History Main / MaidAndMaiden

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'': Molly plays the Maid to the Unicorn's/Lady Amalthea's Maiden. Molly is older and looks more unruly compared to the ethereal Unicorn. It's more prominent once she turns into a human girl.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'': Grandma Fa is the Maid to Mulan's maiden, being more laid-back and aiding her granddaughter compared to her stricter parents.

* ''WesternAnimation'': Molly plays the Maid to the Unicorn's/Lady Amalthea's Maiden. Molly is older and looks more unruly compared to the ethereal Unicorn. It's more prominent once she turns into a human girl.

[[quoteright:320:[[Film/RomeoAndJuliet https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/juliet_nurse_1968_r_j_film_1968.jpg]]]]

* In ''Series/WizardsAndWarriors Wizards and Warriors'', Princess Ariel is attended by the loyal if decidedly dim Cassandra.

* Beatrice's relationship with Hero in ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'' is somewhere between being the Maid and a CoolBigSis. Beatrice is slightly older than her cousin Hero and has a big-sisterly relationship with her. Beatrice also gives Hero some relationship advice, and tries to protect her when Hero is slandered. The big difference is that Beatrice has her own plot rather than just being a side character in Hero's.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': Fulfills the imagery with Impa as The Maid and Zelda as The Maiden. In some incarnations, Impa totally fulfills the stereotype by being much older and portly and is officially Zelda's attendant. In other versions, she's a NinjaMaid since the series is in the Action Adventure Genre. The romantic element if any is only hinted at here.
* Elderly, wise Wynne from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' is this to the Warden. She frequently dispenses advice on life and love, and provides a forum for the Warden to brood about TheChainsOfCommanding.

In this context, "Maid" doesn't mean "servant". It refers to more archaic connotations where it just implied an older woman. Hence the terms OldMaid and Fair Maiden. Still The Maid may well be in the service of The Maiden, possibly as a LadyInWaiting.

** ''Disney/{{Cinderella}}'': The Fairy Godmother is the Maid who helps Cinderella, The Maiden. She's OlderAndWiser, rounder, and by way of being a MagicalGuardian is 'in the service' of Cinderella. The Fairy Godmother also gives her a sweet ride to the Ball behind the Evil Stepmothers back, and the iconic dress and shoes that entice PrinceCharming.
** ''Disney/RobinHood'': In perhaps the most straight-forward example of all, Lady Cluck is the Maid to Maid Marion's Maiden.
** ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'': Mrs. Potts is the Maid to Belle the Maiden. She plays matchmaker in to break the curse. Technically she's actually Beast's servant, but gives Belle motherly support at the castle.

** ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': Grandma Odie is the Maid who helps Tiana The Maiden. She tries to get her together with Naveen as soon as they meet, and even marries them at the end. Despite being a [[EccentricMentor little crazy,]] her role is a mix of the previous three Maids, being a helper to everyone in her realm like Willow, a matchmaker that breaks a curse like Potts, and a magical old lady that teaches tricks and gives gear like the Fairy Godmother.

* ''Film/ThePrincessDiaries'': Mia as the young princess-in-training and her grandmother the Queen who is overseeing it.

** In Disney's ''{{Disney/Robin Hood}}'', Maid Marian's maidservant is a chicken named Lady Kluck.

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Septa Mordane fits the "maid" and is this trope more so to the traditionally more maidenlike Sansa than to Arya; she acts as Sansa's governess and tutor and is so loyal she gives up her life for her.
* In 'Series/TheVampireDiaries'', Bonnie has a close relationship with her grams and often seeks her out in times of crisis. Grams also acts as mentor when Bonnie's witch powers kick in.
* [[Series/WizardsAndWarriors Wizards and Warriors']] Princess Ariel is attended by the loyal if decidedly dim Cassandra.

* Most Romeo and Juliet retellings, such as ''Theatre/WestSideStory'', will have this dynamic also. ''West Side Story'' features Anita, who is only a few years older than Maria but quite a bit more mature and experienced (as well as Maria's older brother's girlfriend).

* Beatrice's relationship with Hero in ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'' is somewhere between being the Maid and being a CoolBigSis. Beatrice is slightly older than Hero and has a big-sisterly relationship with her. Beatrice also gives Hero some relationship advice and tries to protect her when Hero is slandered. The big difference is that Beatrice has her own plot rather than just being a side-character in Hero's.

