Endless Sand! - By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: None of the principle characters and situations belongs to me.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 21
Ranma looks around the Great Hall, until his eyes fell upon Minister Lady Hoshi Sato. Technically, they were not married, but did have a common-law arrangement…albeit a secretive one.
"It is good to see again, Lady Hoshi," Ranma says as he nods his head…with a knowing smile.
"Likewise, General Ranma'Dib," Hoshi replied likewise.
Ranma then sees Minister Lady T'Pol Idaho and her husband Minister Lord Duncan Idaho.
"T'Pol…Duncan," Ranma says.
"Hey," Duncan says.
"Hello, Ranma," T'Pol replied with a nod.
Ranma faces Lady Chani, Princess Usagi and Empress Irulan.
"My ladies," Ranma bows.
"Ranma'Dib," says the Fremen consort.
"Hey, Ranma!" Usagi says, as she stepped down from her station, and hugged her best friend. This caused quite a murmur in the court.
"You're looking great-"
"Princess Usagi'Dib," Stilgar says with an admonishing tone. "Remember your station as the wife of the Muad'Dib."
"Er, of course," Usagi says, as she steps back. Paul could only chuckle at his wife's innocence.
"Always the one causing trouble," Irulan says with a chuckle.
"I guess so…"
Ranma's eyes fell upon Princess Alia. She steps forward, gets in front of the Fremen general, and bows.
"I bid you welcome, Lord Ranma'Dib," St. Alia says.
"Er, right," Ranma replies. "You don't need to be so formal, Little Sister."
"Oh, but I must," Alia says, as she rose. She then turns to her brother.
"Brother, Emperor Muad'Dib, I, as a member of House Atriedes, would like to make a formal request."
"I shall hear it," Paul replies.
Alia turns to Ranma.
"Lord General, since I was but a babe, you have been loyal to the Fremen, to this court…and to my family. I would like to honor that commitment by proposing marriage to you."
"HUH?" Ranma says.
"What?" Hoshi says.
"You are a fine man, Lord General. Having you as my husband will make House Atriedes stronger, but will cement my status."
Alia pauses.
"And I do love you, Ranma'Dib."
Ranma could only sweat-drop in reply.
"…"
Paul leans forward.
"Is this what you want, sister?"
Alia turns to face her brother.
"It is, brother."
Paul turns to face Ranma.
"Is this what you want to allow, Ranma'Dib?"
"I cannot refuse a member of the House of Atriedes, but I…I need time to get to know Alia as a potential wife."
"Yes, I agree. Then, in a week's time, we shall see if this arranged marriage is still an option."
"Of course, sire," Ranma'Dib says. "Of course…"
A short time later, after court business has been taken care of—including the acceptance of the Spacing Guild ambassador to Arrakisn and his 'gift', as well as the matter concerning the arrival of Baroness Ohelem of Geidi Prime—Ranma'Dib decides to use the pretext of visiting the royal gardens in order to see Hoshi…
"My lady," Ranma says, as he stops at the entrance of the arboretum.
Hoshi says nothing, as she made her rounds.
"I had nothing to do with that, Hoshi."
"I know," Hoshi says, as she continues to clip various plants. "It's my fault that we were not open with our relationship."
"Yes, well…I should have officially asked for your hand in marriage."
"I would have said 'no', considering how important your work is with Paul."
Silence.
"However, I am curious as to why Alia would want to marry you."
"Actually, I more concerned with the presence of both the Harkonnen baroness and the 'ghola' of Leto Atriedes," Ranma says, as he goes around the garden. Due to the type of climate that was Arrakis', a water drip system was used to keep the plants nourished…not that such a system was needed these days.
"If they are here, then something is going to go down soon."
Hoshi stops what she was doing to face her common-law husband.
"Shouldn't you already know the outcome to all this?" Hoshi asked. "I mean…you DID take the test for Reverend Mother status, correct?"
"Yeah, but Surak's training is helping me prevent my newly acquired precognition skills from overwhelming me."
"Really?" Hoshi says, as she sets down her planting tools. She then goes up to Ranma, and placed her hands around Ranma's neck.
"So what are your senses tell you now?"
"It's tells me that in this time and place, you're MINE."
And with that, the two share an intimate kiss.
Meanwhile…
Baroness Ohelem was sitting in her room under armed guard while discerning the future with a set of "fortune coins". She should have expected this type of reception from the Emperor, given the nature of the relationship between her family and the Atriedes.
As she placed another octagonal coin in place, she sensed a familiar presence.
"Ah, Your Highness," Ohelem says, without even bothering to get up. "You've come to see me?"
Usagi stood there at the entrance of the room.
"So, you DO remember me," Usagi says, as she enters the room, while circling the holding cell that contained the Baroness.
"And why shouldn't I? I was your…first, after all."
Usagi blushed slightly…and angrily. She then turns to the guards.
"Wait outside," Usagi says.
"Your Highness, we were given strict orders-" began the chief guard.
"And I happen to be the 'Usagi'Dib, wife and right hand of the Emperor. Your fate is in my hands whether or not you obey the Emperor's edict."
"Of…of course, Your Highness," says the lead guard. "But please…speak highly of us."
"Of course. Unless I need to intercede on your behalf, we can keep this matter to ourselves."
"Thank you, Your Highness," the guard bows, just before leaving the room with his men. Once the guards were gone, Usagi turns her attention back to Ohelem.
"The only reason I haven't gone after you is because you are…a necessary evil."
"Ah," Ohelem says. "How did that ancient proverb go? 'The world is a stage, and every actor have their parts?' I think that's how it goes…"
"And that's why you are still alive…for now. But I want to know…what did you do to me? Ever since that night, I haven't been the same. But the ONLY thing that I can think of is that you used the Art of Seduction on me."
"Bingo."
"Then…why-?"
"Why you are not my thrall?"
"Yes. Because of you, I've…been confused about my self. My…my tastes…my sex drive…"
"When I seduced you that night, I wanted to recreate you in my image…my perfect lover. Since I was not indiscriminate in my own tastes, I wanted to pass that along…to YOU."
Ohelem places another coin on the table.
"Of course, your friends interrupted me before I could make you mine in both mind and body, but at least I am glad that you, PRINCESS, will never have a normal sex life. In fact, your tastes, like mine, will not be gender-specific…among other things."
Ohelem pauses for a moment.
"Or maybe, I liberated a side of yourself that you have hidden. We all wear…'masks'."
Usagi stepped back in horror at the implication.
"You lie! I'm not that way! I'm good girl."
"I never said you weren't. However, you cannot deny the power of my act of seduction."
Ohelem looks squarely in Usagi's face.
"Admit it…you loved it."
"No…NO!" Usagi yells, as she runs out of the room, as she hears Ohelem cackling laughter.
Tbc.