I 've got the exact same problem.
talk to dwarven king, ask to get my stuff back => Desktop <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />
it also happens when i fight the brawler in the bleu boar inn. i loose and i get back to desktop <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />..
there goes an other 2 hours worth of exploring .. i really should save more often.. but my autosave also causes a return to desktop <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />
