Disclaimer: I do NOT own Dragon Age. Bioware does.

When the circle becomes a line.

Dalmatius returned to the world of the living.

…

" Where am I? "

He tried to open his eyes.

For a moment, sheer panic ran trhough his veins.

He was actually having trouble opening them.

Dalmatius had never felt this feeling before. " Why can't I open my eyes? "

He felt the urge to test out his other body functions. Starting with his right arm.

Pain returned to him, embracing him like an old friend. He groaned.

" Oh that's just too good. Even my body won't listen to me. "

Quickly, he decided it was best to calm down and think. He knew he had to.

A horde of questions suddenly popped up in his mind, not giving him any time to think about it properly.

'Where am I? What hurt me? Where's Alistair? ' he felt uneasy.

' Who is Alistair anyway? I don't know who he is….

…. Do I?'

'Fantastic. I'm not only completely injured, but I'm questioning myself now!'

'Fergus should see me now. He'd only scoff me out again…'

He felt uneasy yet again.

He tried to move, and succeeded in moving his left leg. Eventually , he opened his eyes… and couldn't see due to the light. After letting his eyes adjust to the environment, he saw where he was.

He was in a hut.

Wooden, by the looks of it. He could see a large chest and some bookcases simply packed with books. He raised himself to the end of the bed, leaning against the wall. Of wood. At a large fireplace, there was a large pot where something bubbling.

' Oh maker. Don't let it be mushrooms…!' he thought.

He wondered how long he'd been laying there. A day? A week?

Surely, he was exaggerating. After giving a final look at the hut, he looked to his body.

" Maker, is there a place where there aren't bandages?" Dalmatius said , completely surprised.

Curiously, he looked underneath the bandages of his right arm. He quickly returned it to its place.

' That's no wound… It's…' he thought

The place where he was expecting to see a cut, was simply not there. They just tore it of him.

' There's a HOLE in my arm!'

He sat there, mesmerized for a minute. After counting the bandages, he'd come to the conclusion he was torn apart and glued back together.

" Well, next time they can search for their limbs. They better be warned!" he said to himself.

" That's clearly a good intention."

Dalmatius turned his head to the left to see Morrigan enter the hut. She walked straight to the bubbling stew. His eyes followed her.

" So… finally awake, are you?"

" Apparently so." He said softly.

Morrigan smiled. " Mother shall be pleased. I was beginning to resent nursing you."

" No need to now, clearly."

" Such short answers. Is it fitting for a Grey Warden to be this preserved?"

" No, but I was thinking…" Dalmatius began.

"Then you take a long time to…"

"… of a way to thank you."

Morrigan raised an eyebrow. The smile disappeared.

" Do not. Twas not I who saved you." She simply stated.

" Maybe not. But I don't see anyone else to thank, now do I? So, I must conclude that it was you who nursed me back to health."

" Do not cherish your "regained" health yet. The fever may come back."

Dalmatius grinned. " Anyhow, I still need to thank you don't I?"

A painful silence filled the gap in their conversation.

" Thank you, Morr…"

" Fool." She said annoyed.

He smiled. " Somewhere I believe I deserved it. But surely I can count on some approval…"

" Do not seek for mine, for you shall find none."

" Ah… Cruel words… I feel stabbed once more." Dalmatius said with a hint of drama.

"Maybe I should."

" That would be a waste of time AND life. Not exactly helping in the situation."

"You should have taken Mother's advice."

He sighed and looked at her. Hints of sorrow were to be found. "I've … never been the most persuasive type. And Cailan didn't even believe Duncan."

"That's but a mere excuse and a sign of weakness."

" We can't have that, can't we?"

Morrigan turned around and headed to the stew once more.

"Did you see the battle? As you know, we were in the Tower and…"

She turned around and looked at him, coldly.

Dalmatius only nodded slowly. "How's Alistair taking it?"

" Not like you. His injuries were not as grave as yours, but he continuously came asking for you." She simply stated.

"Sweet."

Morrigan looked at him, completely disgusted.

" He even keeps murmuring that HE should have died. Why Mother even bothered to save him…"

"… Is a complete mystery for us all." Dalmatius said , slightly smiling. He tried to stand, which only succeeded partially. He panted.

She payed no attention to it.

" When you are ready, go see Mother. She waits outside, easing your friend."

As she took a medicine and gave it to Dalmatius, he took her wrist.

" Wha…?"

" Morrigan….Really, thank you." He said, incredibly seriously, changing the mood completely.

Not responding immediately, she only managed to sigh.

" T … Twas nothing. You should be more grateful to your attachment to life. Now go outside before I hurt you , annoying me by probing inane questions."

Dalmatius couldn't help to utter a small smile.