Arrakeen, Arrakis, 10,225 AG, Thursday Evening Fandom Time
At times, it was utterly exhausting being the mother of a Princess Royal of the Imperium of Whatever-Hania's-Actual-Title-Was. Some of this was simply because the Princess Royal in question was one year old, and Lady Alice of House Atreides (also Queen Alice of Wonderland, if one was speaking of titles) suspected that all one-year-olds were adorably, wonderfully, thoroughly exhausting.
But at times Hania's status required certain things. Such as birthday parties that were formal, elegant state affairs, with diplomats and presentations and a regal sense of dignity to the matter.
Hania, being one year old, had not enjoyed the solemnity of the occasion. In fact, she had shrieked heavily for a large portion of it. Alice sympathized. She might have shrieked if she thought she could get away with it, but making the Known Universe think that Leto's common-law Fremen wife was quite mad was possibly a bad idea.
Even if that was, to some extent, true.
It was evening, now, and the little family had retreated to their personal chambers. Hania had quieted down -- no one was asking her to wear a lacy, stiff dress or meet strange people, which had brightened her mood considerably. She was now seated on the floor amidst some of the day's spoils, plucking out dolls to coo at or plastic thingamabobs to jam into her mouth and gnaw on. At times she would use the edge of the coffee table to pull herself nearly to standing, only to teeter and fall once more on her rump.
"She'll walk soon," Alice murmured, reaching over to lace her fingers through Leto's.
One year ago, she had been afraid of how much she loved this wild, spirited girl, and had fled. One year ago, she had been Queen Alice, of no house or home. One year ago, her eyes had been green, and not the blue-on-blue of the Fremen.
How long ago such things seemed.
If her heart filled any more, it may burst. But she had no more fear in her. If her heart burst, it would re-form itself into a new shape, something bigger and more powerful than ever. She was, after all, a mother.
(Leto modded with permission. Open to anyone who might be on Arrakis (which is pretty much just Ghani, hi Ghani!) or who would like to call and say hi and wish the wee Liddell Atreides a happy birthday.)
But at times Hania's status required certain things. Such as birthday parties that were formal, elegant state affairs, with diplomats and presentations and a regal sense of dignity to the matter.
Hania, being one year old, had not enjoyed the solemnity of the occasion. In fact, she had shrieked heavily for a large portion of it. Alice sympathized. She might have shrieked if she thought she could get away with it, but making the Known Universe think that Leto's common-law Fremen wife was quite mad was possibly a bad idea.
Even if that was, to some extent, true.
It was evening, now, and the little family had retreated to their personal chambers. Hania had quieted down -- no one was asking her to wear a lacy, stiff dress or meet strange people, which had brightened her mood considerably. She was now seated on the floor amidst some of the day's spoils, plucking out dolls to coo at or plastic thingamabobs to jam into her mouth and gnaw on. At times she would use the edge of the coffee table to pull herself nearly to standing, only to teeter and fall once more on her rump.
"She'll walk soon," Alice murmured, reaching over to lace her fingers through Leto's.
One year ago, she had been afraid of how much she loved this wild, spirited girl, and had fled. One year ago, she had been Queen Alice, of no house or home. One year ago, her eyes had been green, and not the blue-on-blue of the Fremen.
How long ago such things seemed.
If her heart filled any more, it may burst. But she had no more fear in her. If her heart burst, it would re-form itself into a new shape, something bigger and more powerful than ever. She was, after all, a mother.
(Leto modded with permission. Open to anyone who might be on Arrakis (which is pretty much just Ghani, hi Ghani!) or who would like to call and say hi and wish the wee Liddell Atreides a happy birthday.)