Tanya (3/3)
Finally, at the ripe old age of 93, Haalfrin feels the golden thread tying himself to Tanya turn silver. Without even being in the house at the time, he knows that she's dead.
He was in the middle of hunting in the woods at the time; he was even carrying back a fresh kill. However, he drops the dead buck on the ground and he sprints back to his house.
When he rushes inside, Tanya's grandchildren look at him strangely. "Why're you in such a hurry, grandpops?"
Even though they're not his blood descendants, he still raised Kamyen, so he's treated like he's part of the family.
It's only been about a minute since Tanya died, and she WAS in another room at the time. These kids probably don't even know what happened yet.
Not having time to explain, Haalfrin ignores them and tears his way into Tanya's room. There, before his very eyes, he sees the woman's young and beautiful face gradually shifting into an old woman's. With his strong spirit no longer there to keep her young, she's going back to her natural appearance.
When the kids see what's happening to their grandmother, they all freeze in shock. Before they can ask about what's going on, Haalfrin growls, "Out. Everyone out!"
Feeling numb and shocked, they all shuffle out of the room with blank expressions. They'd never seen Haalfrin so angry before. That must mean that Elder Tanya really is dead.
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Once everyone is gone, Haalfrin uses his spirit magic and summons Tanya's spirit. The reason he was in such a hurry was because he wanted to talk to her before the Death Reapers showed up. It usually takes them at least a few minutes to arrive, and at most a few hours.
"Tanya?" Haalfrin asks in a low voice. "You there?"
Her silver spirit materializes in front of him. Despite her body decaying on the bed, her spirit still looks youthful. Oddly enough, her spirit's face is even more beautiful than she was in life. She has a comforting glow about her that her body can't hide any more.
'I'm here, Haalfrin."
Haalfrin starts breathing heavily. "I've put off asking you, since I didn't want to spoil our relationship… but when we all meet in the Death Realm, who are you going to be married to? Is it me, or is it your first husband?"
Tanya flinches. "I'm glad you didn't ask all this time. It's not the kind of question I even like to think about."
"Please, Tanya. It's important to me."
Tanya looks at Haalfrin, and he sees the thoughts swirl chaotically behind her eyes. After a long pause, she says, "… Haalfrin…, you said that people remain the same when they die, right? Rodrick's been waiting for me all this time. I'd feel horrible leaving him alone for all eternity."
Haalfrin's heart drops like a rock when he hears this.
Tanya can feel Haalfrin's disappointment now that she's without a body, and their spirits are touching directly this time.
Wanting to console Haalfrin, she puts her hand on his cheek and says, "You're a very kind and responsible man, and you have a long life ahead of you. Just because we are now separated through death, I don't want you to feel chained down by me. With you being the way you are, you'll find more opportunities for happiness later in life. Please, don't spend the rest of your life feeling miserable."
She smiles now, as if she's thinking of all her fond memories over the years. "I was truly happy to have spent a lifetime together with you. I wouldn't trade that time for anything. Please, just be at peace and live your life. I know you're a sentimental man, and the last thing I want is for you to wallow in a ditch and get depressed."
Haalfrin's heart starts beating faster, and he feels his eyes getting wet. "…Fine. Let's just stay here until Das shows up to get you. I'd like to give a proper goodbye."
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Surprisingly, Das is later than usual; he doesn't even show up for two whole hours. When the god finally shows his face, Haalfrin remarks, "Oh? You're a bit late?"
Das straightens his jacket. "Well, I felt that you were having a tearful farewell, so I figured I could drag my feet on my way over here."
For the first time ever since he left the Pit, there's actually a moment where Haalfrin doesn't hate Das with every ounce of his spirit. "Thanks, Das."
Lord Das nods his head. "No problem." The old god then turns to Tanya. "You ready to go?"
Tanya looks at Das with wide eyes, realizing that she's looking at a genuine god for the first time. Feeling numb, and more than a little scared, she turns to Haalfrin.
"Haalfrin?" she asks, "what's the Death Realm like?"
Haalfrin's face goes stiff, but he still answers. "You remember very well. I've told you all about it. Don't worry. You'll be fine."
Haalfrin then sends a quick telepathic message to Das. 'And Das! Don't you DARE drop her off in a Death World that's riddled with war! Bring her to a peaceful place, like the world you live on.'
Das nods his head and replies, 'Don't worry. I was already planning on it. I sent her first husband there too.'
With all that out of the way, Das stuffs Tanya's soul in his black lantern, and he disappears from this world in a puff of black Aura.
With everyone gone, Haalfrin continues to sit on his chair beside his wife's corpse, and he hangs his head low in silence.
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Funerals in Brancotte are usually considered private affairs, so most of the of the village stays far away from Haalfrin's house. The only people who come for her burial are her descendants – most of which had to hurry back home from the various other village's they'd spread out to over the generations.
Being the wife of such an affluent mage and having such a young appearance for so long, Tanya had become a sort of family mascot. Needless to say, everyone was shocked at her sudden death, and they all rush home.
The funeral itself is short and simple. Once her body is put in the ground, each of her children get up in front of everyone else and give short stories about their life with Tanya, and they talk about how much they'll miss her.
However, when it's Haalfrin's turn, he feels that him getting on a box and wagging his tongue in front of everyone wouldn't be very fitting. Plus, he knows that he's not gifted enough with words to properly convey how he really feels right now.
So, he clasps his hands together, closes his eyes, and has everyone enjoy a moment of silence.
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For the next 3 years, Haalfrin lives alone in his house, and he's occasionally visited by some of Tanya's grandchildren. Still, everyone feels that Haalfrin is still feeling sensitive, so no one tries to hold him down with any lengthy conversations.
Three years is the official mourning period in Brancotte, so Haalfrin figures that he'd mind as well stick around for that long.
After the 3 years are up, and he's no longer required to wear mourning clothes. So, Haalfrin waits until winter ends before he packs up and leaves the village behind.
As he walks down the road, he looks to the side at the very rock Tanya was sitting on so long ago, when she was waiting to propose to him.
Once again, Haalfrin walks past that stone, and he passes under the archway signaling the end of the village.
This time, there's no one there to stop him from leaving.