his soft snores, you pull away gently, taking him in the soft morning light. You brush a soft curl from his face and he frowns in his sleep, it strikes you just how pretty he is. He's the makings of every Prince you ever read about growing up, blessed by luck and kissed by beauty and all that. He nuzzles against your hand with a sigh, his frown melting from his lips and you realize you want to kiss him.

You pull your hand away out of pure embarrassment, flushing hot. You shouldn't be embarrassed, you try to reason with yourself. He's your husband— the father of your child, he's touched your naked body before, he's kissed you before but that was years ago and all of that stopped the moment you fell pregnant. You haven't ached for such affection from him in years yet here and now, you wish you could press your lips to his. How embarrassing, you simper trying to pull further away from him but Paul's hold is ironclad, he curls around you tighter, his legs sliding between yours, his hands settling on your back. “What are you doing?” He murmurs, “Where are you going?”

You thank every star that's ever existed that he doesn't open his eyes. He keeps his eyes clamped shut as if protesting the morning sun and he completely misses your fading flusteredness. “Nowhere.” You answer, trying to relax in his touch. He's drawing patterns against your back, trying and failing to lull you back to sleep. He's just so close and it was easier to ignore when you're too tired to be flustered. “I wanted to give you space.”

Paul frowns, blinking his eyes open. “Don’t want space.” Then processing what he said, he offers you a timid smile before he rolls away to yawn and stretch. “Sorry, that was…” He shakes his head and doesn't bother finishing what he was going to say. He gets out of your bed with another stretch, his bones cracking and your mind flounders, rushing to think of a reason to keep him in bed— you never thought a day would come when you wanted to keep Paul near you. Your mouth moves before you can think and through and—

“Oliver says he wants a sibling.”

The moment it leaves your mouth, you're clapping a hand over your lips in pure, unfiltered embarrassment. Paul is still frozen mid stretch, his eyes wide and his cheeks completely pink and you wish a moon would come crashing into the planet and take you out in its destruction. “What?” He asks, his voice is strangely pitched. His arms drop as he turns to face you.

“Nothing.” You say and your voice is a squeak, your mortification growing. What are you? A blushing virgin maiden? You should have stood your ground, repeated what you said proudly but you're suddenly… shy. Your heart is pounding and you pull your blanket up and over your head, “Forget I said anything.”

Paul says your name and you ignore it, pulling the cover tighter and it's a sight that makes Paul's heart soar. His lady wife is shy before him, it is a welcome change that has his own heart skipping delightfully. He can't help but tease you, he says your name again as he rounds the bed, he drags it out, stretches it across his tongue and you shiver under the blanket. His hand touches your covered leg and you jump and he laughs, sitting at your side. “My love,” He starts and he says it like he's sure of it, like you are his only love. “Can you repeat that?”

“No.” You hiss and it pulls another laugh from him. He pulls the blanket from your face and he is smiling like he's never smiled before, his peachy cheeks dimpling.

“Oliver wants a sibling.” Paul repeats and you purse your lips nodding, Paul's smile only grows. “I knew that already.”

You blink. “What?”

“Oliver has always wanted a sibling.” Paul starts casually, shrugging. “But if he told you and you told me that means– you've considered it.”

Your face flushes hot and you go to pull for your blanket but Paul puts his weight on it, stopping you from covering yourself. So you deflect, your lip pulls up in a halfhearted sneer, “I was making conversation. I was trying to be polite.”

Paul hums, slow and soft. “You thought it proper to a conversation by asking me to fuck you?”

You blink rapidly, your mouth falling open in shock. “I-I wasn't– I w-wouldn't–” Paul is smiling and you swallow. “You’re teasing me.”

“A little.” He murmurs, his eyes are searching your face. His hand raises from your blanket and you brace yourself when it caresses the length of your face, his thumb dragging across your bottom lip. “I wouldn't mind.”

Your tongue follows the path of his thumb out of instinct and when it sweeps across it, you swear you see your husband’s eyes flash. “Mind what?”

“Another child.” He says. “Sleeping with you.”

You're nodding and suddenly Paul is on you, his lips on yours as he cups your face to drag you closer. You are clumsy, unsure with how you kiss him— it's been years you remind yourself but Paul is so much more confident, he kisses you and it's nothing like the ones from years ago. Those had been pecks, his lips on yours to shush your moans as he humped into you, it all felt professional— a duty he had to perform but this, Paul is kissing you. It is all tongue, teeth and lips, he's eager with his nips and how his tongue drags across yours but he goes at your pace; or at least he tries, you whimpered and the kiss quickly grew messy— wet as he wraps his tongue around yours and sucks. It's an odd feeling and it pulls a startled moan from you. It is years of programming that has you saying it, your hands clenching at the fabric of his shirt, “Husband–”

“Paul.” He urges, his voice a touch desperate as his hands begin to roam your body. He's squeezing you in places you've never been touched before, his hands tickling up your sides— pushing your nightgown up. You are bare beneath them and Paul lets out an appreciative groan at the sight of your pussy. He barely looks up when he says, “Call me Paul when I touch you like this, please.”

You swallow and nod, you have to ask. You have to know. “Paul, did you ever–” Your voice breaks and you can hear how small you sound. “Did you touch her? While we were together?”

“No.” He says it so quickly, you're blinking but his voice is serious, he doesn't falter but his hands still. “I would never do that, not even if she offered.”

You take a breath. “But you left, Paul.”

“I know.” He murmurs, “I’m sorry. Will you let me apologize?”

“You already–” Your voice catches as he bends, he kisses his way down your body, hot opened mouthed kisses, his tongue dragging across your flesh. Your stomach clenches when he lowers and presses another kiss to your mound, uncaring of the hair there. Your legs try to clamp together but he is quick to keep them apart, his eyes meeting your frantic ones, “You don't– you never–”

“I’m apologizing.” He says simply and then his mouth is on you. There is nothing shy about the way his tongue drags through your folds, he licks and licks, and licks till he's drooling— he's making a wet mess out of you, his tongue dipping in and out of your fluttering hole as moans spill from you. Your legs tremble at the side of his head and you barely catch his eye roll as he pulls your thighs close to his head. He groans when they clench around his head and he licks his way back up to your clit and sucks hard, slurping loudly. Your back arches from the bed, a shrill shriek of his name escaping from your mouth, his head bobs with each suck, his tongue dragging and swirling hard against your dripping core.

“Oh, oh-” A curse he's never heard before explodes from you and your hand is carding through his hair and pulling closer to your cunt. His nose digs into your flesh and he lets out a puff of air before he flattens his tongue and shakes his head, your hand was keeping him centered enough but it loosens when he does this, flying to your mouth instead to muffle the squeal that leaves you. He keeps his mouth on you as he looks up, taking in your teary eye expression— your eyes meet and Paul can barely hold back the smile when he teases a finger against your slit. You moan, arching down towards it and it makes his nose grind against your clit as his finger slips in easily. You're incredibly wet and you would be embarrassed if Paul wasn't the one to blame for it, you could barely tell what was your own arousal or his spit at this point.

Paul presses another finger into you and it goes just as easy as the first, his fingers gliding against your clenching, wet walls. His fingers prod and rub and when they hook against a spot that has you twisting away from him, Paul is fighting to keep your hips from bucking wildly. “That’s it.” He encourages, his voice husky. His fingers bully a spongy part inside of you, pressing and rubbing as his other hand moves, his fingers rubbing tight, hard circles against your clit. It's an awkward position but Paul doesn't seem to care, his wild eyed look is trained on your leaky cunt and the way it clenches and flutters around his fingers. You smack at his hands because something is brewing— your stomach coiling right. He rides the waves your hips rock to, a crooked smile forming on his face. “That’s fucking it, so pretty like this.”

You cum and you swear you've gone blind. You've touched yourself before, you've made yourself cum before but this— this is something completely different, your back is arching off the bed, your moans are choked to a stop as you try to force air to your lungs. Your legs clamp shut but Paul keeps pumping his fingers inside of you, he's cooing like you're something precious and he's riding your high, his hand matching the twitching of your hips. You wheeze his name, your chest heaving and it is only then Paul pulls his hand from you, his fingers wet and creamy and he slips the digits into his mouth with a soft moan.

You're blinking up at him, your breath rattling in your chest and Paul meets your gaze unabashed, his fingers leaving his mouth to rub a soothing pattern in your thigh. “Are you alright?”

