i suppose a frustration that the female is the stronger one in this relationship might be an issue, but in the beginning she did die a lot like you said - be glad that the roles are now not fully reversed as you are alive.
maybe she is protecting you better than you tried to protect her earlier :-)
jokes aside - you should wipe the floor with your brigand so something might be off with your character - post titancal of your skills and screens of your char so we could debate
i'm not using my bow avenger while playing with melee friends because they would be bored