A.N.: Hey everyone! Thanks for taking the time to read this. It's my first-ever publish fan-fiction (I did a LOT of writing several years ago but never got anything published like this), and I hope I don't disappoint!

Disclaimer: I do not own ABC, Once Upon A Time, or Robert Carlyle (sad day...)

Anything you may recognize is not my own.

Chapter One: Running

The enchanted forest. Home to many a thousand creature. Humans, werewolves, animals, ogres, dwarves, giants, witches, fairies, pirates, etc. The land was divided up and ruled by different nobles. Down in the marshlands was Sir Maurice. Up in Avonlea was Lord Avonlea. And in the midlands was Sir Cailain. He never had any issues with the other men who helped protect the land. His main concern was making sure the people of his village were cared for and protected.

Sir Cailain's castle was by no means large or huge. But it still held a number of rooms. Plenty for his servants and castle-keepers to live in comfortably. Also plenty for when any amount of nobles might want to stay the week or two. But his most-frequented rooms were on the north-west side of the large stone structure. His daughter's rooms. Sir Cailain had been in this suite of rooms for over an hour now, trying to calm his daughter down.

"But Papa! I don't want to learn to be a lady! I want to run in the forest and be free and away from stuffy, stuck-up nobles!" Sir Cailain had heard this argument before. "I know, my little bear. If it were my way, you wouldn't have to come out of that forest at all. I'd come to you." He said, sighing for the eighteenth time that hour. "But please. You are a lady of this court, and as such, you must dress and act the part." He told her, before signaling to her maid to finish getting her ready. A pair of vivid green eyes pleaded at him from the reflection of the looking glass. "Papa, I'm almost eighteen. I've seen and done everything you've asked of me. It's not my fault my step-mother can't stand the sight of me. All she ever does when I'm in her presence is either cut me down or insult Mama. I don't know how much more I can take. I don't want her ruining Mama's memories with her cruel words." The girl said. "Watch your tongue, Kellan. That is my wife you're speaking about. I know she is not your mother, and things between the two of you are rocky at best, but she is the greatest thing that's happened to this land since your mother passed away. Now finish getting ready and get down to the court." Her father left without another word.

The maid, Granny, was a very gentle woman. She was never known for raising her voice or speaking ill of any person. But as Sir Cailain walked out of the room, the elderly woman turned her blue eyes on Kellan. "That man is so blinded by his love for his people that he doesn't realize he's married a snake." She said simply, trying to ease Kellan's nerves. Kellan turned her sharp eyes on to the maid with something close to awe. "Granny! You never speak ill of anyone!" She exclaimed, before laughing out loud. "Well, I won't tell if you won't." The maid said, sending the girl a wink. Her goal was to get at least a smile on the beautiful blonde's face, and the laugh was an added treat. Granny had raised Kellan from the moment she came from her mother's womb. And she wouldn't let anyone mar Kellan's memories of the late, great Lady Ilsa. "I'm just about done here, lass. I'll leave you to your thoughts a few moments more, but you will have to go to court today. I hear it's a big day for us all." The kindly woman said, before sending a last wink to the girl. "What do you mean, Granny? How come I haven't heard such things?" Kellan asked, but turned around to an empty suite.

Well, that was disappointing. Kellan sighed to herself before standing up and looking at her reflection. She hated getting dressed up and cleaned and scrubbed and polished til she shone. She wanted the natural setting of dirt under her finger nails, running barefoot through the trees she practically grew up in. Looking at herself now, she barely recognized the reflection. Long, beautiful blonde hair that usually flowed down to her waist was pulled up into a very intricate style that left the ends draping across her shoulders. Lightly tanned skin without any imperfections was enhanced by the deep emerald of the floor length gown. It was one of the more elegant pieces she had, and though it was pretty, she hated the dress. The sleeves came all the way down to her wrists before ending at a point on top of her hands. The bodice was a little tight, but not uncomfortably so. It definitely showed that she was more a woman than a child now, and she hated it. She hated the fact that it accentuated her chest and hips, while at the same time trying to shrink her waist. Fashion was stupid in her opinion. Give her a pair of riding pants and a loose carpenter's shirt and she was in heaven. She didn't like shoes - especially the evil ones they put on her this morning. They were soft, granted, but they pinched her feet painfully and the two-inch heel on them was killer.

