Arrakeen, Arrakis, Late Wednesday Afternoon

[future_sandworm]

Early in the morning, when the sun was rising, Leto had watched the sky over the horizon, which told of an approaching coriolis storm. While the palace was still quiet he had left alone, walking out into the desert to face it. The storm would not reach Arrakeen, and rather than run to face it he called a worm to take him further, until he could see

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[atreideslioness]

Ghanima had caught a portal immediately after her class, eager to shed the wan December light for the sun of Dune.

"Someone went out without me," she observed, kneeling down to scoop up a handful of sand and then let it trickle through her fingers slowly. "Where did he go, I wonder? How far did he run?"

[future_sandworm]

Leto wished she could have come with him, but in this, as in so many other ways, his transformation set him apart even from his twin. He knelt beside Ghanima, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"There was a storm. I saw it coming this morning."

At first, when the true realization of what he had done to himself had struck him, he had run through the desert, exhausting himself in trying to escape from the fate he had chosen. He had begged Ghani to find a way for him to die, then, and while he no longer did that, he knew that he couldn't hide form her that he was still running away, always returning to the starting point.

He leaned in to kiss her cheek.

[atreideslioness]

Ghanima sighed and closed her eyes, letting the last of the sand fall past her fingers. "I would see the storm through your eyes if I could," she replied softly. "But next time you sneak out before dawn, don't leave me behind."

He had left her far enough behind as it was, and would leave her even farther before his plan was through, but in this she could -- and always would -- ride the Makers with him.

She opened her eyes to regard him wryly. "Though I must ask... did you have to bring the storm inside with you? Irulan shall have a fit if she finds out."

[future_sandworm]

He laughed softly. "It is hard to shake off a storm." As if to make that point clear, he ran a hand through his hair, which left more sand trickling down to the floor along the folds of his robe.

"I would have asked you, but you know I don't question your duty towards your students."