Cullen continued to watch Alex as she sat on the throne of the Skyhold castle, looking tired but determined. They had gathered after she had finally decided to do judgment on all her prisoners, which included the enemies she had recently battled. But then again, he knew why she had decided to render her judgment.

After Blackwall's disappearance, Leliana's scouts reported that the man had headed to Val Royeaux to stop a hanging. When she got there, a man named Mornay was supposed to be hanged for crimes of murdering the Callier family, who were Empress Celene's allies. Blackwall had interrupted the proceedings, telling that Mornay was simply following the orders of his captain, a man named Thom Rainier.

But as the Orlesian guards asked where to find the man, Blackwall had stepped forward, shocking her breathless when he said that he is Thom Rainier.

She had spoken to him in the jails of Val Royeaux, and the truth was finally revealed. Thom Rainier was once a mercenary, serving Ser Robert Chapuis, who was an ally of Grand Duke Gaspard. Chapuis had ordered Rainer and his men to murder Vincent Callier, but the assault became a massacre, as they had also murdered Callier's wife, and his two children. Gaspard disavowed their actions and Chapuis committed suicide, while Rainier's men were arrested as he escaped.

When she asked about the real Blackwall, Rainier confessed that he had met the Warden in a tavern after he had protected a bar mail from being harassed by militia men. Blackwall saw his potential, and asked him to join the Wardens in Val Chevin. They were on their way there, stopping by the Storm Coast to gather darkspawn blood as ordered by Blackwall. Rainier entered the Deep Roads to gather the ingredient, but as he returned to the surface, he found the Warden ambushed by darkspawn. Despite fighting hard , they were overcome, and the Warden took a fatal blow meant for Rainier. Blackwall died, and Thom Rainier took his name and his mantle… not just to hide the fact that the Warden was dead, but also to honor the man by turning over a new leaf and doing good deeds.

Alex spoke to Cullen, telling him to have him released to the Inquisition, and although he disagreed with her decision, he knew that Alex considered the man as one of her closest allies, who protected her with his shield various times during battle. She had deferred the decision to Josephine, who seemed eager enough to speak with Empress Celene and her court, who gave Rainier to them as a token of gratitude since the Inquisition had saved Celene's life back in Halamshiral.

He heard Alex sigh from the throne, and he looked at her to see her drinking wine from the table next to her throne. She had conscripted Gereon Alexius, Florianne the Chalons, the Sahrnia Mayor Mistress Poulin, and a smuggler Crassius Servis to service to the Inquisition, while she had exiled a few more people, namely Mayor Dedrick of Crestwood, a Warden named Ser Ruth and Chief Movran the Under, whose son she had battled for the released of her soldiers in the Fallow Mire. There was only one person she decided to execute herself… Livius Erimond, and she could see that she was itching to behead the man herself.

But as his soldiers approached the throne, pushing Blackwall… or rather, Thom Rainier, towards her, he saw her sit up straighter, looking down at her former comrade. Pity entered her features as she looked at the shackles on his wrist, but she steeled herself as Josephine spoke.

"For judgment this day, Inquisitor…" Josephine said, although her voice was strained. Alex looked over to her to see the woman was pained, and she quite understood, as Josephine admired the man before them once. "I must present Captain Thom Rainier, formerly known to us as Warden Blackwall."

'Blackwall' remained staring at the floor as Josephine continued, "His crimes… well, you are aware of his crimes. It was no small expense to bring him here, but the decision of what to do with him is now yours."

Josephine stepped aside as Alex looked down at him, and her face became saddened, "I didn't think this would be easy, but it's harder than I thought."

"Another thing to regret." Blackwall said as he looked up at Alex, "What did you have to do to release me?"

Alex shrugged before looking at Josephine, and 'Blackwall' followed her gaze as the Ambassador looked down at the floor shyly, "Josephine called in a few favors. There are enough people out there who owe the Inquisition."

Blackwall scowled up at her, "And what happens to the reputation the Ambassador has so carefully cultivated? The world will learn how you've used your influence. They'll know the Inquisition is corrupt."

