Purest Magic Chapter 1, a merlin fanfic

C-H-A-N: So my friend ARTEMIS13 MAXIMUS (.net/u/1954989/ ) and I have started watching Merlin on ABC, and decided that we wanted to write a fanfic on it, I am only writing Juliana's POV on it, she wrote the beginning part that is Merlin and Arthur (which I included so it makes more sense to everyone), she also will be writing Alianor's POV, and she has most, if not all, of the ideas for this story, we also are still continuing our FF7 story

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The narrow path cutting through the tangled brambles and ancient trees of the forest trembled as the convey of soldiers trotted down it, their steeds shying away from beckoning shadows extending out from either side of the crudely formed road. It was nearing dusk, the last rays of sunlight piecing the thick canopy of leaves above, rippling over the forest floor in small golden pools and patterns of light. The soldiers moved quietly, the dying light casting a glowing sheen on their amour, and reflecting from the golden emblem of a dragon pictured on each of their chests, marking them as knights of Camelot. At the front of the columns of soldiers rode two young men, each as profoundly different from other as possible. One wore his armor and uniform with ease, the hard will in his deep blue eyes and the authority emitting from his presence marking him as Arthur, heir to the throne of Camelot, and leader of the knights that were riding behind him. The other was attired in the worn clothes of a peasant, and weaponless, yet there was a slight spark of otherworldliness that glimmered in his face, the sense that he was something quite different from the battle-fit men surrounding him. He was Merlin.

Arthur peered into the woods, searching the gathering darkness. He spoke, his voice breaking the undisturbed silence of the forest,

"There's been no sign of the creature for hours Merlin. For all we know its disappeared, back from wherever it came." Merlin gazed at Arthur, studying his face, noting that Arthur's teeth gritted in frustration as he spoke, that his eyes were crackling with displeasure. Arthur had been in this state of aggravation ever since he, his knights, and Merlin had set out in pursuit of the White Stag a day ago. Arthur thought the quest to find the Stag was purposeless journey, he believed that the White Stag was either a total myth or destined to never be found. Merlin glanced back at the knights, who rode in silence, their usual boisterous banter and conversation stilled by the frightful legends that originated in these woods, tales of vicious beasts and untamed magic that flowed to Camelot from among these time-worn trees. What the knights could only barely sense, Merlin felt coursing through him: the power of this forest, a raw energy of nature untouched by human hands. These woods held many secrets, first among them the mythical White Stag. Turning back to Arthur, Merlin murmured,

"I know you don't like it Arthur, but Uther ordered us to find the Stag. Until we have evidence that it does not existent, we can't turn back."

Arthur fixed Merlin with a withering glare, the kind only a royal could give without appearing outrageously condescending,

"The knights were created to protect Camelot, not to go chasing after mythical animals for my father!"

"Its not a myth Arthur!" Merlin insistently responded, "It was seen just two days ago on the edge of this very forest, only a few miles from Camelot."

Seeing that he would gain no ground on this line of argument, Arthur switched subjects,

"And I still can't believe you were sent to accompany us. In a fight you'll only be in my and the knights, way." Merlin bit his lip to keep back an enraged reply. He had long learned it was futile attempting to argue with Arthur. Instead he said, slowly as if explaining to a child,

"The White Stag is a being of magic. To subdue it, you'll need someone who knows magic, not just how to skewer a man on a sword." Arthur growled something unintelligible, and turned his radiant blue eyes, no less displeased then they were before, back to the forest. Merlin sighed, and silently wished that something, anything would happen to make this trip a little more…. lively. Then he too cast his eyes towards the shrouded trees, their leaves waving like black phantoms in the darkness, and allowed his focus to drift towards the magic pulsating through these woods until he had lost himself in endless dreams of power that grew, and took form in the night.

Juliana's POV

"Juliana…." This was the first thing I heard, waking up after a few hours of sleeping. The voice I heard, the voice that woke me up, belonged to my friend, actually, my best friend. We had been traveling in these magical woods for weeks, my body was sore, and my eyes were heavy with exhaustion, though it was a hard thing to notice unless you knew me. I snapped my bright green eyes open, seeing my best friend, Alianor with her beautiful long blonde hair, tied into two braids, swinging down her back, and her clear blue eyes gazing at me. I leaned forward and gathered up the coarse material that I used as a blanket, and put it carelessly into my pack. I ruffled my hair, and smoothed it quickly back down while I stood up and asked Alianor,

"Ready to get going again then, Alianor?" She merely nodded her head, telling me,

"We should be able to walk all night since we're rested." We both seem to find it much easier to travel at night, not only does the light not irritate our eye, we do not run into other people, who cannot seem to understand us or our magic. We also do not run into any of the creatures that inhabit this forest, and they do not bother us. We both worked on quickly packing up our few worldly belongings, a meager supply of food and basic supplies. Our most prized items that we carried constantly with us: my lovely set of deadly sharp daggers, Alianor's magnificent sword, an ancient book of magic barely held together by its bindings, and a few objects whose meaning only we knew. We quickly put our packs onto our backs, but then I noticed something, something that I hated having to bring up, but I did anyways for Alianor's own good…always for her good. Turning to her I raised my eyebrow, letting Alianor know I had noticed what she was trying to get away with, asking her patiently,

"Alianor…is there any good reason why you aren't wearing your glamour right now?" She scowled at my questioning, and immediately turned her gaze down to the ground and stated

"I shouldn't have to conceal who I am. Being a woman shouldn't put me in danger." She said this with spite and hate weaved into her voice. I sighed mentally to myself, think about how we had been having this particular argument for a very long time; it arose whenever Alianor had to assume a glamour that altered her appearance into that of a man's. As much as I hated it myself most, if not all, men would frown upon two female warriors traveling unescorted, which is if they didn't kill us immediately. Women are never allowed to go after magical creatures, or to learn to fight with a sword. I gave an exasperated look to Alianor, before asking her to just go along,

"It shouldn't put you in danger, but the fact is it does. And while I know we can defend ourselves perfectly well, I don't particularly want to be running into trouble wherever we go. Just put the glamour on Alianor, for my sake if for nothing else." I hoped that she would listen to reason; it was for her safety, always for her. Though she was still upset with me she muttered the enchantment that would put a glamour over her, making her appear to be a man to the outside world. She now seemed to be a well-built man with shaggy blonde hair, and brilliant blue eyes. I could tell that she was uncomfortable, that she felt like a whole other person. She shook out her limbs and muttered angrily at me,

"You and your bloody short hair Juliana." I could barely contain my smirk at her comment; it really was her own fault that she had to use a glamour while I didn't, if she would just cut her hair. I had no real need for a glamour, my short hair easily passed as a man's hair, not to mention I have a smaller chest than her, making it much easier for me to hide under baggy clothes. We had also realized that most men wouldn't question if I was a man or not for fear of insulting me and incurring the wrath of my daggers. Seeing how annoyed Alianor was with me, I figured that I might as well tell her the truth,

"If you weren't so vain Alianor, you would cut that hair of yours, wear loose clothing, and then neither of us would need a glamour." She simply glared at me, upset that I have a habit of pointing to the truth of her more absurd convictions. With her glimmer on we finally left, leaving to go deeper into the forest. We only needed the magic of the forest, and the magic of what we were looking for, to guide us to what we are seeking, the White Stag.