(closed) some days I don't know if I am wrong or right

[fightingale]

WHO: Cassandra, Gavin & Leliana; closed
WHAT: interview chat times
WHEN: I think backdated a little, specifics to be confirmed
WHERE: A room adjacent to the dungeons
NOTES: I'LL DO THIS LATER but also don't try to write logs while listening to kpop, the urge to dance makes productivity really hard

The need to speak with Gavin and see him released had already been a pressing matter, and her brief conversations with Maxwell and Sina had only served to compound the fact that the scout needed to be released sooner, rather than later - so too with Galadriel, and perhaps that was a matter that would come up, although Leliana found herself rather suspecting that was not the case. One thing at a time.

She has asked Cassandra to meet her to interview Gavin and see to his release, and a guard to collect him. The room is adjacent to the dungeons, but not in the dungeons themselves, well lit, and while it couldn't really be called welcoming or comfortable, it certainly does better than the dungeons on both counts. (The guard is ordered to be especially polite in cold, quiet tones, and even if one would hope that is the standard for all Inquisition agents, it never hurts to be thorough.)

There is a table in the centre of the room, and Leliana stands with her back to one of the corners, hands behind her back, expression difficult to read at best. When the guard ushers in Gavin, Leliana nods for him to release the shackles on his wrists that were required to bring him hence from the dungeon (standard protocol) and looks between he and Cassandra both.

"Thank you both for meeting with me. We have a good deal to talk about, the three of us," she starts, rather evenly. Galadriel, Gavin himself and his actions, his release. As a scout, Gavin fell under her authority, and in essence that meant that his insubordination had been against her as much as the Inquisition itself, for all that she agreed with the sentiment behind it. "Shall we start with why you are here? Scout Ashara, do you understand why you were imprisoned?"

It can be interesting to hear explanations on such things, from time to time.

Comments

[stabsbooks]

"Not a risk?" Cassandra stares, incredulous. "And what makes you qualified to make that claim? You were not there. You did not hear what she threatened to do. She is a risk, and it is not your place to decide that she is not, nor to undo the Inquisition's work." She glowers at him. "Are there any other decisions the Inquisition has made that you would care to point out to us, Scout Ashara? Any more mistakes we may correct?"

[fightingale]

"Nobody heard what she threatened to do," Leliana states, very quietly. "Aside from you."

It is not sufficient. That much must be obvious, by now. The word of one person, action taken in the heat of the moment with no council and no consideration of the broader consequences. She just levels a look at Cassandra, wondering if she will need to step between her and Gavin, the way she stepped between her and Evelyn so long ago.

"I do not support oath breaking," she clarifies. "But why did you feel this was the best course? Surely you did not imagine you could actually liberate her. You could have raised your concerns with any one of us." It may be that is something they both need to hear.

[slipshot]

He winced as Cassandra hissed at him, but it was Leliana's words that made his heart sink.

"We did," he said quietly. "Cyril did, Twisted Fate did. We were ignored." We was important, because he hadn't gone to them. He hadn't spoken to Cassandra, or Leliana, and he -

He couldn't help but feel ashamed of that, now.

If the Herald had been alive, he wouldn't have thought twice of it.

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra shoots Leliana what she hopes is a quelling look. This is not the time to discuss this. She is all too aware of Leliana's disapproval of Cassandra's actions, but they must appear united, at least here.

But Gavin's words make her flinch, if only inwardly, and she is silent for a moment before speaking again. When she does, though the words are anything but gentle, her tone is not as outwardly hostile as it had been.

"They were not ignored," she says. "They were...addressed. Perhaps not with the answers the elves might have wished." She pauses, Leliana's words from their earlier conversation still ringing in her ears. We cannot take someone that could symbolise hope and change to them and cage them -

She shakes her head, drawing in a breath. "They were not addressed - well. I did not address them well." She looks at Gavin again. "But that does not excuse your actions. The Inquisition must be able to trust in those who have sworn their loyalty. What you have done is treason."

[fightingale]

And what we have done to the elves and Galadriel is cruel, she thinks, though Cassandra has a point.
There were many times when she did not agree with the actions Justinia chose in and of themselves, but they had all been carefully crafted towards the goal of establishing peace. Even when Leliana had balked, she had carried out those orders due to the faith she had in Justinia, and even as she thinks it she can think of a dozen abhorrent things done in the name of orders that were no excuse. Chevaliers avenging crimes in alienages as part of their training, the Exalted March against the Dales, her orders delivered to Celene - elves, more than most, had felt the sting of people simply following orders.

