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♯ ❝ TALK TO ME DAD.❞
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE ✧･ﾟ: *✧
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ ACT TWO ── destiny calls 🪐

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           PRIOR TO GURNEY TELLING THE SOON TO BE MARRIED COUPLE WHERE THE ATREIDES WEAPON HOUSE WAS, HE HAD LEAD THEM THERE WITH A FEW FREMEN, WHILE THE OTHERS STAYED BEHIND. It was located inside some of the rocky mountains in the desert, where it was easy to see but not find since none have even found it yet, expect for the five who were perched on a cliff's ledge gazing at it.

          Her (E/C) eyes look through the binoculars that Gurney had passed over to her, narrowing her gaze onto the mountain where the old man had directed the object. She was wearing her stillsuit again, but no breathing tube through her nose as didn't need it as much anymore. She was crouched in between her fiancée, and Chani on her other side.

         "There." Gurney speaks up breaking the silence between them, his fingers pointing at the large opening inside the mountain across the sand, as she handed Paul the binoculars to which he thanked her with a kiss on her temple.

         "...It's right under everybody's noses." Stilgar comments not understanding, raising his brows at the older man as he was beside Chani near the end, and waved his hand around in the air briefly, "Not clever."

         Paul and his fiancé shared a look with one another hearing what Stilgar said, an amused smirk across her face trying to stifle her laughter into his shoulder. She forgot how the Fremen weren't so use to their customs, and how sometimes things weren't what they seemed.

          "That's the idea." Gurney sighed out through a grumble, throwing the girl a narrowed eyed look for her snickering and nudged his head towards the mountain far off from them, "Nobody would ever look in there because it's obvious."

         Stilgar pondered for a few seconds, and brought down the binoculars from his eyes to stare at the opening with his own, "Not clever." He responded making (Y/N) snort amused once more, gaining Chani's attention who smiled softly at the girls behaviour, but soon stopped seeing Paul's scowl. 

       "Did you find it?"

         The Fremen male hummed hearing Gurney's question, placing the object back up to his eyes to gaze through and scanned over the mountain for any hazards, "I didn't look for it." He commented bluntly, and Gurney chuckled a bit, shaking his head.

         "How many heads exactly are in there?" Her (E/C) eyes flickered away from Paul's face beside her, towards Gurney's one and stared at him in question, wanting for the answer to what she just asked, while her hand was being squeezed by her fiancée's one.

          Gurney turned to face her with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, glancing between the two children whom he watched grow up, "Enough to blow up the whole planet." He replied thrilled, Chani and Stilgar siting up to give him a weird expression causing him to sigh, and explain himself, "It's a figure of speech. You know what I mean."

        (Y/N) placed the back of her hand up to her mouth, stifling the laughter escaping her from the looks the two Fremen were giving Gurney, like he had grown a second head. She leans her head onto Paul's shoulder, as he watched her fondly finding her amusement endearing.

        Soon after that conversation had ended the group were now where the mountain was, having taken some more Fremen along with them to support just in case. They were all dressed in their stillsuits and jabba coats, as Chani was in the front near Stilgar, and the couple hand in hand were walking near Gurney through the cave leading to the weapon arsenal.

          It was getting more darker the closer they got to the entrance, from how the caves around the group were blocking the desert sun from coming in. (Y/N) used her quarterstaff to help her walk through the path, left hand holding onto Pau's tightly who refused to let her go, especially now being so close to his family's heirlooms.

         The hairs at the back of her neck were on edge also, shivers traveling down her spine which wasn't from Paul's touch on her skin. For some reason being in the cave leading to the weapons, was sending bad feelings through her, and could feel a drastic spike in her power for some reason.

        She came to a stop when the others around her did, glancing up to her fiancée to see him looking contently at the closed doors of the weapon arsenal. She shakes away any second guesses, gripping his hand more as she knew she had to be supportive of him, at least right now that was. 

        "Only with your genetic heritage." Gurney talks to Paul standing beside the key pad, that would surely open the metal doors where all the weapons were located inside, and he motioned for the both of them to come forward.