After assessing her wardrobe and finding it greatly under par to her liking, Kellan let her eyes travel back up to her face. Red lips that were constantly frowning unless she was out in the forest tried to form a smile. No such luck. Her cheekbones, which were too high for her stepmother's liking stood proud under her green eyes. Thick, dark eyelashes showed a sense of defiance when coupled with an angry glare from Kellan. Over all, the blonde knew she was not ugly. But the only time she ever felt truly beautiful was when she was either by herself or with an animal of some sort. Certainly never when she was forced to look and act like a porcelain doll.

Kellan gave one last sigh and, holding her head proudly, exited her rooms towards the courtroom.

"Ladies and gentlemen. May I present my step-daughter, Kellan." A cold-sounding voice reverberated through the room. Murmurs were passed around, wondering why the Lady Selene didn't address the young mistress by her proper title. Most knew, however, that it was because of a deep hatred the woman held for the girl. No one knew why, of course. But all turned their eyes to the side of the room where the lady stepped out. She walked over to the three thrones in the center of the room and gave a curtsy to both her parents, and turned to give one to the room, before sitting down humbly in her own seat. She was a different person when she was present in court. There was none of the laughter, anger, defiance, or any emotion at all. She was what she hated: a breathing doll. As she sat there, she began to daydream about being in the forest, or the town, or anywhere but in this great castle. Sure, there were plenty of people to talk to, but she always felt lonely. The only time she felt alive since the black plague took her mother is when she wasn't in the castle.

Her reverie was broken, however, by her step-mother standing up to give a speech. This was most unusual. Usually, she just gave orders and demands from her throne. The only time Lady Selene ever got up was to leave the room at the end of the court sessions. And this unusual activity was not lost on anyone. The moment the woman stood, all conversations ceased and all eyes were on her. The tall woman with raven-black hair smirked in response. "As you all know, four days from now is Lady Kellan's eighteenth birthday. Now, this is a milestone in every young woman's life, as it is the transition from girl to woman. However, she would not be allowed a place or a voice in the court unless she be wed." The woman's words were true. That was the biggest reason Kellan couldn't wait to have her birthday. Once she was a 'woman' by society's standards, she wouldn't have to get dressed up like this anymore. She wouldn't have to sit in on her stepmother's courtroom sessions anymore. She could do what she pleased and no one could tell her differently.

"Of course," Selene continued. "If Lady Kellan was to find a proper suitor with serious intentions of being wed, she could continue being part of the court even if they weren't married right away." Lady Selene looked to Kellan and sent her a smile. To most, it looked like a reassuring smile. To Kellan, it looked evil. "As it is, we were graciously visited by a young man from the highlands just this morning. He told us how he heard of Kellan's beauty and that he had come down to ask for her hand in marriage. Sir Carlyle, would you please step forward?" At her request, a young man walked up to the raised platform on which they sat. Kellan was rendered speechless with hatred, anger and fear. This woman was to pawn her off to the highest bidder. The man - Sir Carlyle, she reminded herself - was not bad looking. In fact, he was rather handsome. He was tall, almost a foot taller than her average five-foot five inches, and had dark brown hair that almost looked black. His eyes were a deep, muddy brown. To most girls, they would be beautiful. To Kellan, they looked lifeless. His body was very muscled - obviously he cared a great deal about being in shape. He was obviously a fighter of some sort - not just a knight. As she examined the man standing before her, Kellan was aware that he was also appraising her. To her surprise, she found that he wasn't looking at her like a man should look at a woman. He was looking at her like a wolf would to an injured deer. A piece of meat.

When the man started to bow and introduce himself to her properly, Kellan abruptly stood and glared at her step-mother. "I cannot marry this man." She said, before running out of the courtroom. Behind her, she heard gasps, outcries, and admonishment of her behavior. She didn't care. There was no way she was going to willingly give herself to a man that she knew wouldn't treat her with the respect that she was deserved. She ran all the way back to her suite of rooms, discarding her evil shoes somewhere along the way. When she got there, she bypassed her sitting room and went straight to her bedroom. She immediately ripped the dress off, and all her undergarments before flinging her wardrobe doors open. She grabbed her riding pants, a pair of very fine leather boots that she had made for special occasions (they were the only shoes she liked when she knew she couldn't go without), and her carpenter's shirt. She quickly donned them and went back to her wardrobe. She grabbed a make-shift bag that she had made a few years ago for just such an occasion and quickly put all the belongings she would need inside. Thankfully, she knew where everything was so she didn't waste time in finding these things. A few books, two changes of clothes, undergarments, and the pendant her mother had given her on her deathbed. She would never have to see her evil step-mother, that horrid man, or anyone again. She was almost thankful that she wouldn't have to see her father again since he agreed to this union, but went back on her thoughts. No matter what he had done, she knew he loved her very much and would always care for her. She couldn't begrudge him that. After everything was safely tucked into her bag, she wrapped it around her shoulders with a strap of leather she acquired and opened her bedroom windows. Her rooms in the castle were very high off the ground, but there was any ivy lattice that grew up the side, right next to her window. She knew her father had planted it there to grow like that on purpose after she had nearly broken a leg trying to scale the building. Even though it was still light out, the sun was beginning to set and the entire back of the castle was cast in shadow. She mentally sent a 'thank you' to whoever built the castle so that the setting sun would be on its face instead of its back, and began her climb down.

