Alfred and Haplo Moments That Drove Me Insane 6-Part Finale Extravaganza Poll(TM)
Alfred heals Haplo in Fire Sea and knows Haplo will never forgive him.
Haplo is touched and entranced by the beauty of Alfred's dancing.
Haplo lets Alfred go at the end of Fire Sea.
The dog going to Alfred whenever it isn't safe to be with Haplo.
Haplo hugs Alfred and "Thank you for bringing me back to life/giving me life."
The fact that closing Death's Gate involved Haplo and Alfred singing together.
Voting ended onMar 23, 2023
Last round and then we can do other polls again, I PROMISE. The winners of the previous three polls will now be pit against each other. May the most insane bit win!
Before you vote, feel free to refresh yourself on the options under the read more.
The circle between the two was truly forged, truly complete. And Alfred knew, with a feeling of overwhelming sadness, that Haplo would never forgive him.
The feet that could not take ten steps without falling over themselves were suddenly executing intricate steps with extraordinary grace and delicacy. His face was grave and solemn, wholly absorbed in the music. He accompanied himself with a grave and solemn song. Hands wove the runes in the air, his feet replicated the pattern on the floor. Haplo watched until he discovered some wayward part of himself feeling touched and entranced by the beauty.
“You know what’ll happen to you in the Nexus.” Haplo didn’t look at him when he spoke, he kept his gaze on the dog. “You know what my Lord will do to you.”
“Yes,” Alfred answered.
Haplo hesitated a moment, either deciding on his next words or deciding whether or not to say them. When he made his decision, his voice was hard and sharp, cutting through some barrier within himself. “Then, if I were you, I wouldn’t be around when I woke up.” Haplo closed his eyes.
Alfred stared in amazement, then smiled gently. “I understand. Thank you, Haplo.”
“I ask you to put the animal outside, Brother.”
Alfred sighed, shook his head. “He’ll just come right back in. But I don’t think you need worry about him spying on us for his master. He’s lost his master. That’s why he’s here.”
“He wants you to look for his master, for a Patryn?”
“I believe so,” said Alfred meekly.
Samah’s frown darkened. “And this doesn’t seem strange to you? A dog belonging to a Patryn, coming to you, a Sartan, for help?”
“Well, no,” said Alfred, after a moment’s reflection. “Not considering what the dog is. That is, what I think it might be.” He was somewhat flustered.
“Farewell, my friend,” he said. “Thank you for bringing me back to life.
Haplo took Alfred’s hand, then embraced the startled and embarrassed Sartan. “Thank you,” Haplo said, his voice gruff, “for giving me life. Farewell, my friend.”
Alfred was extremely red. He patted Haplo’s back awkwardly, then turned away, wiping his eyes and nose with his coat sleeve.
"Haplo! I need your help!" Alfred quavered.
"Are you mad? Patryn magic and Sartan magic can't work together!"
"How do we know?" Alfred returned desperately. "Just because it's never been done, at least that we're aware of. Who knows but that somewhere, sometime in the past--"
"All right! All right! Shutting Death's Gate. That's it? That's what we've got to do?"
[...]
Alfred sucked in a deep breath, began to sing.
To his astonishment, Haplo joined him. The Patryn's baritone slid in under, lifted, and supported Alfred's high-pitched tenor.
Oh and I forgot that in this book the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world prolongs its own life of relative luxury by stealing resources and ultimately obliterating a smaller, weaker nation, thereby turning that nation's people into climate refugees (who understandably have a bit of an axe to grind about it)
“Fire Sea,” a cover concept from the book by Weis & Hickman. Currently re-reading the entire Death Gate Cycle, and I’d forgotten how much I absolutely love this series.
Two demigods go through an interdimensional wormhole and have enemies to friends antics while the world ends (again) because it turns out zombies are not a practical solution to ending world hunger.
Some days you just have to really sit down and contemplate Alfred reading about this mensch wizardess’ affair with a Patryn.
Especially if perhaps her journal was on the more detailed side, and perhaps Alfred kept reading because it’s RESEARCH, okay, Iridal?
And then perhaps you may contemplate Alfred teleporting directly onto Haplo’s ship and then refusing to escape the many, many times he could have done that.
I mean, I’m not suggesting these things are related, of course. That would be silly. Haha... unless? :P
Okay so another immediate footnote in Hand of Chaos states that Haplo starts calling the dragon-snakes “serpents” to differentiate them from “the true dragons who inhabit the worlds.” Which is funny considering we STILL managed to end up with:
--The dragons of the mensch worlds (the tame-able ones on Arianus, the Fire Dragon That Lives In Lava in Abarrach, etc)
--The “good dragons of Pryan” who are the dragon-snakes equal-opposites
--The red Labyrinth dragons (implied to be much smarter and more dangerous than at least the Arianus dragons)
--Alfred’s dragon shape that designates him Serpent Mage
--Krishach, the phantom dragon supposedly sent by Krenka-Anris to help Haplo and Iridal??? Who, legend has it, slew Krenka-Anris’ three sons and was killed by her using the power of the souls of those same three sons??? (Arianus lore is WILD y’all??? Have we ever talked about what that was or are we taking the Kenkari at face value on this one???)
Anyway. Some of these dragons might be the same things. But I don’t think all of them are.
[after going through Death’s Gate]
The Sartan attempted to sit up, the ship listed, and he instinctively grabbed at Haplo’s arm to support himself. The Patryn shoved the hand aside roughly.
[I’m skipping Alfred healing Haplo because it will actually kill me to transcribe it probably]
[after running from Kleitus’ dead]
“Haplo.” Alfred stood up, laid a tentative hand on the Patryn’s arm. “What did you mean, you know how she feels? Do you mean I should have let you die?” Haplo jerked away from the man’s touch.
[when they’re jumping across the Fire Sea]
He gripped Alfred’s thin arm, steadied the shaking man. “Jump for it.”
[a few seconds later after Alfred helps Haplo up]
The Patryn grabbed hold of rocks and Alfred and hung on until he caught his breath, then dragged himself the rest of the way over. [...] Landing beside them, nearly crowding both off the ledge, the animal gazed at each of them with bright eyes, obviously enjoying itself immensely.
(It’s worth noting that the whole “Alfred yelling at Haplo and Haplo laughing from the absurdity of it and calling Alfred by his name” thing also happens on this narrow ledge.... Just. Saying.)
[a few moments later, negotiating with the fire dragon]
Haplo laid a silencing hand on the Sartan’s arm.
“If you would so honor us, Lady,” Jonathan bowed again.
“How can I be certain you will do what you say? Perhaps you will only make matters worse.”
“He is the one of whom the prophecy speaks,” said the prince.
Haplo’s hand, on Alfred’s arm, twitched.
[stumbling back to the ship]
The Sartan put an arm around the Patryn’s shoulder and back. He aided Haplo’s limping footsteps, Haplo aided Alfred’s failing spirit.
[on the ship]
Walking over to Haplo, Alfred placed his hands on the Patryn’s shoulders and began to chant. The circle was joined.