You quickly realize Paul can't help but do that. In the next week, Paul pulls you into every dark corner he can find. He'd drop to his knees, his mouth finding your cunt like it was home and he'd licked you till you were quivering, creaming all over his face and pushing him away. Paul licked your cunt like a man starved and again, you quickly realize with an odd twinge of fear that he loved it. Loved your legs clamped around his head, loved his nose buried in your scent at its source. He loved it so much it took nearly another week for him to bend you over his desk and actually fuck you.

“Oh, f-fuck!”

The office is filled with the wet slap of skin on skin, the squeaking of the desk moving forward. Paul has a hand splayed over the curve of your back, keeping you bent over as he rolled his hips into you. You're moaning, cursing really and it makes him twitch inside of you. He loves when you act like anything but a Lady and when you're clenching down on him, choking his dick and soaking his thighs, he thinks he might lose his head. Still, there are guards who roam the halls outsides, servants that go about their duties and you are just so vocal— his hand slips over your mouth and though he knows the damage is done and the outside world has probably already heard your sounds, he feels possessive; he wants to keep your moans and whimpers to himself. He used the hand over your mouth to pull you up and flush against him, groaning when you clamp down on him, fucking back on him without abandon.

His knees nearly buckle when you begin to set your own pace against him, one of your hands holds his hand over your mouth, your nails digging into skin as your other hand flies to your stretched cunt. You're so wet your fingers slip and mess their mark and Paul feels your frustrated groan vibrate against his hand as you try again, your fingers finding your clit and you rub furiously little circles against the sensitive nub. Faintly, Paul thinks you touch yourself a little too rough but you're tightening up on him and Paul moans, you feel so good. Better than his hand ever did and, his hips meet yours— it's almost frantic, animalistic in the way he fucks into you and when he cums, he shakes, a moan spilling from his lips as he continues to roll his hips, fucking his spend back into you and try to get you to finish.

And you do, you always do because Paul refuses to stop until you do. He could be shaking from pure overstimulation and he'd still fuck into you until you're creaming on his dick, his fingers, his face. Later, he tells you that he's glad you don't squirt. You had hit him on his shoulder, tried to hide your face from his lecherous gaze but he had cupped your pussy with a grin filled with heat, “You’d wash away all my work if you did.”

You had hissed his name in warning but Paul was already slipping his fingers back inside of you and you were mortified with how your body just accepted them.

Your recent… couplings had not gone unnoticed by the people of the Castle. While your ladies had more tact in asking you— your Father-in-law and Jessica were not. You had been tending to Oliver at dinner, trying to coax your son into eating his vegetables with Paul watching fondly at your side, his arm curled around the back of your seat.

Leto had cleared his throat, shifting in his chair as he watched the two of you warmly. He has been the more accepting of the recent change, greeting you both with a grin or a chuckle whenever you two stumbled into the room disheveled. “Would it be remiss of me to assume I'll be getting another grandchild soon?”

Paul snorts into his cup of wine, the red liquid spilling across his front and you are no better, the fork holding Oliver’s broccoli shakes and the vegetable falls on the boy who instantly whines in disgust. You are quick to clean him, apologizing in a coo as your face warms, you look anywhere but your in-laws and Paul takes charge. “Father–” He began, his voice warning but Leto showed his palms with an easy smile.

“I’m simply curious.” He amends, Jessica is deathly silent at his side, watching the conversation with an odd look in her eyes. “The castle hasn't been baby proofed since Oliver and I wanted to know if we should start–”

Oliver, hearing his name looks to his grandfather to you with excited green eyes. “There’s a baby?”

Your mouth opens, then closes, your face warm as suddenly everyone turns to look at you. “Well, yes but–”

The adults at the table all sit straighter, Paul's hand curls tighter against the back of your chair. “Yes?” He repeats a touch breathless and you risk a glance in his direction, and he has once again gone pink in the face. Your lips pinch and you look away, it is much easier to admit this to a child, your son, rather than his father.

“Yes,” You begin again, your voice strong but soft, a hand smoothing over his curly little head. “But the baby won't come for a number of months, Ollie.”

Oliver makes a face. “I’ll be five when it comes.”

Paul from your side lets out a watery laugh, his arm leaving your chair and settling on your shoulders. “Yes,” He replies, “You’ll be an older brother, Oliver.”

That has the boy smiling, he turns back to his grandfather already babbling about all the things he'll do as a big brother and Leto is smiling so widely, you think the grin might split his face. Paul uses it as an opportunity to pull you from the table and out into the hallway, his hand shaking in yours.

“Paul, I'm–”

He silences you with a kiss salted with his own tears. You return his kiss a touch confused and he lets out a puff of laughter against your lips. “Do not apologize.” He orders, leaning away, “Do not apologize for making me a father again.”

“I wanted to tell you differently.” You say, your heart pounding. “I wanted to wait another week just to be sure– wanted to surprise you.”

You’re standing just inside the threshold, robes still creased from sleep, dust on your sleeves from the wind outside.

You had come looking for him — for a quiet moment, maybe, or just the comfort of his voice. But instead you walk into a ring of cold-faced commanders, a daughter of an empire gleaming like forged metal at his side, and Paul, standing at the center of it all like a man carved from stone.

Your heart folds before he even speaks.

The room feels too warm. Or maybe it’s you — heat rising up your neck like shame, like fear, like grief not yet formed.

You stand perfectly still, because you know if you move, something will shatter.

And then you hear it.

“I’ll marry Irulan.”

His voice is calm. Detached.

Like he’s stating strategy.

Like he’s not carving a hole into your chest with every syllable.

You don’t wait to hear the rest.

You don’t want to see if he glances at you when he says it.

You don’t want to know if he meant for you to hear.

You turn. You leave.

You slip out beneath the heavy flap of the tent and into the open night like a breath escaping a dying body.

And then—

You run.

The wind hits you first — sharp and angry, dragging sand across your skin like claws.

The air is dry and violent, howling against the rocks like it’s furious on your behalf.

You trip slightly on the edge of a dune, catching yourself on your hands, the sand biting into your palms. But you don’t stop. You don’t even wipe the tears from your cheeks. They’re mixing with dust now — hot and salt-heavy and blinding.

Your robe whips around your legs as you move, the fabric catching in the wind like it wants to drag you backward, like even the desert is trying to stop you from leaving him.

Your feet sink into the loose sand, stumbling over ridges and stones. The land here is endless. Barren. Beautiful in its cruelty.

And still — you run.

Behind you, there’s a sound.

The tent flap slaps against the wind.

Then — boots pounding the sand.

And his voice, cutting through the storm:

“Wait—please.”

But you don’t.

Not when your lungs are burning. Not when your whole body is screaming don’t you dare look back.

Still, he chases you. Of course he does.

He always comes when it’s too late.

He reaches you just as your knees threaten to give out —

just as the wind reaches a new pitch, shrieking across the dunes like it’s trying to tear the world apart.

“Stop,” he says, breathless.

You spin to face him, eyes wild and rimmed with sand-smeared tears.

“You’re marrying her.”

It doesn’t come out soft. It tears itself out of your mouth like it doesn’t want to be held in anymore.

He blinks, caught. His mouth parts like he wants to lie — to reframe it — but he doesn’t.

“I have to,” he says instead. Quiet. Measured.

Like that makes it better.

Your laugh is sharp and broken. “No. You want to.”

He flinches. And you don’t let him look away.

“You already have power, Paul. You already won. You have the empire, the prophecy, the people. You didn’t need to do this.”

he takes a step towards you, carefull, like you're something fragile.

“I did it for the future.”

“No.” Your voice rises, the wind rushing in behind it. “You did it for control. You did it because the throne wasn’t enough. You want her bloodline, her name, her legacy. You want to own everything.”

Something dark flickers in his eyes — not anger, not quite. Something worse. Justification.

That horrible, steady confidence that only comes from believing your own myth.

“I didn’t understand what this path would take from me,” he says.

You take a step back, your foot slipping in the sand.

“Oh,” you breathe. “So you were naive. You were foolish when you said you loved me.”

His jaw tightens. “No.”

“Then what?” Your voice breaks, finally. “What was I?”

He doesn’t answer right away. The wind gusts, hard enough to make you stagger.

Then—his voice again.

Not loud. Not cruel.

Just certain.

"stay."

And this time it isn’t just a plea.

It’s the Voice.

It sinks into your bones, stilling you.

Your breath catches. Your legs freeze. You hate how easily it happens — how quickly your body obeys.

He steps closer, looking ruined. “Please. Don’t go.”

But you don’t look at him. You’re staring out at the horizon, at the endless expanse of sand that could take you anywhere but here.

And still — you stay. Because he told you to.

Because he made you.

And that’s worse than anything else.

.

Time passes.

Not in days or months. Not in anything you can count.

