Part II

There they stood, on the shores of their home world of Caladan, in full formal dress, awaiting the Emperor's decree.

"Smile, Gurney," Leto ordered.

"I am smiling."

Lita smirked from where she stood at his side. "Liar. And you're not smiling either, Brother."

The messenger came forward with the decree, all written out and baring the Emperor's own seal.

Leto spoke, addressing their guests. "We are House Atreides, there is no call we do not answer. There is no faith that we betray."

He stepped forward to meet the messenger while the others hung back, watching. Lita caught Gurney's eye and they exchanged a glance.

After reading the decree, Leto made an announcement to his House. "The Emperor has asked us to bring peace to Arrakis." Then, turning back to the Messenger, he declared, "House Atreides accepts!" With that, he pressed his ring's seal, originally their father's, into the wax at the bottom of the decree, sealing his words, both literally and figuratively.

"Atreides!" shouted Gurney.

"ATREIDES!" echoed the military, their chant rumbling through the crowd.

And that was it, it was done.

Other Houses had previously failed to bring peace to the distant desert planet that was Arrakis. The locals, the Fremen, had grown weary of the change of governance, so Lita knew that this transition would not be easy for any of them.

"So it's done then," she breathed. "Just like that. We're going to Arrakis."


"Now is not a good time to be distracted, Nephew."

"I'm not distracted."

"Are you certain?" She poked him in the ribs with her staff.

The two stood in the training centre, Paul distractedly attacking some targets with a blade while Lita swung her weapon of choice - her staff - swiftly through the air.

"Oh, incoming," she said as footsteps sounded from down the hall.

"Don't stand with your back to the door," came Gurney's order. "How many times do we have to tell you?"

"I recognize your footsteps, Old Man," called Paul.

"Someone could be imitating my stride." Gurney entered the room, blade in hand.

"I can still tell the difference."

"The fun is over, your instructor is here." Lita smirked.

"Are you the new Weapons Master?" Paul asked.

"With Duncan Idaho gone, I must make do as best I can. Now choose your blade."

"I've had quite the day, Gurney." Paul was clearly in no mood or mind to train. "Give us a song instead."

"Now that I would enjoy," Lita quipped in agreement.

Gurney responded to the young Duke by hurling a blade across the room towards him, it burying itself in the table next to Paul where he was sipping on some water.

Lita's smirk grew. "Oh, now you've done it."

"That's rude." Paul whirled around, blade in hand now, only to find Gurney was right there, coming at him.

"Come on, come on," he urged Paul on.

"Old man," Paul returned.

They both powered up their hand-held shields, and then the duel really began, Gurney quickly knocking Paul down.

"On your feet, senses sharp," he ordered Paul.

"I guess I'm just not in the mood today."

"Mood? Mood has nothing to do with it. You fight when the necessity arises, no matter the mood. Now come on!"

"Now you've really done it."

Finally, Paul managed to tackle Gurney to the ground, blade against this throat. "I have you!"

"Aye, but look down, My Lord." Paul did so, seeing the other man's blade pointed directly into his lower abdomen. "You would have joined me in death. I see you found the 'mood'," now was his turn to quip back.

Paul sighed and helped Gurney to his feet.

"Is this really necessary?" the young man asked.

"It most certainly is. We're going to Arrakis, remember."

"Will it really be that bad?"

"You don't get it, do you? You don't really understand the grave nature of what is happening to us."

"I guess I don't. Care to enlighten me?"

"For eighty years, Arrakis belonged to House Harkonnen, eighty years of owning the spice fields. Can you imagine the wealth? Your eyes, I need to see it in your eyes." Gurney came right up, standing directly in front of Paul. "You've never met Harkonnens before, I have. They're not human, they're brutal!" He cupped Paul's face in his hands. "I need you to understand, and I need you to be prepared."

Lita took that moment to sneak up behind him, light and silent on her feet, and swung her staff. He responded by grabbing the staff over his shoulder, and pulling her right over and onto the ground.

"Oof!" She chuckled. "Almost had you."

"You are swift on your feet, My Lady, but I could hear your snickering." He helped her to her feet.

"One of these days I'll sneak up on you."

"We'll see." He turned back to Paul. "Now go, both you and your aunt, face each other and spar."

Lita swung her staff and bent her knees, facing Paul, who heaved a heavy sigh and faced her as well. The two faced each other and gave a nod, like a bow to their opponent. Then she made the first move, took the first swing. Paul stumbled.

"See, you are distracted."

"Just tired."

"You haven't been sleeping well?" Gurney pressed.

"No."

"You must rest, My Lord. Rest and practice. Go, get some rest now. We will resume training later when you are well rested."

"I guess we really can't blame him, all this Arrakis business has been a big shock for all of us," Lita admitted. Then her tone shifted. "I know they're bad, but you've never called them 'brutal' before."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I don't mean to frighten you, but you must be prepared for what we may face."

She gave a brisk nod. "I understand." Then she gripped her staff once again. "Well, in that case - come on, let's spar, Weapons Master. I'm in the 'mood'."

A smile twitched on his lips. "Very well. As you wish, My Lady."

Yay, now the movie is available to rent, so that is very helpful! :)

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)