Marian remembered the first time she'd seen Knight-Commander Meredith striding across Hightown. She'd been in Kirkwall long enough to know that the Templars' ability to sense mages was so badly affected by the weakened Veil and the design of the city that she'd have to actually cast in front of them to be identified, and so had stood straight and tall, unconcerned. The Knight-Commander and the Templars in Kirkwall expected a mage to cower and hide from them, and that's what usually gave them away.
The Knight-Commander was intimidating, with her cold blue eyes, the harsh squint that said she was judging everyone her gaze fell on and finding them wanting, the pale skin and hair that only intensified the iciness she projected. And the crown, the ridiculous crown. It was a replica of Andraste's.
As a mage, and more importantly, an apostate, Marian knew a lot about Templars. She didn't know of any other female Templar, Knight-Commander or no, that wore a crown like Meredith did. At the time, after Meredith had passed, Marian had elbowed Carver and muttered, "She thinks highly of herself, doesn't she?"
"Eh what?" Carver looked up from whatever he was being distracted by and looked over the Knight-Commander.
"She's wearing Andraste's crown. Must think highly of herself if she thinks she's up there with the Bride of the Maker."
Carver had snorted, thinking nothing of it.
Three years later, Marian was talking to Sebastian when she asked, "Is it normal for female Templars to dress like Knight-Commander Meredith?"
"Well, no." The Chantry prince looked uncomfortable at the question. "It is a well-known fact that the Knight-Commander is an exceptionally devout Templar, however."
"So it doesn't strike anyone as odd that she's got Andraste's crown on every day?"
"I believe the Grand Cleric has mentioned the unusual choice of Meredith's accessories."
"And she still swans around in costume as Andraste?"
"It's… it's complicated, Hawke."
"Translation: the Grand Cleric is terrified of her and won't say anything more."
Sebastian sighed. "Hawke, don't you have someone else to frustrate endlessly?"
"Not today! Today I'm all yours!" He groaned and put his head in his hands
In the Gallows courtyard, Meredith shoved Cullen aside and charged for Marian. Templars still loyal to the insane Knight-Commander charged at her companions, leaving the two of them to square off against each other.
The familiar weight of her halberd in her hands was reassuring to Marian. Meredith was used to the Circle mages, cowering and flinching away from a shout or upraised hand. The shock on her face when the butt end of the halberd smashed into her jaw was satisfying on a soul-deep level. Even more so, the clatter as the crown and veil flew free and rolled across the pavement. "How does it feel to be reminded you're no holy being, Meredith? You're no Andraste."
The Knight-Commander screamed and lifted the red lyrium blade, charging at Marian again. "Filthy mage!"
"And proud of it."