By Desert Creature
Rating: G
Spoilers: Parts 1 and 2 of the Sci-fi Channel's TV miniseries
"Frank Herbert's Children of Dune"
Summary: Irulan contemplates what her role she played in Chani's death, Maud'Dib's disappearance and as a result makes a vow to herself and to the newborn twins...
Author's Note: Please read my other fic No Comfort before you read this one, as this is kind of a continuation of that one.
Disclaimers: I don't own Dune or any of its characters as they belong to Frank Herbert. I am only borrowing his rather complex characters/universe by writing this and I ask NOT TO BE SUED over this little story.
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"Do you think you're the only woman who truly loves him?"
"No, but I am the only woman he loves."
Irulan and Chani
Taken from "Part 1" of Frank Herbert's Children of Dune
As presented by the Sci-fi Channel, 2003
*
Chani was dead...
The word had reached the Palace within an hour of her passing, accompanying the joyous news that twins had been born to Maud'Dib. The news of her death had forever dimmed to all who knew how much he had loved the Fremen woman.
Unexpectantly, Irulan began to feel guilt for the role she had played in Chani's death. For years she had poisoned the other woman with a Bene Gesserit contraceptive that had successfully rendered the Fremen woman barren. As the Reverend Mother had explained it to her, they could not and would not risk a Fremen taint to the bloodlines.
They had underestimated how much Chani was willing to risk conceiving another child. After twelve years of being made barren by the Bene Gesserit contraceptive, she had sought the advice of a sietch healer. How ironic it was a Fremen healer who suspected what was really going on when the best doctors of the Empire couldn't find the reason. The healer had also recommended the ancient Fremen diet to Chani that had ultimately resulted in her death as she had be required to consume large quantities of spice.
In the hours that had followed Chani's death, Irulan's training clashed with her heart, telling her it was the fault of the Fremen healer for recommending the spice diet. It was also Chani's fault, as she knew the danger of consuming so much of the spice. She knew and she willing took the risk and therefore Irulan did not have the other woman's blood on her hands.
But her heart said otherwise, telling her if she had not followed the instructions of the Reverend Mother for all these years, then Chani would live still and her children would now not be motherless. Yes, she had always been jealous of the Fremen woman but she had never meant to harm her...
Whether those were her intentions or not, Chani was dead, and Irulan feared that her husband would soon follow. Stilgar soon came with the news that Maud'Dib had disappeared into the desert after he stopped an attempt on the life of his children by a Face Dancer.
"Who is watching over the children now, Stilgar?" Irulan asked, sitting still on her bed.
"The ghola, my lady," he replied.
She rose from her bed, "Prepare a 'thropter. I am going to the sietch to see to the children's protection."
"My lady-"
"Would you risk their lives further by delaying me, Stilgar?" Irulan shot back.
"The children are safe," Alia's voice shot in from the doorway, "I have seen to it." She came into the room and stopped by Stilgar. "I am now officially the regent of the Empire since my brother is now...gone. He has left the matter of the children's protection to my discretion."
"You can't possibly leave them at the sietch. It's not safe there," Irulan noted Stilgar's insulted look at this, "How many of the Fremen would die for the chance of slaying the children of Maud'Dib?"
"How dare you speak such treason and blasphemy!" Alia nearly yelled, her eyes widening in angry.
"It is true, your highness. Some of my people do not revere the name of Maud'Dib as they once did," Stil said, "Remember the rebel this night we put down."
Alia's anger passed nearly as quickly as it came, as the Fremen's words rang true. Looking at Irulan she spoke a single word, "Go."
"Thank you," Irulan said.
The watched the regent leave, and Irulan turned to Stilgar, "Hurry and prepare a 'thropter. I leave for the sietch within the hour."
"Yes, my lady."