Of course it was raining.

The Inquisitor stared out at the rain from the doorway to Val Royeaux's prison. The last week had been a mess. Many people had been contacting the Inquisition about dealing with various dragons throughout Thedas and Tessa had been scouting out the one in Crestwood when she received the message from Josephine about Blackwall going missing at Skyhold.

Tessa had read the message Blackwall had left behind and immediately headed to Val Royeaux, only taking Cassandra and Vivienne with her. Hopefully, Dorian and Varric could keep Iron Bull from going and fighting the dragon by himself until she returned.

Now, Tessa was waiting for Cullen to arrive. The Inquisitor didn't know what else to do when the guards at Val Royeaux wouldn't give Blackwall...or Rainier now, over into her custody. Perhaps the Commander would have a better idea of what to do and he probably would have more authority in this situation than she would.

The clicking of hooves on pavement sounded over the rain and Tessa's shoulders sagged in relief when she saw Cullen quickly approaching on Phillip with a small squad of soldiers behind him.

The Commander dismounted and only pulled off his lion helm when he was in the safety of the prison office. The humidity and the rain had caused his normally perfectly styled hair to curl more than usual.

"What did you find?" Tessa asked, biting her lip. Right after she talked to Blackwall-Rainier, she had to remember that he was Rainier now-about what he had done, she knew there had to be some way for him to avoid the death penalty. The Inquisitor had a gut feeling about the man, he truly was trying to do good now and the Inquisition needed men like him.

Cullen reached into his cloak pocket and pulled out a rolled up report. "I have Leliana's report on Thom Rainier."

Tessa began to read and she was surprised to find that she couldn't focus. "Give me the overview," she ordered with more authority than she felt. Her thoughts kept swirling as if they were in the middle of the storm outside.

She also had to be this way because three Orlesian guards were standing nearby.

"Looks like our friend was once a respected Captain in the Imperial Orlesian Army. Before the Civil War, he was turned, and was persuaded to assassinate one of Celene's biggest supporters. He led a group of fiercely loyal men on this mission, and told them nothing of it."

Cullen, quite frankly, had one of the most impressive scowls Tessa had ever seen in her life. That scowl was slowly forming as he kept telling her Rainier's crimes.

"His men took the fall for him. A few lucky one's, like Mornay, managed to escape."

Tessa tilted her head as she looked down at the report again. Maker, Blackwall-no, Rainier-tricked them all. The Inquisitor was subconsciously beating herself up about it. She should have been able to see this from the start!

"Thank you...it helps make things a little more clear."

It was amazing how Cullen could easily tell what she was thinking. He stepped closer, appearing to be having a hushed conversation with her now, but was actually reaching forward to trace the backs of his knuckles over the hand holding the report. "Don't blame yourself. We all made this mistake," he whispered.

He stepped away again, resuming his role of Commander while tucking his helm under his arm. "So what do we do now? Black...Rainier has accepted his fate, but you don't have to, we have resources. If we release him, you can pass judgement yourself."

"If it were up to you, what would happen?" she asked quietly. Cullen knew more about being in an army and leading troops more than she ever would. She needed to know how a military mind would think of this situation. Thank the Maker he came in person, she was glad she accepted Vivienne's advice on the matter.

The Enchanter said that the Commander would have more influence and power to get Rainier into the Inquisition's hands.

Cullen's famous scowl was full blown now. Eyebrows heavily drawn over flashing amber eyes, nose scrunched up and lips turned down. "What he did to the men under his command was unacceptable. He betrayed their trust, betrayed ours. I despise him for it."

It was surprising to hear that Cullen felt so strongly about it, but she could tell that he wanted to say more, so she remained silent.

"And yet," Cullen sighed, his scowl slowly disappearing, "he fought as a Warden. Joined the Inquisition. Gave his blood for our cause. And the moment he shakes off his past, he turns around and owns up to it. Why?"

The Commander and the Inquisitor stared out into the pouring rain for many moments. The cobblestones of the neatly manicured street had puddles forming all around and the darkened, cloudy sky took away Val Royeaux's usual splendor.

"He wanted to change," Tessa finally decided, putting everything she knew about the man that fought by her side into her answer, "To prove that he finally left his past behind, he had to face up to it."

Cullen stepped closer to her, letting out another small sigh. "Saving Mornay took courage. I'll give him that. But," he turned so they were facing each other once again. "I can't tell you what to do."

The rain pounded heavily against the ground. Thunder rumbled in the distance and lightning illuminated everything in a blinding white light for a fleeting moment as she made her decision.

"Have him released to us."