The closer Lothering Templar, the one called Weylan whom Alderic spoke with, murmured "Excuse me, miss," and gave Bethen a slight, precise nod before returning to his post. It was polite, but perhaps slightly too stiff, one part apology and one part a warning that she was still being observed.
Alderic wasn't truly upset with Bethen, just a little hurt by the way she'd addressed him outside. The thing was, he actually understood pretty well why she'd snapped at him, even if it was a little hard to accept that Bethen- calm, friendly, even-handed Bethen- would have behaved so. It wasn't usually like her to be curt, but just about anyone would find themselves hard pressed to remain calm while someone was being as blunt and rude as Enchanter Thais had been toward her just now. With that on top of being back in this town she hadn't seen since girlhood, before the Blight...
It should have, but as of yet it hadn't entirely occurred to Alderic that, were he properly doing his duty, he should have followed Thais from the scene outside rather than Bethen. Perhaps he hadn't learned as bitter a lesson as he thought from Desiderio's unscheduled departure.
Bethen looked so small and miserable, withering under the weight of the local Templars' gazes. After she managed to look back at Alderic she eventually smiled, but he noticed how reluctant she seemed to meet his eye, the guilt in her stance. He smiled back at her understandingly, genuinely, more than willing to forgive and forget such a brief slight for the sake of an old friend with so much weight on her shoulders. He allowed her to say her piece before interjecting any thoughts of his own.
"You're right," he replied encouragingly to her last admission, "you have to ask. You shouldn't let this chance get away from you. I- when I saw you headed for the Chantry just now, I had a feeling this is what it was about- your family. You've been talking about them so much the last few days, but I'd never really heard you say anything about them before, and I couldn't help but wonder..."
He left the nature of his surmise unsaid, shrugging helplessly. Concern creeping into his tone, he tried to catch Bethen's wandering gaze. "I could come with if you like." He smiled a little more, trying to help make matters seem less grave. "For emotional support? If your voice fails I'll... step on your toe until it comes back."