CHAPITRE III:
THE BOOTLEG SPACE WITCHES.

"Thus spoke St. Alia-of-the-Knife: "The Reverend Mother must combine the seductive wiles of a courtesan with the untouchable majesty of a virgin goddess, holding these attributes in tension so long as the powers of her youth endure. For when youth and beauty have gone, she will find that the place-between, once occupied by tension, has become a well-spring of cunning and resourcefulness."

— from 'Muad'Dib, Family Commentaries' by the Princess Irulan

"You made great progress Madhavi."

The steam of the sapho juice gently caressed the young Idaho's cold cheeks as she smiled at Thufir Hawat's words. It has been quite some time since she started improving her Mentat's abilities with the grizzled elderly man, and it has been way more dutiful activity than sparring with her father or Gurney. He would make her read insane amounts of information in such a short time that she wouldn't even be able to tell what she was reading at the moment. It was frustrating at first, until she started blurting out data she passively came across.

The Mentat Master of Assassins bustled around his desk as she brought again the cup to her mouth, running her tongue over her lips as she knew they'll soon be tinged of red.

"I can see the cogs in your mind working at full speed." the man called out, startling her. "You seem distracted lately."

Madhavi sighed before setting aside the history book that rested on her lap, cornered. Though he kept going through some documents, his sentence definitely sounded like a question.

Taking another sip of the drink, the young girl slightly frowned as she stared blankly at the floor before looking up at Thufir whose gaze already rested on her.

"Can I trust you?" she asked. It was less a question that sought to question the old man's discretion than whether it was wise to share vain speculations. But she knew they weren't just assumptions. Now that Madhavi was able to think with a cool head, there were plenty of elements that disrupted the verisimilitude of what she had been told and what she held to be true.

Thufir watched her for a moment before glancing toward the door, a brief question escaping his lips in an almost imperceptible voice. "Who?"

Who didn't you trust?

Madhavi could say the whole world, but only one name kept hammering her thoughts.

"Lady Jessica."

No surprise passed over the Mentat's face as he simply nodded. The young Idaho looked at him intently, his silence making her wonder if she'd made the right choice.

"Because she's Bene Gesserit." he told her simply as he sat down opposite her, looking albeit somber.

Thufir's words hung in the air like a heavy mist, enveloping Madhavi in a shroud of uncertainty. Silent, the latter simply nodded.

"But that's not all, is it?"

"I've been having dreams. Dreams of what happened this night I left Arrakis," she confided, the weight of her memories evident in her voice. "My mother was a Sayyadina, raised in the Bene Gesserit ways, learning directly from Helen-"

Frowning, Thufir interjected, "Helen?"

"The leader of the bootleg space witches sect, Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam."

A ghost of a smile touched Thufir's lips at her candid explanation.

"She never talked about it in depth. I understand that it is not something to discuss with a four-year-old, but she would always avoid the subject, even with my father."

The old man's smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression as he absorbed Madhavi's words. "The Bene Gesserit are known for their secrecy and manipulation," he remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. "If your mother kept her past hidden from your father, it's likely she had her reasons."

Madhavi nodded again, her mind swirling with questions and doubts. "And there was always this sense of urgency when she would teach me things, as if she knew what would happen this night. When this day came, she didn't seem that surprised to see the Sardaukar ambushing us."

"The Sardaukar?" Thufir's voice betrayed a hint of fear at the mention of the Imperial soldiers, his eyes narrowing in concern.

The young girl's throat tightened as the memories of that fateful day surged vividly in her mind. "Yes, the Sardaukar," she affirmed, bitterness seeping into her voice. "They came for us, Thufir. They killed my mother and everyone else. Only my father and I managed to escape."

A somber silence enveloped them, broken only by the distant hum of machinery. Thufir's expression grew graver as he absorbed Madhavi's words, his thoughts racing with their own calculations and implications.

"And they left? Just like that?"

Madhavi shook her head, briefly closing her eyes as she recalled the haunting scene. The memory of her mother's lifeless form surrounded by a halo of blood was etched in her mind, along with the sight of the Sardaukar in their imposing uniforms adorned with gold trim. The wind howled that night, as if the desert was grieving the loss of its child.

"I always believed they came for my mother, but even after my father and I escaped in the ornithopter, they continued to pursue us as if they were after someone else," she explained, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Thufir's brows furrowed in deep contemplation, his mind racing to make sense of the grim scenario unfolding before him. He knew better than to dismiss Madhavi's words as mere speculation. There was a weight to her tone, a gravity to her recounting, that spoke volumes of the truth behind her words.

