A/N: I started this one to help get over any writer's block for The Migration. It has taken on a life of its own. R&R if you feel so inclined. Last edit 2/13/2014

Summary: Alternate Universe. No Blight comes and Kallian Tabris leaves home to go to the Highever Alienage to meet her future husband. Nerves ensue.

What Duty Dictates

Part 1

Kallian stood under the Vhenadahl of the Highever Alienage. Her bags were at her feet, and she was fiddling with the end of her auburn hair trying not to stare at anyone too long in the eye. Already she'd gotten several odd looks, one or two glares, and one out-and-out gawking. The word "betrothed" was being tossed about in whispers. Apparently, news of the impending wedding had already spread through the Alienage and most had already known what she was there for. While she didn't mind the speculation, she only wished that the hahren - Sarethia was her name - hadn't left her to wait there and make her feel like she was on display.

The family she was to marry into had sent a very sizable dowry to her father. Enough to get her a new set of clothes and pay for a carriage trip from Denerim to Highever. It was safer then trying the trip on her own and it got her here fast enough to beat the coming snows.

That morning she had gotten to Highever and the moment she stepped off the carriage she was subjected to ridicule by a human. It took the human coach driver to tell him that she had paid for the trip and that she was no servant in order for him to relent. The arguing had caused a small crowd to gather and that set her nerves even more on edge. By the time they dispersed she was more than ready to hide her head in the Alienage.

At least the hahren was understanding. When she met her, Kallian fumbled over her words until Sarethia put a hand on her shoulder and gave some encouragement. It set her somewhat at ease, but she still had yet to meet her husband to be. The hahren was retrieving him and the longer she had to wait the more she wondered if Sarethia was going all the way to Gwaren to get him.

Forcing her hands to stop fiddling, she clasped them in front of her only to end up fiddling with the front of her skirt. It was silly. Kallian had come across things in Denerim that would have made those with weak constitutions ill and quaking in their boots. The skills her mother gave her made her perhaps a little foolish at times and take risks no other elf would be willing to do, but it gave her a steady hand and icy nerves when faced with danger. Yet, the thought of meeting her betrothed had her in absolute knots. Questions kept filtering into her head that wouldn't stop.

What if he was an idiot? What if he smelled? What if he was some human-ish brute who liked to beat his spouse? Would he really be able to provide for her? What if he wasn't as handsome as her father had said? What if he was as handsome as father had said? What if his family didn't like her? What if HE didn't like her? Was it really right to leave her father alone with just her cousins to keep him company? Maybe she should have ran off to find the Dalish like Soris suggested?

What about the wedding night? Would they be expected to . . . to . . . that night or could they take their time? Would they lock them in some room until she conceived? Should she tell him she's been with a man already? If she did, how would he take it? What if he's never been with a woman before? What if he has? What if the love making was bad? . . . what if it was good?

Kallian knew her cheeks were flushing now as a chill breeze wafted through the street and cooled her face. She wrapped the simple wool cloak tighter about her and tried to pull her thoughts away from what might, could, or would happen in bed between them.

Meet the man first, for Maker's sake. Then take it from there, ninny.

Somehow she could imagine Shianni telling her exactly that and had to quirk a smile at the thought. Just then she saw an elf roughly her own age walk up to her wearing a blacksmith's apron and a worried expression. There were black smudges on his face and a sheen of sweat across his brow. Despite the grime he had a handsome face with a strong jaw line, a long straight nose, and light blue eyes that contrasted well with the lightness of his skin and blond of his hair. He also had broad shoulders and it was then that she remembered her father mentioning, briefly, that he was an apprentice blacksmith at his father's shop.

"E-excuse me. You're Kallian, correct?" His voice wasn't unpleasing to her ears.

"Yes," she replied, feeling her heart thump, and turned to face him. "That would be me."

She smiled and knew she looked nervous. He stared at her for some good long moments, his mouth slightly open as if to say something. Kallian felt herself blush again and he shook himself slightly, realizing he was gaping.

"Good, then that makes me-," he winced. "I mean, I'm your-," another wince, and he sighed. "I'm Nelaros." Giving a nervous laugh and a shrug, he added, "Your betrothed."

Kallian opened her mouth to respond, but found the words wouldn't come out. She almost didn't know what to say that wasn't going to sound horribly awkward. That and she was somewhat taken aback by just how good looking he really was.

