Lady Hollis

Lady Hollis is Sir Gawain’s sister and a lively presence at Prince James’s palace gathering. Her brief appearance is defined by a gesture of welcome: she takes Meira by the hand and draws her into the company and activities of the court.

Introduction

Lady Hollis arrives beside her brother, Sir Gawain, in a coach. She has the same brown hair and laughing eyes as he does, and is dressed in green. After Gawain introduces himself as a knight in Prince James’s household and presents his sister, Galahad Stormcrane gives both siblings a greeting: he shakes Gawain’s hand and briefly takes Hollis’s extended hand.

At the Palace Gathering

Hollis is among the guests entering the lavish dining hall, where twenty courtiers gather amid silver furnishings, chandeliers, vivid summer clothing, and jewels. As Prince James leads the party around the room, he glances back with a grin at Hollis and Meira, apparently watching their reactions to the surroundings. Hollis’s presence alongside Meira places her among the people the prince is welcoming into the palace’s social life.

Welcoming Meira

Hollis takes the initiative in bringing Meira into that life. Addressing her as Lady Meira, she takes her hand and pulls her away from Galahad, then eagerly lays out the plans for the visit: her brother will show them the palace gardens, ballroom, and libraries, followed by tea on the back terrace. Meira looks immediately toward Prince James, while Galahad asks where the prince will be. Hollis’s invitation thus opens a path for Meira to explore the palace in company, even as the conversation remains attentive to the prince’s whereabouts.