2. The Oath
Irulan pushed away her guilt as she hurried to prepare for departure from the Palace, thinking only of what would be needed to properly care for the children of Maud'Dib once she reached the sietch. It wasn't until she was on the 'thropter bound for the deep desert of Arrakis that her husband's last words came to her:
"It's ironic but your selfish, clumsy attempts to mother an imperial heir actually prolonged Chani's life and for that I am grateful. Forever."
As she watched the sands of Arrakis pass below, she finally accepted that she was the one responsible for Chani's death.
Not the Reverend Mother. Not the Bene Gesserit. Not the Fremen healer.
She was responsible and now she had to face the consequences. She now had to face looking onto the tiny forms of her husband's children left alone in the world without their parents because she had made those "selfish, clumsy" attempts to be the mother of Maud'Dib's heirs.
What a pity her decision to love Paul Maud'Dib Atreides from afar came to late to spare his love and his children the pain of losing Chani...
What a shame...
"We will be landing momentarily, my lady," Stilgar's voice broke through her reverie. Not knowing how the Fremen would receive her, she thought it best that the he accompany her to the sietch.
"Thank you, Stilgar."
Not half an hour later she was led into the sietch, the Fremen giving her cold, silent looks as she walked in the passage ways of their home, but none of them made any moves to stop her. Stilgar led her to the chamber where Duncan kept watch over the heirs of the Empire and of House Atreides.
The ghola looked into her eyes as she lifted the girl-child from the cradle, "My lady."
Still looking at the newborn she asked, "What names did Maud'Dib give his children?"
"Paul called the boy Leto."
For his father, Duke Leto Atreides, she thought with a nod.
"And the girl?"
"He did not speak any name aloud for her, my lady," Duncan replied.
At that moment, the girl-child's eyes met those of Irulan, and Irulan felt herself become unnerved, as she saw what could only be described as personal recognition in the child's eyes.
But how could a newborn recognize her?
Stilgar appeared, "Everything is prepared for the return to the Palace, my lady."
Irulan nodded, "We'll be departing shortly. Leave me alone with the children for a moment."
"My lady?" Duncan said.
"I said leave me alone with the children," she repeated, "I promise you, ghola, that no harm will come to either of them."
Duncan nodded, left the room with Stilgar following him reluctantly...
"Stilgar, wait."
The Fremen faced her. "Yes, my lady?"
"Do you know what name Chani would have wished for her daughter?"
Stil thought for a moment and said, "I think she would have wanted to call her daughter Ghanima, my lady, after her own mother."
"Ghanima," Irulan repeated, "Thank you, Stilgar."
After he left, Irulan placed Ghanima back in the cradle beside Leto, and then she knelt beside them, touching both of the babies.
"By my actions I have robbed you of your parents, and though my words cannot give them back to you, I am sorry, Leto, Ghanima. I am sorry for what I did to your mother,"
she whispered, "I know I will never replace her but I, Irulan Corrino Atreides, swear from this day forward I will guard her children as though they were my very own. No Corrino assassin will harm you so as long as I draw breath."