It makes her jaw tighten. Treason is a heavy word to use, one that grates against her, reminds her of a knife in her gut and hanging in Harwen Raleigh's dungeon, of the brand turned against her to mark her for a crime she did not commit--

"Gavin," she starts, quietly. "The crimes are considerable. Anything less than your imprisonment up to this point would have been considered an invitation for others to act with insubordination and feel they were at no risk. Even this is a light sentence, by most standards." Death in Orlais, she remembers the fear very well. "However, the circumstances for your actions were more complex." She looks to Cassandra as well, in the hopes she will hear the suggestion of leniency and release being woven into her words, though they are in and of themselves for Gavin. "Your family worries for you, and up until this point your commitment to your duties was exemplary, though your ability to consider ahead and act to preserve your own safety have both been called into question."

Loyalty, however, had not been in question.

[slipshot]

Treason.

He doesn't look up at Cassandra as she says the word, his eyes falling to his knees and his ears drooping. It isn't a word that really exists, among the Dalish, though they have something similar. Blood betrayal. But Treason is a human word - acting against an authority that never cared for them, that often took exactly the opposite action that would care for them.

It is a dangerous word. It means death. And he knows that.

So he's only half listening as Leliana continues, but when he doesn't hear what he thought was going to be said, he looks up, confused.

"I--" But he doesn't know what to say, and glances between the two of them, in case it's a trap.

[stabsbooks]

She looks to Leliana as she speaks, frowning, but listening. It's easy enough to guess where Leliana is heading, what sort of resolution she is hoping to achieve. Release. And Cassandra doesn't necessarily disagree. She looks down at the elf cowering before them, his head, his ears - every part of him - sunk low.

He is a pitiable figure. Not a threat, certainly - he had not even come close to succeeding in actually freeing Galadriel, and she cannot imagine him trying the same thing again. Weeks ago - days ago, even - she would have been content to let him languish, her fury at his insubordination and betrayal overriding all else.

Now, looking at him, she can only think of Leliana's righteous anger on behalf of all that had been done to the elves - her pain on their behalf - and of course, the letter. Her confrontation of Cassandra with it, and Cassandra's own shock and guilt as she realized what she had done by replying to it on her own.

She bends down, enough to meet Gavin's eyes.

"Do you wish to remain in the Inquisition's service, Scout Ashara?"

This first. Treason is a heavy word, yes, but the dereliction of his duty and his actions against the Inquisition cannot be denied.

[fightingale]

The situation between her and Cassandra remains tense - tenuous - and so she does not presume to speak for Cassandra or make any grand claims. If she could read Cassandra mind, though, she might find some comfort in it, that Cassandra is calling to mind so much.

Leliana stands back, granting Gavin space, room to breathe, and to Cassandra that she can speak.

[slipshot]

"Yes."

It wasn't a question, and he didn't waver when he said it.

He thought about not saying anything else, hesitating, but he needed them to know it.

"... I - Everything I have done, I've done for the Inquisition," He continued quietly. "And I - I know I should have - should have gone to you," His eyes flickered to Leliana, there, rather than Cassandra, "And I won't... I swear I won't do anything to undermine your efforts again, I just--"

The ears drooped a little lower. "... I wish only to continue the Herald's work and uphold what she started. I - I'll accept whatever punishment you think is necessary."

[stabsbooks]

She might have questioned it, how he could possibly claim that his actions have been for the Inquisition when he had so blatantly disobeyed orders, when he had attempted to liberate a prisoner of the Inquisition itself, but she holds her tongue. It would accomplish nothing but to scare him, and he is scared enough.

And he invokes the Herald, and her jaw tightens. It's not the first time in all of this that she has wished that Evelyn was here, that they could rely on her judgement and her leadership.

But she is not. It is up to them now, and Cassandra nods.

"I propose this," she says. "You will be released. You will resume your duties as a scout, but on a probationary basis. You will perform all of your duties under supervision, and will be barred from missions outside Skyhold until Leliana and I, and your assigned supervisor, deem otherwise. You will be docked a month's pay, in addition to the cost necessary to repair the broken window." She frowns. "And should you be caught anywhere near the prisoner again, or act against the Inquisition in any way, you will be removed from duty permanently. And your punishment will be much more severe."

She glances at Leliana for confirmation. It is...not quite a peace offering. But it is important, all the same. A recognition of the fact that she does not act alone, that she will not issue decrees from on high without the Left Hand's input and approval.

"Leliana?"

[fightingale]

"I agree," Leliana surmises, rather simply, offering Cassandra a nod before looking back to Gavin. This has not been handled perfectly, but they can do better. They will do better, even though things remain tenuous and complex.

"We are not without sympathy to your concerns, Gavin, and your willingness to take responsibility for your actions does you credit. However, I will order you off your duties for three days. We will find an appropriate supervisor, and you can take the time to be with those dear to you."

And to recover, if only a little, from being in a dungeon.

"In the future if you are troubled by matters of the Inquisition, I would request that you bring these concerns to me."

And she looks back to Cassandra, then, eyebrow raised in a silent, does that cover everything?