Title: Say a Few Words

Author: Maid M

Pairings: None, really. Mentions everything cannon in the stories. Talk of H/S because, why wouldn't I?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Except for Jamie. *grins*

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My father was a wizard, but I won't lie to you and say he was the reason I got interested in magic in the first place. My father is a wonderful person and the best a child could ask for growing up, but he certainly didn't paint me the image that being a magician was all romance and adventure.

We weren't wealthy. There being several witches, wizards, and even a couple of warlocks in the town we lived in, we weren't people's first choice when they needed a spell done. Mainly, dad sold potions to love-struck teens and spells to unlucky salesmen.

We lived in a four-room bungalow near the edge of the town of Kingsbury. There was a parlour that doubled as a workroom, a kitchen and two bedrooms. Our 'bathroom' was an outhouse in the tiny yard out back. Whenever my brothers needed to be washed, which was nearly every day, mother would fill a tin tub in the living room with water she would heat over the fireplace. My Aunts told me mother used to want ten children of her own. I think trying to raise the twins, let alone me, on the salary dad scrapped together she gave up on that dream.

I liked or house, though. My room was in the attic. It was small and cramped, but dark and cozy and utterly silent. There was never any peace in my house with the twins running about. When I turned ten, dad magiked a piano up there for me to play. Mother says the house seems quiet now with out me banging my heart out on those old ivory keys.

I was in love with that piano. It's in my house now. It seems a little out of place next to my handcrafted liqueur cabinet and cherry wood dining set.

Howl was the one who told me that some elephant in Africa was walking around with no tusks to let me play that thing. He was always like that.

I have to say Howl was the one who made me want to be a wizard. He had the life; a job, a beautiful wife, four children. Who wouldn't want to be him? And Uncle Howl always had a way about him. He would walk into a room, and people would be drawn to him. Especially children. Uncle Howl loved children and they loved him.

I remember once there was an article written in the Kingsbury paper about my uncle. THE ROYAL WIZARD OF INGARY; LOVING FATHER AND DEVOTED HUSBAND. Most of it was codswallop, but one line stayed with me long after the paper had been thrown away. "The royal wizards looks at his family like he never imagined they could happen to him"

Dad told me about the year that they met Sophie. My cousins, brothers and I would laugh as we were told of Aunt Sophie hobbling around as an old lady, cleaning everything and driving everyone mad. As a child I always wondered why they married at all. All they ever seemed to do was argue, kiss, and then argue some more. But I see now. They were so in love it hurt to be near them sometimes. If soul-mates exist, they were. Without a doubt.

That's why I wasn't surprised when dad came to me three days ago and said that he had died. Tomorrow will be the first anniversary of Aunt Sophie's death. My Uncle Howl was never much without his beloved cariad.

He was vain, cowardly, fickle, a slither-outer, a spendthrift, funny, gentle, loving, and with more charisma than should be allowed in one person. I think the worst case scenario of the world to come is that there will never be another Uncle Howl.

Howl Pendragon.

Loving father. Loyal Husband.

Everlasting Friend.

The most heartfull heartless the world has ever seen.