# Naani — The Night Land character guide

> Naani in The Night Land by William Hope Hodgson.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the Maid, Maid, the Maid Naani, Naani drest pretty, herself

**First appearance:** 0000-the-dreams-that-are-only-dreams

## Who they are

The Maid whose voice arrives by brain-elements in the dark, speaking words only Mirdath could have known, and drawing the narrator onward.

## In the story

### [The Night Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/the-night-land)

The beloved maid whose voice the narrator hears, connecting him to his past love.

### [The Quiet Calling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/iii-the-quiet-calling)

The girl in the Lesser Redoubt who first calls out, initially claiming to be Mirdath but later revealing her true name.

### [The Hushing of the Voice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/iv-the-hushing-of-the-voice)

Speaks weakly from the Lesser Redoubt; hears the Master-Word and the message 'We are coming!' but is reassured by the Narrator.

### [Into the Night Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/v-into-the-night-land)

The beloved in the Lesser Redoubt; the narrator sends the Master-Word to her and longs to rescue her.

### [The Way That I Did Go](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/vi-the-way-that-i-did-go)

The narrator sets out to succour the Maid (Naani) who is afar in the darkness of the world.

### [The Night Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/vii-the-night-land)

The Narrator dreams of her and thinks of her as the purpose of his journey.

### [Down the Mighty Slope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/viii-down-the-mighty-slope)

Thought of fondly as the Narrator falls asleep; his thoughts of her give him hope.

### [IX: The Dark Pyramid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/ix-the-dark-pyramid)

Referenced as the Maid; her teachings about the compass guide the Narrator.

### [X: The Maid of the Olden Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/x-the-maid-of-the-olden-days)

Weeps by a fire-hole, hears the narrator's call, and reunites with him, recognizing him as 'That One'.

### [The Homeward Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/xi-the-homeward-way)

Weeps with sorrow and memory, insists on rest, and gives the narrator a knife to slay her as an Evil Force approaches.

### [Downward of the Gorge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/xii-downward-of-the-gorge)

Carried by the Narrator, wakes from sleep, kisses him, and later prepares for rest, planning to wake early to prepare food.

### [Homeward by the Shore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/xiii-homeward-by-the-shore)

Experiences wonder and joy at the open country and sea; shares playful and tender moments with the Narrator; shows courage by readying her knife.

### [On the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/xiv-on-the-island)

Shares dim memories of moving cities and the Sun; comforts the Narrator's jealousy.

### [Past the House of Silence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/xv-past-the-house-of-silence)

Reaches the top of the Slope with the Narrator, is struck unconscious by a Force from the House of Silence, and is carried by the Narrator.

### [In the Country of Silence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/xvi-in-the-country-of-silence)

Dies in the Narrator's arms; her body is laid on the Last Rest and carried away on the moving Roadway.

### [The Love Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/chapters/xvii-the-love-days)

Nurses the Narrator back to health, marries him, and shares the Love Days with him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/characters/naani
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_night_land_se/characters