Ellen Douglas
The Lady of the Lake, loyal to her exiled father and in love with Malcolm Graeme.
James Fitz-James / King James V
The disguised monarch whose dependence on Highland hospitality tests his judgment before he exercises royal power.
Roderick Dhu
Chief of Clan Alpine, Ellen's rejected suitor, rebel leader, and James's formidable opponent.
James Douglas
Ellen's exiled father, once a royal mentor, who surrenders himself to limit the conflict.
Malcolm Graeme
Ellen's chosen lover and a young warrior divided from Roderick's cause.
Allan-Bane
The aging minstrel whose songs and reports connect private feeling to clan history.
Blanche of Devan
A traumatized woman whose warning helps James recognize the danger around him.