#[ because Amelia needs more from Mere and she simply can't given it bc her duty will always come first ]

[idolbound]

So getting to see a Chantry in [redacted] in Veilguard has confirmed that they can have basements and other storage rooms, etc., that people don't frequent, and therefore, confirms my headcanon of how Meredith has definitely had her illicit hook ups with various women of the Chantry over the years in those rooms, away from prying eyes.

Meredith has lived nearly her entire life in The Gallows. When she was a Knight-Templar, she was limited in how often she could leave her post (and even then, only really had the free opportunity to go to the Chantry daily for prayer), so her only outlet was to seek out connections among Chantry Sisters (or as she got older, a Chantry Mother or two) over the years. When she became Knight-Captain, she had more power and ability to maintain some casual relationships here and there but always in secret. While not doing this as often after becoming Knight-Commander (and therefore, having much more power to do as she pleases), she still has a few 'old flames' who she may meet up with now and again, even as her life is devoted to the Order; her hypersexuality and behaviour of seeking sex as a replacement for social interaction outside of work demands it (Though that isn't to say she can't develop intimate relationships outside of this arrangement, but it's rare and must remain just as private as the late night trysts do).

I've talked about this before, but marriage among Templars is rare, and requires special permission (provided that the aforementioned non-templar partner is able to sustain themselves, should the templar be relocated to a new post elsewhere). Marriage in Thedas for the most part is seen as a means of procreation rather than love necessarily, and so for a templar to marry in a same-sex partnership would be a rarity, and one Meredith could never see herself pursuing. Pair this fear of ostracization with her hypersexuality as mentioned above, this form of religious repression is quite prominent for Meredith.

That said, her high level of sexual desire and sex drive has enabled this sex-seeking behaviour over the years, and the Chantry certainly serves not only as just a place of worship, but as a place to allow herself sexual freedom (with obvious limitations).

** In the cases with people of their own influence/power of their own accord (e.g., with @sanctamater 's Lady Amelia Comstock, or @thesxmmersword 's Ser Cauthrien), who have homes outside of the Gallows or Chantry have allowed for relationships to develop behind closed doors, though those must remain private and kept out of the spotlight as Meredith's duty to the Order will always come first, even at the detriment of those longer-term relationships / feelings of love.