# The Maid — The Wood Beyond the World character guide > The Maid in The Wood Beyond the World by William Morris. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Maiden **First appearance:** 0008-ix-walter-happeneth-on-the-first-of-those-three-creatures ## Snapshot A slim, fair maiden held as a thrall in the golden house, marked by an iron ring, whose mastered face hides a trouble she dare not show before her Mistress. ## Who they are The Maid serves the Lady of the wood as a bonded servant, and the iron ring she wears is a token that she belongs to her Mistress and may not be parted from her. When Walter first sees her, she blushes and hangs her head like a shamefaced girl, yet the Lady's open fondling of her — the kiss, the bared shoulder, the swept skirt — reads less as affection than as a claim staked before a stranger. She matters because Walter, already entangled, cannot keep his eyes from her, and because whatever she truly feels must be guessed at rather than heard. ## Relationships ### [Golden Walter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/golden_walter) _romantic_ Golden Walter is deeply in love with the Maid, who becomes his primary romantic interest and eventual partner. ### [The Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_lady) _rivalry_ The Lady views the Maid as a rival and threat, treating her with cruelty and jealousy due to the Maid's connection to Walter. ### [The Dwarf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_dwarf) _professional_ The Dwarf serves the Lady and interacts with the Maid as a fellow servant, often carrying messages or orders. ### [The Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_bears) _friendship_ The Bears are loyal animal companions to the Maid, protecting her and showing affection. ### [Sir Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/sir_squire) _social_ Sir Squire and the Maid are acquaintances within the Lady's household, with limited direct interaction. ### [The Old Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_old_man) _friendship_ The Maid and the Old Man share a respectful alliance, with him offering her wisdom and support. ### [Golden Walter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/golden_walter) _romantic_ Golden Walter is deeply in love with the Maid, who becomes his primary romantic interest and eventual partner. ### [Golden Walter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/golden_walter) _romantic_ Golden Walter is deeply in love with the Maid, who becomes his primary romantic interest and eventual partner. ### [The Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_lady) _rivalry_ The Lady views the Maid as a rival and threat, treating her with cruelty and jealousy due to the Maid's connection to Walter. ### [The Dwarf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_dwarf) _professional_ The Dwarf serves the Lady and interacts with the Maid as a fellow servant, often carrying messages or orders. ### [Sir Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/sir_squire) _social_ Sir Squire and the Maid are acquaintances within the Lady's household, with limited direct interaction. ### [The Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_bears) _friendship_ The Bears are loyal animal companions to the Maid, protecting her and showing affection. ## In the story ### [II: Golden Walter Takes Ship to Sail the Seas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/ii-golden-walter-takes-ship-to-sail-the-seas) The maiden is one of the three strangers; she is young, fair, grey-eyed, brown-haired, wearing a short green gown with an iron ring on her ankle. ### [III: Walter Heareth Tidings of the Death of His Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/iii-walter-heareth-tidings-of-the-death-of-his-father) The maiden is seen walking with the dwarf and the lady, noted by Arnold as wearing an iron ring of thralldom. ### [X: Walter Happeneth on Another Creature in the Strange Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/x-walter-happeneth-on-another-creature-in-the-strange-land) The maiden reveals her fear of the Mistress, her love for Walter, and her guileful nature; she forbids physical contact. ### [XI: Walter Happeneth on the Mistress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xi-walter-happeneth-on-the-mistress) Mentioned as having guided Walter before the chapter; Walter hopes to see her again. ### [XII: The Wearing of Four Days in the Wood Beyond the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xii-the-wearing-of-four-days-in-the-wood-beyond-the-world) The Maid is absent from Walter's sight, but her potential danger is discussed by the Lady and the King's Son. ### [XIII: Now Is the Hunt Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xiii-now-is-the-hunt-up) The Maid appears with the hounds, maintaining a composed demeanor despite her inner turmoil, and receives a warning from the Lady about the King's Son. ### [XIV: The Hunting of the Hart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xiv-the-hunting-of-the-hart) Mentioned as the one who accompanied the Lady in the vision Walter saw; the Lady caresses her. ### [XV: The Slaying of the Quarry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xv-the-slaying-of-the-quarry) Mentioned as not present when they return home; Walter briefly considers asking for her freedom. ### [XVI: Of the King’s Son and the Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xvi-of-the-king-s-son-and-the-maid) Forced to agree to the King’s Son’s demands, but secretly reaffirms her oath to Walter and reveals her plan involving sorcery. ### [Of the House and the Pleasance in the Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xvii-of-the-house-and-the-pleasance-in-the-wood) The Maid is briefly mentioned as a source of Walter's fear for her safety, but she does not appear in this chapter. ### [The Maid Gives Walter Tryst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xviii-the-maid-gives-walter-tryst) Meets Walter in the dale, initially joyful but terrified by the dwarf's appearance; she gives Walter a tryst for midnight. ### [XIX: Walter Goes to Fetch Home the Lion’s Hide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xix-walter-goes-to-fetch-home-the-lion-s-hide) Runs to Walter on the road, breathlessly cancels their tryst, and bids him hide in the hazel-copse at midnight; shows eagerness, love, and distress. ### [XX: Walter Is Bidden to Another Tryst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xx-walter-is-bidden-to-another-tryst) Signals Walter to keep the tryst in the hazel-copse, serves at the banquet, and appears fearful. ### [Walter and the Maid Flee from the Golden House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxi-walter-and-the-maid-flee-from-the-golden-house) Leads Walter away from the Golden House, barefoot and in her white coat; speaks of a burning secret and the death of the King's Son. ### [Of the Dwarf and the Pardon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxii-of-the-dwarf-and-the-pardon) Wounded by the Dwarf's arrow, terrified, and accused of murdering the Lady; she seeks Walter's forgiveness. ### [Of the Peaceful Ending of That Wild Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxiii-of-the-peaceful-ending-of-that-wild-day) Heals her own wound with herbs and words, insists on leaving the polluted place, and promises to tell her tale after supper. ### [XXIV: The Maid Tells of What Had Befallen Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxiv-the-maid-tells-of-what-had-befallen-her) Reveals her mysterious origins, fragmented memories, and the wisdom she gained from an old woman. She details her enslavement, the Lady's hatred, and her calculated plan to destroy the Lady and the Dwarf. ### [Of the Triumphant Summer Array of the Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxv-of-the-triumphant-summer-array-of-the-maid) Plans to impersonate the Bear-folk's goddess, adorns herself with flowers, and uses her wisdom to keep them fresh. ### [XXVI: They Come to the Folk of the Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxvi-they-come-to-the-folk-of-the-bears) The Maid leads Walter down to the Bear-folk, speaks eloquently to the elder, requests a gathering in the Doom-ring, and comforts Walter with her unwavering love and courage. ### [Morning Amongst the Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxvii-morning-amongst-the-bears) Fresh from bathing, she is joyful and confident. She reassures Walter of her love and instructs him on how to behave before the Bears. She speaks graciously with the elder but reveals little. ### [XXVIII: Of the New God of the Bears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxviii-of-the-new-god-of-the-bears) Proclaims herself the new body of the Bears' god, performs a miracle by reviving her faded flowers, and commands the Bears to escort her to the mountains to bring rain. ### [XXIX: Walter Strays in the Pass and Is Sundered from the Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxix-walter-strays-in-the-pass-and-is-sundered-from-the-maid) The Maid blesses the Bear-folk and departs up the pass, vanishing from Walter's sight. ### [XXX: Now They Meet Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxx-now-they-meet-again) Prepares breakfast, confesses she watched Walter sleep, urges they remain unmarried to preserve her wisdom and power, longs for the safety of the city. ### [XXXI: They Come Upon New Folk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxi-they-come-upon-new-folk) The Maid is joyful at the sight of the armed company, seeing them as folk of the city come to welcome them, and encourages Walter to meet them boldly. ### [XXXII: Of the New King of the City and Land of Stark-Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxii-of-the-new-king-of-the-city-and-land-of-stark-wall) Has slept, eaten, and bathed; Walter commands she be brought before him and allowed to choose her own array. ### [XXXIV: Now Cometh the Maid to the King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxiv-now-cometh-the-maid-to-the-king) Enters the court in a white coat and rose garlands, kneels before Walter, and is proclaimed queen. ### [XXXV: Of the King of Stark-Wall and His Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxv-of-the-king-of-stark-wall-and-his-queen) Crowned Queen, praised for her pure and holy beauty, clad in white samite with pearls, seen as a bringer of paradise. ### [XXXVI: Of Walter and the Maid in the Days of the Kingship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxvi-of-walter-and-the-maid-in-the-days-of-the-kingship) Gives her girdle to Walter, loses her wizardry after marriage, and later atones to the Bear-folk by teaching them tillage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_maid - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters