Seeking the King

[Paul Atreides]

Paul relented. The bureaucratic experience he had indulged himself in was impenetrable. It took no special talent to recognize that the king was far too busy for what he was rapidly becoming aware of was his small presence in this universe. The king was a man of high ideals, not of the common man and while that concerned him... he understood it. His man Gurney Halleck, a creature far less subtle than him, persisted and was refused time and time again. The attendants had been polite to him and Paul but they had been adamant. This was, as Paul understood, a chink in the political system that could prove fatal. It was one thing to get advice from wise advisers but to deprive yourself of the view of the newly arrived and the common man was to place yourself outside the realm of good leadership. Perhaps he would find better leaders elsewhere, perhaps not. He was not dismayed however, for the King’s sin was not a cardinal one and one he had seen many times. The Atreides had always ruled by consent of the people and with a kind but firm hand. He’d learned from the cruelty the Harkonen employed that walling oneself up in an ivory tower only lead to self-destruction.

“Come now Gurney. We must retire. I fear our presence here is not needed. We will find other men to speak of things with. The king had time for none such as ourselves.”

Gurney was a bit crestfallen but he hid it well.

“Of course my Duke. We will find employ elsewhere, of this I am sure.”

Paul gave no response to this and merely left with his economic Fremen gait, slipping into the crowd and was no more a bother on the doorstep of the King. He made himself scarce, availing himself of the familiar dangers the wilderness provided him.

TL;DR: Paul and Gurney make no headway and leave. Paul still respects the King but feels he may have a fatal political flaw. Thread over.