Vordai
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Vordai, the "witch of the fens", is a character in David Eddings' Belgariad series. She is a woman of very advanced age (magical characters in Eddings books tend to have increased lifespans) who lives alone in the Drasnian fens near the mouth of the Aldur River. Despite her age, one can tell that she was quite beautiful as a younger woman. Rejected and shunned by superstitious villagers she tried to help, she lives the solitary life of an outcast in the swamps with her only friends, the creatures known as fenlings. Though jaded and cynical, she retains a kind heart, as evidenced by her desire to keep the fenlings from danger.
Her magical powers, never described in great detail, seem to be typical fantasy witchcraft: potions with obscure ingredients, incantations, rituals. Magic seems to be nature-based and distinct from the demon-handling of the Karands and Morindim, however. Also, magic is limited in ways that sorcery is not: her magic could not grant the power of speech to the fenlings, although she was able to alter them in other, unexplained ways.
Her role in the Belgariad is small, and the scene with her serves primarily to show that Belgarath had not lost his power after a climactic battle with another sorceror, and also to show his softer side when he acquiesced to Vordai's demands. By the time of the Mallorean she had passed away.
