Private Journal Entry

[evelea_fadewalk]

There's red lyrium in the castle, and Meredith Stannard is in the dungeon, and Neria Surana was attacked by her and injured.

I'm worried about Varric and Cullen.

In this instance, for all Cullen's dedication to justice and fairness benefited me specifically, I do wish that Neria had turned into a bear and bitten the cursed woman's head off.

And I'm a coward. A lifetime of toeing the line in the Circle, with the Gallows hanging over the apprentice quarters as a threat to be satisfied with what we had in Ostwick, cannot be overturned by having a hand that glows and knowing that the Knight Commander Meredith is contained.

If I were brave I would gather the tribunal necessary to sentence her to execution for the crimes she has committed here and also in her own time, for the abuses at the Gallows were legendary, many of them violating the laws of the Chantry and the Templar Order.

But those are crimes that Cullen carries heavy on his shoulders, that he was not ignorant of, and knowing that they were wrong now... it doesn't obviate his responsibility, which is something he is well aware of, and struggles to make right.

So for Meredith... is there a redemption away from her position of power and the source of her madness that can be offered her as well?

This is foolish. She is detained, her red lyrium sword has been taken from her, and the immediate threat is past. Perhaps Cullen is the only one qualified to pass judgement on her, but in doing so I fear he will pass a heavier judgement on himself.