Kallian is not sure why she got Sten his sword back. In Haven, he was definitely insubordinate, challenging her like that. And most unwise; the Blight could not be defeated without even one noble ally. She thinks of what others would have done in her place; Shianni would have probably bottled him for that insubordination. Leliana or Alistair might have tried to reason with him. Oghren or maybe Zevran would have probably deferred to Sten.
She doesn't like to think about kindnesses too seriously. All she knows is that he asked this of her, believing it to be a lost cause, but since she got leads anyway she decided whyever not?
She would not have made any inquiries at all if Haven happened first, but it did not. What's done is done. She has the sword, and no good would it do to her to keep it.
Kallian does not notice something change in Sten. She wanted to go back to her bath, to Zevran and his Antivan massages.
"Thank you… kadan," the giant whispers, his voice heavy.
"I have a name, you know," Kallian says in a mirthful, if rushing, voice. "Kallian Tabris. As does everyone else in the group. There's Zevran, Morrigan, Alistair, Leliana, Wynne, Oghren and our mabari, Chaser. And then there's Bodhan and Sandal, don't ever forget they provide us most of our resources."
She understands that in the Qun, they have no names, only designations, even job descriptions. That would be too strange, too otherworldly: names gave people their identity, the beginning of their freedoms. Too much rigidness that forbids even names frightens her. She does not want to be reduced to only her rank, her purpose. She wants to be valued for what she is, not what she is capable of or is designated to do.
"What does 'kadan' mean?" she asks him.
"It means 'someone highly valued,'" Sten says with a smile. "You, Kallian Tabris, are the only one of high value here, in this cold blighted land."
"That's not necessarily true," Kallian answers, delighted that she finally made the giant smile. "You like cookies, yes, and kittens? And Leliana's seen you picking flowers. Surely, they are valuable too."
"Yes, and no," Sten answers. "But you will learn that, in time. You will learn that value is not necessarily tied to duty, even if most things valuable are dutiful. Like beauty. It is valuable. But for now, go back to your lover. He is waiting for you, and those fragrant things in your pocket."
Kallian smiles. That was the longest discussion she's had with Sten, and the weirdest in her life with anyone. She's not sure Zevran would believe her if she told him about this.