Canon: Shakespeare's Henry V
Pairing: Henry V/Montjoy
Canon Level: Opposing Factions
So this one's a combination of two things. One, Henry V was my introduction to Shakespeare way back when and after reading the play, we saw Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film, and oh my. That film was an awakening for teeny little me. Two, there are some very high-quality authors for this pairing. But there really is a lot of ground to explore with this pairing! They have an inherent tenderness because of how much work being together would be. They have conflicting loyalties, as well as Henry's being king. Montjoy is so polite and mannerly, yet it's clear he admires this foreign king even though he really shouldn't. And Henry's young and brave and intelligent, but being a king is hard work and does not generally allow for free relationships. And so maybe with Montjoy he can find enough wiggle room to make a place for himself as a man.
Suggested reading:
A Carol in Autumn by Anna Zebo
Ceremonies for Honest Men by
RimauSuaLay
Jumping o'er Times by
Hyarrowyn (archive-locked)
Pairing: Henry V/Montjoy
Canon Level: Opposing Factions
So this one's a combination of two things. One, Henry V was my introduction to Shakespeare way back when and after reading the play, we saw Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film, and oh my. That film was an awakening for teeny little me. Two, there are some very high-quality authors for this pairing. But there really is a lot of ground to explore with this pairing! They have an inherent tenderness because of how much work being together would be. They have conflicting loyalties, as well as Henry's being king. Montjoy is so polite and mannerly, yet it's clear he admires this foreign king even though he really shouldn't. And Henry's young and brave and intelligent, but being a king is hard work and does not generally allow for free relationships. And so maybe with Montjoy he can find enough wiggle room to make a place for himself as a man.
Suggested reading:
A Carol in Autumn by Anna Zebo
Ceremonies for Honest Men by
Jumping o'er Times by
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