        Paul straight away glanced down to his girl for the go ahead, and all she did was sending him a weak smile, but squeezed his hand tightly. Together they walked towards where the control was, Chani's frown increasing over her face as she watched them, itching to take the girl away from the male.

         Without dropping her hand in is left one, he raised his free gloveless one to place his fingers into the red slots of the control pad. Soon after he did there was a clicking sound from the door, followed by the slots becoming a dull white colour instead of scarlet red.

       (Y/N) gently pulled her boyfriend back away from the panel, using her body a bit to shield him for whatever reason, as the group now watched the circle door roll open, very slowly to make matters worse. Her eyes couldn't see inside well when it did fully open, since it was pitched black.

         They all walked up to the now open entrance of the weapon storage, the wind picking up a bit which blow through her (H/C) locks and it made it even more messy then it was. Gurney reached over her head to switch on a light, that was an actual moving one and threw it into the air, to make it start to float and illuminate the way for them.

        Gurney lead the way through the actual inside of the secret building, the couple behind him glancing around at the brick walls, where she could feel the ancient history flowing through them and back through her, as she sensed it thanks to her abilities.

         The light floated above the group to make things seeable for them, and it caused the room to become as bright as it was outside. Gurney lifted his arms out to gesture around the space, and span around a bit in a circle, "Your great-great-grandfather's legacy." He says to Paul, voice booming around the room, "The 92 original Atreides family's atomic warheads."

         (Y/N) gazed wide eyed at the line up of warheads along the walls, her standing in the middle of them both with Paul beside her as Gurney was in front still. She looked to her fiancée seeing a pleased glint in his gaze, causing her stomach to churn a bit not liking that reaction, and turns back to Gurney, gripping her weapon some more.

         "Now that, that is power."

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        LATER THAT DAY THE TRIO AND FREMEN WERE BACK INSIDE THEIR TENTS GETTING SOME REST, AS THE SUN WAS RISING SLOWLY OVER THE DESERT, BUT IT WASN'T EXACTLY A HAPPY START FOR ONE. Paul, who was still asleep inside his shared tent with his fiancé, was tossing and turning, eyes moving frantically under his closed eyes.

        He thought he was resting his cheek against (Y/N)'s stomach, which normally happens when she watches over him so he gets a peaceful rest, but this time she wasn't inside the tent, as there was an indent in the spare side of the bed where she once was.

        Small pained noises leave his lips now, the moving around getting worse from whatever dream he was having. Inside of it he only saw a ring of fire circling a figure, whose back was to him so he couldn't see who it was. The hooded figure moves through the fire like it was nothing to them, as the scenery goes to change again.

         He sees the persons fingertips covered in blood, that were dipping down to the floor where many, many piles upon piles of dead people were littered around, covering the once ethereal desert sand. The hooded figure was holding a familiar weapon on their hands, and was cradling another figure that looked eerily similar to himself.

        A whimper especed him next with his face scrunching up, as inside the vision of sorts he had gotten a peak of familiar (E/C) eyes, that were glowing and no longer held emotion. His beloved was stood there in a sea of blood, long hair draped over her back as she held a knife to her own throat.

        Himself in his dream tried to reach out and stop her from even thinking about doing that, but before his too bloody fingers could reach her, the scenery changed again with him feeling pain in his lower stomach, and looked down to see the same knife stabbed into him instead.

         The last thing he saw was a pair of (E/C) eyes staring down at him hollowly, ones that no longer held so much love for him like they normally do, followed by a gleaming smirk that was tainted with blood and flesh. In the real world, his eyes fly open with a strangled gasp, a few sobs afterwards as he frantically feels and looks around for (Y/N).

         Tears clouded his line of vison of bit never feeling so scared before, and whimpered out his fiancé's name still trying to blindly feel where he was in the tent. Outside he heard some loud explosions, causing him to stumble his way from the tent having a feeling she was already outside, and tripped onto the sand as he did so.

        He was breathing heavily trying to calm down as those visions were flashing inside his mind, but wouldn't be able too till he knew where (Y/N) was and if she was alright. He looked toward his right, spotting Gurney coming out of his tent along with the other Fremen, wondering where that loud noises were coming from.