"The Sardaukar are not known to leave loose ends," he mused, his voice tinged with concern. "If they continued their pursuit after the initial attack, it suggests they were after your father, though the likelihood is slim."

Or you.

There was the end of his sentence, lost in the hollow of his throat. Nothing could possibly explain why they would be after her father, knowing that they would have caught him by now with all the missions he had to carry out outside Caladan. But explaining why they would be after her was impossible.

Madhavi chewed on her lower lip, the cup trembling in her grasp as she delved into her thoughts. While it was true that the Emperor delegated command of his troops to the Harkonnens, the idea that they were responsible for the attack made even less sense.

"The Harkonnens may not have acted alone," Thufir proposed, his voice steady yet steeped in a hint of trepidation. "They could have been acting on behalf of someone else, perhaps even at the behest of the Emperor himself."

The mention of the Emperor's involvement hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over their conversation. Madhavi's eyes widened slightly at the suggestion, the implications sinking in with a heavy finality.

"But why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Your mother's connection to the Bene Gesserit... it may have played a role in these events," Thufir spoke, his tone grave. "The Sisterhood's influence is far-reaching, and their motives are often veiled in secrecy."

The young Idaho's mind raced with questions and doubts as Thufir's words sank in. The air around them seemed to thicken with tension, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy in the dimly lit room. But before either of them could delve deeper into their speculation, a soft knock echoed through the chamber, followed by the hesitant voice of a servant.

"Forgive the interruption, Mentat Thufir, but Lady Jessica requests the presence of Miss Madhavi," the servant announced, casting a brief glance at the two occupants of the room.

Madhavi's gaze flickered to Thufir, a silent exchange passing between them as they shared a moment of understanding. The mention of Lady Jessica's name in the midst of their conversation about the Bene Gesserit was not lost on either of them.

With a nod of acknowledgment, the young girl rose from her seat, her expression unreadable as she turned to face the Mentat. There was a silent agreement between them, an unspoken understanding that their conversation would have to wait.

"Thank you," Madhavi said softly to the servant. She spared one last glance at Thufir before following the servant out of the room, her mind swirling with the weight of their discussion and the impending meeting with Lady Jessica.

—

It was near sunset when the servant left Madhavi outside of Lady Jessica's morning room. The soft glow of the fading daylight filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the hallway as Madhavi hesitated before the door. She took a moment to compose herself, adjusting the folds of her attire.

Taking a deep breath, the young girl raised her hand to knock on the door, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet corridor. As the door swung open, she stepped inside, her gaze immediately drawn to the figures standing within the room.

To her surprise, Lady Jessica was not alone. Standing beside her was a tall woman draped in the regal robes of a Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit. Madhavi's heart skipped a beat at the sight of the revered figure.

Everything appeared like a trap all of a sudden.

"Lady Jessica, you wanted to see me?" she inquired, her voice steady despite the sheer rage churning within her. She forced herself to maintain a calm demeanour, though her nails kept digging further in the flesh of her palm.

Lady Jessica turned gracefully to face Madhavi, her posture regal and her expression inscrutable. The dim light filtering through the room danced across the contours of her features, casting shadows that only added to the mystery that surrounded her. As her keen gaze met Madhavi's, it felt as if the older woman was peering into the depths of her soul, dissecting every thought and emotion with unnerving precision.

Beside Jessica, the Reverend Mother remained silent, her presence commanding attention even in her stillness. Her eyes, glittering like polished onyx, bore into the young Idaho with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. It was as if the elder woman could see through her defenses, unraveling the layers of her being with each passing moment.

A smile stretched the corners of the Reverend Mother's wrinkled mouth. "Madhavi, daughter of Kori." She said. "A pleasure, to formally meet you."

Perched regally upon a tapestried chair, the Reverend Mother exuded an air of authority that seemed to permeate every corner of the room. The intricate patterns of the tapestry, woven with gold and silver threads, added to the gravity of her presence, casting shadows that danced across the polished floorboards. Madhavi couldn't help but feel a surge of unease wash over her, her eyes darting nervously between Lady Jessica and the imposing figure of the Reverend Mother.

"Please take a seat, Madhavi," Lady Jessica's voice broke through the tense silence, her tone gentle yet firm.

