Angelle had been in Kirkwall almost a year and there had been one disaster after another. First the Qunari had tried to take over the city and killed the Viscount, his son and maker knows how many nobles. It was only through joined forces from the guard and templars that they had manage to take back the city. Angelle had been part of the attack and had been the one to kill the Arishok. The First Enchanter had insisted that she should be rewarded, but she had refused. Angelle already felt that she was getting far more attention than she wanted. The city still hadn't chosen a new Viscount since they were all deemed unsuitable by the Knight-commander. Angelle had the distinct feeling that Meredith was holding the process of on purpose and that disturbed her. But she wasn't about the lay charges at Merediths feet. She was already furious that the Rite of Tranquillity had been suspended and Angelle had made her discharged all of the templars who had been working with Ser Alrik. Angelle had hoped this would have calmed things down, but things still became more tense. The templars had resorted to other means of punishment and Angelle didn't have any authority unless she went through the Divine. And it was hardly an option to disturb the Divine with every time a problem occurred.
On top of that working with Anders was going poorly. Every time she talked to him, he started to accuse her of supporting the templars and not using her authority the way she should. He kept pushing for mage freedom and she wanted to keep them in the circle. They kept getting into heated arguments and Angelle couldn't always tell if it was fury or passion that charged their words.
She believed she would have become insane if not for three people. Sebastian was always a source of comfort and agreed with her on most issues (that she was allowed to discuss) about mages. They had become quite close and Sebastian had hinted that he hoped one day to enter a chaste marriage. It had warmed her heart, but she had always expected love to be more... overflowing. Never the less she felt some sort of peace and happiness in his company and looked forward to the day when he finally asked her. Angelle had never considered marriage, but with her so devoted to her career a chaste marriage seemed like a good solution.
In the Gallows she worked closely with Knight-Captain Cullen. He was a nice man and very devoted to the order, but nearly as cold as the commander. He gave her a good inside in to the daily troubles of the order and she was convinced he could help her find a peaceful solution to the mage problem.
The only other friend she had was the dwarf Varric. She had continued to come to him for information, but now she just visited him for the company. He always made her laugh and for a little while she forgot that there even was such a thing as templars and mages.
It was late at the Gallows. Angelle hadn't meant to stay this long, but she had a lot of paperwork to go through. Because of the late hour she had to stay the night. She was walking down the hall when she heard a girl crying violently and men laughing. She went to door where the sound was coming from. When she opened the door she was horrified. A young woman, Angelle recognized to be a mage, was naked and bend over a desk. Two templars where pinning her down, while the third was raping her. In the corner was a young, male, elven mage tied and gagged to a chair, while tears were falling down his face.
"Release that girl! NOW!" Angelle screamed. The templars released the girl and made ready to attack Hawke. The girl ran towards the other mage as she continued to cry. One of the templars ran towards Hawke. She quickly moved to the side as he charged her and sliced his leg with one her daggers. He fell to the floor screaming in agony. The other templar started swinging his sword in big movements, while Hawke blocked them. The third templar came up from behind her and grabbed her waist. She swung her hand back and with the handle of her right dagger, she crushed his nose. She was about to make short work of last when Cullen entered the room, undoubtedly after hearing the noise.
"What in the name of Andraste is going on?" He looked at the mages in the corner and his face was struck with horror. He called a number of other templars and had them take the three, now heavily wounded, templars into custody. Hawke found a blanket and put it around the girl, while Cullen released the male mage. When the mage was released he went to the girl, holding her close while kissing her hair and whispering words of comfort. Hawke and Cullen eyes met. Neither of them knew what had happened, but asked the male mage all the same. After a moment's hesitation he told them that he and the girl were in love and had snuck out of their rooms to meet. They had hid in this room, when the templars had found them. As punishment for having physical intimacy, they raped the girl while forcing him to watch. Cullen took the mages back to their quarters.
Angelle felt sick. Of all the things she had seen this was the worst. No demon or abomination could have terrified her more. That had to be worse than being made tranquil. They had to live with those emotional scars for the rest of their lives, but at least they could sleep more easily knowing that the men would be punished.
The next morning Hawke went to the Knight-commanders office hoping to get answers to what was being done about the templars from the assault. She knocked on the door and was asked to enter.
"Hawke. Cullen told me about the unfortunate incident last night. It was good no one was seriously harmed."
Hawke was shocked by the calmness Meredith showed.
"With all due respect commander, I think the mage girl might disagree. I trust the templars responsible have been dealt with?"
"Yes. The templar that was responsible for the actual violation has been suspended without pay and the two other have been reprimanded."
Angelle couldn't believe what she was hearing. Suspended and reprimanded! For raping an innocent girl! She could feel her blood overflowing with rage and wanted to strangle Meredith, but tried hard to remain in control.
"I thought a more severe punishment was required in these situations?"
"Normally, yes. But since you have made me dismiss so many of my templars, my forces are scares. With the current situation in the city people are not lining up to join the order. We are going to search Darktown for apostates again tonight and I cannot spare anyone at the moment."
Angelle lost her breath. Was she really the reason why justice could not be given to this girl? If she had not dismissed all of Ser Alriks men... But then they would have made many more mages tranquil. She felt sick.
"What about the young mages? How are they?"
"The girl is still in the infirmary and the man has been locked in a cell in the dungeon."
Angelle was so shocked she replied without thinking.
"What? Why?"
"Romantic attachments are not permitted as you well know. We can't afford to be lenient even under these dire circumstances."
Angelle was horrified. She needed to get out of that office. She got up said goodbye to Meredith in as pleasant a way as she could master. She felt utterly sick and as she went to the Gallows harbour for some fresh air, she ended up throwing up in the ocean. There must be something she could do for them. Of course! The Grand Cleric! Surely she would help. Hawke made her way to the Chantry.
About an hour later in the Chantry.
"So you won't help? A girl is raped, her lover tortured and imprisoned and you would do nothing?" Angelle felt her blood boiling, as Grand Cleric Elthina seemed unwilling to take action.
"I cannot get involved, Hawke. Meredith will see justice done in the way the templars see fit. I feel for the mages, but if I involve myself in this incident the templars will see it as a challenge."
"But the templars are under the command of the Chantry."
"Yes, but the Chantry is not an angry father always with the whip in hand. She is a gentle mother that knows that her children learn best when allowed to learn themselves."
"But..."
"I am sorry child, but I cannot take sides. If I were to involve myself in this incident it will be seen as if I am taking sides."
Angelle felt like she was about to explode with rage.
"Sebastian, please." Angelle begged, hoping that he would support her and make the Grand Cleric reconsider.
"Her grace is right, Hawke. The templars have been punished and we cannot allow ourselves to be lenient." Sebastian said trying to make her calm down by holding her shoulders gently.
Angelle couldn't believe what she was hearing. She twisted herself from Sebastian's grip and tried to walk out the Chantry. She tried to seem calm, tried not to seem as furious as she felt. She walked through Hightown and then began to run. She entered her apartment and went to the window. When she looked down at the Gallows she gave a loud furious scream. What if Anders was right? What if the circle could never be changed?