Chapter Text
She was aware that it would happen eventually, no story really has a happy ending, especially one like theirs. It had only taken a couple of years to figure out that she couldn't physically age, so it was only a matter of time before the inevitable.
So here Briar stood, next to the deathbed of her wife Ella, her beloved Cinders. She looked every bit of her 103 hard-fought and well-lived years, but just as beautiful as the day Rose had laid eyes on her.
Briar wasn’t so blessed as to carry her life's story on her skin, not many could claim it to be a curse to not show signs of age such as wrinkles or marks of strife that culminated in being marred with hundreds of scars. In fact, most would commit unspeakable deeds to obtain eternal youth. Briar was not one of those petty dreamers though. She had committed true atrocities, willingly or not it was still her hands which were stained, and she found this untouchable beauty to be a curse, forcing her to live on, keep fighting, never find true rest with her love.
They have lived a relatively long and peaceful life here, on this no-name refugee planet on the edge of their galaxy. The two had made a life here, and more importantly, they were left alone. That is until age finally caught up with Cinders. Time can be a fickle mistress, and Death does not appreciate being kept waiting.
Briar presses a kiss to her lover's now cooled forehead.
"I know it must be hard to lose a grandparent like this," says the priest, shattering the reverent silence that had blanketed the room.
The still-living lover clenched her fist in the soft linens of the bed. "She was not my grandmother," Briar's voice is rough with grief, "she is… was my wife." She only caught the man's shock through the reflection in the window. "We have" a deep breath, "had been married for nearly 50 years. 48 if you wish to be exact. I would appreciate a moment to mourn my beloved in peace, thank you."
The priest was about to protest when Briar turned and trained him with a gaze, dark hazel eyes, a window to a soul much older than the 24 physical years she possessed.
She only spared the briefest and tightest of smiles as the old man shrunk back and left the room, tail between his legs.
~~~~~~~
The grave was dug in the middle of their garden. Cinders had insisted that she be buried there instead of being entombed with Snow and the 'Real' Rose on New Constantinople. "My love, I wish to spend eternity in the place where I'm happiest, and that is here with you."
Briar sat back against the ivy-covered wall of their cottage. It was peaceful here in the garden under the ancient willow they had spent years under simply enjoying each other's company. They had been married under that tree so it is only fitting that Cinders be put to rest here as well. The sky was beginning to lighten as the first sun began its ascension for the coming day, It would soon be joined by its sisters, and by then Cinders will be laid down to rest in the place she had cultivated both the plants and her affection for Briar.
She leaned forward pressing her forehead against her clasped hands in a mournful compilation. Without Cinders, there wasn’t anything tethering her to this place. They hadn’t been all that social in their time here, so there weren’t any friends that she would miss, and even if there were, Briar would outlive them as well. Maybe it was time for her to leave. Take to the stars and seek out the minute possibility of others like her, ageless, deathless, and desperate for a small piece of companionship.
Yes, that’s going to be the plan. I’ll go to the ports tomorrow and get a small ship, leave all this behind. Not like there’s anyone alive who would miss me. Not any more…
~~~~~~~
The Priest was the only other person present as Briar placed her lover's body in the grave she had dug in her sleeplessness the night before. She couldn’t stand the deathly silence that had enveloped the cottage the morning prior, so she started crafting the final resting place of the woman she had devoted herself to. Briar placed one last kiss on Cinders lips before covering her with the pale blue silk veil over her face. Standing up was hard, this was the last time she would be able to look at her wife, so her lingering was justified.
The man held out his hand for her to take, trying to help her out of the grave. But she merely frowned at it before turning around to haul herself out without assistance. He started saying whatever holy piece he was obligated to at every funeral he presided over. Briar heard none of it. Finally, the Priest asked, “Would you like me to help you fill the grave?”
“No,” She bit back the harsh words that threatened to escape her, he didn’t deserve to be an outlet for her fury at the ultimate unfairness of the universe. “I’d rather you not. I need to do this by myself, say goodbye. Privacy would be greatly appreciated.”
“Of course, Just know that the village is here, you don’t have to mourn alone.” and with that, he left Briar to her own devices.
It was only after the grave was completely filled and the moss-covered marker placed that Briar allowed herself the first sobs.
~~~~~~~
The Grim II was not the fanciest ship nor was it the biggest, but it would have to do, seeing as it was the only cruiser the decrepit hag of a man was willing to part within her price range. It was supposedly a retired trade ship, with room enough for four to five crew, a decent galley and enough storage for 6 years worth of supplies for deep space travel. The engine was old and had likely seen much better days a couple of decades ago, navigation systems were sketchy at best and a consistent day/night cycle was a myth, but at least it had decent life support systems and enough tools and supplies to fix any real issues that might arise. Really it was more than Briar needed, but the other sellers with smaller “Luxury” crafts wanted at least a million credits and a firstborn child as a deposit for a six-month rental, which wasn’t going to work. The merchant was the only person selling craft for under 800,000 credits and didn’t care if it was ever seen again. So The Grim II it was, old and busted as it might be.
All of Briars' meagre belongings and memorabilia were carefully stashed in what she assumed was the captains quarters. A quick check of the ship's systems showed there were no life or death issues to hinder launch, so the journey of the rest of her life, however long it would be, was begun.
Now 2 days later Briar took one last look at the tiny planet she had called home for the past 50 or so years of her life and left it in her past, the stars calling her with their siren song and the vague whispered premises of others like her driving her towards the future.