Tristan sat alone in one of the side-chambers leading off the barrow's lower hall, staring at the earthen walls. Celidon lay across the entrance way, his head on his paws, keeping guard over his fairy. His green eyes seemed to shine even in the darkness, alert and watchful and his ears twitched at the footsteps pacing the upper chamber. Tristan glanced at him and then back at the wall.
You're alone now. He turned his attention back to the wall, closing his fist around the trio of pendants clutched in his right hand. The points of his father's crucifix burrowed into the skin of his palm as he squeezed it tighter. shut up.

You left him to die. You should have stopped him from shutting the door. You should have tried harder to get back inside. Tristan put his hands to his head and buried his face in his knees. You should have fought Mace. You let him carry you away from the castle when he needed you. You could have gone back for him. You're a coward. A noise of frustration forced itself from his throat, making Celidon jump. Shut up, shut up, shut up!" He tipped his head back again, with a little too much force and it thumped into the packed earth with an audible thunk. As the pain abated, Tristan opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. Now everyone thinks you killed him. You might as well have done. He just wanted to sleep, to slip into numb nothingness for a few hours. He wanted the pain to stop. It was like an open wound in the very centre of his chest making it hard to breathe, to swallow, to do anything.

"Tristan!? Mallos' voice barely registered. He lowered his chin and looked back the wall, plain and empty save for his father's sword. It leaned into the corner, its point rested in the centre of Arthur's crown. Tristan couldn't bring himself to look at them. "Tristan!?
Celidon lifted his head and looked between his boy and the darkness beyond the doorway, Ruff! he barked. Tristan didn't say anything. He listened to the shuffling going on above them with a passive interest, resentment clawing at his gut.
"He's in there," Thoth said somewhere in the barrow. There was silence for a moment.

And then light footsteps approached the doorway, and a familiar figure stepped out of the shadows.


Tristan
_{the only thing left are the stars}