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': Fulfills the imagery with Impa as The Maid and Zelda as The Maiden. In some incarnations Impa totally fulfills the stereotype by being much older and portly and is officially Zelda's attendant. In other versions she's a NinjaMaid since the series is in the Action Adventure Genre. The romantic element if any is only hinted at here.

* In ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', [[{{Ojou}} Jessica]] often talks about her love life and other woes to her servant and friend Shannon, who has a boyfriend (Jessica's own cousin George) while she doesn't. She is also the only one to know that Jessica loves Kanon, another servant, which her parents certainly wouldn't approve of (though she only knows this because [[spoiler:she and Kanon are the same person]]). Played with a little in that Shannon is only more [[FakeBoobs filled out]] [[GagBoobs in certain places,]] and though she's around the same age and not unattractive she CantHaveSexEver.

** In ''{{Film/RobinHoodMenInTights}}'', her name is Broomhilde. She's usually sweet and caring, but has an uphill battle of making sure Maid Marion stays a Maiden.

* Book 3 of ''TheFaerieQueene'': Britomart's old nursemaid Glauce is the one who suggests that Britomart go to Faerieland [[SweetPollyOliver disguised as a knight]] to find Artegall, the knight she seeks, and Glauce accompanies her, disguised as her male squire.

** Most Romeo and Juliet retellings, such as ''Theatre/WestSideStory'', will have this dynamic also. ''West Side Story'' features Anita, who is only a few years older than Maria but quite a bit more mature and experienced (as well as Maria's older brother's girlfriend).

It's an old archetype because in those days a woman going anywhere on her own was going to either a) have sex or b) be raped. The presence of a chaperone was intended to discourage the former and prevent the latter.

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* Manga/StrawberryShakeSweet has Julia, the plucky TeenIdol, and Saeki, her manager. Saeki is a kind of surrogate mother to orphaned Julia, but she's also constantly blocking Julia's advances towards her kôhai [[GirlsLove Ran]].

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* Depictions of Judith beheading Holofernes (most famously those by Gentileschi and Caravaggio) usually show Judith accompanied by her maid, as in the Bible story.

* In ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'', [[{{Ojou}} Jessica]] often talks about her love life and other woes to her servant and friend Shannon, who has a boyfriend (Jessica's own cousin George) while she doesn't. She is also the only one to know that Jessica loves Kanon, another servant, which her parents certainly wouldn't approve of (though she only knows this because [[spoiler:she and Kanon are the same person]]). Played with a little in that Shannon is only more [[FakeBoobs filled out]] [[GagBoobs in certain places,]] and though she's around the same age and not unattractive she CantHaveSexEver.

* StrawberryShakeSweet has Julia, the plucky TeenIdol, and Saeki, her manager. Saeki is a kind of surrogate mother to orphaned Julia, but she's also constantly blocking Julia's advances towards her kôhai [[GirlsLove Ran]].

* In ''TheVampireDiaries'', Bonnie has a close relationship with her grams and often seeks her out in times of crisis. Grams also acts as mentor when Bonnie's witch powers kick in.

* The princess in ''Film/TheCourtJester'' has an older maid/companion, who is a hypnotist.

* Despite her name, Maid Marion is actually The Maiden who is usually accompanied by an older Maid servant in most of the RobinHood tales. In adaptations:

* Book 3 of ''TheFaerieQueene'': Britomart's old nursemaid Glauce is the one who suggests britomart go to Faerieland [[SweetPollyOliver disguised as a knight]] to find Artegall, the knight she seeks, and Glauce accompanies her, disguised as her male squire.
* In ''[[Discworld/WyrdSisters Wyrd Sisters]]'' and ''[[Discworld/WitchesAbroad Witches Abroad,]]'' Magrat Garlick in the Maiden while Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg split the role of Maid. In the latter, this is subverted with Lilith, who acts the role of Maid to Ella but is actually exploiting her for her own ends.

* DisneyAnimatedCanon / DisneyPrincess

* ''Manga/SailorMoon'' has [[CatsAreMagic Luna]], who was Usagi's guardian even way back during the Silver Millennium. Now, she also acts as advisor, much to Usagi's constant dismay.

In this context, "Maid" doesn't mean "servant". It refers to more archaic connotations where it just implied an older woman. Hence the terms OldMaid and Fair Maiden. Still The Maid may well be in the service of The Maiden.