<P> Cooper named Will for William Shakespeare . </P> <P> Merriman Lyon: Merriman is the first Old One . He and Will Stanton have a special bond as each of them is one end of the long line of Old Ones . It is said that with the birth and coming to power of Will Stanton, the circle of Old Ones is complete . A friend of the Drew family for over a generation, he assisted Barney, Jane, and Simon in their quest for the Grail, in addition to protecting them until their task was completed; they occasionally refer to him as "Great Uncle Merry" or "Gumerry". Throughout the series Merriman is portrayed in numerous historical periods, but particularly as King Arthur's chief adviser, the mythical Merlin, as Arthur calls him "Mer Lion", old English for "my lion", in Silver on the Tree . </P> <P> The Lady: The Lady is the most powerful of the Old Ones . Gentle, wise and enigmatic, she is a pivotal figure throughout the series, appearing usually at important moments to turn the tide in the Light's favor . She is an especial friend and mentor to Will and Jane . At one point in The Dark Is Rising, Will Stanton makes a critical mistake during a battle with the Dark and is saved by the Lady . Merriman tells Will that the Lady on her own is the only Old One able to overcome the full power of the Dark, although at a great cost . The sacrifice by the Lady is a critical point in the Story because she is a key element of the battle . At a later high ceremony of Old Ones, the Lady is missing and Merriman tells Will that her depleted power prevents her arrival, and she is beyond their magic to rescue but will return . She represents the Lady of the Lake, or the Lady of Avalon, King Arthur's sister, as they both embark on Arthur's boat Pridwen in Silver on the Tree . The Lady, like King Arthur, is affiliated with The Light and the High Magic . In Silver on the Tree, she initially can only communicate with Jane Drew, the one girl among the Six, telling Jane they share a special bond in being female, and calls her "Jane, Jana, Juno", referring to Jana (in Roman mythology, a variant form of Diana) or Juno, the queen of the gods . </P> <P> The Black Rider: One of the great Lords of the Dark, comparable to Merriman in power and influence . The Rider is the major nemesis of Will during his many trials . He patronises John Wayland Smith's establishment, where he meets Will for the first time and attempts to bring Will over to the Dark . He is given one name by the humans in the story: Mitothin (a name connected with the jötunn Loki, who helps bring about Ragnarok). </P>

Who is the lady in the dark is rising