Tristan Thorn

Tristran Thorn (or Tristan as named in the film) is the main protagonist of Stardust. In the film adaption, he is portrayed by Charlie Cox. He became the king of Stormhold by restoring the Royal Ruby.

Physical Description
In the book, he is described as a tall slender young man who has freckles on his face and "his hair was the sodden straw, and it stuck out at awkward angles". In his time at Wall, he wore a formal coat and woolen trousers. He also carried around a bowler hat. During his time in Faerie, he wears a new set of clothes including a red coat, yellow long-legged pants, and high golden boots. Another noticeable feature Tristran has is a half cat-like shape on his left ear, and his hair is described as light brown. In the movie, Tristan is shown to wear a bowler hat, and a shop boy attire. Later he wears a white vest with a white shirt underneath. His hair starts out short and dark, but becomes long and wavy after Captain Shakespeare does his hair.

Early life
Tristan's parents first met many years before the story takes place when young Dunstan Thorn crossed the wall dividing England from the lands of Faerie. There he found himself in Market Town where his eye was caught by Una, the slave girl; who sold him a snowdrop flower for a kiss before telling him that she is a princess, forced to work for Ditchwater Sal, an old witch. Dunstan was unable to cut her bonds, but was taken into Sal's cart (or woods as in the book) where he made love to her and Tristan was conceived.

Unaware of this, Dunstan was thoroughly surprised when the Wall Guard brought him a baby in a wicker basket, which contained a package for the child, as well as a note naming him Tristan. Dunstan then brought the child in to raise him.

Tristan grew up at his father's farm at the outskirt of Wall, learning at his school although he never quite fit in with others. He never attended the Market which occurs every nine years. At the age of sixteen, he does his first guard duty, which made him curious of what was Beyond the Wall.

Book
Tristran can be described as painfully shy and he first became attracted to Victoria Forester when he hurt his arm by falling off an apple tree at an age of 15. At 17, he became determined to get the hand of Victoria like many other men in the village of Wall.

One day while working at Monday and Brown's store, Victoria walked in to gather some provisions and Tristran thought this might be his chance to woo Victoria. After telling Mr. Brown that he is leaving he took Victoria to the top of the hill near her farmhouse, Tristran took Victoria hands and professed his feelings for her, to which Victoria is unsurprised. He then asked her to kiss him, which Victoria refused. Determined, Tristran told Victoria that he will do anything and everything for her hand of marriage. At first, Victoria didn't say anything, then told him that he will have anything he desires if he can go and retrieve a fallen star that she saw moments before. Tristran happily obliged and then raced all the way home to gather supplies. He told his father where he was going but didn't tell him what he was going to do. Understanding his son motive, he took Tristan to the gap of the wall where two guards stood. At first, Tristran thought his father might provide some sort of distractions as he talked to them and, to his surprise, the guards agreed to let Tristan through.

He didn't understood why they let him through as he past through the gap of the wall and into the magical land of Faerie. Tristran was resting in the forest and made friends with a hairy man, and together they made their way east when they found themselves in the middle of a serene forest, when the trees around them came alive and threatened to kill them. They both barely managed to escape, thanks to Tristran’s ability to know where he is going. To show his gratitude, the hairy man gave Tristran the Babylon candle and told him as soon as he lights it, he must take steps. Tristran did so, and soon found himself going through the land and eventually ended up at the same forest as the fallen star.

At first, he didn't believe that the fallen star was in fact a young woman, who was busy insulting him. When it dawned on him that she was the star, he chained her and went to sleep. The next day, Tristran made an improvised crutch to help compensate for Yvaine's broken leg and together, they made their way through the forest until they witnessed a fight between a lion and a unicorn over a golden crown. At the words of Yvaine, he intervened the fight and gave the lion the crown, thereby saving the unicorn’s life. The next day, Tristran asked the unicorn if it could give Yvaine a lift on it back, then soon joined Yvaine when he couldn't keep up with the unicorn (since he is still chained to Yvaine).

