Meredith
Meredith Stannard, Knight-Commander of Kirkwall, was a hard woman. She'd been a member of the order for thirty-four years. Her rise through the ranks, which unlike the Chantry had always favored men in positions of leadership, was nearly unheard of. But such obstacles were nothing to her. She was a woman of great determination, strength and faith. The Maker had tried her, had tested her, and she'd proven herself true.
If only trust was more easily earned.
She pinched the bridge of her nose with two fingers when Cullen exited her office.
She'd struggled with her decision to promote him, prayed over it, had very nearly gone to the Revered Mother with it, that old fool, before she'd finally reached her decision.
Ser Cullen was everything a Templar should be, or very nearly, she thought. He was a dedicated man of faith, a strong leader with a firm hand, and most importantly, he was no fool. His experiences in Ferelden had opened his eyes to the dangers which can lie behind a pretty face. He was hard on his men, pushing them harder than many of them had been pushed before, and he got results. He was intelligent, well-educated and had a remarkable head for politics. He would make an outstanding Knight-Commander someday.
But still, she had nearly reconsidered her desire to promote him no fewer than a dozen times. But the fault lay not with him, but with her.
In times of weakness, brief moments when she was no longer Knight-Commander and simply Meredith, she had thought of him. Maker help her, she'd thought of him in the most sinful manner. There was something about him which made her regret all of those long lonely nights, knee's sore from prayer rather than wrapped snugly around a lover. Regret those years of having to carry her burdens alone.
She did not allow her thoughts to linger on such things; such trivial wants did not matter, not truly. She'd had a legacy she could be proud of. But when she had considered who she was going to appoint second in command, and she could only think of one Knight in particular, she had paused to consider her reasoning, for the simple matter that she found him attractive in both body and spirit and feared she might be promoting him without merit. She'd nearly passed him over in a less qualified knight, but had regained her sense and appointed him regardless of her desires.
She did not regret her decision. However, though she trusted him well, it was not enough. There was too much at stake. Matters were escalating within the circle, within the entire city. The Qunari were becoming increasingly problematic, tensions within the circle were at an all-time high, and trust in the order was at an all-time low. The Viscount had proved himself useless, as had that old fool in the chantry, and throughout the city a name on the lips of half the citizenry was one which had caused her no end of irritation.
Hawke.
She remembered the first time she'd heard that name. Ser Cullen had made the report in person, crediting this Ferelden refugee for assisting him in unfolding a plot to plant possessed recruits within the ranks. Had it been successful it could have meant the end of Meredith's career. She wondered if Hawke knew it, that she had inadvertently made certain that Meredith retained her position.
She'd never met the other woman, though she'd seen her, time and time again, from a distance. Heard of her exploits as well, some of which were the stuff of stories already. She'd gone from living in squalor in Lowtown to restoring her family's estate in Hightown in less than two years. She'd helped to clean up some of the more organized gangs of thugs in the city, somehow found favor with the Viscount, and now had the Guard Captain in her pocket.
In truth, Meredith admired her for her ambition and resourcefulness, but that was where her admiration ended. Hawke was a known mage sympathizer who did not hide her dislike of the circle and the order, and had no issue with vocalizing her opinions. She'd seen Hawke at the Gallows, though they'd had yet to be introduced, seen her sniffing around Ser Cullen like a bitch in heat. Of late, she'd even heard rumors that the two were more than acquaintances. The idea disturbed her.
Cullen's focus should be on his duty, not on some Ferelden whore come to turn the city inside out. She feared that Hawke would cause him to lose sight of what truly mattered - or worse.
Well, let her brother seek a position within the ranks, she thought. It was past time the Ferelden bitch was put on a leash.
