History BattleCouple / Literature

* In the ''Literature/AhrimanTrilogy'' this is part of the purpose of the mage/warden relationship. While they aren't explicitly intended to be romantic arrangements, it's universally acknowledged that they often end that way. Simon Bell's parents were mage/warden before they married and had kids.

** In the first book, Katniss and [[spoiler: Peeta]]. PlayedWith: Their 'tragic lovers fighting for their lives' story was a big hit among sponsors and attracted vital support during the games. [[spoiler:For her, it's invoked: a cynical manipulation ploy -- at first. For him, the "Couple" part is very much what he wants.]]
** Subverted in ''Literature/{{Mockingjay}}'': [[spoiler: Katniss and Gale act like this for most of the book, but never manage the RelationshipUpgrade]].

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos''

* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''
** Faramir and Éowyn are a downplayed example. They officially become a couple after the battle.
** Creator/JRRTolkien also wrote that Rohirrim women often took up weapons to defend their homes when their lands were invaded.
** Celeborn and Galadriel fight together.
* Captain [[spoiler:and later Admiral]] John "Black Jack" Geary and [[spoiler:his flag captain, Captain Tanya Desjani]] in ''Literature/TheLostFleet''. Subverted in that, while they are conducting actual military operations, rules about fraternization and their own personal senses of honor prevent them from acting like a typical couple. They only really get to experience marital bliss when on leave.

* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': Lúthien Tinúviel and Beren. He was a mighty physical warrior. She was an elf sorcerer capable of bringing down a fortress and putting the GodOfEvil of her world to sleep. Together they amplified each other's skills, humiliated Dark Lords, and their deeds were themes of songs seventy centuries after their deaths.

* In general the Star Wars [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse EU]] is full of these with the majority of the main couples being battle couples.

** [[Literature/FateOfTheJedi Ben and Vestara]]; He's a Jedi and [[DatingCatwoman she's a Sith apprentice.]] [[spoiler:It doesn't work out.]]
** {{Invoked}} Trope with the [[ProudWarriorRace Mandalorians]]. Being a culture that takes marriage and family as seriously as combat, part of their warrior code is to find a spouse that is every bit your equal to fight alongside and to raise children with. If they are of the same sex, a different species, or infertile, there's plenty of kids out there to adopt.

* ''Literature/TwelveHouses'' has Senneth and Tayse, who are so badass they take down an entire rebellion all by themselves. Senneth is a fire-throwing DeadpanSnarker; Tayse is a sword-wielding DeadpanSnarker - together, they fight crime and snark at things!

* Romeo and Dagger in ''{{Literature/Wander}}'' are a somewhat downplayed example. They're both more than competent fighters and by the end of the novel [[spoiler:are the only adult survivors of Camp Greenbow]]. But they only actually fight when they have no other choice, and their most badass moment together ([[spoiler: fighting off a group of smilers while holed up in an abandoned farmhouse]]) occurs off-screen.

* ''Literature/AmeliaPeabody'' by Elizabeth Peters

--> ''Nobody had ever crossed Tyron before. Maybe now I know why.''
* ''Literature/TheBrightestShadow'' Logically a common feature in the world of Myros. In the first book, particularly [[spoiler:Veron and Graenin.]] Their coordination in battle improves after they become a couple.

** Six of the seven [[DivineParentage demigods]] in ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' qualify for this - Percy and Annabeth (as already mentioned), Frank and Hazel, and Jason and Piper[[note]]although [[spoiler:it doesn't last between Jason and Piper]][[/note]] are the couples. One exception is Leo, who later meets Calypso (not part of the Seven).

** Ron and Hermione fight alongside each other when they aren't [[BelligerentSexualTension fighting ''with'' each other]].

* Six of the seven [[DivineParentage demigods]] in ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' qualify for this. One exception is Leo, who later meets Calypso.

--->''Live, or die, [Eloise] and Giscard would fight to the last ditch together.''
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames''
** In the first book Katniss and [[spoiler: Peeta]]. PlayedWith: Their 'tragic lovers fighting for their lives' story was a big hit among sponsors and attracted vital support during the games. [[spoiler:For her, it's invoked: a cynical manipulation ploy - at first. For him, the "Couple" part is very much what he wants.]]
** Subverted in ''Mockingjay'': [[spoiler: Katniss and Gale act like this for most of the book, but never manage the RelationshipUpgrade]].

** The central triad of ''Literature/NoNeedForACore'' is this, though one of them doesn't start there. This also applies to other characters in the series, including some parents and a lot of the royalty of the nearby kingdom.

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', we have a mild example in Aegon "the Conqueror" Targaryen and Visenya Targaryen. Aegon, being a typical Targaryen, married his two sisters and declared conquest on the continent of Westeros. They say that Aegon married Visenya out of duty (she was the eldest of the sisters) and Rhaenys out of love. Visenya was known as a great warrior and dragon rider, wielding a Valyrian steel sword named Dark Sister. While Aegon may not have had any strong feelings for Visenya, she was still his wife and they conquered a continent together. Rhaenys was also a dragon rider but had no martial prowess beyond that.

