( Like what? Her mouth doesn't form the words but her eyes ask the question. What has he seen, what has he experienced to make him so alarmed? Granted, she doesn't understand magic, but whatever has him rattled seems far beyond the basics.

She gives his hand a squeeze. )

I hear you, Anders, I really do. Whatever it is, I'm sorry. I'm grateful to you for being so caring. And I'm also sorry that I can't make that promise. If something like that happened again, if you could be hurt and that was the only option, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

( She gives him a half-smile. ) Though I might carry a bottle of thirium with me on any spooky beaches.