[ Destiny. Fate. Are those concepts true or can they be manipulated? The Bene Gesserits had been waiting for their male counterpart. The Shortening of the Way. Had that been set in motion or foreseen? Can any human or person truly believe in a higher power or concept of a force guiding them when human plans set in motions for thousands of years shift it? The source may not matter to most, but for some reason, it nags at his mind. It connects him and Bastila and perhaps it always has.
Why?
Some led them apart. Some led them closer. The one that she has chosen is lined in gold. He can only see parts of it. Moments. It could lead to a child... children. It could lead to danger hiding in the shadows. Paul can't see the details and he truthfully doesn't wish to see anymore. He has seen enough. ]
The fallout from ignoring an order from the Emperor would have been tremendous. [ Fingers continue to stroke into her hair. ] A loss of holdings in CHOAM. Military involvement. War if sides had been picked between the Atreides and the Emperor. Taking the offer of Arrakis was the least damaging to the Imperium. Just not to our house.
[ Paul, in his childish way, would have wished no one to die. No one taking the place for another. Someone would have died. The Emperor was out for blood. The fact that the wards had survived, and unborn child, will send rippled through the Imperium. Shock and awe. It will make a statement grander than what the Landsraad can quickly decide on. How he will do that, and how he can even garner their attention? He has no idea on how to do just yet. All he knows is that he must cripple the Harkonnens to the point it brings spice trade down to get the emperor involved. ]
There is more to you than simply being a ward to my family, Basi. There is more for you to see in this life--more you could do. Asking if you would come almost destroyed those possibilities. Staying with me may close them off to you entirely. You could have always asked the Sisterhood to help you off-world. They would have risked incurring the wrath of the Harkonnens. They don't fear the Baron like most do.
[ That was, at least, the impression he had garnered from the Supreme Reverend Mother. ]
Why stay here if you thought us all dead?
[ They must have kept her alive as to not garner the wrath of the Bene Gesserits so openly. They wouldn't care if they upset the witches. It's more the political power play at hand. Killing an acolyte of the Bene Gesserits would bring unfavorable views as opposed to the Landsraad knowing, but not saying, that the blood feud with the Atreides had ended on Arrakis. ]
They won't care that you are missing. They'll proclaim you as dead. The Sisterhood may be angered, or, they may know that you have disappeared into the desert. The Harkonnens can simply say that Maud'dib killed all in the facility and left nothing behind. They sent you there to die.
All because they don't know who is behind Maud'dib. Just a Fremen insurgent.
[ He rests his head against hers further. Eyes remained close. They'll need to sleep at some point. Yet, his mind races with everything for the need to catch up on what has been missed because of these events. Not just arriving on Arrakis. What should of been said before they left Caladan. ]
I wonder what will you do now to help Maud'dib's cause?
[ Paul feels the words unable to leave him. She has agreed to courtship, but, another thing he wishes to say remains lodged inside him. It must not be the time to say it, if there is ever such a thing as a time to say anything. ] I would have you at my side, Bastila Shan. Confidant, friend, advisor, suitress.
THREAD COLLAPSE.
Why?
Some led them apart. Some led them closer. The one that she has chosen is lined in gold. He can only see parts of it. Moments. It could lead to a child... children. It could lead to danger hiding in the shadows. Paul can't see the details and he truthfully doesn't wish to see anymore. He has seen enough. ]
The fallout from ignoring an order from the Emperor would have been tremendous. [ Fingers continue to stroke into her hair. ] A loss of holdings in CHOAM. Military involvement. War if sides had been picked between the Atreides and the Emperor. Taking the offer of Arrakis was the least damaging to the Imperium. Just not to our house.
[ Paul, in his childish way, would have wished no one to die. No one taking the place for another. Someone would have died. The Emperor was out for blood. The fact that the wards had survived, and unborn child, will send rippled through the Imperium. Shock and awe. It will make a statement grander than what the Landsraad can quickly decide on. How he will do that, and how he can even garner their attention? He has no idea on how to do just yet. All he knows is that he must cripple the Harkonnens to the point it brings spice trade down to get the emperor involved. ]
There is more to you than simply being a ward to my family, Basi. There is more for you to see in this life--more you could do. Asking if you would come almost destroyed those possibilities. Staying with me may close them off to you entirely. You could have always asked the Sisterhood to help you off-world. They would have risked incurring the wrath of the Harkonnens. They don't fear the Baron like most do.
[ That was, at least, the impression he had garnered from the Supreme Reverend Mother. ]
Why stay here if you thought us all dead?
[ They must have kept her alive as to not garner the wrath of the Bene Gesserits so openly. They wouldn't care if they upset the witches. It's more the political power play at hand. Killing an acolyte of the Bene Gesserits would bring unfavorable views as opposed to the Landsraad knowing, but not saying, that the blood feud with the Atreides had ended on Arrakis. ]
They won't care that you are missing. They'll proclaim you as dead. The Sisterhood may be angered, or, they may know that you have disappeared into the desert. The Harkonnens can simply say that Maud'dib killed all in the facility and left nothing behind. They sent you there to die.
All because they don't know who is behind Maud'dib. Just a Fremen insurgent.
[ He rests his head against hers further. Eyes remained close. They'll need to sleep at some point. Yet, his mind races with everything for the need to catch up on what has been missed because of these events. Not just arriving on Arrakis. What should of been said before they left Caladan. ]
I wonder what will you do now to help Maud'dib's cause?
[ Paul feels the words unable to leave him. She has agreed to courtship, but, another thing he wishes to say remains lodged inside him. It must not be the time to say it, if there is ever such a thing as a time to say anything. ] I would have you at my side, Bastila Shan. Confidant, friend, advisor, suitress.