The young Fremen hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on the indicated seat before she looked away, her expression defiant. She refused to lower her guard in the presence of these two women, no matter how polite their facade appeared.

Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam's patience seemed to wear thin as she observed Madhavi's defiance, her lips pursed in evident annoyance. With a sigh, she addressed the young girl with a tone that brooked no argument.

"Young girl," her voice was like the rumble of distant thunder, low and commanding, "please inform us of those dreams you have."

Madhavi's brow furrowed, a flicker of frustration crossing her features before she bit her tongue, her jaw clenched in simmering anger. Despite her outward composure, her mind churned with a tumult of emotions, her thoughts clouded by the memory of her recent dreams and the unsettling presence of the Reverend Mother. And amidst it all, there lingered a growing resentment towards Paul Atreides, the only one privy to her inner distress.

Her silence hung heavy in the air, the tension in the room palpable as she wrestled with her conflicting emotions. She knew that revealing the details of her dreams could potentially expose vulnerabilities, secrets she was not yet ready to share with these enigmatic women.

Lady Jessica's eyes softened with a hint of understanding as she observed the apprehension evident in Madhavi's demeanour. With a gentle gesture, she attempted to diffuse the charged atmosphere.

"Madhavi," she spoke softly, her voice a soothing melody amidst the storm of emotions, "we are not here to judge or condemn. We seek only to understand and offer guidance, if you are willing to accept it."

The girl's gaze wandered for a moment, her eyes tracing the intricate patterns woven into the tapestries adorning the walls of Lady Jessica's chamber. The air hung heavy with tension, the silence between them full with unspoken words. Moistening her lips, she summoned the courage to speak.

"To be honest," she began, her words cautious, "I hadn't planned to tell you about it, and even less so since you seem interested in your son's."

As the confession left her lips, Madhavi couldn't help but notice the flabbergasted expression that flickered across Lady Jessica's face.

"The walls have ears, my lady," she added curtly.

The young Idaho's words hung in the air, a silent declaration of her resolve. She had spoken truthfully; even if it meant straining her relationship with Lady Jessica, she would not divulge more. The trust she held for the woman was tempered by a deep wariness of her Bene Gesserit lineage. It was this aspect of her identity that gave Madhavi pause, for it was the same order that had taken her mother away from her. How could she now extend her trust to them, especially after years spent evading their pursuit?

"Kneel down," the Reverend Mother's command reverberated through the room, the words carrying a weight that seemed to press upon Madhavi's very soul. Yet, despite the authoritative tone, Madhavi remained resolute, her body tensed with the effort of withholding compliance. It was a feat she had spent years practicing, a long path that she did not even know if a result would be obtained.

The gasp that escaped the Reverend Mother's lips betrayed her surprise, her glittering eyes widening with disbelief as she regarded the girl with newfound scrutiny. It was a reaction that sparked a flicker of defiance within Madhavi, a silent challenge to the authority that sought to bend her will to its own.

"How did you-" the Truthsayer began, her voice barely above a whisper, her words choked with emotion. But before she could voice her question, Lady Jessica interjected, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Reverend Mother, perhaps this conversation has reached its conclusion," Lady Jessica suggested, her voice gentle. "It is clear that Madhavi is not yet ready to divulge the details of her experiences."

As the Reverend Mother's patience waned, her eyes narrowed with displeasure. A flicker of irritation danced across her features, casting a shadow over her otherwise stoic countenance. With a swift motion, she dismissed Lady Jessica's suggestion with a wave of her hand, her voice laced with a steely edge.

"Silence, Jessica," she commanded, her tone sharp and commanding. "This girl will speak."

Madhavi felt a surge of apprehension knotting in the pit of her stomach as the Reverend Mother's focus turned sharply back to her. The air seemed to thicken with tension, suffocating in its intensity as the oppressive weight of the Bene Gesserit's scrutiny bore down upon her.

"I will not tolerate insubordination," the Reverend Mother declared, her voice resonating with authority. "You will answer my questions, child, or suffer the consequences."

The threat hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a pall over the room as Madhavi's resolve wavered. She knew all too well the power the Reverend Mother wielded, the sheer force of her will capable of bending even the strongest of minds to her command.

She may have resisted once, but obeying and suffering come in different packages.

With a trembling breath, the young Idaho forced herself to meet the Reverend Mother's gaze, steeling herself against the wave of fear threatening to overwhelm her. She refused to give the Bene Gesserit the satisfaction of breaking her spirit.

