Just a little one-shot based on the word Salroka. Now I didn't look up the meaning of the word until after I wrote it so this is all just what I thought at the time and I liked the one-shot too much to change it afterwards so sorry for it not being completely accurate but I hope you enjoy it anyway :)
Salroka
Salroka. Cayln had started calling her that about a month ago. It was an earthy word, and a little rough sounding. Then again it was well-suited to the natural gravely undertones of a dwarven voice like hers. Yet even after all those days Leliana still hadn't managed to figure out what the word meant.
That night the party had camped a few hours from Denerim, ready to travel towards Haven in search of the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Wynne had supplied them with a hearty rabbit stew. What exactly was with the obsession Fereldans had with their stews, anyway? Almost every night it was some kind of stew –whether it was Alistair's deadly lamb-and-pea-based poison or the far more appetising venison/rabbit stews cooked lovingly by Wynne. Honestly Leliana looked forward to Sten's and even Zevran's turn to cook. At least roasted meat was a nice change.
Leliana sat herself beside Cayln, angling herself so that her knee was almost touching that of the Dwarf. When had she grown so attached to the other woman? She wasn't sure, but honestly she didn't mind since the affections were returned.
Cayln glanced up at her, the small bump in her throat moving slightly as she swallowed a chunk of rabbit. "Salroka?" There was that word again – a word that under normal circumstances Leliana would have hated the sound of. Yet when Cayln said it Leliana couldn't help but smile at least a little bit.
"You called Leske that as well." Leliana commented light-heartedly. "I confess this word has been on my mind a lot lately. What does it mean?"
Cayln Brosca chuckled slightly. "Roughly… I guess it'd mean 'partner'. It's no' exactly a word ya'd hear a Noble usin' though. Too common, if ya know what I mean." Leliana nodded with an encouraging smile, of course it was. She couldn't imagine Cayln talking with any other sort of word. "It's a bit more'n jes' that though, mind." the Dwarf continued. "Ya'd trust ya Salroka with ya life, an' ya'd do anythin' for 'em." Cayln paused a moment, lips curling in an almost-smile. "When ya name someone Salroka they know ya got their back come hell or high water."
Cayln's steel-grey eyes were looking right at Leliana's face. "Ya Salroka is the closest person t'ya. Someone who wormed their way right inta here." a curled fist thumped Cayln's chest lightly twice in a row then the Dwarf stood up, setting down her empty bowl.
"Salroka is ya closest friend and the one ya'll never abandon – no matter what." Cayln chuckled again. "No' that Leske ever knew that. He'd never 'a' called me Salroka if he knew." Her hand settled on Leliana's shoulder briefly before heading to her tent.
The bard smiled as she allowed this information to settle in her mind. "Salroka." she whispered experimentally. A beautiful word, Leliana realised. Full of meaning and emotion that couldn't even be expressed. Cayln hadn't come right out and said it – she didn't have to.
Leliana knew now that 'Salroka' was, in fact, 'partner of my heart'.