Arrakeen, Arrakis, 10,225 AG, Saturday afternoon
On Arrakis, the shifts of temperature caused by the seasons were subtle, but Leto knew that the increase in the number of storms out in the open desert that was the equivalent of winter were the result of a drop in temperature by a few degrees. The storms were magnificent. He was the only living being apart from the sandworm who had experienced
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Which was why she was waiting to waylay her twin. "You are withholding from me again, Leto."
The last time he had done so, he had allowed her to think him dead. It was possible Ghanima did not approve of this development.
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Within, he debated with himself and his father how much he could tell her. Some things would be obvious soon enough, but the true purpose?
"The storm last night... I think the coming one will be even more impressive."
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"I may not see as much as you, but you are not the only one walking this Golden Path. All storms will only grow more impressive until we reach the crucible." And he could read what meaning he wished into her words. He was not the only Atreides twin capable of playing this game.
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"The Tleilaxu will deliver a ghola shortly, made on my orders. As they believe they don't take orders from me, there is an agreement, but unless they play their game well they will not benefit from it."
He had hinted at this, but never told her explicitly before, but that didn't mean Ghanima didn't know.
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"You can even have Hania in her cradle, if you want an exact reenactment."
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"I haven't decided yet," he said truthfully. "But offering myself as a target is appropriate, don't you think? Hania will have no part to play in this, though, I promise you that."
She would never play a part in the Golden Path. She would be free, like no one else in this Universe could be.
"It bothers you."
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"I am sacrificing my children, and theirs, to the Path." And Hania would be spared, and Alice as much as she could be. Ghanima was glad of that beyond measure. "But must we sacrifice the dead, too? Let him rest, Leto. Two deaths for Atreides is enough for anyone."
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"You know being merciful was never going to be a part of this."
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"That does not mean I will not fight against unnecessary cruelties when and where I can."
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And if it was not necessary, she would. But neither of them needed to say that.
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Ghanima might not be able to stop him, but he would not want her to have to try. He needed her for this, now, to stay as human as he could for as long as he could.
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"That you do not do this because we miss him, and you want his counsel."
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That would tell Ghani that the Bene Gesserit breeding program that was now Leto's needed Duncan Idaho. It might or might not tell her how many times Idaho would have to return.
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On one hand, this meant that, in a way, Duncan finally got to become a part of the Atreides family in a way he had never managed while married to Alia. Children. Ghanima hoped it would bring him some small comfort.
"Just remember to stop and think about what is necessity and what is simply the simpler soloution," she continued, chiding him gently. "I will understand, although not always agree, but you might do Stilgar, Irulan, Gurney, and our Grandmother the courtesy of warning them first. This will be especially hard on Stil, you know."
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"I will tell them. And I will tell Alice too. She might not have met him, but she has been told the story."
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