It passes in moments you don’t remember choosing.

You live in the royal wing now — carved in white stone, where the ceilings echo with silence and the floors are too polished to feel real beneath your feet.

They dress you in silk now. Gold bracelets that you don’t remember asking for. Perfume that clings to your skin like a name you forgot how to say.

You never ask questions.

You don’t need to.

He tells you when to speak. When to smile. When to follow.

And you do.

Because when he uses the Voice — that impossible, low timbre threaded with command — your body obeys before your heart can catch up.

Because that’s what you are now: a creature of response, not desire.

He’s never cruel to you. Not really.

He still touches your cheek sometimes like you’re precious. Still looks at you like there’s some version of you he remembers.

But it’s a hollow thing now. A memory of love pretending it’s still alive.

You sit beside him at court, quiet and lovely and always one word away from motion.

The princess sits on his other side — radiant and cold, untouched.

The world sees a golden throne, a perfect empire.

No one sees the ghost sitting just beneath it.

At night, you lie in silk sheets, facing away from him.

Sometimes he speaks your name softly, as if it might still mean something.

Sometimes he doesn’t speak at all.

And on the worst nights — the ones where you almost remember how to want something — he uses the Voice again.

“Stay.”

“Come here.”

“Don’t cry.”

And you don’t.

Because he tells you not to.

“Reserved? Or perhaps even prudish?” You shake your head playfully, finding the topic your friend chooses to accompany your work tasks a bit crude, if not nearly blasphemous.

Although you have become well experienced in your indentured servitude to the newest Padishah Emperor, it is still difficult to believe many of the ever-circulating gossip that is whispered in hushed tones amongst the palace help, the juiciest of secrets always seeming to pertain to the Messiah’s rather infamous sex life.

“He is both, yes. Rumors aside, Paul’s loyalty to Princess Irulan is commendable, but perplexing behavior for a sovereign. A singular wife is nearly unheard of! Even his courtship with Lady Chani has frayed, yet he has not taken on a proper harem. Does he believe himself unfit to handle more than one woman?”

“Harah, please be mindful when saying such statements,” you scold playfully, as there is no real bite to your words.

She simply shrugs, Harah’s attention now partially occupied with organizing the assortment of imported Caladanian confections atop the silver platter she holds. You both continue through the maze of hallways, pace increasing slightly to ensure timeliness.

“Perhaps we simply haven’t witnessed His Majesty’s impulsive side. I have seen him in battle. He is bold– barbaric. Such as lightning to a brush fire, Paul Atreides cannot be contained once ablaze.”

“Then it is best we try not to spark his interest.”

You glance at your own tray in hand, making sure the sacred tea leaves and precious china have not toppled from their initial placement during your stroll.

Harah falls silent beside you, biting her lip as she thinks of another interesting tidbit spill.

“Well, it’s also no secret that Emperor Atreides weeps when he fucks.”

You can’t help the loud snort of amusement that escapes your lips at Harah’s choice in words. That particular musing was not merely idle gossip. You had suspected it to be true.

The Messiah’s loud whimpers often echoed through the barren palace walls late into the evening. You had assumed Paul was emotional about very personal matters in the first few instances you witnessed his whining. Yet the sound of the accompanying bed springs creaking rhythmically behind his chamber doors painted a more intimate scene.

“It seems that our Lord finds release in many different ways,” you add softly, unsure of what to contribute in response to such crass claims about your Master.

You prefer your conscience to remain clean when speaking of Paul, as if his casual glances at you in passing could possibly expose the deepest secrets of your very soul.  

“Maybe so, though I do believe him to be weak-willed at times. Weeping without pain is a waste of precious water,” Harah adds.

Your casual banter falls quiet as you arrive at your final destination, the Selamlik Hall— the grandest room in the palace, which also houses the Imperial Golden Lion Throne. You do not need to peek inside to know that Paul Atreides currently resides within; his presence is undoubtedly felt by all who pass. 

A nearby clock shows two minutes until three in the afternoon, His Majesty’s preferred tea time. ‘An honored tradition of Leto Atreides’ that Paul insists remains a part of his daily routine, even if casual consumption of water is still considered needlessly frivolous on Arrakis. 

The Emperor's wants are, of course, always an exception. 

The ever-stoic guards move aside, allowing the grand hall doors to swing open. As practiced, you enter the room first, with Harah only a step behind.

The silence is merciless, bringing immediate attention to the slight shake of your tray, hands unsteady as your nerves struggle to calm. No matter how routine the task is, Paul’s haunting aura may continue to unsettle you forever.

Oddly, the Emperor is dressed in casual linen garments rather than his traditional Fremen attire, which usually consisted of a war-beaten stillsuit or ceremonial uniform. His focus remains on the various parchments scattered across his lap as he slumps lazily into the stone throne. Soft curls fall over his eyes, obscuring his gaze.

He does not bother to acknowledge your entrance from atop the marble stairs.

He never does.

You set the tea tray down on one of the many ornate tables before quietly preparing the drink to Paul’s liking. Harah is beside you, placing Paul’s sweets on a separate saucer before handing you the plate to serve. The task isn’t necessarily a two-person job, but perfection is always expected, and you’re certainly grateful for the support.

You finally turn to approach the throne, ascending the stairs as quietly as your heeled shoes allow. You leave the teacup and sweets on the right arm of the throne, thoughtfully within his reach. 

Paul’s gaze suddenly lifts from his papers, cerulean blue eyes meeting yours. For perhaps the first time since you began your servitude, Paul speaks directly to you.

“You. Stay a moment.” Paul’s voice is unexpectedly loud, echoing throughout the grand hall.

Stunned into silence, you simply nod.

No request from the Maud’Dib is ever to be denied.

Harah seemingly understands her cue, gathering the empty trays and offering a polite bow before turning to leave. You catch a subtle glance of confusion over her shoulder before she disappears back into the palace hallway.

The guards close the door, leaving you and the Emperor alone inside. 

Paul sighs, clearly exasperated from his dealings with menial Imperial work. You’d seen him working on such tasks for several days now, seemingly unable to delegate them to anyone beneath him. He tosses the papers aside, allowing them to tumble down the stairs.

His hand moves to massage the tension from his strained eyes.

“Your look is one of surprise; it irritates me. Do you believe me to be mute?” Paul asks. His words are rather sharp, his voice slightly hoarse as if he hasn’t spoken in hours.

You immediately shake your head, now deeply worried you may have offended the Emperor simply by the unconscious furrow of your brow.

“No, no, Your Majesty. Please excuse any unwarranted expressions I may have.”

A beat passes.

Paul straightens from his slouch, leaning forward now. His eyes are holding your gaze. He’s clearly searching within you for something, but you are unsure what.

You try your best to remain poised– stagnant. Maker knows what he might want from you.

He breaks eye contact first.

“I suppose your confusion isn’t completely unwarranted.” Paul slumps back into the throne. “I don’t often interact with my service staff.”

“I am honored.” You offer a soft smile in return. 

Of course, you are truthful, knowing that being directly addressed by the Kwisatz Haderach is certainly a big deal. You may remember this day for years to come.

Paul offers only a half-smirk, seemingly satisfied with your words of praise.

“Then again, I do not always have such intense desires for my servants, either.”

“Desires, sir?” This time, your voice is the one that falters.

“Yes. You heard correctly.”

Paul’s gaze returns to you once more, only this time it traces down your body. You feel him lingering on the exposed cleavage from your tight bodice as his knee bounces impatiently.

He immediately stands from the throne, now positioned directly in front of you. Even without his stillsuit boots, he towers over you by several inches.

You can’t help but feel meek, nothing more than desert prey awaiting capture.

“I must ask that you forgive my depravity…” Paul trails off, a solemn warning nearly missed by the surprising advance of his eager hands gripping your hips in place.

“My Lord, I-”, his lips suddenly crash against your own, silencing any pleas of protest.

The kiss is rather forceful—overwhelming, his heat-chapped lips still bearing traces of premium spice sweeter than you’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. Paul deepens the kiss, his tongue slipping past your lips. A lewd moan escapes him as he bites your lip, taking a moment to suck it between his teeth.

Paul leans against you; his added body weight forces you to sit in his throne. You hear the teacup break into shards on the floor as Paul continues his advances with little regard for more thoughtful positioning.

He continues his devotions, moving from your mouth to give more kisses on your cheek, his tongue tracing down your jawline before suckling on the soft skin of your neck.

A rather aggressive bite on makes you yelp.

“Awe, don’t tell me you think this is too much already?”

You can feel Paul's smile against your skin, excitement evident. A glance allows you to see how hard he is now, linen trousers leaving little to your imagination. 

