Archive of Our Own

The First Time I Saw You…

Before stepping into the large ballroom of Castle Caladan, 25-year-old Leto Atreides dreaded this very moment – or better what everyone expected to happen after this evening.

Sure, his interest in the other sex had picked up over the last few years, but still, he felt far too young and way too adventurous for selecting a female companion, if all went right, for the rest of his life.

Though, he mused while walking down the large stairway flanked by his parents, at least Duke Paulus and Duchess Helena had handed the reins over to him, giving him the chance to have, at least, a better shot at some happiness than he would by entering an arranged marriage.

“Eyes up!”

Gurney Halleck’s voice was far from its usual volume, and yet, it was enough for Leto to follow the order – and to have his eyes land on what he later would describe as an angel.

Compared to the women around her, she was rather simple dressed, the robes, as far as he could see, in various shades of red and brown, but Leto couldn’t care less.

Her face was what drew him in, features so fine as if they were cut from one of the most precious gemstones in the whole galaxy. A delicate nose, compared to the dominating ones found in apparently every single member of the House of Harkonnen.

“Lord Leto!” one of the guests called out, pushing other guests to the side in his attempt to gain the young man’s attention. “May I introduce you…?”

“Later, my lord,” Leto cut in, his eyes not leaving the mysterious young woman for a heartbeat. “Whenever it is your turn to be introduced to me.”

With that, Leto headed in her direction, not seeing the amused gazes his parents exchanged with Gurney.

“Mylady?”

She turned around, and for a hot moment, Leto felt his breath being caught in his throat – she was even more beautiful this close, if that was even possible.

“Yes, my lord?” she answered with a curtsey.

“Does the my lady has a name?”

“Jessica, my lord.”

“Which house do you belong to, Lady Jessica?”

“I’m afraid none, my lord,” Jessica replied, steeling herself for the inevitable rejection.

“Son, you don’t want to be associated with any of them witches,” Duchess Helena suddenly cut in, causing the people around them to gasp.

“What? Why are you saying such things, Mother?”

“See the emblem on the left side of her tunic?” Leto nodded, though he still couldn’t understand why his mother was reacting the way she did. “That’s the sign of the Bene Gesserit order, and I have it on good authority that they are nothing but witches.” She leant in, close to her son’s ear. “And you have to keep in mind that our bloodline has to stay as pure as possible.”

Leto made a step away from his mother, not quite believing what he was hearing.

“Then I should never be married at all, if only for the fact that you both keep scheming behind my back!” Another gasp filled the room. “Either you stay true to your words that I’m allowed to choose my future wife all by my own, or I will leave this festivity at once.”

For a few moments, silence reigned over the room, no one even dared to breathe too loud.

Jessica, on the other hand, felt her pulse quicken. She had been trained by the Mother Superior that young Lord Leto had a stubbornness to him that had his parents disparaging the older he got, but seeing him using it to protect her, a woman he barely knew, was exhilarating, to say the least.

Maybe he would be her way out of the order after all.

“Very well, son,” Duke Paulus finally spoke up, his voice as hard as steel, “since you managed to disgrace us, and the entire House of Atreides, in one swift move, we won’t stand in your way and let you choose your companion. But remember – should the House fall at some point in the future, it will be your fault. So choose wisely.”

“It would be my fault anyway, no matter how this evening ends, right, Father?” Leto let out a sigh, used it to reign in his temper before it got the better of him. “I never was good enough for you, no matter how hard I tried.”

Turning on his heel, Leto all but stormed out of the ballroom into the dark gardens of the Castle, followed by the young Swordmaster of the Duke, Duncan Idaho.

“Leto, wait!” Duncan called after him, but despite his shorter legs, Leto had picked up quite a pace. Only when he stopped at the banks of the large lake, Duncan managed to catch up with him.

“That was quite a speech, my lord,” he told him with a grin – that all but died the moment he saw the grim expression on Leto’s face. “And yet, you already regret having said anything, right?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know, Duncan, I really don’t know.” Leto let out a sigh. “Sure, it had to be said, but despite common belief, I am more than aware of what that all means to the reputation of the House of Atreides.”

“Apologies, gentlemen,” Jessica called out when she stepped into the path, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on you, but if you ask me, I was more than a bit charmed by your speech, my lord.”

“You stay away from him!” Duncan told her, brandishing his sword towards her.

“Allow me to explain myself, than make your final decision, Swordmaster,” Jessica told him, willing her heart to beat slower.

At long last, Duncan gave her a nod, though he didn’t lowered the sword even a fraction.

“Yes, Lord Leto, your Mother was right. I was sent here by the Bene Gesserit, and yes, my order was to win your heart, if necessary by using arcane magic. But I won’t do this, any of this,” she pulled a small bag from her side, tossing it on the ground between them. “As grateful as I am that the Bene Gesserit gave me a home for all those years, I’m not willing to play their games any longer. Truth be told, I would be honored to be your wedded wife, but…”

“But…?” Duncan prompted, finally lowering the sword a bit.

“But his parents are right, as much as it pains me to say that.” Jessica sat down at one of the stone benches with a sigh. “I don’t have any details, but I heard Mother Superior talking about the other big Houses as well, more than once. They will play them off against each other, most likely until they all are destroyed for good. So you have to keep yourself open for a potential political marriage at some point in the future, Lord Leto.” She got up again. “Until then, if you want, you can have me as your concubine, mistress, whatever you want to call it. I will do whatever you want from me, as long as I don’t have to go back to the order.”

Before any of the men could say anything, Jessica turned on her heel, heading back in the direction of the Castle.

“What’s your take on this all, Duncan?

“I don’t know, my lord. I mean, she seems to appear sincere, but it also could be a well-planned plot by the Bene Gesserit. They are known for being masters of tactics after all. Do you want to bring this to your father?”

“No. I’m not sure he would believe me, not after what I did earlier. Neither will my Mother, or any of the advisors.”

“Then we only can go to Gurney,” Duncan concluded. “Let’s hope he believes us.”

The Duke And His Lady…

The years went by, but to the surprise of many of the House of Atreides, Jessica remained the only woman at Leto’s side, despite the almost-constant war their house led against the Harkonnens.

And Jessica returned that loyalty from Leto with all the love she could bring up. She was the perfect host to their guests, and those who didn’t know better would never have guessed that the Duke and her weren’t married, and that she still was considered “just” a concubine.

Jessica could live with that, especially with the knowledge that her love, her remaining steady at his side had formed Leto into the wise and well-loved Duke he was today.

Breaking the plans of the Bene Gesserit were just the proverbial cherry on the cake.

Looking down in the courtyard, where Duncan was training her young son Paul in sword fighting, Jessica wished again she could have seen the face of the Reverend Mother when they got the news that she had given birth to a son, not the desired daughter they wanted for their future plans.

“What’s on your mind, love?”

Even after all those years, Leto’s voice still held the same awe for her, making Jessica feeling loved even a bit more.

“Just thinking back on the years since we first met, my Lord.”

He turned around, searching her face with his dark eyes.

“You don’t regret that we never married, do you?”

“No, not a minute.” She led him over to their bed, sitting down. “After all, I am still the one who got to share the days and the nights with you. I am the one who bore you a heir, and if the gods allow, I will give you more children in the years to come. And that is something that no one can ever take from me, never.”

“And I will cherish you till the day I die,” Leto promised her, “and every day until then.”

He proceeded to show her just how much he loved her.