The Untold Forest

away and give up the only joy I had left in life.” A dry cough interrupted him, and before Maeve could get some water for him, he stopped her. “Maeve… I know I don’t leave you in the best hands. Walter is…  we have our differences, but his family has lived in this region for generations. And Kieran, he… he will look after you.”
Was that the reason which led her father to arrange this marriage? To allow her to remain near their home?
“I know how hard you’ve worked, my darling. I’ve seen it day by day and… I’m so proud of you.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head in frustration. “But the law forbids you to inherit our land, child. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t find support in court to…”
Was that what her father did during his travels to the capital? Try to ensure she inherited their lands?
“It doesn’t matter now. I wasn’t strong enough, and I couldn’t leave you adrift either, Maeve.”
She didn’t mind. All she needed to know was he had done his best to protect her. Her father never gave up on her. That single notion allowed Maeve to breathe easier. He cared.
“I wish, with all my heart, that you find a loving and supportive partner in Kieran. I hope he can look at you and realize—” he squeezed her hand, beaming with pride— “what a bright and strong woman he has by his side. You will forge your future, Maeve. I do not doubt it.”
They talked for hours, laughing and remembering the peaceful days when their family was whole. Everyone in the castle felt the warmth emanating from their lord’s chamber, and every laugh from Maeve came like a breath of spring.
But the night passed, and by dawn, Maeve left her father’s bedroom to deliver the painful news of his death.

CHAPTER IV
A NEW HOME
Maeve
After her father’s passing, Maeve’s days felt a bit longer and dim. The only thing keeping her active during the day was working in the fields and taking care of the castle. The constant clatter of the kitchens and the hard relief work gave her aching heart, helped to keep her sanity intact.
Anxiety took over every time she thought about what the future would bring or how much her life would change when Lord Callum decides to visit. The idea of leaving her home and the ones she grew up with overwhelmed her. With her family gone, Maeve clung to every brief memory the castle brought her.
Maeve announced she would not inherit her family’s property, and their new lord would arrive in the next few weeks. She did her best to soothe the restlessness of her people, which helped somehow to calm her fears. The news of the death of lord O’Riordan reached the court and their closest neighbors, also informing the transfer of land and Maeve’s engagement.
Engagement.
To marry a man she didn’t know.
Her father never said anything positive about lord Callum his entire life. Maeve only hoped for the best and that his son Kieran turned out to be better than his father.
Soon, the day came, and Maeve stopped fighting the inevitable. She prepared as best she could, settling all affairs of the castle to transfer the responsibilities most efficiently. She said goodbye for hours to everyone who accompanied her during her life while assuring them the change would be favorable.
To keep her mind away from troubling thoughts, Maeve herself packed her belongings, chose her outfit for the journey, and gave the order to ready her mount. The ride to the lands of the Callums would take at least half a day, and she wanted to offer her new father-in-law a snack. Before departing, she meant to talk with the man lord Callum would name to administer the castle.
She saw them arrive around noon. Four men on horseback and a carriage. Maeve fixed her dress while running down the stairs and checked again the cap covering her hair. After 18 years, she still didn’t understand why women should wear all their hair hidden. Tradition—she was frequently told—but there seemed to be no logical reason for it. Since it was awfully difficult to keep it clean and untangled, Maeve suspected no solid reason existed.
She straightened and relaxed her expression into a polite smile, trying to make an excellent first impression on her future father-in-law. Maeve had no particularly high expectations about the Callums, but since they would become her new family, better to start on the right foot.
The men rushed into the courtyard and dismounted with haste. Maeve recognized lord Callum, the most robust of them all, with a ruddy expression on his face. His elegant suit—completely inappropriate for riding—fitted his body, threatening to burst the seams.
“Welcome, my lords. I hope your ride was pleasant,” she said.
Lord Callum and one man approached Maeve, but the other two ignored her and entered the castle. Baffled, she tried to call them back, but lord Callum stood right in front of her, smiling with an unpleasant smirk.
His closeness became unsettling. Taking a small step back, Maeve looked up at him with less civility. “Sir! We have prepared a meal so you can rest before our departure. My horse is saddled, and I only need a little time to explain the state of the lands and the—”
“That won’t be necessary, girl. My men are more than capable of managing this place. We will leave immediately, tell your people to load the luggage in the carriage, and make yourself comfortable.”
Lord Callum leaned over and placed a sweaty hand on her shoulder, trying to act friendly. Maeve suppressed her scowl. She didn’t want to leave without assuring her people would be well taken care of, but she didn’t seem to have much of a choice.
While he watched the scene from a safe distance, her father’s old overseer smiled encouragingly at her. He will take care. Maeve thought before turning her attention back to lord Callum.
“I understand, sir. I leave everything in your hands. My horse is