No Armor Against Fate (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

Full Disclosure

Eamon showed Alistair into the sitting room where Dorothea was waiting. She stood up, a hesitant smile curving her soft mouth. Fresh from Thora's side, Alistair thought how very tall Dorothea seemed. It was going to be strange, getting used to being with a woman who was that size. Oh, Maker, what was wrong with him, obsessing over her height? He ran a hand through his hair.

"Dorothea," he said, trying to smile at her. "I hope you're well?"

"Oh, yes, perfectly," she said. She was watching him closely. Alistair wondered what she saw. "I hope your trip was uneventful."

He gave a surprised laugh. "Uneventful is not the word I would use, no. But while ... surprising, the events weren't necessarily ... bad." At least, he hoped she would think so. "Dorothea, perhaps we should sit down."

"Certainly, Your Majesty."

"Please, could you call me Alistair? I mean, really this time. If we're going to be married—"

"If?" Her eyes caught his, startled. "I thought it was settled."

"That," he said carefully, "will be up to you. In the meantime, I need you to call me by my name instead of my title. Please?" Unconsciously, he used his most winning look, the one even Thora could rarely resist.

"Of course," Dorothea said, smiling at him. "If that's what you want."

"It is. Now, please, will you also come sit down? I'm really not used to all this ... formality. I haven't been a noble for very long, you know."

"You were a Grey Warden before, right?" She sat down on the chaise, gesturing to him to sit as well.

Alistair took a chair across from her, leaning forward toward her. "I am still a Grey Warden. Being a Grey Warden is something that is, quite literally, in your blood. You don't just stop."

Dorothea shivered. "In your blood? That doesn't sound pleasant."

"It's not, particularly. It means a couple of things that you need to know about, before you agree that you want to get married to me."

She took a deep breath, waiting.

"The first is that I won't live a full lifespan. It's a little less than 30 years, I would say, before the taint in my blood becomes too much and I'll—die." Dorothea gasped, looking horrified. Alistair shrugged uncomfortably. "It's not so bad, really. The ... second part is a bit more troubling, and will affect you personally a bit more." Her eyes widened in something that looked like fear. "It won't hurt you, I promise," he said hastily. "Nothing like that." He swallowed. "Due to the taint in the blood, it is very difficult for a Grey Warden to father a child."

"Oh," she said softly.

"As you may know, one reason that it is important that I marry quickly is to ensure the succession of the Theirin line by providing the kingdom with an heir. However, it is entirely possible that it won't happen." He stood up, running a hand through his hair.

After a moment, Dorothea said, "All right, I think I understand. Is the shorter lifespan and the ... problem with having children all I need to know?"

He shook his head. "Not entirely. Those are the problems that come with being a Grey Warden. There is another ... complication that I think you need to know about before you make your agreement to this marriage final." Alistair turned to look at the young woman on the chaise. "How much do you know about the ending of the Blight?"

"That you and some companions were responsible for it? You killed the Archdemon and ended the civil war," said Dorothea. "Is there more I should know?"