The perfectly quintessential enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance—a story about a witch and a witch hunter. Nina Zenik and Matthias Helvar’s relationship is everything that’s beautiful and addicting when it comes to fantasy pairings. Affectionally called Helnik by the fans, Leigh Bardugo’s tragic love story is about endurance, unyielding love, and the unexpected comfort that finds two people when they’re running from everything they know.
Nina and Matthias are a heartbreaking pair for many reasons, one being Chapter 40. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you’re better for it. Trust us. Still, everything we see with them before the pain that follows is two vastly different people torn apart by the expectations set upon them. When they first meet, there’s very little kindness and care, but they can be the best versions of themselves when they’re alone together. They can choose to make decisions that aren’t inflicted upon them by their people.
![Nina and Matthias in Shadow and Bone.](https://i0.wp.com/fangirlish.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SAB_Unit_03095RC.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
They should’ve always hated each other. That’s what they were conditioned to do, after all. But instead, they choose to see each other as a miracle. They choose to see each other as the best thing that’s come from their lives, and they choose to love with every bone in their body, even when betrayals pull them away. We didn’t get to see them reconnect in Shadow and Bone, but because of how deeply they love one another, we know they’d understand each other’s mistakes. We know their love never wavers or dies because Matthias still dreams of her. He’ll always dream of her.
And to watch Nina push everything aside to help him is every bit of proof we have to know that he is, in fact, the first real love of her life. He’s her compass. He’s her home away from home. He’s the one person who can take all of her and love unconditionally. Like with Wesper, there’s very little we get with them in canon, but everything we see shows us plenty, giving wildly talented fans a ton of gorgeous material to work with in creating videos that will stay with us. Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Games?” Oh, it’s their song. No one else’s. “The world was on fire, and no one could save me but you.” Cue the tears.
1. Nina and Matthias | “Wicked Game” by CicciaChiara
2. Nina and Matthias | “Hurts Like Hell” by nenastie
3. Nina and Matthias | “Bring Me a Dream” by lostbirdx
4. “Killing Me to Love You” | Matthias and Nina by Juli Grisel
5. Nina and Matthias | “The Night We Met” by Ellyanne
6. “No Time to Die” | Nina and Matthias by impossible tardis
7. Nina and Matthias | “Favorite Crime” by belovesick
8. Nina and Matthias | “Love and War” by pandieex
9. Nina and Matthias | “The Last Time” by pandieex
10. Nina and Matthias | “Sad, Beautiful, Tragic” by NiceDhampir
Shadow and Bone Season 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix.