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Description
Ch 5: Snap out of it

The last two weeks had been a constant battle between Eamon and Alistair.  Teagan couldn't stand it anymore.  His heart broke for the young king, and his warden.  If Alistair could get some closure he might be able to move on; or If only his brother would open his eyes and see what he was doing to them.  Who better to help Alistair rebuild than someone who knew what the blight did to the land?

Teagan had wrestled with whether or not he should tell Alistair about his run in with Kallian.  He had argued back and forth with his brother on the subject.  For his own reasons he had neglected to tell Eamon about Kallian's pregnancy.  Alistair should know first, as much as Eamon would not approve of what Teagan was about to do; it wasn't his decision.  Alistair deserved to know.  His mind made up, Teagan straightened his jacket, and left to find Alistair.

Alistair was in his study, going over some documents when Teagan found him.  The young King looked weary.  It was almost as if he'd aged quickly in the last few months.  He never joked or even smiled anymore.  It was as if all joy was gone, and he was just a shell of his former self.

Teagan cleared his throat, "Alistair, might I have a moment?"  Alistair raised his head; dark circles were beginning to form under his eyes like he hadn't been sleeping well.  He gestured for the Bann to sit.  "Please my friend."  Teagan took a seat across from him.

"It's about Kallian."  Alistair's face darkened, he was not in the mood for another shouting match.  "Now hear me out," Teagan continued.  "I know you and Eamon have been fighting about her, and for what it's worth I think he's wrong.  I failed you long ago Alistair I won't do it again."  He sighed deeply, "Kallian is in Denerim Alistair.  I saw her myself, she was leaving the tavern with that red headed bard you used to travel with."

Alistair's heart thudded in his chest, 'Kallian was here?' She was so close, and Eamon had wanted him to forget about her….  "When?.." Alistair's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Two weeks ago, my brother didn't want me to tell you.  I believe he and others are blinded by old bigotry.  She's your match Alistair, you two belong together; go get her."

Alistair stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back.  It was a lot to process, were all the lords against him?  Was Teagan the only one on his side?  "How can I Teagan?  I don't even know where to start…"

Teagan sighed; sometimes he just wanted to shake him.  "Alistair… she loves you.  Why else would she fight so hard to save Connor, Eamon and Isolde?  It would have been much easier to kill Connor, or let Isolde sacrifice herself.  Futhermore she didn't have to find Andraste's ashes to cure my brother.  So Why?  Because my brother is important to you, all she wants is for you to be happy.  Even if she can not be the one to make you so."  He strode over to where Alistair stood.  "Did you not tell me she still has family in the alienage?"

Alistair felt his ears grow hot, 'How could I have forgotten that?'  He had not considered her family.  He had met her father only once, and her two cousins briefly before the final battle with the Archdemon.  He felt so stupid he had not thought of it before.  He knew now nothing would stop him from tracking her down, and finding her.  If Kallian would still have him, he would make sure nothing came between them again.  "Thank You Teagan.  Thank you for telling me."

He excused himself, and rushed off to find his favorite mage confident that she could help him.

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At first, Kallian had been reluctant to bring Zevran around her family.  His shameless flirting might have given some the wrong idea about them.  The real danger was after she did bring him around, was Shianni.  She was quite taken with Zev.  That could be a problem, if Zev were just looking for another conquest; Shianni would be crushed.

Kallian flexed her fingers; most of her joints had become very sore since she got pregnant.  It seemed to get worse the farther along she got.  Whether it was normal or not, she didn't know.  But, she didn't worry; Wynne assured her everything was fine.  That was all that mattered.

"You look so tense Cara mia, I could make you feel much better.  My Antivian massages have never disappointed."

Kallian shook her head, "I don't know Zev, your massages are never just a massage."

Zevran gasped with a look of mock hurt on his face.  He put his hand over his heart.  "You wound me carazon." He came around and took a seat beside her.  "All jesting aside my friend, you seem to be in pain constantly.  This is not normal, no?"

Kallian bit her lip and shook her head.  "I don't know Zev.  It could be because of the taint… or it could be normal for a elf/human pregnancy…"  She gasped sharply, her hands instinctively on her swollen abdomen.  They're very active, that's how I know we'll be fine."

Zevran raised an eyebrow 'they?' "The one thing I don't understand, why are you not with your heart's desire now?  Why you let some human lords come between you two.  What does it matter what some rich men think?"

"I…." Kallian bit her lip, "It's complicated Zev."

Zevran scoffed, "No Cara mia, it's not.  You love Alistair, and he loves you.  It's simple, no?"

She simply shook her head, "It should be, but the lords deem me unsuitable for the king.  He needs a proper  ….wife to bear his heir."

"Ahh, but he has an heir, no?  Besides those are all the good Arl's reasons.  What are Alistair's?  What did he say when you told him?"

Kallian averted his gaze, "I… I didn't think about it like that.  I thought I was doing the best thing.  I didn't tell him…"

Zevran crossed his arms, "So you punish him for some foolish nobles?  Why are you so sure they will not accept you?  You were good enough to throw to the Archdemon, but, not good enough now?  Pah!"  To further his point, he turned to face her.  He put his hand on her rounded abdomen.  "You want this child yes?  What makes you think Alistair would not?"

Kallian was speechless, she had been so convinced she did it for his good; she hadn't stopped to consider what Alistair would think.  'How could I have been so blind?'