* Creator/SimonRGreen loves this trope:
** ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': In the spinoff series ''Hawk & Fisher'', Captain Hawk and his wife, Captain Isobel Fisher, work in the City Guard of Haven and fight side by side on a regular basis.
** The ''Literature/{{Nightside}}'' is home to GuileHero John Taylor and his MoreDakka-addicted ally Shotgun Suzie. Where her overwhelming firepower doesn't suffice, his dirty tricks and unique Gift can tip the odds.
** The central triad of ''Literature/NoNeedForACore'' is this, though one of them doesn't start there. This also applies to other characters in the series, including some parents and a lot of the royalty of the nearby kingdom.
** ''Literature/SecretHistories'' features Eddie Drood and Molly Metcalf, a {{Magitek}} PoweredArmor secret agent and the Witch of the Wild Woods.
%%** ''Literature/{{Deathstalker}}''
%%*** Futuristic SuperSoldier Owen Deathstalker & Hazel d'Ark
%%*** Jack Random and Ruby Journey
%%* In Creator/AaronAllston's ''Literature/GalateaIn2D'', Red and Penny

* ''Literature/CaptivePrince'' Damen is a WarriorPrince; Laurent is a BadassBookworm. Not only are they a formidable couple on the field in person, but they're also excellent tacticians when commanding armies.

* ''Literature/EndoAndKobayashiLive The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte'':

* From ''Literature/TheFallenMoon'' there is Arenadd and Skade. [[spoiler: Neither lives to the end of the trilogy; however, Arenadd is unlucky enough to be TheUndead and have a God who isn't finished with him yet.]]

* The ''[[Literature/HonorHarrington Honorverse]]'' naturally has a few:

* ''Literature/MysticAndRider'' has the titular mystic and rider, Senneth and Tayse, who are so badass they take down an entire rebellion all by themselves. Senneth is a fire-throwing DeadpanSnarker; Tayse is a sword-wielding DeadpanSnarker - together, they fight crime and snark at things!

* Creator/DanAbnett's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' series ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'':
** Tona Criid and Caffran, who met during the battle for Vervunhive in ''Necropolis''.
** Jessi Banda and Major Elim Rawne got wounded in ''Straight Silver'', though they are less tight.
** It is implied that Brin Milo and the esholi priestess Sanian developed a connection in ''Honour Guard'', which carries on to ''Sabbat Martyr'' when [[spoiler: Sanian becomes the reincarnated Saint Sabbat]].

* Sybella and Beast in the His Fair Assassin books. They meet when she breaks him out of the cell where he's a prisoner, and on the way to safety they engage in several skirmishes and make friends that prove helpful later, first when they re-take a sea town the enemy had captured, and again when they stage a rescue. Sybella ends up in trouble after sending Beast off to guard the people they were rescuing. Beast comes after her, and they fight free together.

* ''[[https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/47038/book-of-the-dead Book of the Dead]]'': "Century Slayer" Magnin and "Battle Witch" Beory Steelarm are famous throughout the land, possibly the two strongest people in the kingdom, certainly the two who have done the most to keep everyone safe from rift-kin. Everyone is shocked to discover that their son Tyron has acquired the forbidden Necromancer class, and doubly shocked when the magistrates demand that Magnin and Beory ''personally'' hunt him down. The Steelarms don't take kindly to the directive, either; they first completely destroy and level the home, farm, and family tomb of the mayor who delivered the orders, and then go on a destructive rampage that makes their feelings clear to everyone.

* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': The main plot of the series involves everyone preparing for [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The Last Battle]], so every named couple falling in this trope. A few examples are Rand and Min/Aviendha/Elayne, Lan and Nynaeve, Egwene and Gawyn, Perrin and Faile, Siuan and Gareth, a few Aes Sedai and their Warders, a few Asha'man and their Warder-like Aes Sedai, and countless Aiel couples.

* ''Literature/MysticAndRider'' has the titular mystic and rider, Senneth and Tayse, who are so badass they take down an entire rebellion all by themselves. Senneth is a fire-throwing DeadpanSnarker; Tayse is a sword-wielding DeadpanSnarker - together, TheyFightCrime and snark at things!

* Slippery Jim [=diGriz=] (''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat'') and Angelina, his wife and fellow criminal genius. He's a criminal mastermind who dislikes killing. She's a formerly-psychotic criminal mastermind who bemoans the fact that she can't casually kill people now she's had a conscience implanted. TheyFightCrime ''with'' crime.

* ''[[https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/47038/book-of-the-dead Book of the Dead]]'': Magnin and Beory Steelarm are famous throughout the land, possibly the two strongest people in the kingdom, certainly the two who have done the most to keep everyone safe from rift-kin. Everyone is shocked to discover that their son has acquired the forbidden Necromancer class, and doubly shocked when the magistrates demand that they personally hunt him down. They don't take kindly to the directive, either; despite the Brand that will eventually compel them to obey, they first completely destroy and level the home, farm, and family tomb of the mayor who delivered the orders, and then go on a destructive rampage that makes their feelings clear to everyone.

* ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'' Jarl Sigrid and her husband Orm in ''The Island of Sodor'' source book. Since this is still a series about, *ahem* talking trains... the only real plot point that affects the story at all is that one of the locomotives (who is actually unseen in the series) in the present day bears her name ''Sigrid of Arlesdale'', and Jarl Sigrid's history is part of the local tourist appeal along a couple railway stations. Just goes to show the insane amount of AllThereInTheManual lore that exists for the series.

** Invoked with Koryk and Smiles. Smiles is [[InLoveWithYourCarnage in love with Koryk's way of fighting]] and likes to pretend they're a battle couple during combat situations by guarding his flank and [[KnifeNut knifing anyone who comes close]]. Koryk, for his part, thinks Smiles is AxCrazy and needs to curb her ambitions, though he doesn't mind the help.