You shake your head, not wanting to possibly upset someone as sacred, as dangerous as Paul Atreides. 

The adrenaline quickens through your veins, painting a heated blush across your nose and cheeks. You cannot deny yourself this feeling even if you wanted to. To deny your pain is to feed Paul’s pleasure. 

“Nothing is ever too much for someone like you, my Lord.”

“Hmmm, ‘someone like me’…” Paul purrs, voice dropping an octave. He continues his work on your neck, albeit with slightly softer bites, leaving wine-colored bruises to blossom in his wake.

“Flattery will get you nowhere, sweet one. It’s okay to admit it; it is simply a fact of nature, yes? The most beautiful creatures are always the weakest. Made to devote, just as much as they are made to be devoured.”

Paul finally pulls back, offering you a moment of reprieve from the tension, now gently kissing the marks on your skin. These kisses are rather soothing, a contrast to the lustful hunger of earlier—almost reminiscent of a lover.

The moment of affection ends just as quickly as it began.

Paul’s fingers now roughly grip the fabric of your dress, pulling your skirt up to gather around your waist. With your legs now accessible, he spends no time on subtlety, immediately ripping your panties to the side and leaving the entire lower half of your body completely exposed to the whole of Selamlik Hall. 

At many points throughout the history of the known universe, this room has hosted coronations and sacraments. The most powerful men and women have sat atop this throne, but this afternoon, it shall be witness to you and Maud’Dib—a humanistic dance of lust and selfish need.

And you plan to enjoy every moment of it.

“Yes. Look at you, spread out, unabashedly bare like some cheap whore, all for me.”

The words send chills down your spine. Paul takes a moment to admire your exposed cunt. 

“Too pretty. Stilgar was right, though. I am quite foolish for having waited so long to take you.”

You can feel your clit pulse, blood rushing to your extremities in anticipation. You try to stay quiet, hoping that Paul continues to have his way with you.

To be so vulnerable under a man whom you could only understand to be akin to a god did provide you with an element of fear you cannot deny. Still, perhaps that is what made the experience feel so erotic, so otherworldly.

Even the highest of deities must fall to the most primal of urges.

Your focus is drawn back to reality as Paul is rushing to undress, carelessly unbuttoning his shirt before working his pants down his thighs. His undergarments are now pooled around his ankles, Paul’s already erect cock springing free to rest against his tanned thigh.

His slender fingers reach for his surprisingly large length, giving it a few pumps to ready himself. You note the pearlescent drops of precum already forming at the tip, excitement pooling within your stomach.

“I am sorry for my lack of romance,” he chuckles, though you both know he is only apologizing out of politeness.

Paul Atreides has never felt remorse about taking what he wants.

Paul roughly grips your legs, pulling them forward to allow your bare ass to sit at the edge of his throne. You lock your legs around his waist; his cold fingers now working their way up the softness of your inner thigh until they brush against your slick core— what a tease.

“You’re already so fucking wet, and I have barely touched you. Do you always get this turned on by men having their way with you?”

You shake your head, though it is a rhetorical question, of course. Paul was already bent at the knees, eagerly aligning himself with your entrance.

“I want you. I have wanted you since I saw your pretty ass in this godforsaken dress. I knew your pussy would be mine. Nobody else would-” Paul pauses as he begins sinking his lengthy cock into your warmth, letting out a low growl of approval. “… do.”

You keep quiet, your own moans of pleasure subdued to the best of your abilities. The Emperor has not permitted you to speak, and you dare not interrupt his wishes of taking your body as his own.

You can only focus on Paul’s grunts for now, his voice cracking as he continues working the rest of himself into your tightness before eventually bottoming out. 

“Your cunt is soooo perfect at taking me; better than I expected from someone of your polite demeanor,” Paul teased. “I can’t believe the only thing I’ve been asking of you this whole time is goddamn tea.”

You can’t help it as you let a desperate moan slip through your lips; the stretch of pain from your Messiah filling you was the most pleasurable burn.

Paul steadies himself for a moment, allowing your body to adjust. His eyes are aglow in the dim light, and you can notice the softest flicker of pride within them.

“You want me. I can feel it within your very soul. I have these very special abilities, my dove. I can see you, all of you, and all you will ever be. Your thoughts do not lie. Yet I never knew my little servant’s feelings were so devout, so irrevocable.”

“Yes,” you mutter, nearly hypnotized by Paul’s words, or his eyes— or both.

Paul rolls his hips into you, not giving you the satisfaction of thrusting yet. His cock is now pushing further into you, hitting the spot you yearn for most. Your back curves in pleasure, eyes rolling back as your g-spot is finally being reached, perhaps for the first time.

It’s a pleasure you didn’t expect such a man to gift you.

Shimmering tears begin to gather in the corner of Paul’s eyes, a surprising reaction for such an intimidating figure as the Maud’Dib.

Perhaps Harah wasn’t simply gossiping after all.

The tears start to flow down Paul’s cheeks as he turns his face away.

“My Lord, are you alright?” you manage to ask, concerned something has gone awry.

Paul quickly nods, his soft curls bouncing against his forehead as he continues his thrusts once more.

“You truly are quite beautiful. You allow me to use your body as I wish. I can feel your intentions; you are pleased with me. Usually I just take, and I take, and I take without care. Still here you are, happy to gift yourself to me— how endearing.”

His voice trails off again as Paul watches over you. Your pretty expression contorts with gratification each time he feeds you his cock. He pushes in, pulls out to just the tip, then forcefully back in. The movements ignite every fiber within you, the method of a man who knows how to provoke a woman's pleasure.

You’re left speechless, only able to watch as Paul’s face is now drenched in streams of tears that seem to never to stop falling.

“You’re enjoying this more than I expected,” he whispers, then lets out the softest sniff. “You really want me, huh? You want me inside of you like this? As Paul. Not the myth, the ruler… just the man…”

Instead of loosening his grip on you to wipe away his tears, Paul lets the streams roll down his hot skin, which is already dotted with salted sweat. The droplets curve down his face, then his bare chest, his toned abdomen, before the warmth eventually drips onto your already soaked cunt.

Even the Messiah seems to refuse to be so wasteful with his water.

With blown pupils and reddened cheeks, Paul can’t help but be mesmerized by the scene before him.

“So fucking wet,” Paul whimpers sweetly as he continues his movements within you. “You’re glistening just for me.”

You nod as Paul begins picking up the pace, now lying almost entirely on top of you. His weight forces you to sink lower into the throne, allowing him greater access between your legs.

He continues pounding your pussy harder, more feverish than before.

“Do you know how beautiful you look right now, being filled by my cock, slicked with water that comes from the depths of my very being? You should be honored.”

“I-I am, y-your Majesty. Thank you” is all you can muster before you accidentally blurt out one single request. 

“F-Faster!”

Paul immediately stops his movements, sitting up straighter now. His grip on your hips seemed to tighten to a painful hold. You can feel the blood drain from your face, frightened for what may follow.

“Faster? You want it faster? Have I not given you enough already?” He asks, finally wiping the drip from his skin.

“I am sorry, My Lord. It was a selfish request.” You truly can’t help how meek you sound, hoping you have not offended Paul, or at least not enough for him to stop.

Paul cracks a surprisingly tender smile.

“Fine. I shall go faster. But first, I want you never to forget that I am your Messiah. Your Master. As much as your body pleases me, your will is mine to hold, yes?”

You nod in agreement as Paul happily gives in to your request, pounding into you fast enough that his cock is hitting all the spots you craved once more. This time, his lower abdomen presses against you in a way that finally allows your clit some friction against his steaming hot skin.

“Awe, looks like my little slut wants more? And people say I am the greedy one.”

Paul understands what you seek as he reaches for your clit, rubbing the tender bud with rhythmic circles as he continues his thrusts. He applies more pressure as your moans become even louder. 

You know you should be more mindful as your pleasure echoes off the barren hall walls, your voice certainly heard by the palace staff, but you cannot help it. Paul seems to have no shame in indulging in you; therefore, you have little capacity to care for anything else.

You feel yourself becoming less aware of your surroundings, unable to help but surrender to the dark fog clouding your vision. Your body grows heavier, and you can only focus on Paul’s soft voice as he directs you towards pleasure. 

“Yes,” Paul coos, somehow deeply aware of where your mind is, how he’s making your body feel.

“Remember now, only I can make you feel this good. Every pitiful man that is to follow after my touch will never quench your need. How lucky you are that I even glanced your way t-twice.”

Paul’s speech was beginning to stutter, letting out his own sweet moans in-between syllables. You can hear his breathing shift as he strains to focus on your clit as well as his thrusts.

You are nearly there yourself, rutting against his hardened knuckles for any relief from the overwhelming warmth in your stomach threatening to release. It’s unlike you to be so desperate, your moans tangling in a symphony with Paul’s.

“Yes, there you go. I’m so close. S-so fucking close. You’re being doing such a good job pleasing m-me,” Paul pants, his voice cracking as he is now sloppily taking your cunt for all it can give.

“I need you to let go, darling. Come for me- NOW!”

His sudden command echoes off the walls. The unexpected use of the Voice pushes you to the most powerful orgasm you have the pleasure of experiencing. Ecstasy fills every inch of you, your nerves hotter than the desert sands outside the palace walls. Your limbs begin to shake, twitching from overstimulation before the searing heat settles into a warming bliss not just within your body but in the depths of your mind and soul.

With soft elation, you feel your core become sore as Paul continues fucking into you, focused solely on his own pleasure now.

The way your pussy clenches down around his cock holds him in an almost unbearably tight squeeze as you ride out the last few waves of your orgasm, sending Paul over the edge and into a fit of his own.

“Ah fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckkkk!” He whines loudly, his sweaty forehead against your own.

You swear he’s whimpering again as he comes inside of you, his movements now slowed to allow him to pump his hot seed into you.

Not a drop to be wasted.

Paul pulls out, untangling your legs from his waist. He reaches for your hand, gently helping you into a proper sitting position on his throne.

Heavy silence settles over the room once more, both of you panting as you try to catch your breath.

Paul’s hands rub his face again, now even more exhausted after such intense physical activity. With an exaggerated sigh, he begins pulling his undergarments and pants back in place before reaching for his shirt.

Brushing the now sweaty curls from his face, Paul takes a moment to look over your spent body, your pussy swollen and bruises forming on your hips, neck, and collarbone. He tries to hide a smile, clearly satisfied with his work.

“As pretty as you look right now, you should probably make yourself decent,” Paul clears his throat. “We both have matters to attend to.”

You nod in agreement. 

You try to ground yourself quickly, sitting up and pulling your panties back in place before allowing the skirt of your dress to fall over your legs. Your fingers reached for your hair, feeling that the strands had become rather messy during your moment of intimacy with the Emperor. 

No matter. As long as your Master was satisfied, your presentation was of least priority, though you could admit that you most certainly look like a proper whore right now.

“Perhaps you should consider visiting the infirmary before returning to your duties,” Paul suggests, glancing at your stomach. “And uhm, I also expect full discretion when discussing this with the medical staff. You know how gossip loves to spread around here.”

“Yes, of course, My Lord.”

“Good.”

The atmosphere is slightly awkward now, though Paul shows no signs of it. He makes his way down the marble steps, allowing you a moment on his throne to gather yourself.

As you rest on the most powerful seat in the universe, you can’t help but feel cold. Not just from the literal stone against your skin, but with Paul’s absence, the hall feels rather sterile.

You stand, legs slightly shaking. A feeling of shame blushes upon your cheeks as the realization settles of what has just occurred.

Paul can’t help but watch you for a moment more from the door, admiring the glow of your cheeks. He’d normally leave without a word after taking what he wanted, but with you…

“Might I add,” Paul speaks. “My wife will be absent this evening while she attends to Imperial matters off-planet. I request your assistance once again in my quarters. Perhaps a chat over a drink? Your tea is truly remarkable...” 

You do not break the silence. To be taken for his Majesty’s pleasure is one thing, but an offer like this is unthinkable.

Paul clears his throat. “I don’t particularly like being alone. I prefer the warmth of a kind woman at night, if you would be so kind.”

No one is ever to deny the Emperor.

“Yes. I’d quite enjoy that.”

“Good. Come at dusk, alone. Do not be late.”

─ ˚₊⊹

“You’re mad,” Feyd says, his smile dropping at the sight of your frown. Your arms are crossed over your swollen belly as you lean back against the headboard of your bed. He closes the door behind him. “Why are you mad?”

You roll your eyes. He knows exactly why you’re mad. By your count, you’ve been pissed at him twenty-three times in the past month and a half and you don’t care for your widely-known highly-intelligent husband playing naive. “Don’t act like you don’t know. We only ever fight about one thing, Feyd. One.” 

Feyd sighs and steps closer to the mattress, but when you put your hand up, he stops in his tracks. Your throat strains as you swallow your grin. You still get little flutters in your belly when he demonstrates how you have that kind of power over him, but you cannot let him see the satisfaction on your face now. If he sees you smile, he will smile, which means you will have lost because he’ll know he’s won, and when he wins he gets turned on, so then you’ll get turned on, and then you’ll end up fucking. But you cannot be fucking right now. He needs to learn a lesson. His hard dick in his wife’s warm pussy will not achieve any lesson-learning. If anything, it will encourage his bad behavior. 

“You killed another one,” you tell him, and he doesn’t even have the decency to look ashamed; though that’s far from surprising.

Feyd crosses his arms over his broad chest. “He touched you.”

“I tripped.”

“And then he touched you.”

“He caught me.”

“So you agree,” Feyd says with a sharp nod. “I’m glad we are on the same page.”

Your huff descends into a groan as the heels of your palms press against your closed eyelids. “Your wife—your heavily pregnant wife—would’ve fallen on her ass if he hadn’t.”

“He shouldn’t have let you trip in the first place,” Feyd tells you. “He was meant to ensure you have a clear and safe walking path.”

Your lips part, mouth opening and closing and opening again as you search for a response. However, you end up with the same one you always do: “You are unbelievable,” you reply, shaking your head. “Twenty-three servants, Feyd! It has surpassed extremes! You killed one for brushing my hair–”

“Touching—and she was pulling on it too hard.”

“You killed one for helping me dress in the morning when you had already been called away for a meeting.”

“I prefer you naked anyway,” he says, shrugging, a smug grin stretching across his face. “Naked and in this bed.”

You raise a brow. “And the one who helped me sit down so I could watch you in the arena?”

“Ah, that one—” Feyd waves his finger as he clicks his tongue “—that one thought I wouldn’t notice because you were so high up in the stands. I don’t like sneaky people,” he reminds you, though you’re plenty aware of how he handles deception and trickery. “You should have told me you planned to attend and I would’ve helped you well before it started.”

Ignoring his point, you retort, “You cannot keep killing everyone.”

Feyd groans. “My love, you’re in too delicate a state,” he says. “I gathered all of them together not two months ago and explicitly forbade them from laying a finger on you. It is not my fault if they break the rules. And what sort of Baron am I if I do not enforce punishment?”

You hum in dissatisfaction. “You do understand you put me and your child in more danger by not permitting their assistance?”

Immediately, his brow pinches. His head turns to look away from you and when his jaw clenches, you realize the weight of your mistake. A sickening feeling settles in your gut. Your face falls from frustration into total devastation. “Oh God, Feyd…”

“I do not put you in danger,” he says, and it’s so shockingly meek that your heart cracks right down the middle. Not once in almost two years have you heard that tone leave his mouth, and you think maybe his eyes have become glassy, but you’re praying it’s a trick of the low lighting in your bedroom. Feyd has never cried in front of you, if he's ever cried at all, and you hope you didn’t just unfairly yank that vulnerability out of him. 

“I’m so sorry. That isn't what I meant,” you whisper, sinking into your shame. You know it’s such a sensitive topic for him and you spoke without thinking. You reach your hand toward him. “Come here….please.”

Feyd stares at you for a long moment, but then he sighs through his nose and walks over to sit at your side atop the mattress. No tears—your breath shudders in relief. One hand grasps his and your lips brush his knuckles. The other cups his cheek as you guide his forehead to rest on yours. 

“You protect me,” you swear to him. “No one could ever keep me safe the way you do, and I know that's all you want, but our son is coming soon. We will need help. I can’t birth this baby without a doctor and that doctor will have to touch me. Me and our son.”

The heat of Feyd's heavy breath warms your face. You wait for his response but he doesn’t have one, and instead, he shifts to lie down. You adjust your body until you’re flat on the mattress beside him. “Sometimes,” he starts as he rubs his palm over your stomach, “I have dreams about the three of us living elsewhere. Everyone is forced to leave us alone and all we have to care about is each other and our child.”

Feyd kisses your exposed shoulder, and in that moment, you’re reminded of how different he has become. He’s transformed from someone whose sole ambition was to be the Baron—a man driven to control this planet and have the people of Giedi Prime bow to him; a man who sought destruction and pain and power—to a man who secretly craves a bit of peace for his family. Though no one other than yourself sees this side of him, it’s hard to watch him tackle that burden, especially when you know you’re the responsible party. 

