Work Text:
Mairead Surana of the Circle had been a meek young woman, trying her hardest to avoid notice. Mairead Surana of the Grey Wardens would have to be a different woman entirely. She had taken her cues from Alistair at first, but it had soon become clear that that couldn’t. Alistair was likeable enough, but shy and self-effacing, which wouldn’t do if Mairead were to be a leader. So she had turned her attentions to Morrigan. Surely this beautiful, wilfull, worldly apostate would have something about her which Mairead could model herself on.
She tried her hardest to evoke that confidence, to become someone who would be respected as leader not only because she was one of the last two Fereldan Wardens and Alistair didn’t want to do it, but because she was worthy of such respect.
Then there was Leliana. Lovely and pious, and utterly convinced of Mairead’s worthiness. It was thrilling, she had to admit. Leliana had faith that she could become the kind of woman she wanted to be. Warden Mairead Surana would be unquestionably powerful and dangerous, would become a confident woman of the world, war-leader and protector. Out of her confines, she could make herself anew.