[Past] Sins of the Father

While she understood Nathaniel's concern for his family, Elanna had significantly less sympathy for them than she might for Nathaniel.  He had been out of the country and away from his father's influence, but his mother and sister?  They had been here and as far as she knew they didn't do a damn thing to get in Rendon's way.  If anything they would have benefitted from his deeds and the power grab that came with them.  No, unless she learned something new Nathaniel was the only Howe that would get an ounce of empathy from her.

[color=#17b529]"I don't think anyone could have talked sense into him.  The depth of his hatred, his greed, it was too all-consuming."[/color]  Maker, the things she'd heard, the things she'd seen, that she herself experienced at his hands...  No.  There was no persuading that, no changing it, no halting it.  Once enabled by Loghain there was no stopping Howe.

There was some truth to the fact that Nathaniel might have been better off in the Free Marches, but that option was long gone.  [color=#17b529]"There are worse places to be than by Lana's side,"[/color] she offered.  She hadn't forgiven Lana for sparing Loghain, and she might never forgive her for that, but she had seen Lana accomplish the impossible and her abilities were beyond question.  And she had been (or maybe still was or would be again) a friend.

[color=#17b529]"I suppose neither of us are where we expected to be,"[/color] she said ruefully.  She'd spent her life running from the responsibilities that came with her name only to end up thrust into them all the same.  He should be living his life in the Free Marches.  Now both of them were saddled with a lifetime of obligations and duties they hadn't expected.