"Once the world is back to normal, no one will even remember this." Alex said.

His scowl grew darker, "I'll remember. I accepted my punishment. I was ready for all this to end. Why would you stop it? What becomes of me now?"

Alex was silent for a moment, looking at him, until finally her face softened and she sighed, "You have your freedom."

Blackwall's eyes widened in surprise, "It cannot be as simple as that."

Alex shook her head a little, "It isn't. You're free to atone as the man you are, not the traitor you thought you were or the Warden you pretended to be."

Blackwall looked down at the floor again, trying to make sense of her decision, "The man I am… I barely knew him. But he… I have a lot to make up for."

He bent down a little, closing his eyes, before sighing and looking up at her, his face relieved and he even had a small smile on his face. "If my future is mine, then I pledge it to the Inquisition. My sword is yours." He chuckled a little, "If I'd say anything less, would an arrow from the rookery have snuffed me like a candle?"

Alex stood up from her throne, waving at the soldiers to release him from his chains, and they did so as she waited. When the shackles came off, she took a look at him, before coming forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to a hug. The man blinked in surprise at her, putting his hands awkwardly at his sides.

"You… are my family now too, Rainier." She told him, "I do not care what you call yourself… Rainier… Blackwall… Warden… mercenary… but your past is past. You saved many people in my service, and I consider you my friend. I will not send you away, or kill you."

"But… what I did…" Blackwall sputtered out.

"Everyone has skeletons in their closet, Rainier." Alex said, and she smiled against his shoulder, "You just decided to clean yours out."

Blackwall closed his eyes and sighed in relief, and Cullen thought he saw a tear from the corner of the man's eyes. He moved his arms to hug Alex back firmly, rocking her a little like he was hugging a younger sister. "You are too kind on me, my lady. Thank you. Cullen is lucky to have a woman like you."

Alex chuckled, "And… despite what you believe, Rainier, Josephine would be lucky to have an honorable man like you." The man still his rocking, and she felt the heat increase on his cheeks but he chuckled, "Make sure to thank her… properly, later. She worked hard to convince Celene to let us have you. She cares for you too."

"I… I know." He said, "I'll do that. Thank her, I mean. But now I'm going to have to let you go now, because I can see Cullen by your shoulder and he's giving me the eye."

Alex laughed a little, before giving the man one last pat on the back and releasing him. "Take your post, Thom Rainier." She said, and he smiled a little at her before bowing to her and to Cullen, returning to his place at the barn. With the judgments of the prisoners finished, the crowd in the throne room dispersed back into their rooms, and Cullen made his way to her.

"You're too merciful, Inquisitor." Cullen told her as he stood beside her, putting his hands at the scabbard of his sword.

Alex shrugged, "I know. But I've considered him as a friend and comrade… even an older brother. And I cannot let him rot in some jail. He is… too good of an ally to do so."

Cullen sighed as he and Alex started walking, nodding at Solas as they used his rotunda to head to the battlements and to his tower, opening the door to let her in, "I understand completely. Not many men are given a new start again after such a horrible past."

Alex looked up at him, watching his face, but soon enough she smirked as she pushed the door of his office closed… and locking it. "Like you?" She whispered, running her hands up his chest through his armor.

Cullen swallowed as she drew nearer, but the scent of her lavender perfume enveloped him again, and he growled a little in wanting, "Yes… like me." He muttered out before descending on her, kissing her passionately as he pushed her against the wall, pressing his body to hers.

"I… have to go out with Varric and Cassandra later." Alex whispered hotly, her fingers like claws at his back as he lowered his head and kissed her neck, his other hand snaking its way under her shirt to grab her breast, "Think you can… distract me while they arrange for our departure?"

Her tongue darted out, licking the shell of his ear, and she nibbled lightly at its lobe, causing him growl again like a pleased lion. He lifted her up by grabbing her bottom, and her legs wrapped around his hips, grounding his hardening manhood to her center under their clothes, as he carried her to his table.

She felt him smile wickedly as he whispered, "I have just the thing in mind."