“What have I done to you, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen?” you mutter as you press your lips to his forehead. 

He chuckles lowly and hugs you into his body. “You turned me soft.”

“You kill servants without batting an eye.”

His mother is deeply complicated and his father… Paul told you it’s just better for you to stay away. So you have, wasting the hours away pacing, going over your outfit options with the new handmaids you selected, the rejects from the ones sent to be picked over by your mother in law. The loneliness has become unbearable, Paul visits when he has the time, brief kisses and barely there grasps of your elbow.

You can hardly be blamed for being at your wits end one night, huffing as you roll over in bed after your afternoon nap and sliding one of the pillows between your supple thighs. It’s where Paul rests his head for the few hours you share a bed as most married couples are meant to do, you can still smell the traces of sea vapor and cold tree bark that he left behind.

“Hah….” You softly moan, languidly rocking your hips, missing your clit entirely but you have been on the brink for so long that there is no need for direct stimulation.

Your cunt quickly wets the expensive golden fabric through your undergarments, and you allow yourself to imagine it’s a man’s thigh you’re grinding on. Your husband’s, pale but flushed pink and thickened with sinewy muscle, used to tensing up. You can’t say if you feel a great desire to turn these visions into reality, but the imaginary is safe, and safe is good. You cannot mess up smooshing an ordinary pillow against your weeping cunt.

You are used to arousal being shameful, everyone stuffs their fingers up their holes and goes through trial and error until they hurtle over the edge, and they’ll don their gowns to tell their juniors the horrors of sexual proclivity. You’ve never even fingered yourself, the most you’ve done is shyly slip a digit in and then yanked it out when you felt a dull burn.

If only your teachers and staff of your castle could see you now, dry humping your distant new husband’s pillow with no orgasm in sight. You sigh and sink your head into the remaining nest of pillows, lounging in the lazy pleasure that’s barely pleasure at all. Your eyes flutter shut, which turns out to be the pivotal moment of your marriage.

You feel him before you see him, a lanky hand gingerly slides over your wide hip into the dip, not halting your movements or guiding you, merely touching to touch.

Your eyes shoot open and you try to flinch but Paul hisses something quietly, a wave of calm washes over you but you still look over your shoulder to hesitantly meet his eyes. Paul grants you a small warm smile, rubbing circles into your hip with his thumb.

“I was planning to discuss this with you, but apparently you’ve taken matters into your own hands, my love.” He softly chuckles, bending down to peck the swell of your warm cheek.

His next words are whispered into your pores, his mouth so close that you feel the stitches sewing his skin to yours, “I know this has been a new experience for you, and you barely had time to get used to Caladan before you were whisked away here, but you have to know that I promise to be a loving husband.”

How can you be assured of that? If there is anyone to be wary of in this universe, you’ve been taught that it is one’s husband.

“Yes, well, can you at least…” You awkwardly trail off, pointedly gesturing to the pillow wedged between your thighs, he had not let you move since he had returned.

Paul's face transforms in genuine confusion, brow furrowing and eyes narrowing ever so slightly, then his eyes drift down to the pillow and he exhales an ‘ah’.

His grip tightens, the tips of his fingers form mini half craters in your flesh. “I don’t see the point in that, unless the way you’re clutching onto the thing for dear life causes you pain then it can remain where it is.”

You get swept up in the undercurrent warning. He’s right unfortunately, the pillow is too silken to bring you any discomfort, you are just too prideful and prone to embarrassment. From the glint in his eyes, this will be something he will help you work on until it’s a trait of a past you. You shyly meet his stoney gaze head on as you let your thighs relax, they slide down the pillow and settle on the plush bedding.

Paul leans over with interest, sliding his hands from your hip dips to caress your inner thighs. You automatically tense up and he tuts, fixing you with a cajoling look.

“Come on.” He coos, his fingers travel up your thighs to play with the tufts of hair peeking out from your underclothes. “How are a husband and wife meant to get to know each other if their bodies are uncharted territories? You don’t even speak to me.”

You sigh, relaxing your body so your husband can peruse it as he pleases. Paul leans down to get closer and gets a hold on your underwear, in an instant they’re torn away. You react with an aggravated exclamation, Paul smiles as he leans down to press a kiss to the center of the hair on your mound. Your breath hitches but you say nothing, frozen by the shock of what is supposed to be a perfectly natural moment between a married couple.

Paul drags his nose through your pubic hair, his tongue darts out for small licks every so often. You ball your hands into fists as he moves his mouth towards your swollen bud. When he finds it, he latches on and starts to suckle, smoothing his hands up and down your legs as if you’re nothing more than a frightened bull, a beastly thing that he tames and conquers.

“Refreshing.” He murmurs into your folds, his tongue leaves your clit to lick broad stripes before fucking inside your sloppy hole. “I could do this forever if my wife would let me.”

He would do it even if you kicked and screamed, but that’s neither here nor there. You don’t even need his powers to be open and willing this time, well, open enough. He has an acquired taste, little wives who ultimately bend to their husband’s will but act as if a spiked chain is around their neck.

The cool metal will become as warm as Arrakis’ sun in the blink of an eye.

You dig your nails into your palms, convinced you can barricade yourself against the pleasure through sheer will. Paul Atreides has never been one to succumb to your grievances, you’ll crumble to pieces under his influence, it could be a soft and slow thing if you act properly. He wants hearts to bloom in your irises, sparks of light forming a ring around your pupils, miniature collars.

You flail about for a moment and carve into the sheets with your heels, your skin so smooth you slip and lose your footing. Paul keeps watch from his vantage point between your thighs, lapping up the wetness pushed out by your body in the same way you’ve seen him sip his drinks. Slow, but purposeful, an act of seduction under the disguise of something truly mundane. He curls his tongue and it reminds you of a dance, you’re caught up in the whirlwind.

“I think…” He pants, nearly out of breath and he has not even been in your cunt for five minutes, “Your sweat should be bottled, I would spray it on my pillow and have the sweetest dreams.”

You don’t know what to say to that, Paul’s knack for muttering words that steal the breath from your lungs is another thing you’ve not grown used to.

“You fill me-” lick “-to the depths of my stomach.” lick

“Paul.” gasp, on the cusp of a nip to your inner thigh. “Husband.” gasp, this one is softer, your thigh gets a kiss now. “Let me- I can tend to you instead, you don’t have to do this.”

He laughs into your curls, and the tip of his nose glistens with you. His eyes are half lidded, more animal in heat than man. You’re truly too sweet for words, for the looming threat that is Paul Atreides. Desperate to perform your wifely duties, it’s much more bearable for you to degrade yourself by pleasing your husband than it is to imagine that what would truly please him would be burying his face in your beautiful cunt.

He doesn’t say any of this to you, however, because there are times when Paul prefers you just as on edge as you like to keep yourself. Your fingers twitch and slowly unfurl, but your growing hope that this strange torture will stop is dashed as Paul dives down to suck on your swollen bud. You’re surprised by how sensitive it is, how it twitches and throbs under his tongue’s attention.

Your fingers seek out the bed beneath you, begging for its help, trying to claw through the mattress itself. Paul’s fingers are digging into the meat of your thighs now, like you’re a piece of bread he can tear through to devour your innards. Your inexperience rears its head in a terribly embarrassing way, you don’t know where to look or how to push him away or how to fight against your body’s response. Your mind whispers that you want to card your shaky fingers through his hair, but you don’t, you do not.

If not because you’re determined to maintain the distance you share with Paul, then because he would enjoy it too much. He’s terrible, in a subtly sinister way, but he would drink up your every touch and scrap of affection like a parched tree.

“This cunt, it makes me sick. This hole… you’re so wet, my flower.” The syllables drip from his pink mouth like the drool that pools in your entrance. “You send me over the cliff into madness, ever since the first moment I saw you. My wife in everything but name, the missing vessel of my soul.”

Paul kitten licks your clit, tenderly raking his nails up and down your squirming legs. You act as if you can buck off your incoming orgasm like a wild horse, like your husband eating you out is a serpent wrapped around your sternum. Luckily, it’s in his DNA to tame unruly creatures, bring them to heel under his stern outstretched hand.

You mewl, a soft hearted creature at heart, practically purring, “Please.”

“Please, what? You know I’d be more than happy to give my wife whatever her heart desires. Have you forgotten my vows already? Maybe your brain is leaking out your cunt.” Paul inquires suggestively, he flattens his tongue over your hole and stills, the corners of his mouth hike up when you inevitably rock your hips against his face.

