History Main / LadyAndKnight

* In ''Literature/TheSunneInSplendour'' Richard of Gloucester and Anne Neville are this, with him staying devoted to her through her forced marriage to his enemy and later fighting for her hand when his brother tried to keep her from him.

* ''Series/TheWhiteQueen'': Anne Neville is a Princess through her first marriage and a DamselInDistress to Richard of Gloucester's valiant and courteous KnightInShiningArmor. Their courtship consists of him protecting her from danger and coming to her aid when she loses her freedom. Richard's devotion to Anne is notable because in each scenario, ''no one else'' is willing to assist her, so he's the classic romantic hero from the viewpoint of his cherished lady.

* George, Duke of Clarence and his wife Isabel Neville are this in the ''Literature/IRichardPlantagenetSeries''. They are [[ChildhoodFriendRomance childhood sweethearts]] who deeply love each other and support each others dark ambitions. She wants him to have the crown; he wants her to have all of her mother's fortune, cutting out her younger sister. They scheme and plot, but they are ultimately thwarted and, ironically, [[RescueRomance their younger siblings]] get everything they desired without seeking any of it.

* George, Duke of Clarence and his wife Isabel Neville are this in the ''Literature/IRichardPlantagenetSeries''. They are [[ChildhoodFriendRomance childhood sweethearts]] who deeply love each other and support each others dark ambitions. She wants him to have the crown; he wants her to have all of her mother's fortune, cutting out her younger sister. They scheme and plot, but they are ultimately thwarted and, ironically, [[RescueRomance their younger siblings]] get everything they desired without seeking any of it.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'', Suletta Mercury serves as the Knight to Miorine's Lady. Though Suletta is also female, she tends to compare herself to the more masculine side of the equation, and fills the traditional knightly role of a warrior who fights for the honor of her maiden. Miorine, meanwhile, is about as classic a RebelliousPrincess as one can be without actually technically being a princess (she's a corporate heiress) and sees their relationship as strictly pragmatic at first, but nonetheless [[RomanticFakeRealTurn grows to love Suletta]].

* The Creator/MarvelComics version of ''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' was often opposed by the Enchantress and the Executioner; the latter wielded an axe rather than a sword, but the basics of this trope were in full effect. The Enchantress also tried something similar with the original Power Man (Erik Josten) and later magically brainwashed the heroic Black Knight into serving as her champion for [[IncrediblyLamePun a brief spell]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' plays with both roles. At first, Fiona acts the part of DamselInDistress because of convention but proves time and time again to be able to defend herself. Likewise, Shrek is only acting as the knight for his own selfish reasons, and has no romantic or chivalrous intentions towards Fiona, at first. He eventually does fall in love with her.

[[folder:Film]]

*** As a member of the Kingsguard and a noblewoman's sworn sword, the entire job description is to take a VowOfCelibacy (insuring he has unfulfilled longings) and then act rather like a partner (loyal protector, supporter, confidant, and companion) to a beautiful lady he's encouraged to idealize. Under those circumstances, a sworn sword developing feelings for his liege lady is ''not surprising'' -- the situation is practically designed to invoke BodyguardCrush. And on the ladies' side, if he's acting like your partner, he's wholly devoted to you, and then he's hot on top of that... Considering any amorous conduct between the two is ''strictly forbidden'', who thought this was a good idea?

** By the end of Season 1, Rhaenyra Targaryen isn't totally white nor is she dark, but Daemon definitely fits the dark knight version of the trope.

** Queen Alicent Hightower is a mixture of the Bright/Dark Lady to her Black Knight is Ser Criston Cole. Criston has served as "sworn sword" Alicent, and Rhaenyra before that, and in that time the whole "sworn sword" institution has been {{Deconstructed|Trope}} multiple counts

** ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'': By the end of Season 1, Rhaenyra Targaryen isn't totally white nor is she dark, but Daemon definitely fits the dark knight version of the trope.
*** Like the above, Queen Alicent Hightower is a mixture of the Bright/Dark Lady to her Black Knight, Ser Criston Cole.

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'': Genderflipped by both Chrom/either Sully or Sumia (Prince of Ylisse and Cavalier/Pegasus Knight from his realm) and Virion/Cherche (former duke of the fallen country of Rosane and his faithful ex-retainer). Gender-flipped ''and'' subverted with [[spoiler: Chrom/Cordelia]], as the latter does ''not'' get together with him [[UnrequitedTragicMaiden as she thinks their relationship won't work.]] Played straighter with Frederick/Lissa (retainer of the Ylisse royalty and Chrom's little sister -- doubling as FirstLove since Frederick was Lissa's first crush), Lissa/Lon'qu (Valmese warrior specifically tasked with guarding Lissa, at least in their supports), and Gaius/Maribelle (LovableRogue and {{Ojou}} [[spoiler: with a rather complicated shared past]]). Probably, also Henry/Maribelle (CreepyGood BloodKnight who, if he declares his love to her, offers to be her [[KnightInShiningArmor knight in bloodstained armor]]).

* The leads of ''Manga/DanceInTheVampireBund'' may best be described as Dark Lady & White Knight. Teenage werewolf commando/bodyguard Akira Regendorf is [[NobleWolf just about as benevolent and noble as they come]]; however, for all that VampireMonarch Mina Tepes is [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire just as kindly at heart]], [[TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask centuries of protecting her followers]] from the mad bastards running the other surviving vampire factions have left her capable of [[IDidWhatIHadToDo considerable ruthlessness when she perceives a threat]].

