 |
This article refers to elements from The Dune Encyclopedia Pages for this subject as it appears in other canons: |
- "Surely, there can be no more fufilling joy than fostering and sustaining life."
- ―Harah, Memoirs of a Sietch Woman[src]
Harah (10157 - 10221 AG) was the wife of Stilgar ben Fifrawi, the wife by custom of Paul Muad’Dib and the widow of Jamis and Geoff. She bore two sons, Kaleff with Geoff, and Orlop with Jamis. A deeply loving woman, Harah's caring instinct was her most prominent trait. She raised Paul's sister Alia and children Leto II and Ghanima.[2]
Biography[]
Childhood[]
Harah’s maternal impulse was evident early in her life, noticeably after the birth of Elani, her sister, whom she cared deeply for. Harah was never more happy than when she was caring for something. Harah took great joy in the ecological growth of Arrakis, taking great delight in seeing the first sign of plant-life in the Fremen potting rooms. Her Memoirs have multiple pages solely dedicated to detailing her planting of seeds, setting dew precipitators and nurturing seedlings.[2]
Marriage to Geoff[]
Harah was known amongst Tabr as a striking, beautiful woman. She had black hair, olive skin, and angular features. She was sought by the men of her Sietch, until she was won by Geoff, a shy man. Life with Geoff was placid. They had one child, Kaleff. This peace lasted until Geoff was challenged by Jamis.[2] Jamis first met Harah at a tau orgy and challenged Geoff, easily besting him.[3]
Marriage to Jamis[]
Harah had another child, Orlop, with Jamis. Jamis raised Geoff’s child Kaleff as is he was his own, and did not discriminate between the two. Harah found the placidity of life with Geoff swiftly eroding, being replaced by a fast-paced lifestyle.
Despite Jamis' public persona as a fierce fighter, quick to anger, Harah spoke lovingly of Jamis in her Memoirs, recalling that he was a tender lover, good provider and affectionate father. Harah recounts that Jamis brought her many Water Rings after defeating Harkonnen patrols.[4] Harah was an excellent desert fighter, the husband of Jamis and the mother of two children. Besides rearing her children, Harah spent much of her time in Stillsuit shops and planting areas. She aimed to create a home that Jamis would enjoy living in. Mirjna al-Chima (a friend of Harah’s) wrote in her Journal, that their home had a smooth and clean stone floor, orange hangings in doorways, many Glowglobes , bright fabrics, carpets and many cushions. Their home was a subject of envy for the other members of the Sietch.[2]
Desert War[]
- "Alia is like my own flesh because she is sister to one who is like my brother. I've watched over her and guarded her from the time she was a mere babe — and I always will."
- ―Harah, Memoirs[src]
Harah’s life with Jamis was a time of family happiness and achievement. This time was ended when Sietch Tabr received news of Jamis’ death. Harah’s grief would remain private. She wrote in her memoirs ‘I’ll mourn Jamis in the proper time’. Her resilience allowed her to accept what destiny had in mind for her next. When Paul and Jessica Atreides arrived at Sietch Tabr, Harah learned that Paul was the one who had killed him. By Fremen custom, Jamis’ possessions and family now belonged to Paul, meaning that Harah was Paul’s property as wife of servant for a year. Paul, against Harah’s wishes, chose servant.[2]
Though Harah’s pride was hurt by Paul’s rejection, she set aside her vanity and dedicated herself to serving Paul, whom she respected and grew to love. Her content turned to outright happiness when Jessica asked her to be the nurse of her newborn daughter, Alia. When Paul took Chani as his concubine, Harah was not jealous but rather rejoiced at their happiness.[2]
Over time, Paul grew to lead the Fremen in attacks against the oppressors of the Fremen, House Harkonnen. Later, the women and children of Tabr were forced to flee the Sietch due to the Governor Rabban’s systematic Fremen extermination. Harah went with the women and children. Although she was lonely, she dedicated herself solely to raising Alia. Alia was Pre-born, meaning she matured incredibly quickly mentally, having wisdom, intelligence and speech beyond her years. Raising a child such as this was frustrating, but Harah’s devotion to her was unconditional. Alia's first words were not nonsense babbling that would be expected from a regular Fremen baby, bur rather the fully-formed sentence 'I love you, Harah'.