But as the Reverend Mother unleashed the full force of her power, a searing pain lanced through Madhavi's mind like a blade, tearing through her defenses with ruthless precision. She gritted her teeth against the pain, her muscles tensing with the effort to withstand it.

The voice echoed through her mind like thunder, reverberating with a primal intensity that threatened to engulf her in its wake. It was a relentless barrage of sound and sensation, an assault on her senses that left her reeling in agony.

Through sheer force of will, Madhavi fought to maintain her composure, to cling to the tattered shreds of her sanity amidst the chaos. But as the seconds stretched into eternity, she felt her knees buckle under the weight, her consciousness teetering on the brink of oblivion.

It seemed as if she was vacillating between states of trance and consciousness, her senses dulled by the overwhelming onslaught of pain and sensation. Her eyes flickered to the rhythm of these phases, darting about the room in a frantic search for escape. Yet, with each passing moment, the relentless pressure bore down upon her with unyielding force, threatening to crush her spirit beneath its weight.

Only when familiar voices began to speak to her did Madhavi let out a bloodcurdling scream. The visions that assailed her mind were relentless, each scene of persecution and war unfolding with vivid clarity. She witnessed the long and arduous struggle of the Fremen as they battled for their freedom, the carnage of countless battles playing out before her eyes in gruesome detail.

Every death, every sacrifice, seemed to reverberate through the depths of her being, the weight of each loss bearing down upon her with crushing intensity. She felt the agony of those who had fallen, their cries of pain echoing in her ears like a haunting refrain.

What had begun as a simple test of the girl's resilience had escalated beyond the Reverend Mother's expectations. The pain she had inflicted was never meant to delve so deeply into the recesses of her mind, and yet, here she was, lost in a trance-like state, her consciousness adrift in a sea of torment.

As the Reverend Mother and Lady Jessica exchanged worried glances, Duncan Idaho burst into the room, his expression a mix of concern and panic. His eyes immediately sought out Madhavi, and his heart sank at the sight of her writhing on the floor, lost in the grip of her pain.

"Madi!" he called out, rushing to her side, his voice laced with desperation. He knelt beside her, his hands reaching out in a futile attempt to soothe her, but she seemed oblivious to his presence, lost in the depths of her trance.

With a heavy heart, Duncan couldn't help but be reminded of the crises the girl had endured when they had first arrived from Arrakis. The nightmares that plagued her sleep, the memories of the slaughter that had torn their lives apart—those dark days seemed to be replaying themselves now, in agonising detail.

"Sihaya, please," the sword master pleaded, his voice choked with emotion. "You're safe now, you're with family."

The Fremen words seemed to fall on deaf ears as her cries echoing through the room like a haunting lament. He was distraught, his heart sickened to see the flesh of his flesh hurting herself.

Trapped in his anguish, he did not see Paul walking towards them with a worried look on his face. Though he couldn't explain the compulsion, he found himself moving closer to Madhavi, his instincts urging him to offer comfort.

In that moment, as Duncan looked into Paul's eyes, he saw something there that he couldn't quite explain. It was as if they shared a tacit agreement, an unspoken acknowledgment of the limits of his ability to help his daughter. And so, with a heavy heart, Duncan stepped back.

"Madhavi," Paul's voice, gentle yet firm, pierced through the chaos, beckoning her back from the abyss. Startled, she turned her gaze to him, finding solace in the warmth of his eyes.

For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, suspended in a silent question—what had just happened?

But as he came closer, she felt a sense of calm wash over her, as if his presence alone could shield her from the storm raging within. His presence radiating a soothing aura that seemed to envelop the young Idaho like a protective cocoon.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Lady Jessica exchanged a knowing glance with the Reverend Mother, silently acknowledging that their presence was no longer needed. With a subtle nod, she motioned for Duncan and the old woman to leave, ushering them out of the room

The air seemed to lighten as they departed, leaving Paul and Madhavi alone in the stillness of the chamber. The tension that had gripped the space moments before dissolved in their wake.

In the hushed silence that followed, Paul remained by her side, offering silent support as she navigated the storm within. As he watched her, a sense of awe washed over him, mingled with an undeniable admiration for her strength.

There was a serene beauty to the girl that the young Atreides found impossible to ignore. Her features, illuminated by the soft glow of the room's dim light, seemed to radiate an ethereal quality that captivated him.

