"It doesn't occur to you," says Alistair, very quiet, "that I'm not ignoring what you did in Kirkwall, just choosing to forgive you for it?"

He rubs a hand over his hair. Doesn't look up.

"I'm not some lovesick -- well, I am," he amends, a touch rueful, "but I'm not blind for it. I'm well aware you did terrible things in Kirkwall, even if I don't know all the details. I just happen to think that in the years since, you've proven yourself better than who you were in Kirkwall."