“I… why did you stop?” You don’t say that if he’s so desperate to meld your skin together then why is he ceasing his overbearing actions, but that might come across as disrespect, and Paul seems to enjoy disrespect because he can make you wish you had never been anything but the pet cleaning his feet.

A wife is not disrespectful, especially one that will soon become an even greater royal. You are blessed to have this life, as unwanted as it is, you could be a concubine, one of his father’s perhaps. Time will tell if you wish to belong to a different Atreides, but you are anchored to the present with every useless thrust your hips do.

“That’s alright, if you’ll only let me make you come by wearing yourself out, then I don’t mind. Be my quest, my love.” Paul chuckles, though it’s muffled in your folds.

You make him forget what time it is, what his next schedule will be and who he will have to navigate interacting with. History must be looking kindly on House Atreides once again, because you seem to be heading for a day wasted in bed after he’s done with you. It will be a great help to have a wife whose head is too high up in the clouds to place another cinder block on your already strenuous load.

He guesses Gurney and Duncan are right, being “pussy whipped” does exist. He can’t wait to come to meetings with his wife’s pleasure hanging off his body like the finest jewelry.

You speak again, your tone is irritated and breathless with anticipation, “D-dear. Please, husband, I feel strange, I know I’m doing it wrong. I’m sorry.”

That usually works, right? Husband’s like it when their Wife’s apologize when they believe they’re solely in the wrong. Paul seems to join them in that, nevermind that the only thing wrong you could ever do is place yourself as a separate being from him. Marriage is not for people who are content with being untethered to their lover, it’s for the howling monsters who imbed it at the center of their selves.

“Hm, that’s what I thought. This doesn’t have to be something you force yourself to endure, I can make you feel so good if you allow me.” He whispers and tightens his hold on your thighs, spreading them farther and diving back in for thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths.

You moan louder than you thought yourself capable of, and Paul matches you with a deep one of his own that comes from the back of his throat. He slips his tongue back in your hole, his dark eyes keep watch so he can catalog every miniscule change in your expression to comb over like one of his precious digital logs. You are fire made into a humanoid being, searing curves climbing over the golden sheets like a flood of flame, your limbs searching out any reprieve from how irrevocably your lust penetrated your body.

Paul’s eyes flit towards the bundle of restraints in the corner of the room, not hidden from your line of sight, you’ve just stupidly never noticed them. You don’t notice the thought slithering around in your subconscious until it’s brought to the forefront. He opens his jaw as wide as he possibly can and does everything in his power to swallow you whole, thrusting his tongue in you until your previous self pools below your ass and wets his chin.

He would play with your clit like he’d rather take it and fidget with it when political matters get too stressful, but you arch your back as he goes to take his hands away from your thighs and his mind is made up for him. See? You really are shaping up to be an outstanding wife.

He curls his palms around the thickest part of them, pushing them apart until you whine at the slightest hint of a burn. Paul wants to show you that you can be split on more than just his cock.

You hear his voice in your head now, reverberating throughout the halls of your skill. It seems so hollow, like a bird’s, the whooshing sounds of his suggestions rattle your foundation.

A faint bundle of heat flutters in your cunt, from your clit to the precise tongue pistoning in and out of your loosening hole. Paul’s dark stare impales you into place, leaning on your elbows in this once cold marriage bed, all the trappings of luxury.

My beloved wife.

The wind fanning my flames just by existing.

You are so very dear to me, when you slump in defeat, when you laugh, when you think I’m not looking. I always am.

Gorgeous girl with a cunt most of my men would fall on their weapons to weep at your feet in hopes for a taste.

You’re so sleepy, so lax. Oh, I know. You can drift, my flower, I’ll be here, I’ll keep you anchored.

Your maids have been bored, I’ve noticed. They should be happy to change these sheets when I summon them tomorrow, life itself clutched in their hands.

Let go, my love, drench my tongue and my face, I want you to spray it so far your come coats the back of my throat. You never did give me a suitable wedding gift.

Your body assumes its own battle stance, locked up tight right before your spine feels like it’s been snapped by an invisible force. Your orgasm burns its way out of you, but you choke on how cooling it is at the same time. You’re lost to him, too out of it to be able to tell how you adorned your husband. You feel drying wet skin nuzzling between your thighs, you hear sheets being rustled in your mind as Paul blows steady air onto your clit.

Robes upon robes, headresses and jewels of unspeakable worth were being stacked onto my shaking figure, my beloved servants dressing me in my finest attire, as if it were armour made to protect me. And gods, protection did I need. With shaking hands of their own, Khairiah and Lisanthe dressed their princess for the terrors that awaited her on the planet she would soon call home, hoping that my beauty would soften the known, icy demeanor of my soon to be husband. I was terrified to admit, that my doubts were evident.

Oh, how I would miss the two. Pleading to take them with me, I soon found out what servants on Giedi Prime were often treated like. And it sent a raging wave of nausea through me. No way in hell would I put the women who'd been caring for me since I was but a young girl through that torment. I doubt even my protection, the protection of the Na-Baroness would do much to help them. So it was settled. I would be going alone, accompanied by no-one but my mother for the mere act of handing me over. A tactical move, considering it was her who trained me for this as well. I was sure to receive final instructions instead of a heartfelt goodbye at her departure, our relationship was almost exclusively based on training me to be her little Bene Gesserit warrior in pursuit of bearing the Kwisatz Haderach.

It's not her I would miss. Not my father who I'd missed enough after his passing. Not the ever so watchful eyes of my many teachers. It would be my trainer Duncan, who taught me to combine the power of the voice and the blade. My two personal maidens, whom I treated like my sisters. My lush, joyful planet and it's bustling streets of lively people, something that I would never find on Giedi Prime, the planet I would soon call home. I heard the tales of my betrothed and his people. Chilling tales. And as I caught my reflection in the mirror in front of me, I steadied my breath. If they were truly so barbaric, so ruthless and bloodthirsty, then so would I be. If that's what kept me alive and sane. If you can't beat them, join them, I decided.

The image of my reflection was an unsettling one. My maidens and I had thought of every possible way to ensure my safety. Become one of them, Khairiah had said. And so I sat, heavy, black fabrics draped over my form, the sharp teeth of a great grandfather sandworm forming an unholy crown on the top of my head, a threatening image of power. My eyes were lined in dark kohl, shielding them from those unworthy of gazing into them. I was going to leave my lush, colourful garments and bright jewels behind, a gift to my maidens. I wasn't going to need them in the cold, infrared of Giedi Prime. They were unfit for the image I was going to adopt. The image of a godless, abomination of a baroness.

My mother had taken my change of attire into account, but hadn't commented. As long as I fulfilled my duty and brought the family feud to rest, I was to do as I pleased. In the ship, she ignored the nervous bounce of my leg, the furrow of my brow. She was here physically yes, but in reality I was all on my own. Left to fend for myself. She came to hand me over, like valuable live stock. And it filled me with rage, with fear but with a rattle, we came to a halt. We were here. I took a deep breath and painted an image of pure arrogance, an icy look of warning onto my features.

They should know who they're dealing with from the very moment that I step out of the Atreides ship. And so when I did, I rolled my shoulders back, my feet falling into the rhythmic, venomous steps of a fighter, stepping into an arena, ready to raise hell if need be. Enemy grounds. And there they stood indeed, the Harkonnen armada. My lip curled up in disgust, barely managing to hold back a snarl. But my betrothed noticed it in amusement. A tall, looming figure of power stood a few feet from me, the malicious smirk evident on his sharp features.

My murderous expression shot to a group of Harkonnen politicians who mumbled in shock at the sight of me. They'd sent spies to my planet weeks prior to figure out my nature and fitness to become na-Baroness, despite the Bene Gesserit having deemed me as the one and only capable already. Reports had come back of a lively, warm-hearted young woman with a taste for bright fabrics, colours, music and an even brighter demeanor. The wicked figure that stood in front of them now, moving in an almost serpentine fashion with a look of silent warning on her face was everything but what they had anticipated.

Your soon to be husband felt a sharp thrill rush through him at the sight of your unlawful behaviour. When he'd heard the Bene Gesserit's final verdict that he was to marry the Atreides girl, his disappointment was undeniable. She would be fun to break sure, but the counterpart to his rotten ways she wouldn't be. There was only so much passion and excitement a girl from your house could bring forth. Or so he thought. But the look you sent him, like you we're going to rip out his spine at a misstep, ignited a flame of pure desire in him. A challenge. And one he happily took.