* ''Manga/YonaOfTheDawn'' has Yona and Hak. She is the deposed Crown Princess while he is the former General of the Wind Tribe. While Hak is ''terrifying'' when angry, there's never any doubt that the [[TallDarkAndSnarky handsome and]] [[ServileSnarker loyal man]] is a White Knight. He is even [[spoiler:[[BodyGuardCrush in love with her]], and [[SingleTargetSexuality only her]]]], even before he became her guard. As for Yona, she is very definitely a Bright Lady, and although she starts out as a DamselInDistress, she [[TookALevelInBadass does NOT stay there]], quickly moving to a DamselOutOfDistress, gradually [[spoiler:becoming an ActionGirl]]. For her part, she is fond of Hak, but [[LikeBrotherAndSister not in the same way]], [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope at first]]]]. After [[spoiler:they [[TheyDo become aware that their feelings are mutual]]]], ''politics'' renders them unable to act on it, resulting in a little CourtlyLove.

* In ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', this is the dynamic between Cosmos, the Goddess of Harmony, and her champion the [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI Warrior of Light]].

** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'': The Warrior of Light, a brave summoned hero dedicated to his goddess Cosmos.

* A very ''weird'' example exists in ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' with Ladd Russo and Lua Klein. Ladd has traits of the white knight (attraction to Lua because of her gentle personality, protects her [[spoiler: at the cost of his arm]] and is engaged to her) but he's an AxCrazy psychopath who keeps Lua safe because he wants to kill her last. Lua would be a bright lady (beauty, innocence, emotional support for her knight) if she weren't almost completely passive, making no effort to restrain any of Ladd's murderous impulses and possibly looking forward to the day he kills her.

* ''LightNovel/{{Campione}}'': Genderflipped example between Godou and two of the members of his UnwantedHarem, Erica and Liliana (both of whom are {{Magic Knight}}s to boot). Once of Erica's main goals is to make Godou into a true king as a Campione, but she's clearly more interested in being able to have him as her lover/future husband. Liliana, on the other hand, ''tries'' to prioritize her role as Godou's knight, despite obviously having feelings for him as well.

* ''LightNovel/DateALive'': Its whole premise is that [[TheHero Shido Itsuka]] has to make the [[MagicalGirlWarrior Spirits]] fall in love with him in order to seal their powers and give them normal lives, becoming the White Knight to all of them. Most of the Spirits are Bright Ladies, but [[TimeMaster Kurumi Tokisaki]] is a Dark Lady instead.
* ''LightNovel/DenpaTekiNaKanojo'': Inverted, [[ArcWords Juuzawa Juu is a King]] (the Lady), good looking, admirable guy with dignity and nobility that inspires everyone around him, even his enemies, and Ochibana Ame is The Knight as a strong, brave girl of virtue sworn to protect him.

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' is a comedic take on the dynamic. Sousuke has every intention of fulfilling his duty as the ever-faithful White Knight to Kaname's Bright Lady, but [[SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining he has absolutely no experience outside of being a soldier]] and the Bright Lady he's been assigned to protect is an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent. The end result is that he often ends up valiantly "protecting" her from mundane annoyances with wildly excessive force.

* Subverted in ''LightNovel/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool''. The ''imagery'' of it is used when Tatsuya is made [[MafiaPrincess Miyuki]]'s Guardian, but both of them know he's a slave who had no choice in the matter.

* Lina Inverse and Gourry Gabriev from ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}''. Interestingly, they're actually quite heroic, though Gourry is definitely the more heroic of the pair, with Lina being more of a Type IV AntiHero than anything.

* In ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'' the titular character has this dynamic with his love interest Dejah Thoris. He is a [[SouthernGentleman Virginian gentleman]] who got mysteriously transported to Mars where he gains [[HeavyWorlder super-strength and agility]] and she is a [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe Red Martian princess]], proud, brave, highly aristocratic and always holds her resolve, despite being frequently placed in both [[DistressedDamsel mortal danger]] and the threat of being dishonored by [[VillainousCrush the lust of villains]].

* In ''VideoGame/TheAllianceAlive'', young swordsman Galil is sworn to protect [[WhiteMagicianGirl Azura]], his ChildhoodFriend and the rebel leader's daughter. Azura's dream of making the world better is what initiates the game's plot, and Galil's devotion to her dream is what initiates it. Notably, both feel responsible for [[spoiler:Azura getting blinded]], but in different ways: Galil blames himself for not being good enough to prevent it, and Azura blames herself because they wouldn't have trespassed in the first place if he hadn't cajoled Galil into doing it.

* This is a ''game mechanic'' in ''VideoGame/ExaPico'' games, with Reyvateils and their vanguards. The former sing MusicMagic (basically) inspired by her love for her vanguard while the latter protects their Reyvateil partner in battle and supports her emotionally outside of it. It's also the reason why [[VideoGame/ArTonelicoIIMelodyOfMetafalica Cocona]] is so awesome: she's a Reyvateil, but she's a vanguard.

*** Additionally, if male and romancing Morrigan, he acts as either a White Knight or a Black Knight to her Dark Lady, vowing to protect her and even killing a dragon[[note]]technically Flemeth in dragon form[[/note]] to save her. And then he spends two and a half years looking for her.