Favorite Literary Couples

While working on edits for Betrayal and Bravery, one of the plot threads I dutifully need to, well, edit, is the romance (or should I say, romances, as there are a couple of them, some prominent, others not so).  Which got me thinking (and the thinking was helped by Olivia’s post) about romances and couples and such in books.  And as I continued to ponder this, I wondered, which ones are some of my favorites?

Jace and Kyrin from The Ilyon Chronicles

Jace and Kyrin have such a lovely story.  They’ve been through a lot, but they help each other out and push each other to become better people.  I love reading their interactions and conversations and it's so cute.  :)  Kyrin tried to become friends with Jace, even when other people pushed him away, and Jace will do anything for Kyrin, and they're just adorable together!

Farimir and Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings

I grew up with the extended editions of the movies, so I knew from the very beginning that they got married at the end (thanks to a cute extended version scene).  But when I read The Return of the King, it made their story more much lovely... how they met in the Houses of Healing, and how Eowyn realizes that she doesn’t need to be a Queen and be looked up to by all the people to be happy.  And it’s about time Farimir had a happy ending...

Henri and Eglantine in How They Kept the Faith

Granted, this entire book made my heart ache, and not just the romance in it.  At first I was a little disappointed in Eglantine marrying Henri instead of Rene, but as the book went on…they ripped my heart out!  Their regrets, their struggles, their decisions (good and bad), their love, everything about this story was masterfully written.

Eben and Lily from The Firethrown Chronicles

I expected not to like Lily (it can be hard for me to like main female characters, for some reason), but I really enjoyed reading about it, and I instantly liked Eben.  Their relationship was just very entertaining, and I just knew they would be perfect together.  And especially when her father, the King, agreed with me.  Instead of all "no, you need to find some rich prince to make better ties with the kingdom" he was just "yeah, you two are a great pair, you have my blessing."  :D

Finn and Enna in The Books of Bayern

From the moment he appeared in Forest Born, I loved Finn.  And when he married Enna, I was quite happy.  But then I read the other books in the correct order and saw all the stuff that these two had gone through to get to that marriage in the last book...and I loved their tale.  (Because I’m such a confused person I read the last book in the series first, and then read The Goose Girl, and the other two.)  Enna gets on my nerves, but I still love her as a character, because she reminds me of myself sometimes, and Finn is just so kind-hearted and heroic.

(Also, it’s just briefly touched on, but I think there is a bit of romance between Conrad and Rinna??  And I personally think those two should get a happy ending together.  They’d make a nice pair, amiright?)

Garrett and Annie in The Herbalist’s War

I fell head over heels in love with this story, despite expectations that it wouldn't be "quite my genre."  I loved the characters and the plot, but especially I loved Annie and Garret.  Watching them care for each other, build each other up, be there for each other (and their friends), and giving praise to God through all the pain they go through...it pulled on my heartstrings.  *cries*

Timothy and Leetra in the Ilyon Chronicles

These two... I think they are my ultimate favorite literary couple.  I especially love their story, and how Leetra slowly came around to realize she loved Timothy, and how Timothy was there for her from the beginning, and they ever so slowly grew closer and closer...my heart just about melted.  As soon as they first looked at each other, I knew: I wanted them to be together.  Leetra herself is a fairly interesting character to read about, and Timothy is just golden.

Has anyone else read these books?  Love these couples?  Disagree?  (Fight me!)  This isn't an all-inclusive list; just the ones that came up in my head first.

I’m also following up sometime next month with a favorite fictional friendships (non-romantic).  Maybe even make a series out of this, and talk about other things in books I love?