"It's nice to meet you, Nelaros . . . finally," she settled on saying something simple. "Though I thought that the hahren was getting you so she could introduce us to one another?"

"You did?" His eyebrows raised and he rubbed the back of his head with a hand. "Let me guess, she told you that."

Kallian nodded and bit her lower lip lightly. Nelaros quirked a more genuine smile then shook his head.

"Leave it to the hahren to pull something like this. She told me specifically that you were waiting for me under the Vhenadahl and had been waiting for hours now." He gave a sheepish grin. "Said I had to get over here immediately and introduce myself. Guess she thought it best to just toss us together. Sarethia is like that." He added worriedly, "Though you haven't been waiting for hours... have you?"

Kallian laughed and shook her head, "No. It's not been that long." She paused, offering a more natural smile, "Might of felt like it, though."

He chuckled. She liked the way it sounded. It was subtle, but some of the nervousness and tension in the air abated. Only some. Perhaps they both realized one was just as nervous as the other.

"Why don't we get you settled in, then," he motioned to her feet. "I take it those are your bags?"

"Yes," she nodded again. "Where will I be staying?"

She started to stoop to gather her things, but Nelaros was there first and he picked up her bags with little problem. There was a slight upturned quirk to his lip and a glint in his eye when he looked at her, as if to say no fiancé of his would be carrying any sort of load. Kallian wasn't sure if she was blushing to her ears yet, but if not she was well on her way to it. She didn't object and followed him.

"The wedding isn't going to be until tomorrow so for tonight you'll be staying with my sister and her husband," he tried to speak lightly. "Afterwards you'll be staying with father and myself."

She was certain there was something of a nervous squeak in his voice at the mention of staying with him.

"You have a sister?"

Nelaros nodded, "Yes. Nesiara. I also have an older brother, but he went to South Reach to get married there. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No. I'm an only child," she thought a moment. "Though I apparently had an older brother, but he passed away some time ago. I was just a baby then, so I don't even recall him."

"Oh."

Kallian kicked herself for turning the conversation a little dour, but Nelaros took it in stride.

"Too bad. There's something to be said for growing up with siblings."

"Well," she mused, wanting to help salvage the talk, "I might not have grown up with a brother or sister, but I do have my cousins. They both lost their parents at young ages so we did grow up together. We certainly bickered like siblings."

He smiled at her again, "That's good. Glad to know you didn't grow up alone."

Somehow that made her heart flutter. Whether it was because of his smile, him being happy for her, or a combination of both, she didn't know.

"I, uh, guess I need to apologize for not cleaning up and looking a little more respectable before meeting you," he said, glancing at her as they walked side-by-side. "But you sort of showed up earlier than we were expecting and the hahren caught me in the middle of work and . . . "

She shook her head, "I should be the one apologizing. Father and I decided it would be best to avoid the snows. Better to get here early than get stuck in a drift and not show up at all. Besides . . . " Looking at his profile, she grinned lightly. "It eases my worries to know that you were hard at work and not just loafing about."

Nelaros blushed at that and stammered out his words, "W-well, I . . . I do want to be a good provider for you. That and father wouldn't allow me to loaf about. Not that I would! I mean . . . "

He looked at her then and it seemed his words caught in his throat. Kallian started to chuckle behind a fist. She couldn't help it as she was laughing at them both. They were just a basket of nerves and it sounded like they were worried about the same exact things. The corner of his lip turned up again and he started to chuckle, too.

Breathing out a sigh he stopped a moment to look directly at her. He wasn't stammering any more, "What I mean to say is . . . here you are being taken away from house and home to move far away from family just to marry a complete stranger. We're doing what duty says we should and it's very unfair to you. So, I want to do right by you to make up for the unfairness of it. I want to make you feel welcome and . . . I want to be a good husband for you."

Kallian damned her cheeks and the tips of her ears for refusing to stop flushing, "That's . . . extremely considerate of you." She felt herself tense, trying to think of something polite to say, but then chuckled at herself and shook her head. Relaxing, she smiled up at him, "But you don't have to shoulder it all yourself. You'll be marrying a stranger, too. I'm no slouch when it comes to bringing in coin for the family and, from what I've been told, I can make a rather savory batch of fish 'n chips."

Nelaros' eyebrows raised slightly, then he gave a soft smile. "You'll have to make it for me sometime, then."

She smiled in return, "Count on it."

With that they continued on their way, walking just a little closer to one another. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad, after all.