Galen

Galen, the son of a solider and army laundress, grew up around the army and started helping his mother when he was 7 when the war started. His parents and baby sister had died by the time he was 15, he picked up his fathers weapons and marched off to the next skirmish.

He was 19 at the beginning of the Princess of the Midnight Ball and the war is over.

On his journey after the war was over, to find his mothers cousin, he met an old crone on the way. He was kind to her giving her the last of his wine and shared his meager food with her. Then he gave her one of his knitted scarf to help stay warm. In return she rewarded him with a cloak of invisibility. Then she gave him two balls of yarn, one white and one black. "'One can Bind, the other Protects, Black like Iron, White like a Swan.'"

After the war ended, he became an under-gardener in The King's Folly and met Princess Rose.

When he found out that all 7 of the visiting Princes died after they left Westfalian he decided that he would find out what was going on so that Rose would be saved.

During the war he learns to knit his own socks, scarves and hats so he doesn't have to go without. He continues to knit and knits Rose a beautiful white shawl.

Eventually he convinces the King to let him try to find out what is happening to the Princesses each night by staying inside the palace.

He is given a bit of Nightshade to keep away any enchantment so he doesn't fall asleep the way all of the Princes and the maids to the Princesses do. Using his coat of invisibility he followed the Princesses and discovered that they dance with the sons of the King Under the Stone. The next day he discusses it with Walter and is given another sprig of nightshade and one of Basil to keep away evil. While following the girls the first night he gathers some evidence including a few twigs from the silvery trees. He shows them to Walter and discovers that they would make good knitting needles.

He knitted a chain from the black wool that was given to him at the beginning of the story. With the help of Rose's white shawl they escaped and using the black chain, After killing the King and several Princes Galen secured the gates to the underworld and rescued the Princess.

In the end the King knights Galen and then he and Rose are married.