Only when he had finished speaking was Ordhan able to look steadily at her. It was childish, perhaps, and certainly cowardly, that he struggled to admit to a mistake from the past--a mistake as foolish as entering the back alleys of Denerim alone. But there was neither amusement nor mockery in the Grey Warden's face: she watched him with sympathetic eyes, shoulders slumped as if carrying a burden. Though he still felt that her decision was a misjudgment, he could not bear ill will against her for it.
Her reaction was far better than he had expected it to be. Overlooking the faults of loved ones was a very common trait, often to the point of complete blindness; but she had listened, and honestly seemed to take the news to heart. He had asked for no assurances, but she gave them nonetheless.
Ordhan bowed his head. "There is no need to apologize to me. You may be right. It was some time ago." He did not want to give his near-murderer the benefit of the doubt, but Lalin, at least, deserved it. "It wasn't my intention to burden you."