Much-Afraid is a young and fearful orphan afflicted by a number of physical maladies that cause her to be despised and mocked by her relatives. Drawn instinctively to the Shepherd, she desires to serve him and spend as much time with him as possible, frequently meeting with him at the outskirts of the village. Her heart’s desire is to go up into the High Places.

Much-Afraid is engaged to be married against her will to her cousin Craven Fear. After her relatives plot to kidnap her to force her to be married, she escapes and encounters the Shepherd, who leads her to the start of her journey to the High Places. During her journey she is given the opportunity to overcome her many fears and enemies in order to be transfigured from the inside out and be healed. Now called Grace and Glory following her transformation, the truthful and earnest young girl chooses to travel back into the Valley at the end of the narrative to try to bring her fearful relatives the same love and joy she herself has come to experience.