        "What the hell?" Gurney spoke in confusion over the explosions, sharing a wide eyed stare with Paul as he shakes his head also lost, and glanced back up around the area, heart rate picking up a bit still not spotting his fiancé.

         "(Y/N)!" His yell was a desperate call for her to respond, voice cracking half way when he did so as his cheeks were already wet from the tears before, and his shouts caused Chani to quickly come out of her tent also alarmed, "(Y/N)! Where are-"

        His words catch in his throat when he spotted her figure standing on the dune, right at the top. Ignoring everyone else, he doesn't hesitate to run up the hill the best he could, even more frantic then before seeing her in a frozen state, "(Y/N)!"

         She heard his voice and felt his presences as soon as he was awake, but decided to push that away since she felt how the desert was in pain, the cries of the beyond echoing in her heart. She could feel everything that was happening, and knew the Harkonnen's were destroying one of the Fremen's home.

         Before she could think about trying to tap into her abilities to help somehow, two shaky hands come up to cup her cheeks in their rough palms, her wide eyes being directed into Paul's glossy ones, "(Y/N), baby-" He exclaimed in a bit of a cry, rapidly glancing over her face and figure to spot any injuries on her, "Are you alright? Not hurt or anything-"

          She only placed her hands on top of his holding her face, gently pulling them down for a second as her horror filled gaze was on something over his shoulder. Paul followed where she was staring at, feeling his own heart drop realising what was happening, and who was getting bombed.

        "Sietch Tabr." When those dreadful words left his mouth in a breathy way, tears lined her vision more as a few ran down her cheeks, looking towards Chani seeing her getting comforted by one of her Fremen friends, breaking the girls hurt even more seeing she was crying.

        Her blood was boiling now feeling angry tears well up, feeling helpless that she couldn't even protect the home that was given to her, and all those innocent Fremen who were nothing but kind to her and Paul. She was getting sick of the Harkonnen's thinking they could get away with whatever they wanted to, and do whatever they wanted, without any thought to those who may be involved.

         The howls of the wind now picked up at her sudden change of emotion, almost like the very desert was wailing. Her hair was floating a bit over her shoulders, heavy glare focused on the ship she saw sending gunfire at the sietch, her tears not stopping. Crying with Arrakis, crying with those losing their home. She could feel it all.

          Her knees were trembling as the pain was getting worse and worse, each hit from the explosive sending a stabbing sensation straight to her heart. She grip the sides of her hair, gritting her teeth as she stumbles back a bit, and falls to her knees on the sand, the rumbles getting stronger also.

       The enemy's relentless assault sent shockwaves of agony rippling through the very heart of the desert, each blast a cruel reminder of the devastation wrought upon innocent lives. (Y/N) felt a surge of pain unlike anything she had experienced before. It was as though the desert itself was screaming in anguish, its ancient soul torn apart by the relentless onslaught of destruction.

         The pain was not just physical but a soul-deep ache, a visceral connection to the land she loved and the people whose lives were being shattered.

      Paul was immediately rushing to her side seeing what had happened, and dropped to his knees in front of her. His strong arms enveloped her in a protective embrace, pulling her close to his chest as he whispered words of reassurance and comfort.

       "Shh, my love, I'm here. It's okay, it's okay-" He whispered, his voice trembling with emotion as he held her tightly, one of his hands tangled in her locks, while the other was around her back. He felt her pain as his own, his heart breaking at the sight of her anguish.

         She hid her face in the crook of his neck, wetting that skin with her tears as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly, being placed sideways against his chest on the sand, "This has to stop, Paul-" Her words were a croak, coming out strained as she clings onto him more, "no more death, no more fighting."

         He didn't respond but he knew she was right, and knew there was no way to stop this unless they take the fight, right to where the problem was. Ignoring his lingering thoughts about his vision, he brought the girl into his hold so more, and nuzzled his nose into her locks, as the explosions continued on.

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        THERE WASN'T MUCH LEFT AFTER THE ENEY DESTORYED EVERYTHING, AND RUINED EVERYTHING THAT THE FREMEN KEPT FOR CENTURIES, BUT NOW IT WAS ALL IN SHAMBLES, INCLUDING HALF OF THE POPULATION INSIDE THE SIETCH. All that was left was being carried out for supplies, the Fremen using their backs to do so as they walk across the platforms outside. Inside the sietch was even worse. Cries and screams were echoing, along with the dead piling up along with the injured.

