This loosely follows some of the DA2 story line using the characters, locations and some backstories, but not strictly. I have rated this M for mature for blood, strong language and sexual content. All comments are welcome. Thank you!

TWENTY

"Damn you, you bloody elf! Are you trying to kill her?" I could faintly hear though my eyes refused to open. The voice was unmistakably belonged to Anders.

Do not listen. Rest now and soon it will all be over, a voice said to me. I should be afraid as I felt the voice pull me away but I felt all of my will leave me. I could feel only a slight tug of pain but it was not enough to wake me this time. Even with my eyes closed I felt the warmth of magic surround me as I fell deeper asleep.

Sleep.

I had no sense of time, only the peaceful feeling of warmth as the pain receded slowly. The glow surrounded me and I felt it settle all over my skin. I looked around and everything had a golden hue and I knew that this could only be Anders' magic surrounding me but there was a hint of something else that I could not place. When it started to fade, I felt almost sad to lose the warmth and wanted only to feel it once again.

"…Sebastian! Catch him before he falls!" I heard Anders cry out. I struggled to open my eyes but felt something still holding me back. "I wouldn't need you at all if you hadn't dragged me here without warning…"

There's time enough yet…No! Wake up!

"…that's the best I can do. If only you hadn't waited so long…"

I must not… Sleep.

I awoke to the sound of prayer. A familiar chant I had often heard from my mother…but the voice was not hers. I finally opened my eyes to see Sebastian once again. He was seated in a chair facing the bed and leaned closer to me as I looked around. He got up and sat next to me on the bed.

"I'm glad to see you are finally awake, Seelia," he said as I focused on him.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked softly.

"Two days. Anders said you would need time to rest."

"What happened? Where is Anders?" I asked. "Where is…Fenris?"

"They were both exhausted after he healed you. We put them in separate rooms to rest as well," he said.

"We?"

"We've all taken turns sitting by your bedside, Seelia," he said.

"May I have some water?" I asked and he got up to pour some into a glass for me. He helped me take small sips and I felt a little better, more alert. He was looking down at the glass in his hands and would not look at me.

"Seelia, I have been speaking with Anders…" he said and finally looked me in the eyes. "Is there something you wish to say to me?"

"Nothing that I am aware of."

"Are you certain?" he insisted. "Even the littlest thing?"

I could see that whatever Anders had said had upset him but I was unsure of what it was.

"Leave me alone, Sebastian. I do not want to think of whatever he said to make you so upset. I do not need any more men in my life angry at me for defending Anders as I do," I said, turning my back to him. I felt him get off the bed and walk away. I turned to see that he was truly gone before putting my head back down on the pillow and falling back asleep.

Immediately I found myself back in the unfamiliar room where I had first found the young child. I looked around, sensing that he should be here as he once was but I did not see him. I wandered around the various rooms until I was rushing towards a set of stairs, desperate now to find him. As I came closer to the bottom I heard his small voice and I stopped when I realized that he was yelling at a man that I could not see clearly. I watched as he threw out his small arms to bar the man from entering the room.

"No! You cannot have her! I will not let you!" he was yelling.

The man looked past him and I could only see his clear blue eyes staring back at me.

Not yet but I am patient. I heard him say as I backed up the stairs, knowing that I could not get far enough away from him.

When I made it back up the stairs the child was waiting for me with a sad look on his face. I went over and drew him into my arms and held him tight. Finally he moved back from me and said, "You can't keep coming here."

I looked at him and brushed his hair away from his eyes. "I worry about you here all alone," I told him.

"I'm okay with being alone now. You've helped me not be afraid anymore. But if you're here then he will come for you," he said and started to whimper.

I hugged him close to me again. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

When I opened my eyes again, he was gone and I could feel that I was truly alone.

I awoke once again to soft voices and movement close by me in the bed. I felt a soft touch on my cheek and for a moment I was hopeful that it was Fenris until I realized that the voice I heard belonged to Aveline.

"Merrill, get off the bed now! I won't tell you again!" she demanded in a hushed voice.

I felt the warmth move away from me as Merrill scooted off the bed. I was tempted to reach out to her but my body would not move.

"I couldn't help myself, Aveline. I could see that she was crying and everyone deserves to be held when they cry," she said softly back. "Even I know that."

"Fenris only tolerates us here as long as we do not wake her. See that you do not get us kicked out," Aveline said.

"It's sad to see her like this," Merrill said softly. "Hawke has always been so strong for me."

"The only thing we can do is be here for her now, Merrill. Hawke is a stubborn woman."

"I'd say she's just as stubborn as Fenris," Merrill laughed softly.

"Poor elf must be exhausted by now," said Aveline.

"I don't know if I've ever seen him like this. Angry, yes, but this…"

"He's grieving, Merrill," Aveline said. "Let him be."

"I rather miss his broodiness. At least I knew what to expect from him then."

I fell back asleep, shutting out their words.