When she reached the ground, she turned and started to run. The years of running through the woods and other places for fun had, in her mind, toned her body to a physical perfection and the race to the wood's edge was not tiring at all on her lungs. Once she reached the edge, she could hear shouts of the guards preparing to go after her. Of course 'Lady' Selene would send people after her. She very publicly snubbed the Lady of the castle and her actions demanded retribution. 'Good luck trying to find me in here, boys...' She thought, before turning her back on the castle and running deep into the woods.

Back at the castle, the courtroom was in disarray. Nobles were shouting at each other, reveling in the chance to throw blame at whomever they didn't like. Sir Cailain had sent a few of the maids that Kellan trusted up to her rooms to find her and calm her, and Lady Selene was trying to persuade Sir Carlyle that the girl would come around in time. She would make sure of it. When word got out that the young woman had run, things really started getting heated. Sir Carlyle insisted on being part of the searching party, Lady Selene was fuming, and Sir Cailain was sending up a mental hope that his daughter - his only joy in life anymore - would never be found. He knew he was wrong in trying to set her up like this, but he didn't realize how wrong he was until it was too late.

At the back of the room, in the shadows where no one paid attention, a lone man stood. "Run far and fast, my little lamb... Night is coming and the full moon isn't kind to everyone..." He said, smiling to himself at his own little joke before disappearing in a cloud of purple and black smoke.

Kellan was able to out distance the guards and Sir Carlyle very easily. Even with the knight's impressive background of hunting, he soon lost her tracks. She had smirked to herself when she realized he was tracking her and had taken to the trees. In this part of the forest, the trees were very close together and she could move through them as easily as if she were on the ground. She stayed within hearing distance of the searching party only long enough to hear that they were giving up the hunt for her. Good. That meant she could finally come down from her perch and get to her 'secret' hiding spot.

Over the years of running and playing hide-and-seek with the castle guards, Kellan always found her way to a very secluded grotto that seemed to show itself only to her. This is where she made her way to. As she reached the little 'home-away-from-home', she couldn't help but stop and admire its beauty. It was a little pond that was fed from two different little rivers each spring when the snow melted. The pond itself was ringed with bushes and a few trees, but the most beautiful part was the grotto itself. A little cave sitting just on the other side of the pond from where she stood. There was nothing truly unique about it except the the curtain of wild ivy that hung down from the top. The vines hid the entrance to the cave excellently, and only by literally pulling them away could one see the cave itself. From afar, and even from close inspection, it looked just like a large boulder with a curtain of ivy on one side. As Kellan walked to the entrance she now knew by heart, she let her hands drift over the many flowers that bloomed all around the entire area. There were flowers of all kinds, colors and smells. She felt like this was her own little heaven when the rest of the world had been hell.

As she entered the cave and smiled at the untouched layers of fur on the ground as a make-shift bed, she again thanked whoever was watching over her that no one had stolen them. She had placed them here over the years for when she needed a place to go to for the night when her step-mother had been unusually unkind. Since finding this secluded area years ago, she had slowly but surely made it so that living here for a few days wouldn't be unbearable. There were little mementos from home: the furs, a very small chair - and things she added from the forest: wood stocked up in the corner to keep dry for a fire, flowers she gather from her 'garden' outside that she dried and crushed to keep the place smelling lovely. These little things reminded her of why she couldn't stay at the castle anymore. Here, she could be herself, live by herself, and by her own rules. There, she was always under careful watch, always told what to do, when to do it, and what to wear.

After taking out one of her few books that she brought along, Kellan bundled herself in one of the furs and began to read before the last of the daylight was swept away. She only got a chapter or two into the book when she placed it on the floor next to her and snuggled in for a peaceful night's rest. As she dozed off, she heard a lone wolf cry in the distance and smiled to herself. She loved the wild.

AN: Me again! Thank you all who've read this! Any review would be greatly appreciated!

SeriouslySirius09