Zjeena knew Liland could be emotional, but his over-dramatic responses leave her reeling. What does he have to suffer for? He got his land back. He got his lead mare back. He got his children back. He should maybe be disappointed that a mare of his should bear another stallion's foal, but he already has the foals of others living under his protection. What's one more? Time will see the child grown and out the door soon enough. He doesn't have to love the child, only accept their existence until that time passes. Overall, he should be happy. What is all this talk of suffering?
He is still being incredibly selfish.
Zjeena snorts at Liland's accusation that Rougaru planted all these ideas in her head. This upsets her in more ways than one, and she immediately jumps to Rougaru's defense. "No, Liland. Don't you dare try to blame this on Rougaru. Rougaru told me you tried once. This isn't what upsets me. What upsets me is that you didn't try again. You then set your sights on other conquests." She lowers her head, and juts her nose out, ears still lost under volumes of bi-colored mane. She drives her point home. "Are you really so blind, Liland? I was happy with you. Why do you think I went to the Desert with you? I didn't like the Desert, but I loved you! Fuck the code. Fuck the bay. All I wanted was to be with you. Were your side quests really all for me, or were they for you? These all sound like excuses to me." She huffs, tossing her head. Rage and sorrow burn together like an inferno inside her chest.
As she continues her voice become hushed. There is a biting edge to her words. "You talk of suffering now, suffering because of your wounded pride. You would let your pride cloud your judgement as a leader and throw away our love now. How am I to trust you ever loved selflessly before?"
it is insulting for Liland to treat her like a prisoner, to trap her here, a captive in her own herd. If he can impose these rules upon her she is no longer his queen, if she ever was. And it is insulting for him to imply she's been brainwashed by Rougaru. Does he really think her that soft, that stupid? "Rougaru didn't turn me against you Liland. Every conflict I have with you is a direct result of your own words and actions. Do you really think I'd let the words of a former enemy influence my opinion of you? If you do, you don't know me at all."