He stepped forward, first greeting my mother before taking hold of my hand and smiling at the claw like rings adorning each of my fingers. Kissing the back of my hand, his dark eyes never left mine. And I hated the chill that traveled up my arm at his touch, the excitement. He was handsome. Not in the conventional way, no. In a villainous, unsettling way, one so unfamiliar to me that I was unable to look away. "A wickedly beautiful creature indeed. Welcome to Giedi Prime, my bride." His words, no matter how hospitable in nature were spoken with such perversion that I swore my heart skipped a beat. His malicious smirk grew wider.

"It is my pleasure to be welcomed on your grounds, my lord." I bowed my head simply, and my mother seemed satisfied. She also seemed to be in a rush to get back home, her home, not mine any longer. With a chaste kiss to my forehead and as expected, final instructions signed to me by hand, she disappeared behind the heavy door of the Atreides ship. The last I would see of it for a presumably long while. Left like an animal. And there I was, stranded on a foreign planet, with foreign customs. I would be lying if I said I hadn't been afraid. But the tinge of excitement I got from wanting to test my own capability of immorality and ability to survive in such hostile circumstances was undeniable.

I had grown up like a puppet, following direct orders and rules like my life depended on it. The perfect princess, that's what I had to be. And regardless of the fine woman I'd become, I was eager to test my freedom on this barbaric planet. To see if it truly lacked all sense of morality, catered to my wildest desires and forgave all my irreligious thoughts. A scary thing to admit, indeed. But what else was there to do? And when on Giedi Prime, right? Sticking to my gentle and caring nature would be my death sentence, so I was going to embrace their monstrous customs if I had to. Survival of the fittest.

Your betrothed sensed the sheer power dripping off of you as you seemed deep in thought, like a gift sent to him by whatever entity was responsible. He hadn't been sure until now, but seeing his future wife's merciless, booming demeanor convinced him. You two were going to bring forth the most powerful heir ever conceived, as the Bene Gesserit had croaked. Many were afraid to meet your lethal eyes in this situation, many, but not him. And if it wasn't just an act, he was certain you two would achieve unspeakable, unholy things together.

"Uncle." He started. "I shall parade my bride. Show her her new home and that of our future heirs. Get accustomed." It wasn't a question, not to me, not to the baron. It was a demand, and with a grab of my arm, he pulled me along. But I merely planted my feet into the ground, my strong legs holding me steady as I refused to move. "Princess...", he warned lethally, voice dripping in hoarse challenge. I yanked my arm from his grip and hooked it through his instead, my hand finding a resting place on his toned bicep. "I will not be lead like a pet na-Baron. I am your equal and I expect to be treated as such." I spoke coldly, managing to hide the trembling of my hands.

To my absolute surprise, he smirked at the comment before nodding in what seemed to be amusement. If he wasn't used to offering his arm to a lady, I'd damn well get him used to it. The hallways he lead me through seemed endless, a maze of turning and twisting darkness. Their architecture was different than the one I knew from back home, but I had to admit, it was an imposing, deliciously intimidating, powerful impression. Your na-Baron noticed the faint smile on your delicate features and a sense of pride filled him. You weren't afraid, you were intrigued for heavens sake, unbelievable to him.

A few hours had passed and I'd been escorted to my guest quarters after the tour. My betrothed had returned to the chambers that we are to share after our wedding and I was preparing myself for dinner. I smiled to myself strangely enough, at the thought of the man I deemed to be below me before coming here. Only to find out, he was....enticing. Disgustingly alluring. We had shared a laugh or two this afternoon, had found some things we had in common as he showed me around, unbelievably enough. Climbing out of the luxurious bath my new servants had poured me, my smile dropped instantly as a scream of no human nature ripped through me at what stood before me.

In front of my bare, naked form stood two Harkonnen soldiers, their terrifying voids of eyes raking over my naked body as they bared their black teeth to me in a bone chilling grin. My servants lied dead on the ground. My guttoral scream had alerted a group of guards, yet the soldiers had done well in barricading the door and I was locked in. Only the rattling of the door, the guards trying to get in, the two soldiers trying to "welcome their baroness the harkonnen way" as they claimed and me. What the hell was I going to do?

I quickly grabbed for the robe that was placed on the edge of the tub for me, covering myself from the perverse gazes of the men before me. Not men, animals. They lunged at me, an unarmed female, after having killed two helpless girls like total cowards. The guards were still rattling at the heavy metal door of my room as I realized I would have to fight my way out of this. Screw this planet and it's godforsaken people.

Suddenly I missed home like never before. The rage that ripped though me, threatening to send me into a frenzy, at the thought of having been ripped away from the safety of my home and brought to this hellhole...it was enough to split a planet. I let out another scream, but this one wasn't from shock, no. It was a pure, unfiltered warcry. All my lessons with Duncan came crashing back into my head, all the scenarios he prepared me for that I deemed as unlikely, all the happy memories we'd never share again...bring down the moons and give 'em hell, princess he'd always told me.

"Give me your blade, you bastard", I spoke using the voice. At least one thing came of my mother's unforgiving training. He handed it over without a missed beat. Granted, I could've ordered them to kill each other. But I wanted to revel in their misery, be the one to deliver them to their maker for what they intended to do to me. It would be my first message of warning to whoever might dare test me on this bloody mess of a planet. And that would be we what came of Duncan's training. As I stalked towards the miserable excuse of a man, an earth shattering voice boomed down the hallway before my quarters. "Where the hell is my woman?"

Feyd. He sounded like the devils incarnate, his rage devastating enough to send a chill through me. But I didn't halt. As the rattling continued, I lunged my blade into the man before me in a swift, precise movement. A fine execution, not deep enough to grant the mercy of a kill just yet, but devastatingly painful, Duncan would've said. A blood spattered grin spread on my face at the thought and I moved like an angel of death, massacring the man in front of me, carving my promise of revenge into him. It was like a dance, a dance of death and I was so focused on delivering a fine piece of work, that I didn't notice how the door flew open, revealing my bewildered betrothed. He looked demonic, like bloodthirst personified, his breathing ragged and his crazed eyes on me immediately.

Only when the man in front of me dropped down dead, disfigured as if the most skilled surgeon had been at work did I meet Feyd's eyes. My breathing was ragged, my silky, freshly bathed skin stained crimson in angry blotches. He swore he fell in love with you then and there. An angel of death indeed, he'd never seen such divine femininity corrupted by such unholyness. A chilling grin, matching the one you forgot still painted your face crept up on his as well, as he stalked towards the other soldier, who stood and watched in terror. "Turn around, princess." Feyd had simply said, wanting to shield your gorgeous eyes from what he was about to do to the man who dared to disrespect what was his. But you stayed exactly as you were, eagerly awaiting to see what all the stories of the ruthless, undefeated Feyd-Rautha were about.

You watched in pleasure as your soon to be husband did the same to the other soldier as you had done to the first. And the thought of you watching him commit this act in your honour drove him wild with desire, with the need for you. How your gaze lingered on every skilled, perfect move of his blade, it was a religious experience for you both. As the other man dropped down, to join his slaughtered comrade, Feyd stood proudly in front of you, matching blood spatters on his pale skin. A sight making you ready to drop to your knees, so powerful, masculine, so rogue so...

Without another beat, he stalked up to you, a hand creeping around your jaw. "Are you hurt?" I simply shook my head, lost in his worried, bewildered gaze. And without thinking, my bloodstained hands traveled up his toned chest, a comfort I didn't realize I needed until now. It might've been the adrenaline or the way you devilishly smiled up at him, but he lost all sense of control in that moment. He ignored the heaps of guards rushing into your room as he crashed his blood splattered lips onto yours, grabbing at you like you were too good to be true and might be taken from him any second. And you let him.

He pushed you up against the wall behind you, ignoring the two dead men he stepped over and kissed you so feverishly, like a man overcome with pure mania that you worried it could suffocate you. Oh, but how worth it it was. Scandalous. Dirty. Animalistic. When he finally pulled back to take me in, I knew I found the freedom I'd been looking for in the man right in front of me. The freedom to lust. To unleash. To avenge. To act on my own accord for the first time in my life and prove to the world what I, the future Baroness Harkonnen, was capable of.

He grinned at me, as if having read my thoughts. "I had no knowledge of your talents, little warrior. I had no knowledge that I was marrying my female counterpart." His grin grew even wider as I mirrored it. "There is much you have yet to find out about me, my lord." I teased, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Well, I'm more than eager to, little warrior. Regardless of your natural inclination to slaughter your enemies..." An amused chuckle. "...From now on you'll be staying by my side. Always. And you are to join me in my quarters, starting tonight. I'm not letting my Baroness out of my sight again. Forgive me for letting danger pass your way."