          (Y/N) felt nothing but remorse and guilt when she was walking through the broken hallways, her heart in her throat seeing all the Fremen that were left still staring at her like she was hope, including the ones on the brink of death. She felt like crying again, if it weren't for Paul and Chani sticking by her side closely.

       "They're all dead!" One woman was wailing over the loss of her children, and family, being consoled by other Fremen around her as her (E/C) eyes filled up with tears hearing the cries, "I lost them all in the fire!"

        Paul squeezed his fiancé's hand to gain her attention, making her turn her head away from the scene in front of them and towards him. He gave her a sad, but reassuring smile, reaching forward to brush away the tears along her lashes softly, before using his own body to block her view from the chaos.

        "They didn't even engage on the ground," Stilgar's rough voice now speaks, him being leant on the floor as he had gotten hurt in the explosions, his face all bloody and scratched up from the attack, "like honorable fighters."

         She reached out to grasp the older male's hand tightly in his own, while her other hand was placed on his chest, trying to keep him calm and somehow take some of his pain away, that she didn't even notice she was doing. But Stilgar did, and so did Paul.

        The sound of the transmitter was now being picked up, causing a staticky voice to fill the room, along with Shishakli speaking in Fremen, "The whole of North has been hit." She informs the couple, using her fingers to switch between channels and turned the volume up more, "There is a call for a war council in the South. Every leader must attend. Shai-Hulud, Muad'Dib, they're waiting for you."

       (Y/N)'s shoulders tensed up realising the girl was talking to her and Paul, who was wrapping an protective arm around her shoulders at the intense stares from all the Fremen, all watching them to see what their answer would be. She glanced down at Stilgar's hand in her own, mind drifting back to the vision she had, and the one she most recently had.

        "Sureyi, in the South-" Stilgar's words knock the girl out of the inner prison she was in, glazed over eyes looking back up to his face as she placed his hand on his neck wound, keeping her other on his chest, "only leaders are allowed to speak. You must take my place, the both of you. It is a good time to cross blades with me. I am weak. I am an easy kill."

       "No! Stilgar, I am not doing that. Nor is Paul." She was straight away to protest, giving the older male an incredulous expression as she shakes her head, words coming out stronger, "I'll do anything, but take your life. And that's final."

        Paul decided to stay out of this conversation for now, knowing how the two have a closer bond then he did with Stilgar, but kept a possessive and protect hand on the girls thigh, as he was squatted down beside them both on the floor.

       "We need you." Stilgar retorted back just as firm, sitting up more to stare at the conflicted girl, before his blue eyes flickered between the couple back and forth, "We need the Ardh Waker and the Lisan al-Gaib to lead our people."

        She clenched her jaw tightly trying to calm herself down, a heavy sigh leaving her mouth as she glanced to Paul seeing him frowning also, "You know what we, what I think of all that, old man." She grunted out, wanting nothing more to be there equals in this fight, but apparently neither of the couple were.

         "I don't care what you believe! I believe." His voice was an loud exclaim now, which gained some more Fremen staring at them curiously from across the room, as she bit her bottom lip when Stilgar gripped onto her forearm with his bloody hand, "I believe in you, (Y/N). I believe in who you are, and what you will become for our people."

        The air was sucked from her hearing what he said, throat moving up and down as she swallowed hard, glancing up to see everyone now watching them. She saw Chani's worried gaze on her, followed by Gurney's, and lastly Paul's, who looked both concerned and pleased, as he did agree with Stilgar, just not the scaring her part.

        She shakes her head not bothered to deal with that, not after what just happened to the Fremen's home. She gave a soft squeeze to Paul's hand, before she was standing up ignoring those few important around her, and didn't look back as she made her way outside into the desert.

        Being outside in the environment made her think better, even if it was messing with her mind a bit, because regardless it was helping her see what needed to be done. But it would of worked fine, if she didn't hear the sound of incoming footsteps, followed by a familiar touch to her hand.

