„My Lord! This is not a wise idea!" Lothiriel said in a harsh voice. The King of Rohan slammed is mug on the table and turned his head to her.

„And this is exactly why women shouldn't be allowed to take part in councils. Especially when the national safety of Rohan is at stake! All they have are opinions without any reasons. "

„Eomer…" Eothain said softly. „She is your wife."

Lothiriel sat straighter and tried not to look hurt.

„Listen, Eomer King," she began, but was interrupted.

„I don't have to listen to you. What do you know about leading a country?" He said in a nasty, loud voice. The councellors, including Eothain, stared slightly embarassed on the mead in their hands. This meeting wasn't meant to escalate in a marital fight.

Lothiriel sighed. Everyone knew that their marriage wasn't built on love, but her new people tried its hardest to ignore it.

„The Westfold was raided once, I am not going to let that happen a second time! The riddermark needs a king, not a scribe. I have to go."

Lothiriel reached for Eomers hand, but he refused to take it.

„I didn't say that the Westfold shouldn't be protected. I just want you to stay behind, to stay safe."

These had been definitely the wrong words. Lothiriel froze. For Eomer, to say staying behind sounded as if she implied he couldn't take care of himself. Instantly, she wanted to slap herself.

The table had gone dangerously quiet.

„I will certainly not stay behind." Eomer said through clenched teeth. „Maybe you can't understand it, for your life goals as a princess of Gondor have been marriage and a golden cage. Congratulations, you got both!" His laughter didn't sound amused at all.

„Maybe it is enough in Gondor to look pretty, but in the Riddermark we appreciate it if a woman has brains, or at least shows courage. Which leads me to the question - what are you, except my personal pain in the ass?"

Something snapped inside of her. Never, in her whole life, had someone dared to speak to her like that. Tears and hurt forgotten, Lothiriel stood up and glared at her husband. Surprised by the hate her small body was radiating, he took a little step back.

„If I had known what an awful person you are, I never would have married you!" She shouted, in a strong and loud voice. Gamling looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else but here.

Then she took a deep breath to calm herself. Elbereth help, he had called her a pain in the ass! In front of the most important people of the Mark! She would never forgive him, but now, she needed to be reasonable.

„One does not send his king to battle. Not as long as there is no heir at home. Since I am still not pregnant, you will have to stay at home. Send an Eored, there is a raiding band of orcs, not an invasion! Please think clearly! If you die, the Riddermark probably divides into ten different fractions. After so many have died at the Black Gate we can't afford a civil war."

Eomers body was on fire. She criticized him every damn time! He didn't like the way she had said „we", either. Since when did she identify herself as a Rohirrim? She had been here for barely eight months.

An icy cold stare met him when he looked up. Lothiriel was not finished yet. She cast the idea of being reasonable aside. Her pride demanded her to hit him where it hurt the most. And she knew that he had feared she would think Rohan as a land full of barbarians.

„The Gondorian court may have its peculiarities, but a man would never humiliate his wife in public."

There! But it wasn't enough. Maybe if she said something about him personally?

"Fleeing from your marriage because you don't know how to handle a wife is no solution." The sad thing was, it was true. Eomer looked as if he wanted to strangle her. Suddenly Lothiriel was aware how wretched everything was and finally the tears began to roll down her face.

„And one more thing," she said between sobs. „If you come to my bed tonight, I can not guarantee that you will be able to father children in the future."

Oh no, that had been too much. With a turn she was gone. Through the silence they could hear her running towards the chambers, but she opened and closed the door carefully

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After a moment Eothain looked at Eomer, who was quite shocked.

„Well, you fucked it up, lad," he said bluntly.

Eomer looked at him, and understanding what he had said reached him slowly.

„Bema!"

The counsellors didn't look at him.

„We are finished for today!" Eomer barked.

The chamber was empty within seconds. Eothain stayed. He sighed and continued with a serious face.

"I doubt she will forgive you the way you treated her, not only today, but ever since she came here. If that's how you treat your wife, I feel deeply sorry for her. Well, you're the one who has to spend the rest of his life with her."

Eomer felt his stomach twist.

"Fuck."

"We really need an heir, however, and she knows that, so I wouldn't worry about your cock." Eothain reassured him. "For a chance, couldn't you think a little bit less about yourself and a little bit more about what your actions may cost you?" With these words, Eothain stood up at last, nodded to Eomer and left.

The king of Rohan sank back in his chair. Brooding, he took another gulp from his mead. Who would have thought that having a wife would be that excruciating? Eight months ago, it had all seemed so simple. Imrahil, prince of Dol Amroth and one of his best friends since the march to the Black Gate had offered him the hand of his daughter, together with a pretty huge dowry. Eomer, who had wanted to rebuild the Riddermark, took them gladly. But in hindsight, had there been hesitation in Imrahil? And why had the dowry been so generous? Maybe his old friend had been glad to finally get rid of his daughter, a girl who couldn't ride astride but spoke against him without even knowing what she was talking about ?

Eventually, Eomer put down his empty mug and headed to the royal quarters. He put his ear against the door, but it was quiet. He silently slipped inside just to grab a warm blanket. He could make out her shape in the bed, still shivering. Her back was turned to him, but he knew that she knew that he was here. Eomer retreated hastily and closed the door with a soft thud.

He left Meduseld through the back door. It was better to sleep in the stables than to wake the housekeeper and inform her about this whole misery. He had embarrassed himself enough for today. After all, Firefoot loved him unconditionally and wouldn't be a threat for his life or his cock, unlike his wife.

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A/N: I don´t own anything except my ideas. I hope you liked this first chapter!

Any Feedback is appreciated!