His eyes opened; he was floating deep underneath the surface in this black, infinite darkness.

It was still and quiet.

He was encased in nothingness.

He parted his lips, but found that there was no need to breathe here. Even if he wanted, he didn't have the strength.

What was this sensation, this calm lull?

Lashes fluttered, losing focus under heavy lids. Through the veil over his eyes, he saw a ray of light phasing through the darkness, coming towards him.

The light shone silver like the moon and its cool touch along his brow eased his eyes closed. 

Now he had his answer; this was death.

Death was lifting him up, guiding him into the pale moonlight.

The darkness was the night, pushing him to the moon, towards the sleep that evaded him.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!"

A beautiful song stopped him from closing his eyes. 

A mournful song humming from the shadows where the light couldn't reach and crept into his ears. It caressed his back and stroked his spine, leaving pleasurable goosebumps along with his skin.

Was it an angel?

How could it be an angel when behind him was darkness, and before him was light? A comforting and gentle light that promised freedom from pain and agony.

Freedom…from…

"I love you!"

His eyes opened as he realized that there was no song.

Only a desperate and sorrowful wail.

"I love you, Tristan!"

Who was calling to him so desperately?

All he wanted was rest…rest from a world that forgot him, a rest from fighting. Why would someone take away the peace he sought?

"I need you!"

Need…he was needed…?

Floating in this abyss, where the calming light soothed him forward, someone…needed…him…

"There's nothing more precious than you!"

That mournful plea begged and cried for him from the abyss below.

Why?

He turned his head away from the light and towards the darkness, towards the wailing.

He glanced back at the light.

The cool light that promised peace and…nothing.

If he let it carry him, there would be nothing there. 

Just peace.

Quiet.

Cold.

"Wake up! Please wake up! Tristan, I need you!"

Someone in that void was reaching out to him.

No one needed him as much as that voice did.

He turned towards that voice, gazing into the darkness.

He was so tired…but the cold light didn't need him.

He pushed downwards, sinking deeper and deeper of his volition.

Away from the bright nothingness above.

During his downward travel, he felt a growing warmth touch his fingertips.

A heat that wrapped lovingly around his arms and pulled him deeper.

The darkness took on a tinge of rouge, and a tang of iron mixed with spicy sweetness fell onto his tongue, filled his nostrils and heated him from within.

While he was pulled further into the sweltering deep, where black moved into burgundies and vermillion, the wailing continued.

Its pitch grew higher, and it blubbered from the sobs.

Yet it was the same unmistakable voice.

"Don't leave me…please don't leave me."

It was so close and so small.

Another glow rippled before his eyes.

Did he reach the bottom or was there another surface?

He was surrounded by hot, thick red, gazing downwards, no, upwards towards a light.

A small light that burned like the Sun.

The Sun was just above the surface.

"Don't leave me alone. I'm scared. I'm so scared. Please come back!"

He reached up, his fingers stroking the surface.

He winced at the burning heat, his fingers curling away just barely.

This is where he was wanted.

Just past this fluid, permeable barrier was where he was needed and where he belonged.

He reached upwards with both hands, breaking through the surface, palms closing in towards that sobbing Sun.

Pressing against soft, burning flesh.

As he pushed past the surface, his forehead pressed against the brow of the crying Sun, cupping her face in his red-soaked hands.

He smelled smoke, tasted copper, and touched dark bronze.

The Sun should be blinding, but he could see those bright red eyes and orange lashes clumped with tears.

His fingers caressed her cheeks as he gazed down at the Sun, realizing that behind all that power, all that fire, was a child. 

A child with her knees in a sea of blood, her hands balled up in fists that tried futilely to stop her sorrow.

He wiped away the tears that kept coming down her burning cheeks, his thumbs moving locks of hair behind her ears, "Shhh…it's okay. I'm here. I'm right here."