          She turns her head briefly to stop Paul now beside her, his finger intertwined with hers as he gave her hand a soft squeeze, a reassuring smile over his face looking down at her. This time they both heard the sound of another set of footsteps, and knew it was their old master, Gurney.

        "The Harkonnens aren't done here." The old man comes up to the other side of (Y/N), gazing out at the vast desert before glancing to the couple stood beside him with a frown, "They just went back to reload, and they will be coming if we don't move."

       Neither of them answered but heard more footsteps behind them, which was a lot signalling the Fremen were now outside and walking to where they were stood. Chani was the closet to them, and had Shishakli right behind her, "We're setting thumpers. We're moving everyone to the South."

        "Paul, and I will stay behind and cover your retreat." (Y/N) didn't hesitate to say after Chani's statement, feeling her fiancée's agreement to it through their bond, even if he wanted her to be safe he knew she would't leave him, not knowing he would be alone and unsafe without her.

         Chani's face dropped a bit not understanding, a frown creasing her brows as she looked at the girl she admired and adored, "Wait, what are you talking about?" She stuttered out quickly, taking a step forward for her to be only stopped by the girl's abilities.

          "We can't go with you. I can't," Her voice was drained from all emotion, her finger raised up which made Chani's figure unable to move from her spot, and broke the hold on her after a few more seconds, "you know why. All of you do."

        Gurney, like the protective and caring mentor he was, straight away jumped at the chance to sever to soon to be royal couple, "I'll stay, too." He offered standing behind the two, who shared a look with each other, silently communicating.

        "Nobody stays but my fiancé and me." That was the first time Paul's as ever openly said she was engaged to him, his eyes becoming a dark shade as Gurney goes to protest, and span around to yell at him like a Duke would, "That's an order, Gurney Halleck! Go South! Protect my mother."

         (Y/N) tried to ignore the butterflies in her lower stomach at his raised voice, and curled her fingers around his more, face turned towards the desert, feeling the wind brush along her cheeks again, and focused on the land itself instead of the commotion behind her.

        "Shai-Hulud. Muad'Dib." Shishakli frantic words flew out of her mouth, talking to the duo in Fremen langue as she pointed to the group standing on the cliff above them, "None of these people will leave without you. You especially, Suryei."

         "We can't go South. I can't go there-" Her (E/C) eyes were flickering between them in a plead, dropping the hand Paul was holding making him frowned as she turned around, the jabba coat twisting with the movement. She headed down towards where the desert actually was, leaving them all to watch on after her, before Paul was going on after his fiancée.

         Every step she took seemed to drag her more into the desert, into the sand below her boots. The sun was shining down on her like a beacon of hope in the darkness, and she goes to squat down once she found a spot away from everyone, but knew Paul would follow her either way.

        "Don't resist."

       Distorted whispered flew through her ears, as the wind picked up causing her locks to blow gently around her shoulders, and exhale heavily through her nose. Her gloveless hand lifts up, and is gently placed down onto the sand, feeling a immense spike of power that flowed through her when she did so.

         She blinked away the exhausted tears from her eyes, trying to clear her clouded mind as she slipped her fingers in the sand, feeling its scratchy substance all over her, "Talk to me, dad." Her voice was about a whisper, praying that somehow she could see Duncan again, "Please, I need you now more than ever."

         Her eyes now fluttered shut as she was being taken into a vision, those eerie whispers picking up in her ears also, most of them being unbearable or not focused on. Instead, she focused on how it the hue light was on the desert, with the spice rolling over the sand by the wind gently blowing against it.

         "You see only fragments. You cannot see the future without seeing the past. You cannot see either of them, without overcoming the pain of the unknown."

         She was hearing that distorted voice, and was seeing from her perspective inside the vision, as she was sand walking with a very familiar figure. Duncan, or what she envisioned inside the dream, was the one leading her, the one whom has been watching over her from the very beginning.

         "To unlock you mind, you need to drink the Water of Life with him... and you will see everything."

          Reaching out her hand for Duncan's one, she didn't even realise how her fingertips were already covered in scarlet, and grasped onto her fathers hand tightly. He pulled her up onto dune, squatting down beside her with a soft smile, as he points out to the horizon.