During their rest, Tristrain went to a nearby village and gathered some food and upon his returned, found that the unicorn and Yvaine took off. Tristran immediately regretted chaining Yvaine. He laid against a tree, where it spoke to Tristran that Yvaine is in trouble and he needed to save her. Tristran then ran through the forest under the tree’s direction where he met Lord Primus. Together, they went to the foot of Mount Belly, where they saw an Inn. They headed towards it to take shelter and Primus told Tristran to put the horses in the stable. When Tristran did so, he was greeted by a chambermaid who offered him some wine. Before he could drink it, the same unicorn burst through and knocked the cup over, revealing that it was poisoned. Tristran quickly went inside the Inn to warn Primus, but was too late when the witch slit Primus’s throat. She was about to attack him when the unicorn intervened and attacked the witch. Yvaine made her way to Tristran as he made an improvised wick and together they escape from the Inn, but wound up stranded in the clouds.

After being stuck up there for hours, Tristran walked around and yelled out, and to his amazement, a skyship appeared. Aboard the Free Ship Perdita and at the hand of Captain Alberic, Tristran and Yvaine stayed with the crew for weeks. During the stay, Alberic told Tristran that he is part of the fellowship that is interested of Tristran's return to Wall. These three weeks on the ship is what Tristran described as "the happiest moment of his life."

They made port and Yvaine and Tristran bid farewell to the ship's crew as they begins their journey once again to Wall. Days later, they were resting from their journey when Tristran found a multi-colored bird pinned near a tree by it chain. After freeing it, Mademe Semele appeared and accused Tristran for attempting to steal her bird than later apologized for her misbehavior. Tristran offer a deal to Mademe Semele; a snowdrop flower for a ride for him and Yvaine to Wall. At first, Madame Semele hesitated then she finally agreed to Tristan's terms and turned him into a dormouse as a means of a safer passage. From there, Yvaine and Tristran stayed in the caravan for many days until they finally made their way to Wall.

They finally reached Wall as Madame Semele kept her word and she transformed Tristran back into human form. Yvaine and Tristran walk into the Market and towards the gap of the wall. But they were turned back by the guards that were guarding the gap. So instead, they spent their night nearby at the Market. When Tristran drunkenly fell asleep on the grass, unknown to him, a dark-haired woman, Una, approached them. Not knowing who she is, Yvaine listened to the woman who told her that if Yvaine leave Faerie by crossing through the gap of the wall, she would turned into a metallic rock.

The next morning, Tristran woke up and told Yvaine that he will make his way to Victoria and told her it is probably safe that she stay where she is. Yvaine didn't say anything but covered her head in her arm, apparently heartbroken. Tristran made his way to Wall where he was greeted by his sister, Louisa. She was happy to see him and told him that Victoria needed to talk to him. He made his way to her house where Victoria apologized to Tristran for sending him out, since the day he walked with her and made that promise, she was already engaged to Mr. Monday. Tristran was at first surprised, then told her that since she promised him anything he desired, he could give them his blessing and wished them a happy marriage.

Several hours later after visiting his family, Tristran made his way back to Faerie where he was soon reunited with Yvaine. He told her of what had happened and was relief when Yvaine told him how she feels. Tristran returned his love for her too and they kissed. Una appeared and told Tristran that she is his mother. and asked Yvaine to give Tristran the Power of Stormhold, which revealed that Tristran is the next Lord of Stormhold. At first. Una said she wanted to travel by palanquin and all of the other stuff which Tristran refused. They then argued and Tristran finally convinced his mother that he and Yvaine will be traveling to Stormhold by their means of travel. Tristran went out to look for Yvaine and found her talking to an old witch. Asking her who she was talking to, she replied back "she was just someone I know from the road."

Tristran and Yvaine then walked together to the east and towards Stormhold, which will take them another three years to reach. Tristran left a note to his mother that he still doesn't want to rule and it took another five years before they reached the mountain again and he will finally rule the kingdom. King Tristran ruled for another many years until his death, only to be succeeded by his wife, Lady Yvaine of Stormhold.

Movie
Many years later, at the age of 18, Tristan (like most of the young men in the village) sought the hand of the beautiful Victoria Forrester, who much preferred the aristocratic Humphrey, to the awkward young Tristan.

After abandoning his post at Mr. Monday's grocers, Tristan was fired and used all of his savings to buy an expensive picnic, and the two sat watching the stars. Attempting to win Victoria's affection, Tristan claimed that he would bring her back a shooting star that they witnessed fall as a birthday present. He had to hurry however, as Humphrey was also off to fetch Victoria a present, a wedding ring.

