Post by wordy on Jul 31, 2011 19:46:48 GMT 10
A Discussion of Canon Couples
by pandora, rachy, and wordy
Canon Couples in Tortall
As the Tortall Universe spans over several generations we see our favourite characters grow and change over the years, and so to do their romantic relationships. We look at both successful and unsuccessful couples, from first loves to love discovered later in life. Sometimes the same characters are seen with a number of partners throughout the books; whereas we see others remain with a single partner the duration of the time we know them. The gives us some wonderful variety in the types of couples we see develop between our much loved characters.
One of the first couples that is focussed on in the books is that of Alanna and Jon. Their friendship begins when they are pages; however they do not become romantically involved until sometime later during the war with Tusaine. Alanna is very hesitant about beginning a relationship as love scared her, and her strong feelings for Jon scared her. Jon on the other hand is more experienced with women, and sometimes forgets Alanna is not one of his swooning court ladies. After a slow start they become lovers. Their passion and dedication to each other is what makes them so strong as a couple. Jon says more than once he would give his life for Alanna and is adamant that they belong together, and in a way they always will. Alanna is his vassal; her sword and life are his, and will continue to be long after their relationship ends. They are both fiery and headstrong, and both very stubborn, and in the end may have been too similar for it to work. It all ends abruptly in the dessert when they discover they both want different things from their relationship. It seems the lady knight was not meant to marry her prince charming, but despite the unsuccessful ending, it still remains a popular pairing among fans.
Alanna then upgrades from a Prince to a King (albeit the King of Thieves) by becoming involved with George Cooper, her friend of many years and the Rogue of Tortall. George has always been a fan favourite, being funny and charming, as well as a very down to earth character. Alanna and George’s relationship is about trust and friendship and balance. They had their difficulties in that Alanna is noble born and George is common, but that issue is conveniently done away with when George in ennobled at the end of Lioness Rampant. George has always loved Alanna for who she is -which admittedly can’t have been easy. He confessed his feelings for her early on, and though she fought it at the start she eventually came around to the idea of loving George. Besides, Alanna needed someone like George to balance her out, and make sure she doesn’t take herself too seriously. As shown in later books, they settle down happily together at Pirate’s Swoop, to embark on a new adventure: parenthood.
Daine and Numair would be considered by many to be the favourite Canon Couple, though they did not actually become romantically involved until near the end of their series. Their relationship progressed through many stages; from student and teacher, to equals in the field of magic, and finally to sweethearts, and as we see from future books their relationship only grows from there. They are both caring and dedicated, and although there is a larger age gap than we have seen with other couples, they seem perfectly suited to each other. Though somewhat unconventional at times the couple themselves are nothing if not sweet. Nothing says ‘love’ like turning your enemies into trees and raising entire palaces to the ground.
As well as the various forms of young love we see in Tortall we also get to see some of our characters discover love later in life, such as with Raoul and Buri. Both can be considered to be somewhat career soldiers and eventually settled down together after many years of friendship. However, long before they were a couple, these two established themselves as individuals, both playing their parts in the world of Tortall, and both becoming very popular among readers. And yet in the end it seems only natural that the Commander of the King’s Own and the Commander of the Queen’s Riders should be together.
There are many other popular couples in Tortall, from pretty pairings like Neal and Yuki to the prearranged Roald II and Shinko. We see regal couples such as Jon and Thayet and the dedicated and loving Roald I and Lianne; and also those that just don’t work out as with Alanna and Liam and later Kel and Cleon. What the majority of these couples seem to have in common – particularly the successful ones – is a strong foundation of friendship to build the relationship on.
Canon Couples in Emelan
In Tamora Pierce’s Emelan universe, platonic relationships and friendship take precedence to romantic relationships, with the friendship between Briar, Sandry, Daja and Tris explored at younger ages in comparison to the Tortall and Provost’s Dogs books. An assortment of couples decorate the background of the Circle universe, more notable in the Circle Opens series, such as Kol and Matazi Bancanor, the parents of Nia and Jory, Daja’s students in Cold Fire, to the brief relationship between Tris’s student Keth in Shatterglass with his friend Yali. Will of the Empress finally confirms the fan favourite relationship of Lark and Rosethorn, the Circle’s foster mothers, and introduces the first major relationship in the Circle, with Daja and Rizu, Berenene’s chief lady-in-waiting.
Lark and Rosethorn is one of, if not the, favourite canon couple in Emelan with hints to their relationship given from their first introduction as the dedicates at Discipline. With an almost ‘good cop/bad cop’ attitude towards their students, clues of Lark and Rosethorn’s relationship were scattered along the first few books, with major hints dropped when Rosethorn was infected with the blue pox and came close to death, with Lark being extremely upset and acting as her nurse upon occasion. Upon Rosethorn’s return to Winding Circle with Briar and Evvy from Gyongxe in Will of the Empress, they shared Lark’s room, with Briar later confirming their relationship through his acceptance of Daja and Rizu. From the way they complemented and supported each other and their students, their love, friendship and ability to work perfectly as a team throughout the Circle’s exploits in Winding Circle cemented their status as one of Emelan’s best loved pairings.