Description
Ch 5: Snap out of it

The last two weeks had been a constant battle between Eamon and Alistair.  Teagan couldn't stand it anymore.  His heart broke for the young king, and his warden.  If Alistair could get some closure he might be able to move on; or If only his brother would open his eyes and see what he was doing to them.  Who better to help Alistair rebuild than someone who knew what the blight did to the land?

Teagan had wrestled with whether or not he should tell Alistair about his run in with Kallian.  He had argued back and forth with his brother on the subject.  For his own reasons he had neglected to tell Eamon about Kallian's pregnancy.  Alistair should know first, as much as Eamon would not approve of what Teagan was about to do; it wasn't his decision.  Alistair deserved to know.  His mind made up, Teagan straightened his jacket, and left to find Alistair.

Alistair was in his study, going over some documents when Teagan found him.  The young King looked weary.  It was almost as if he'd aged quickly in the last few months.  He never joked or even smiled anymore.  It was as if all joy was gone, and he was just a shell of his former self.

Teagan cleared his throat, "Alistair, might I have a moment?"  Alistair raised his head; dark circles were beginning to form under his eyes like he hadn't been sleeping well.  He gestured for the Bann to sit.  "Please my friend."  Teagan took a seat across from him.

"It's about Kallian."  Alistair's face darkened, he was not in the mood for another shouting match.  "Now hear me out," Teagan continued.  "I know you and Eamon have been fighting about her, and for what it's worth I think he's wrong.  I failed you long ago Alistair I won't do it again."  He sighed deeply, "Kallian is in Denerim Alistair.  I saw her myself, she was leaving the tavern with that red headed bard you used to travel with."

Alistair's heart thudded in his chest, 'Kallian was here?' She was so close, and Eamon had wanted him to forget about her….  "When?.." Alistair's voice was barely above a whisper.

"Two weeks ago, my brother didn't want me to tell you.  I believe he and others are blinded by old bigotry.  She's your match Alistair, you two belong together; go get her."

Alistair stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back.  It was a lot to process, were all the lords against him?  Was Teagan the only one on his side?  "How can I Teagan?  I don't even know where to start…"

Teagan sighed; sometimes he just wanted to shake him.  "Alistair… she loves you.  Why else would she fight so hard to save Connor, Eamon and Isolde?  It would have been much easier to kill Connor, or let Isolde sacrifice herself.  Futhermore she didn't have to find Andraste's ashes to cure my brother.  So Why?  Because my brother is important to you, all she wants is for you to be happy.  Even if she can not be the one to make you so."  He strode over to where Alistair stood.  "Did you not tell me she still has family in the alienage?"

Alistair felt his ears grow hot, 'How could I have forgotten that?'  He had not considered her family.  He had met her father only once, and her two cousins briefly before the final battle with the Archdemon.  He felt so stupid he had not thought of it before.  He knew now nothing would stop him from tracking her down, and finding her.  If Kallian would still have him, he would make sure nothing came between them again.  "Thank You Teagan.  Thank you for telling me."

He excused himself, and rushed off to find his favorite mage confident that she could help him.

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At first, Kallian had been reluctant to bring Zevran around her family.  His shameless flirting might have given some the wrong idea about them.  The real danger was after she did bring him around, was Shianni.  She was quite taken with Zev.  That could be a problem, if Zev were just looking for another conquest; Shianni would be crushed.

Kallian flexed her fingers; most of her joints had become very sore since she got pregnant.  It seemed to get worse the farther along she got.  Whether it was normal or not, she didn't know.  But, she didn't worry; Wynne assured her everything was fine.  That was all that mattered.

"You look so tense Cara mia, I could make you feel much better.  My Antivian massages have never disappointed."

Kallian shook her head, "I don't know Zev, your massages are never just a massage."

Zevran gasped with a look of mock hurt on his face.  He put his hand over his heart.  "You wound me carazon." He came around and took a seat beside her.  "All jesting aside my friend, you seem to be in pain constantly.  This is not normal, no?"

Kallian bit her lip and shook her head.  "I don't know Zev.  It could be because of the taint… or it could be normal for a elf/human pregnancy…"  She gasped sharply, her hands instinctively on her swollen abdomen.  They're very active, that's how I know we'll be fine."

Zevran raised an eyebrow 'they?' "The one thing I don't understand, why are you not with your heart's desire now?  Why you let some human lords come between you two.  What does it matter what some rich men think?"

"I…." Kallian bit her lip, "It's complicated Zev."

Zevran scoffed, "No Cara mia, it's not.  You love Alistair, and he loves you.  It's simple, no?"

She simply shook her head, "It should be, but the lords deem me unsuitable for the king.  He needs a proper  ….wife to bear his heir."

"Ahh, but he has an heir, no?  Besides those are all the good Arl's reasons.  What are Alistair's?  What did he say when you told him?"

Kallian averted his gaze, "I… I didn't think about it like that.  I thought I was doing the best thing.  I didn't tell him…"

Zevran crossed his arms, "So you punish him for some foolish nobles?  Why are you so sure they will not accept you?  You were good enough to throw to the Archdemon, but, not good enough now?  Pah!"  To further his point, he turned to face her.  He put his hand on her rounded abdomen.  "You want this child yes?  What makes you think Alistair would not?"

Kallian was speechless, she had been so convinced she did it for his good; she hadn't stopped to consider what Alistair would think.  'How could I have been so blind?'