A/N: I was challenged to take something of mine and turn the end's mood 180 degrees, so I took I Believe In You and gave it a happy ending. Originally posted on tumblr and also found on AO3.
He came to slowly, scarcely believing that he had not yet joined the Maker's side. The jolt of pain that settled into his consciousness, interrupting his quiet bliss, seemed to confirm his suspicions, however, unless the Chant of Light had been severely misinformed about what it meant to be lifted from a world of pain.
The dry, slightly blasphemous thought reminded him very much of a short-haired woman and his eyes snapped open when he remembered just who she was, and why exactly he was in pain.
It appeared as though he had been moved to a hastily set up healer's tent, and he turned his head slowly to the side at the sound of voices from just outside.
"I'm not leaving and you can't make me," Esther shouted, clear even through the cloth blocking his view of them, and she suddenly stormed back in, still arguing with the dark-haired mage following her.
"You haven't rested or eaten anything more than few bites in days," Dorian protested. "You'll be no good to anyone sick or-"
"There are more important people to be worried about!" she retorted. She did look tired, worry etched into the haggard lines of her face, the bags under her eyes, but there was no sign of exhaustion when she noticed that he was awake and marched to his side, eyes flashing, throwing a flippant "I'll be fine!" over her shoulder to the scowling Tevinter.
"And you!" she snapped, jabbing a finger towards his chest as he moved to sit up. "Don't you dare do anything like that again, you idiot!" Her anger was belied by the gentleness with which she pushed him back down to rest on the cot, fingers trembling oh-so-slightly with relief. "If Dorian hadn't arrived in time, I would have found a way to revive you just to kill you myself!"
Behind her, Dorian covered his face with a hand and mouthed an apology before moving to pull her away, but Cullen only grinned, acquiescing to her gentle ministrations. "Never again," he vowed.