Tristan attempted to cross the wall without success, until his father revealed the truth about his son's heritage, as well as giving him the letter from his mother, which contained a Babylon Candle, used to travel long distances. Tristan closed his eyes, and thought of his mother.

However, Tristan allowed his mind to be filled with thoughts of Victoria, and he arrived in a large crater, knocking down a startled and injured woman called Yvaine. He soon discovers that Yvaine was the shooting star in human form who was knocked from the heavens by a necklace. Tristan takes her captive, planning to present her to Victoria, promising that he will let her use the rest of the Babylon Candle to return home.

Yvaine escaped Tristan's clutches and flees. Tristan is guided by voices from the heavens, and encounters Primus, one of the two remaining heirs of Stormhold, who gives Tristan a lift as they stop at the nearest inn.

Tristan arrived to find that the innkeeper is in fact, one of the Lillim, the evil witch Lamia, who has been planning to take Yvaine back to her lair, where the Lillim will eat her heart, making them youthful again. Tristan and Yvaine escape by using the Babylon Candle, leaving behind a furious Lamia and the corpse of Primus, who had his throat cut by Lamia.

Unfortunately, as both Yvaine and Tristan thought of home, instead of ending up at Wall or at the sky, they ended up stranded on a cloud. Here, they were picked up in the nets of a sky vessel catching lightning, commanded by the formidable Captain Shakespeare, who threw them both in the brig.

After having a moment with Yvaine, Tristan appeared to be thrown from the vessel after mentioning that he was from England. However, Shakespeare had merely placed his clothes on a mannequin and ejected it from the hatches.

The Captain revealed himself to be an amiable crossdresser, who abhorred violence, yet was determined to uphold his reputation. He presented Tristan as his nephew 'the fearsome buccaneer' and taught him how to fence and steer the ship as well as, more surprisingly, how to waltz with Yvaine. When they reached land, Shakespeare gave Tristan a barrel of lightning, and some secret advice.

As they made their way towards Wall, Tristan and Yvaine attempt to hitch a ride with Ditchwater Sal, who noticed that Tristan held the flower that had disappeared from her shop many years ago. Turning him into a mouse for spite, Sal took him and Yvaine to Wall. Unbeknownst to the two of them, Lamia had previously hexed Sal, who was unable to see or hear Yvaine.

During the journey, Yvaine confessed that she had fallen in love with Tristan, who seemed not to respond. When the two reached Market and Tristan was returned to human form, he revealed that he had heard everything, and that he loved Yvaine in return.

Still determined to fulfill his promise to Victoria, Tristan left the sleeping Yvaine, taking with him a few locks of her hair and a note with the innkeeper. Unfortunately, Yvaine misunderstood, and dejectedly made her way towards Wall.

Tristan gave Victoria his prize, yet he spurned her advances and returned to Yvaine. However, he noticed that the locks of hair had become a few lumps of stardust, and realised that Yvaine would die if she crossed the wall. Racing back, Tristan was by then too late as Lamia killed Ditchwater Sal and fled with Yvaine and Una back to her fortress. Tristan followed, where he made an uneasy alliance with Prince Septimus, and was reunited with his long lost mother.

Septimus and Tristan managed to kill Empusa and Mormo (two of the Lillim) however, Septimus is killed by Lamia and was then reanimated to fight Tristan. Tristan defeated the undead Prince and Yvaine managed to incinerate Lamia with a flash of blinding energy. Tristan's mother revealed that she was Una, the daughter of Stormhold and that Tristan was now king of Stormhold.

Movie Ending
"They ruled for 80 years. But no man can live forever, unless he who possesses the heart of a star, and Yvaine gave him hers entirely."

- The Narrator After being crowned the 82nd King, Tristan lived and reigned for many years, maintained by the power of Yvaine's heart.

After 80 years on the throne, Tristan and Yvaine lit a Babylon Candle and ascended into the heaven to become twin stars.

Book Ending
As in the movie, Tristan is crowned as king of Stormhold and was fair and just ruler. However, the biggest different between the movie and the book is that Tristan and Yvaine never return to the stars. Instead, Tristan eventually dies of old age, leaving Yvaine to rule over the kingdom.