White Lady

The White Lady is an NPC in Hollow Knight. She gifts one half of the Kingsoul to the Knight in the Queen's Gardens. The White Lady is a mysterious non-insectoid root being who is wrapped in an immobile shell, and was The Pale King's partner at one point in Hallownest’s history. Along with the Pale King, she is responsible for creating the Vessels that would seal The Radiance. She fled from the White Palace upon realizing the Infection could not be stopped and hid with one of the Five Knights, Dryya, who guarded her. She is a large, plant-like being with roots and is described as a root higher being. She resides within a cocoon-like structure in the Queen's Gardens. She has no hair, her hair is her roots She has no nose. Its roots are white, just like its skin; they do not have any type of separation. She is like a mother, perfect for copulation and the creation of life. She has vision problems She has no visible ears She has a gentle, sweet personality and is very rarely firm, only when fate dictates. She still regrets what happened in the past and withdraws into herself containing the desire to reproduce.

The White Lady is a root higher being[9] who used to be the Queen of Hallownest[10][5] and the wife of the Pale King. During Hallownest's prime, the Queen's Gardens were her well-guarded retreat.[4] This area used to belong to the Mosskin, but the White Lady claimed it to create her gardens.[11]

Hornet is the White Lady's stepdaughter, since Hornet's father is the Pale King and her mother is Herrah.[8] In White Palace, the White Lady was a guardian to Hornet, as Herrah had gone to sleep to serve as one of the Dreamers. She felt affection for Hornet,[12] and tried to make her understand the importance of being strong enough to see or create a world better than their own.[13] The White Lady was afraid that this would make her seem harsh and uncaring to Hornet.[14]

The White Lady is the mother of the Vessels.[7][3] Out of shame for her part in their creation, she bound herself in the Queen's Gardens to stop herself from having more offspring.[15] Dryya, one of the Five Great Knights, stood guard over her, although she died after defeating numerous Mantis Traitors. The White Lady is not aware of her death.[16]

Over time, the White Lady's vision worsened and she could not see much anymore.[17] She did sense within her roots the weakening of the Hollow Knight, prompting her to await a visit from a Vessel to give them her part of the Kingsoul.[18][19]

In-game Events Hollow Knight

The White Lady in the Pantheon of Hallownest The White Lady is found in the northwest part of the Queen's Gardens inside a cocoon-like dwelling. Outside this structure is the corpse of Dryya.

When the Knight first meets her, she gifts her half of the Kingsoul to them. She then asks the Knight to defeat the Hollow Knight and take their place in sealing the Radiance.[20]

After the Knight has obtained the completed Kingsoul, she comments on their strength and dedication, wondering if they could be more than simply a Vessel.[21] She tells the Knight to visit their birthplace in the Abyss to find out what is at the heart of the Kingsoul.[21]

The White Lady can be offered a Delicate Flower but she refuses it, explaining that the flower originates from outside Hallownest and holds rare power.

She makes an appearance in Godhome in the Pantheon of Hallownest, with the Godseeker commenting on her lore and backstory. In this form the White Lady seems to be unbound and without constraints. The Godseeker mentions that the White Lady hides from their attunement, and wonders if she diminishes herself by choice.[22]

Hollow Knight: Silksong

The White Lady giving the Everbloom to Hornet The White Lady appears as a past and present version of herself in Hornet's memories in the Red Memory. In the memory, the White Lady appears in White Palace where she talks to past Hornet. She tells her how she fears Hornet will see them as harsh or uncaring, as this was the price for their wish for Hornet to obtain enough strength to see or create a better world.[14][13] Hornet then answers her in the present, explaining how she always understood this wish and has only come to know it better after ages have passed.[23] Since Hornet has grown strong enough and now understands their desire so clearly, the White Lady shows Hornet the Everbloom, the only possession they have to resist the Void which links their family forever. The White Lady urges Hornet to take it from the memory and free herself from their sad fate.[24]