One So Small

Morgana sat primly at the table, face still and composed as her father spoke to Master Pendragon. Her fingers traced the edge of the plate, the smooth china cold and unyielding, and she wished suddenly to throw it at the small boy serving their meal. She began to swing her legs absently, but stilled them at a sharp look from the woman. Her father\'s voice penetrated her musing, and she looked at him curiously, not hearing what he had said.

He shook his head at her fondly and looked at his guest, a smile on his face that did not reach his eyes. \"I think that after tonight, no one will question my authority or right to rule.\"

The other man nodded and looked at the small girl, sitting there, looking as innocent as the day she was born. \"She does well, then?\"

Morgana titled her head and listened to the men speak about her.

Her father caught her looking and smiled darkly, and then turned back to Pendragon. \"Igraine assures me of that fact. She is capable of more then even I expected of her. Nearly makes up for not having a son.\"

Morgana smiled happily at this bit of unexpected praise, left off her tracing of the plate and began to swing her legs under the table again, ignoring her mother\'s look this time, her eyes locked onto her father\'s face.

They continued to speak of the girl for awhile longer, and then moved on to other things, and Morgana quickly became bored and listless, eagerly awaiting when her father gave her leave to \'play\'. She picked at her food and busied herself looking around the room. The dark stone, torches on the wall, lit and shining brightly, casting a sickly yellow light on the food they ate.

Soon, the men stood up, and made to leave the room, chairs creaking as they were pushed back from the table and the men stood up from them. When he neared the doorway, her father turned around and smiled wickedly at his daughter. \"She awaits you in your room, my darling. Go now, and remember your promise to me.\"

She leaped up from the table and nodded to her father, and then raced from the room quickly, skirting past the now chuckling men, and upstairs to her room.

Once there she flung open her door and giggled evilly as she saw the woman waiting there for her. She shut the door behind her and smiled coyly at the servant,her blue eyes cold and unfeeling. \"Da said I could play with you. Do you want to play?\"

The woman spoke quietly, only her eyes betraying the sudden fear she felt. \"As Mistress wants\". She took a deep breathe and willed herself to stay where she was.

The small child smiled, only her eyes betraying her sweet countenance, and walked further into the room. With flashing eyes she pulled a long, supple wand from the folds of her gown and pointed it at her. In a lilting voice she called out one word. \"Ragaich.\" And the woman was unable to move her legs, and her mouth gaped half open as though beginning to say something.

Morgana slipped her wand back in her gown and clapped her hands together excitedly. \"No more messes for me! I can do as mother does now.\" She reached for the woman, and ran her finger down her cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood behind as she pulled away.

The girl picked absently at her nail, dislodging the woman\'s skin and then looked back up at her. \"Utagaich!\" And the woman was pushed suddenly against the far wall, her head snapping back and forth when she came to rest. Morgana grew bored suddenly and in one swift movement crossed the room and swung her tiny fist as hard as she could into the woman\'s stomach, and mumbled, nearly to herself. \"Fuasgail.\" And the woman was suddenly loosed of the spell, and sunk with a low moan against the wall, staring at the child with fear shining in her eyes.

Morgana gave a tiny snort, in unconscious imitation of her father, and frowned at the woman. She wanted to play, but not with this boring creature. Perhaps later she should go looking for cook\'s daughter. She was always fun. Looking much like a petulant child denied her favorite piece of candy, she waved the woman from the room, at which the woman scrambled to her feet and with a quick bow left the rooms of her young mistress before she could change her mind.

The girl watched her go, pouting, and she walked to the window to look out into the darkness. The snow still came down, and the moonlight sparkled on the frozen crystals as they fell in front of her window. She stared out into the darkness for seemingly hours, nose pressed against a frost covered pane, but when the knock sounded at the door, she turned and realized by the fire still burning merrily in the fireplace that it hadn\'t been that long at all. The knock sounded again, and the child called out in a petulant voice. \"Enter.\"

The door opened slowly and Uther Pendragon walked regally into the room, casting a curious glance around. How old was she? Eight, nine on the outside...yet the room was as bare as his own. No trappings associated with a child\'s room. Odd... \"Morgana, my dear child, your father has given me leave to ask a boon of you.\"

The girl wrinkled her nose up and nodded. If her father had sent him up here, then it must be important. \"What do you wish of me, Lord Pendragon?\"

He raised an eyebrow at her expression, which reminded him of his dog when it smelled something particularly offensive. \"I wish to use your special talents to rid me of a hindrance.\"

Her eyes lit up and she smiled ferally, teeth flashing at him in a snarl. \"Da says its alright?\"

He nodded, looking pleased. \"Yes, but surprisingly told me the decision was to be left up to you.\" He waited on the girl to answer, and raised his eyebrow again as she licked her lips, looking suddenly older then her years. Quite the unsettling child...

\"Will I be allowed to kill them?\" She asked this question rather matter of fact, as though it was something to be expected in day to day conversation with her; and in fact, it was. As the magic had grown stronger in her, so to was the desire to use it to hurt and destroy nurtured in her, until she thought it quite natural her mother took her on outings simply to kill.

He blinked slightly and then nodded. \"You will be given free reign to do as you wish.\" The Duke had told him not to pander to her when he spoke, and he was beginning to see why he had been told this. She obviously was treated as an equal for both her intelligence and the sheer fact it would not do good to have the little sorceress angry at you.

She clapped her hands together and giggled wickedly. \"When can we leave, Lord Pendragon?\"

\"Your father has given me leave to take you as soon as you wish.\" He watched her, feeling distinctly uneasy. \"I am prepared to wait here until you are ready to leave.\"

\"Ready now. Just have to say good-bye to Da.\" She grinned at him and skipped out of the room, humming under her breath.

He watched her go, and after looking around the room once more, left to wait by the main door, anxious to leave this house suddenly.