         "Like I've been taught, a good hunter always climbs the highest dune before her hunt." His voice echoed through her ears, clasping her hand tightly in his as he used his other to adjust her jabba coat on her head, "She needs to see as far as she can see. She needs to do what she must to accomplish that, but also be careful to not lose herself along the way up."

         More visions fly through her mind before she could even reach out for her father again, dead bodies appearing in a ring of fire again, blood rain falling from the skies, and she sees how the sand was moving under a hooded figure, who stood in the middle of the chaos.

        "You must drink the Water of Life. Learn about your past, about who you really are. Your mind, it's going to open, and you will see it all. A hieratic."

         When her senses came back to her from the visions, her (E/C) eyes slowly fluttered open, them being blurred by tears as she was now more confused then ever. The constant conflict she felt was worse, and she didn't know what to do about it. A few tears slip down her cheeks, them dripping down onto the sand below her, as the wind creases her cheeks again, like it felt her sadness in its very soul.

        The girl sat on the sand, her posture rigid and unmoving as she stared ahead into the vast expanse before her. Her face was a mask of neutrality, devoid of any visible emotion, yet tears cascaded down her cheeks in silent waves, betraying the turmoil within.

        Despite her stoic facade, the tears flowed unabated, a silent testament to the storm raging within her soul. They glistened in the sunlight, tracing a path down her cheeks like rivers of sorrow etched into her delicate features.

        She only slightly glanced left when she heard Paul's footsteps coming up to her, sensing him before he even squatted down beside her. His heart broke seeing how she was in tears, and gently, carefully reached out to wipe away those with his fingers, before cradling the side of her face softly.

        "I wish this was easier for us, sweetheart." He whispered through a voice crack, swallowing down the lump in his throat remembering the vision he also had about his beloved, tears appearing in his own eyes now, "But it's not going to be. And if we do go south, I might lose you, or vice versa."

        Her bottom lip trembled a bit leaning her cheek into his palm, brushing her mouth along his skin in a kiss of sorts, and exhaled onto it, "You will never lose me, I just don't know what we should do Paul." She whimpered, voice shaky against his palm as she took his other hand in hers tightly, "The fact something may happen, and one us may be ripped from the other is too much to bare."

         He nodded in agreement rubbing his thumb across her cheek softly, before he moved forward to place his forehead onto hers, noses touching gently, "I know how you feel, if anything happens to you I wouldn't be able to live. I can't live without you, (Y/N)." He confessed tearily, briefly pressing their lips together in a bittersweet kiss till they broke apart, "That's why we should cross the storms with the others, and go South. As long as we have each other, we will be fine."

        "We will be, as long as we are together." She vowed in a breathy agreement staring into his glossy watery eyes, fingers curling around his tightly as she glanced down at their hands on her thigh, "And then I will do what must be done to ensure your and everyone else's freedom."

        With tender care he cradled the back of her head, and pressed his lips to her forehead, a silent plea for peace and solace to descend upon her troubled soul. He poured all his love and strength into that simple gesture, hoping that his touch would bring her some measure of relief from the torment she was enduring.

        As (Y/N) and Paul shared a passionate kiss, the world around them seemed to fade into insignificance. Their lips met in a bittersweet dance of love and longing, a fleeting moment of solace amidst the chaos that threatened to consume them.

        But as their embrace deepened, a bittersweet tear escaped her eye, tracing a path down her cheek that went unnoticed by her beloved. It was a tear born of realization, of the heavy burden she carried and the sacrifices she knew she would have to make to save the world, to save Paul.

❪ ✏️ ❫ 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙳𝚂 : 5273
─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
long chapter for you all since ive been lacking updating lately but i hope this chap makes up for that and how we are so close to the parts of the movie im so excited to write for like the water of life scene?? that's coming up next chap and im so so SOO excited to share it with yall cause y/n's background and who she is exactly is about to be exposed ehehe evil laughter😈😈

anywaysss don't be ghost/silent readers cause i wanna see your thoughts in the comments guysss but either way i don't mind any
support i will take <33