[3] P. Oulson's St. Alia, Huntress of a Billion Worlds recounts a story where Harah was disturbed by Alia's use of facial muscle exercises. Alia sat on a rock and twitched one singular muscle on the side of her nose.[5] After Paul’s ascension to the Golden Lion Throne, she married Stilgar and became Chani’s closest female friend. When Chani intentionally overdosed herself with Spice Melange in order to give birth to her twins despite Irulan’s contraceptive, Harah accompanied her to the desert where Chani would take her last breaths. After Chani died in childbirth, it was her heartbreaking duty to guide her husband, Paul, to her body. Harah was the observer of holy truth at Chani’s funeral and stood by her body at the Deathstill.[2] Irulan Corrino attended the funeral, the wife of Paul rather than Chani. Harah had to restrain Alia from driving forcing Irulan out of the cavern, although Alia was soon calmed after Irulan's kind words toward Chani.[6]
The twins[]
At Paul’s request, Harah stood beside him at the naming of his newborn son, Leto II, and daughter, Ghanima Atreides, although Harah did object to the naming of his daughter, as Ghanima translated to ‘spoil of war’. Harah, as she and Stilgar were their god-parents, was the person given the responsibility of feeding the twins the Water of Life.[6] After being blinded, Paul walked into the desert, leaving the twins orphans. Harah once more felt destiny calling her to become a mother, the role in which she excelled. Raising the twins was not easy, however, as they were both, like Alia before them, Pre-born, making raising them far from a comfortable task. Her Fremen background, sagacity and Weirding Way made her a match for the precocious twins. Harah grew to love the twins as her own and the twins loved her. When the twins turned 3, Alia, jealous of their relationship, separated them.[7]
Harah was further devastated when news reached her that Leto, at the age of 9, had been killed by Laza tigers. She consoled Ghanima and in the process consoled herself. Harah was a tireless wife, trying to provide Stilgar with every comfort she could. She gave attention to his wardrobe, Yali and even minor housekeeping details. Harah would prepare coffee exactly as Stilgar preferred it: by grinding freshly roasted beans in a stone mortar, creating a fine powder which would then be boiled and combined with a pinch of Spice. The evenness of Harah’s life was once again shattered when Stilgar called her to see the corpses of Ziarenko Javid and Duncan Idaho. Stilgar told his wife that he had sent his cousin Buer Agarves to the now oppressive Regent of Arrakis, Alia, to pledge his ‘final obedience.’ The pre-born elements which had once made Alia such a special child had now overtaken her. Alia, possessed by the spirit of her grandfather Vladimir Harkonnen, was now seeking to hunt down and destroy the resistant Stilgar, Jessica and Ghanima. Unwittingly, Agarves had led abductors to the djedida they were hiding in and the fugitives were captured and imprisoned in Alia’s prison.[2]
Leto, thought to be dead, later returned to Arrakeen with a mysterious figure, The Preacher, in reality, Paul Atreides. In a dramatic series of events that Harah was not present for, Paul was slain by Alia’s guards, Alia killed herself to end Baron Harkonnen, Farad’n Corrino became the Concubine of Ghanima and Leto begun a metamorphosis into a Human-Sandworm hybrid, beginning his rule as Padishah Emperor that would last for multiple millennia.[2]
Later life and death[]
Harah was still vigorous at the time of Alia and Paul’s death, she faded in the following years. Their deaths and especially Alia’s transformation into an Abomination, dramatically diminished her. The maternal drive which had defined her life was struck a mortal blow. Harah died in her sleep in 10221 AG at Sietch Tabr, the place which she likely would have chosen for her end. Every member of the Sietch and the royal family mourned Harah and she was accordered a full funeral rite.[2]
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ Children of Dune - Chapter 60: Agarves was speaking now, responding to a question from one of Stilgar's lieutenants, a niece of Harah's named Rajia.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 The Dune Encyclopedia, HARAH
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Dune Encyclopedia, ATREIDES, LADY ALIA
- ↑ The Dune Encyclopedia, JAMIS
- ↑ The Dune Encyclopedia, FACE DANCERS
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Dune Encyclopedia, ATREIDES, LADY Chani
- ↑ The Dune Encyclopedia, ATREIDES, GHANIMA