Author's Note

This prompt was by the lovely Scarlet Arachnid. Brosca and Leliana at Tapsters, Leliana worried about it being so dark.

It was home, or at least as close as Laura Brosca had ever felt. Orzammar was a shit show, but it was her birthplace and there was no sky above her to fall into.

It was much darker here, better for her eyes really, but the glow from the magma below the city was familiar, as was the dim lanterns. Dwarves didn't need a lot of light to see, but Laura's human companions were struggling with it.

The posh twits stared at her as she proudly walked through the commons, her tattoo branded her as casteless but fuck them for it. She was proud of who she was, what she'd done, and now she was a Grey Warden and better than any of them. Idiots.

One nobleman stared daggers at her so she pulled her tongue out and did an obscene gesture with her hands. He blushed and stomped off, leaving her to laugh loudly at his retreating back.

By the Stone, it was good to be back home. She ran her hand through the stubble on the left-hand side of her shaved head. She had cut it herself ever since she was old enough to hold a dagger. One side shaved, the other kept long and her black hair hung down to her chin on the right.

It made her look aggressive, and she loved that.

She looked behind at her squinting friends and waved them to follow her. She would take them to Tapster's for now, the owner was another pretentious twit who thought himself better than her because of her brand. Fuck him, wait till he sees her now.

She pushed the heavy stone door, not wood thank the Stone, and smiled as the songs in her people's language hit her.

She had missed this.

There was a booth in the back of the tavern that was always empty, some stupid rumours about the Stone cursing it, but it was comfy and out of the way. She led the group there, making sure that Leliana sat beside her.

Their romance had started quickly and showed no signs of burning out. She loved the bard with all of her heart and Leliana felt the same, for some reason. Who knows what she had done to deserve someone as special as Leliana but she was thankful that she had done it.

They sat in the corner, letting the rest of the group intermingle on the large table. Dwarves may be small but they are lavish, and all the tables were big enough to fit at least a dozen people.

They sat and laughed together through two rounds of strong, disgusting dwarven ale and as Alistair left to order another round and Laura took the time to look at her lover.

She was beautiful as always, even better without the blinding sunlight hurting her eyes. Laura reached a little hand up to Leliana and brushed her braid back from her face.

"I love you," She whispered, and Leliana turned to look at her. There was something in her wide eyes that Laura had hoped to never see, the way Leliana wrapped her arms around herself and drew into the seat, the way she trembled as Laura touched her hand. "What's wrong, Leli?"

"Too dark," she mumbled. "Too many dark memories, too dark." Leliana's eyes glazed over, and as Laura stared at her, Leliana whimpered.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Fuck Marjolaine and her twisted disgusting life. Plunging a dagger into that bitch's heart was the most cherished memory Laura would hold, yet she was still hurting her Leliana after death.

Laura looked around and saw no lanterns nearby, nothing at all. Ancestor's flabby tits, she'd have to try her best.

"I'm here, love," she whispered into Leliana's ear. Wrapping an arm around her lover, she rested her chin on the Orlesian's shoulder. "Talk to me, salroka, I can help." She planted a soft kiss on Leliana's cheek and gently turned her head to look at her.

"When they took me, I didn't see daylight for a fortnight. Two weeks without the sun, Laura, I hate even a shadow, this is far too much," Leliana whimpered. "I hate this place. I'm sorry, I couldn't like it for you."

"Hush now, my silly Leli," she stroked Leliana's cheek. "You don't have to like it here at all. It's my home but it's a shit hole. They want me to leave as much as I want to. If it weren't for how different it is topside, I'd never have wanted to come back. Anyway, it doesn't matter to me, you are my home, love, I'll be with you, and if that's in some mad chantry somewhere, then it would be worth it."

Leliana let out a small laugh and met Laura's gaze. "You're crazy, you know?"

"Crazy for you, yeah," Laura smirked.

"You know what I mean," Leliana laughed, softly slapping the dwarf's arm. "You are utterly ridiculous, and I love you."

"I love you too, Leliana. We will be done here soon, I promise." A soft kiss on Leliana's lips, then on each of her small freckles. Then on her lips again. Laura could kiss Leliana forever, and if she had her way, she would.