Daja and Rizu are the second major canon couple in the Circle universe, meeting at Berenene’s court in Will of the Empress. Daja is instantly intrigued by Rizu at first sight, and they develop a fast friendship, with Daja slowly becoming attracted to Rizu during their time at Landreg. While alone together at a ball, Rizu kisses Daja, and while startled at first, Daja kisses her back and they go to Daja’s rooms. Their relationship progresses fast, with Daja bringing Rizu to dinners with her foster-family, and Daja hopes that Rizu will return to Emelan with them after Sandry’s kidnap attempt. Their relationship reaches a tragic end when Rizu chooses to stay in Namorn, hoping Daja will stay with her, but Daja chooses to leave. Their relationship isn’t as prevalent in the fandom as Lark and Rosethorn’s, but they stand as a fan favourite for Daja’s first love and the bittersweet ending of their relationship.
Emelan also has a number of background canon couples that are fan favourites, such as the relationship between Duke Vedris and Yasmin. Their sweet relationship, a result of Sandry matchmaking her great uncle and the dance instructor of her student, Pasco, only appeared in Magic Steps with the slightest hint of their continued relationship in Will of the Empress. Other favourite canon couples include that of Kol and Matazi, old friends of Frostpine’s from his time in Bihan. Their relationship has an almost fairytale-like quality to it, with Matazi and Kol falling in love after her relationship with Frostpine had ended and Matazi following Kol, a poor student, home to Namorn only to discover his familial association with the goldsmith’s guild. The final canon couple is the relationship between Keth and Yali, in Shatterglass. While sharing the same lodgings, Keth develops feelings for her, and as a killer strikes one of their other housemates, she appears to return those feelings, sharing several moments while looking after Glaki. Before their relationship can fully blossom, Yali too is killed. The couple remain a lesser favourite due to their bittersweet relationship and the touching moments they share. While the majority of the relationships in Emelan are well-loved but platonic, the canon romantic couples are also adored.
Canon Couples in Provost's Dog
The Provost’s Dog series is built on one very important relationship: that of a young, unruly George Cooper and his ancestor, Rebekah Cooper. From this connection, it is clear that being on opposite sides of the law can’t always keep two people apart, which is a theme that Pierce plays with frequently when it comes to friendships and romantic relationships in Provost’s Dog.
Will they or won’t they? With Mastiff to be released later this year, the answer to whether or not Beka and Rosto will ever do more than just flirt will soon be revealed. As a much needed break from all of the unresolved sexual tension, however, we were given the charming Dale Rowan. Introduced to Beka at the beginning of Bloodhound, it was obvious that we would be meeting Dale again. And so we did, in Port Caynn. While her relationship with Dale is not the first that Beka has experienced, it is the first that we as readers are allowed to see. Dale’s courtship of Beka is sweet and funny; the time that they spend together is a delight to read. All in all, their shortlived romance is a realistic and refreshing example that not all relationships are—or should be—permanent.
Beka’s friends are a mixed bunch, so it makes sense that two people with conflicting loyalties would form a romantic attachment. Ersken Westover and Kora Ingensra can be summed up in one word: cute. Beka once described Ersken as the kindest of the trainee Puppies, so it’s no wonder that he and Kora—a vivacious and caring young mage—would gravitate towards one another. These two don’t let their differences interfere with their relationship. Not only do Kora and Ersken seem to be in a perpetual state of bliss, but their loved-up state seems to attract hoards of darling kittens. Once again: cute.
Considering Pierce’s inclination for lady knights, the introduction of Lady Sabine of Macayhill in Terrier—and her subsequent relationship with Matthias Tunstall—is a highlight of the series. Compared to Sabine, who is the daughter of a noble Tortallan house, Mattes is from the wrong side of the tracks in that he’s from the eastern hillcountry and has refused promotion multiple times. Though the law doesn’t keep these two apart, the differences in their backgrounds and upbringings could cause issues in the future. Judging by the way that Mattes renovated his home in a bid to impress Lady Sabine, and the way that she cared for him during Bloodhound, trouble in paradise is not on their agenda.
There are a number of other fan favourites throughout both Terrier and Bloodhound, some of which are married couples. Tomlan Goodwin brings out a different side of tough Dog Clary, and these two could definitely challenge Ersken and Kora for their title as sweetest couple. Clary tends to refer to her husband with exasperated fondness, while Tom coddles her with care and cooking.
Other married couples that feature in the series include Tansy and Herun Lofts, and Lord Gershom and his wife Teodorie. Tansy married Herun at just sixteen. Though there seems to be genuine affection between Tansy and her husband, their marriage caused a rift between her and her family. Despite the number of troubles that plagues the Lofts throughout Provost’s Dog—including the death of their son, Roland—Tansy and Herun’s relationship appears to be unshakeable. The marriage of Gershom and Teodorie, on the other hand, is more of a mystery. While Lord Gershom is Beka’s benefactor and the Lord Provost—a respectable, amiable man—his wife’s attitude towards Beka makes it difficult to like Lady Teodorie. This difference in personality between Gershom and Teodorie makes what goes on behind closed doors all the more intriguing, and provides plenty of room for speculation.
In addition to Beka and Dale, Bloodhound also created a new fan favourite in Nestor and Okha. A younger cousin of Gershom of Haryse, Nestor is a well-respected sergeant of the Provost’s Guard. The relationship between Nestor and his lover Okha Soyan—who performs in Port Caynn under the name Amber, or the Amber Orchid—is captivating, much like Okha herself.
While Terrier and Bloodhound have produced a plethora of adored canon couples, Mastiff promises the chance to see how these couples have evolved—or crumbled—three years down the line. And with Beka rumoured to be engaged, the question of whether she and Rosto will ever be together is still looming.