Her hair, damp with sweat from the ordeal, framed her face in delicate tendrils, accentuating the curve of her cheekbones and the gentle slope of her nose. And those eyes—deep pools of jade and gold that held a myriad of emotions, from pain and fear to a quiet determination that spoke volumes.

It was as if he were seeing her for the first time, truly seeing her—the girl behind the stoic facade, the warrior beneath the mask of vulnerability.

—

A desert.

In the shimmering heat of the sun, Madhavi found herself standing in the midst of an oasis—a stark contrast to the barren sands of Arrakis she had known. Lush greenery and bodies of water surrounded the city's outskirts, casting cool shadows against the scorching landscape.

As she gazed upon this newfound haven of peace, her eyes met those of the new Duke Atreides, a sense of uncertainty clouding her thoughts. Her gaze drifted down to their entwined hands, fingers laced together in a silent bond amidst the serenity of the scene.

With hesitant steps, Madhavi turned to face Paul Atreides, her heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty. Was this vision merely a fleeting dream, or a glimpse into a future she dared not imagine? What control did she truly hold over the vast expanse of possibilities that lay ahead?

Before she could dwell on these questions any longer, Paul's touch drew her gaze upwards, his hand gently lifting her chin to meet his gaze. In that moment, doubts and fears melted away as his lips met hers in a tender yet passionate kiss, promising a future filled with untold possibilities.

But as quickly as the moment had begun, it was shattered by the piercing pain of reality. Madhavi's eyes snapped open to the sight of an enemy dagger plunging into Paul's abdomen, the illusion of peace crumbling around them like sand slipping through fingers.

In a heartbeat, the oasis transformed into a wasteland, the once-clear waters turning crimson with blood as lifeless bodies littered the streets. With a strangled gasp, Madhavi watched helplessly as Paul's strength waned, his final words echoing in the air like a solemn vow.

"We made it."

—

"This is not a game, Atreides," Madhavi asserted, her tone firm as she faced the young man standing a few paces away from her.

"So, we're back on the surname thing?" Paul's question carried a hint of amusement as he stared her.

"I never said that I will change that," she retorted, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.

The pre-dawn light cast long shadows across the combat room of Caladan, bathing the space in a soft, ethereal glow. It was at this early hour that the two teenagers had chosen to convene, their meeting cloaked in the quiet stillness of the morning. Reluctant but curious, Madhavi had agreed to this encounter, finding herself drawn to the young man who seemed to understand her in a way few others did.

"Now use the Voice on me," she instructed, crossing her arms behind her back with a challenging glint in her eyes.

Paul's expression shifted, mischief dancing in his gaze as he considered her request. "I can ask you anything?" he teased, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

Madhavi responded with a resigned sigh, knowing full well the power of the Voice. With a sense of anticipation tingling in the air, Paul focused his concentration

"Kiss me," he said, meeting her gaze head-on.

Neither of them said anything as the young Idaho raised an eyebrow. The silence that had followed the "order" was broken as she couldn't help but burst into laughter at his unexpected request, the sound echoing softly in the quiet of the combat room.

Paul's cheeks flushed slightly as he watched her laughter.

"Seriously?" she interjected amid her breathless giggles. "No, were you actually being serious?"

Paul's disappointed expression prompted a simple "Oh" from the girl, raising an intrigued eyebrow from him. She glanced around, avoiding his gaze.

"Madhavi," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration.

"What? I'll just let you indulge in your fantasies," she retorted with a casual shrug.

Paul's expression softened, his eyes searching hers. "These aren't fantasies. You saw it too."

The young Idaho met his gaze squarely. "I'm not letting visions define my life."

Before the young Atreides could respond, Madhavi strode out of the room, leaving him trailing behind. She quickened her pace, and Paul hastened to catch up with her.

"You're afraid!" he called after her as she reached her quarters.

"Let's not play this game again Atreides," she shot back, frustration lacing her voice.

Paul found himself standing in front of her closed door, his mind still swirling with thoughts of Madhavi. Memories of their shared moments flooded his thoughts, the electric tension between them palpable even now.

IZIA'S NOTE

paul, father of all simps arise. and now meme time!!

madhavi everytime after being slightly flirty/nice to paul

paul and madi being both actors of a prophecy and seeing visions

madi when jessica wanted her to trust her

paul after being the only one able to comfort his crush

reverend mother seeing that her little mind trick went too far

hope you liked the chapter, and don't forget to vote, comment and share!!

thank you for reading and see you soon! ❤️

© ADONYSIAC ― IZIA™