camelot_drabble

Author:

destiny_chicken
Title: Sibling Rivalry
Rating: G
Pairing/s: None
Character/s: Arthur, Morgana, Uther
Summary: Young Arthur is jealous of that new girl in the household.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 369
Prompt: #68 Rival
Author's Notes: Thanks to

inspired_being for beta'ing my drabbles.

Arthur's lower lip protruded just a bit and then trembled as he tried not to cry. It was hard, but he knew princes weren't supposed to cry--hadn't his father told him repeatedly that crying was a sign of weakness? And Arthur couldn't show weakness, not if he wanted his father to be proud of him.

But it was so very difficult with that girl now living with them. Morgana was her name and Uther called her a ward, which he said meant she needed protection. As far as Arthur could tell, she did a fine job of protecting herself, especially with her sharp tongue. She had already chastised him when he had fingered her sword. Who let girls have swords anyways? Arthur had thought. The sword was a fighting man's weapon, and his father had said he could have a real sword when he turned eight next month. Morgana had curtly announced that her father had taught her to use both a dirk and a sword, and she had no intention of giving them up.

Uther had just smiled at her when she said this and responded with, "Of course you can keep your dirk and sword. I'll have Sir Alain continue your lessons in weaponry."

Arthur frowned. "Father, when can I begin my lessons in sword fighting?"

Uther gave his son a stern look. "Arthur, we've discussed this before. You are not old enough yet."

When Morgana stuck out her tongue at Arthur, he pulled on her braided hair, but Uther only saw the hair-pulling. "Arthur Pendragon, you will not tease Morgana. She is a young lady and you will treat her with respect," Uther admonished his son.

"Yes, Sire," Arthur responded morosely, hanging his head. Morgana was getting away with everything and Uther really seemed to think she could do no wrong. There must be some way to best her.

Arthur concluded it definitely was worth going without supper just to hear Morgana's shrieks and see her face pale. The young prince knew from the maids that girls didn't find dead things or rats nearly as intriguing as he did. And Morgana proved to be no exception when she found the dead rat in her bed.