Cauthrien

Ser Cauthrien is a knight and Teyrn Loghain's most trusted lieutenant.

Background
As a youth she helped Loghain in a fight against bandits, not realising who he was. Loghain was so impressed with her actions, he took her into his service.

Involvement
Towards the end of the game in Denerim, after The Warden rescues Anora, she confronts the party. The player character can either surrender or attack. If you are successful in fighting her, The Summer Sword is gained. If you surrender or simply lose the fight, you will be taken to Fort Drakon as a prisoner. If this happens, she is met again at the Landsmeet. It appears she wishes to fight you to stop you from interfering with Loghain. However, it is possible to persuade her to let you by without a fight. It seems even she has seen the corruption of Loghain.

Strategy
Cauthrien is one of the more difficult bosses in the game. If possible, try to retreat to a nearby room, so she can be fought without the intererfence of her armed guards.

Having Wynne, lots of lyrium potions, and TONNES of health poultices are crucial in the battle. It would be helpful to have the others be close-range fighters. Ser Cauthrien will have several guards and a mage backing her up. Ser Cauthrien is a heavy hitter so dispatch of her as soon as you can. Keep Wynne out of the range of the archers and she should be fine. If you have Morrigan or any mage with the Cone of Cold spell, retreat your party into one of the rooms and as soon the guards swarm in, use the spell, kill the frozen guards, repeat in other rooms if you can escape.