# Lakla — The Moon Pool character guide > Lakla in The Moon Pool by A. Merritt. **Role:** major **First appearance:** 0028-xxvi-the-wooing-of-lakla ## Snapshot A gentle woman of the Silent Ones whose shining eyes and tender courage bind her fate to Larry O'Keefe and to the coming battle against the Shining One. ## Who they are Lakla moves between the world of the Silent Ones and the human strangers, serving as both guide and beloved, her voice soft with fear and devotion. She brings Larry tidings that he must not fight, a command that wounds his pride but reveals the depth of her care for him. Her connection to the Three and her role in the coming confrontation make her the emotional and spiritual center of the story's middle arc, where love and duty collide. ## Relationships ### [Yolara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/yolara) _rivalry_ Lakla and Yolara are bitter rivals, competing for influence and for Larry's affection. ### [The Three](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/the_three) _family_ The Three are the silent, ancient guardians who are spiritually connected to Lakla. ### [The Shining One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/the_shining_one) _rivalry_ Lakla opposes the Shining One, seeing it as a corrupting and evil force. ### [Rador](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/rador) _friendship_ Lakla and Rador are close allies, working together to protect their people and Larry. ### [The Shining One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/the_shining_one) _rivalry_ Lakla opposes the Shining One, seeing it as a corrupting and evil force. ### [The Three](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/the_three) _family_ The Three are the silent, ancient guardians who are spiritually connected to Lakla. ### [Yolara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/yolara) _rivalry_ Lakla and Yolara are bitter rivals, competing for influence and for Larry's affection. ### [Rador](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/rador) _friendship_ Lakla and Rador are close allies, working together to protect their people and Larry. ### [Yolara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/yolara) _rivalry_ Lakla and Yolara are bitter rivals, competing for influence and for Larry's affection. ### [Rador](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/rador) _friendship_ Lakla and Rador are close allies, working together to protect their people and Larry. ### [The Shining One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/the_shining_one) _rivalry_ Lakla opposes the Shining One, seeing it as a corrupting and evil force. ## In the story ### [XI: The Flame-Tipped Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xi-the-flame-tipped-shadows) First appears as a vision with a frog-woman; her golden eyes fix on Larry; she demonstrates how to open the portal by pressing carved flowers. ### [XV: The Angry, Whispering Globe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xv-the-angry-whispering-globe) Appears in a vision to Goodwin as he loses consciousness, described with golden eyes and a tender expression. ### [XVI: Yolara of Muria vs. the O’Keefe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xvi-yolara-of-muria-vs-the-o-keefe) Golden Girl; appears in O'Keefe's dream, implied to be watching over them protectively. ### [The Leprechaun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xvii-the-leprechaun) Referenced by Larry as the 'Golden Girl' and 'brown-haired coleen'; not physically present in the chapter. ### [XX: The Tempting of Larry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xx-the-tempting-of-larry) Arrives with frog-men guards, sent by the Silent Ones to demand the release of three strangers. ### [XXI: Larry’s Defiance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxi-larry-s-defiance) Interrupts the feast to demand an answer from the Council, setting a deadline of three tal for their response. ### [XXII: The Casting of the Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxii-the-casting-of-the-shadow) Mentioned as the one Rador hopes to reach before the Portal closes; her frog-men are referenced. ### [XXIII: Dragon Worm and Moss Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxiii-dragon-worm-and-moss-death) Arrives at the end of the chapter, bending over the stricken Larry. ### [The Crimson Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxiv-the-crimson-sea) Leads the group; tends to Larry, reveals she has secretly visited Goodwin and Larry before, and vows vengeance if Larry dies. ### [XXV: The Three Silent Ones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxv-the-three-silent-ones) Leads the party; communicates with the frog-woman and the Silent Ones; guides Larry's healing; shows reverence. ### [The Wooing of Lakla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxvi-the-wooing-of-lakla) Returns Larry's affection, kisses him, and demonstrates her bond with the Yekta; later appears shy and blushing. ### [XXVII: The Coming of Yolara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxvii-the-coming-of-yolara) Arrives with frog-men to rescue Larry and Goodwin. ### [XXVIII: In the Lair of the Dweller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxviii-in-the-lair-of-the-dweller) Handmaiden; guides Goodwin and Larry through the passage; operates the crystal keyboard; commands them to stay steady during the journey. ### [XXIX: The Shaping of the Shining One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxix-the-shaping-of-the-shining-one) Serves as the narrator, relaying the history of the Silent Ones and the Shining One as commanded by the Three. ### [XXX: The Building of the Moon Pool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxx-the-building-of-the-moon-pool) Narrates the full history of the Shining One, the Taithu, the Three, and the sunken land; reveals her lineage as a daughter of the sun king. ### [Larry and the Frog-Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxxi-larry-and-the-frog-men) Tenderly cares for Larry and Goodwin, tries to protect Larry from battle, but ultimately defers to his wishes; acts as interpreter between the Akka and the group. ### [XXXII: “Your Love; Your Lives; Your Souls!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxxii-your-love-your-lives-your-souls) Handmaiden of the Silent Ones; receives and relays their prophecy; initially terrified at the prospect of sacrificing Larry and herself, but ultimately accepts. ### [The Meeting of Titans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-meeting-of-titans) Shining-eyed and half fearful, she delivers the Silent Ones' command that Larry must not fight. She calls the Akka for aid and is nearly captured by Lugur's men. ### [The Coming of the Shining One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-coming-of-the-shining-one) Tends to Rador, interprets the Silent Ones' will, and prepares to sacrifice herself with Larry. ### [XXXV: “Larry—Farewell!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxxv-larry-farewell) Handmaiden; weeps over Throckmartin and Edith, insists on going to Lugur's palace, blushes at Larry's mention of home. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/endnotes) Referenced in relation to her control over the Yekta and her explanation of their effects. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/lakla - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters