#rote analysis

One of my favourite exchanges between Fitz and the Fool from Fool's Errand, Chapter V: The Tawny Man.

He lifted one slender finger as if in a warning. Then he turned his hand and extended it to me as if he proffered an invisible gift on those outstretched fingertips. I closed my eyes to steady myself against the temptation. I shook my head slowly. "It would not be wise," I said thickly. "And a Fool is supposed to be wise?" "You have always been the wisest creature I've known." I opened my eyes to his earnest gaze. "I want it as I want breath itself, Fool. Take it away, please." "If you're sure… no, that was a cruel question. Look, it is gone." He gloved the hand, held it up to show me, and then clasped it with his naked one.

"Thank you."

Such a scene laden with meaning:

1. The Skill bond between them that is only specific to them and that helps them communicate what they cannot with words (because of their avoidant communication styles); A connection that makes them truly seen and vulnerable and whole as we later see on. A connection both of them want eagerly but Fitz is not yet ready to accept the encompassing freedom and love that becomes limitless when they Skill link.

2. A scene that shows Fitz's respect for Beloved's wisdom, how he has always seen him and what high regards he keeps him to be always the wisest between them. Nighteyes mentions that Fitz thinks clearer when they are together.

3. Beloved's respect for boundaries. If Fitz says he does not want this, he will respect it. A pattern that happens again and again. The Skill bond is also suggested at least twice more in Assassin's Fate and Fitz says no again and Beloved respects that.

The only instances this boundary is broken is in dire situations from both sides: In Fool's Errand, Nighteyes and Fitz almost get stuck in the same body and it would have been miserable for both of them so Beloved saves them with the Skill;

In The Golden Fool, the Skill bond happens to Skill heal Fitz from dying;

In Fool's Fate, Fitz uses Beloved's unmoving silver fingers to connect with him before Beloved's resurrection even though the link is almost dead so in this case I read it as a mix of both the Skill and the Wit;

In Fool's Quest, Beloved uses the Skill link forcefully to bring Fitz's shattered soul back;

It is interesting that the most advanced place in Realm of the Elderlings is the one built from the past. The new elderlings and dragons kept the structure of the buildings while learning from the history of old elderlings and dragons. The keepers learned from the “ghosts” that haunt the place (Rapskal being an extreme example of what could happen if they followed the old traders steps and mistakes), Alise’s investigations and collection of historical facts and the memories of the past the dragons has access too.

I do believe that the new traders learned from what they knew of the past and the experiences they had from the places they came from in order to start anew and build a place that was the most accepting to everyone. Kelsingra might not be perfect, but still the problems aren’s caused by people’s prejudices like in all other places in the Realm of the Elderlings. They accept everyone that wants to go live there and it’s interesting that rebuilding Kelsingra that way was only possible with the knowledge of history and past experiences of people that faced the prejudice of others. 

Some of the dragons still have superiority complex, but is shown that this is slowly changing and that there are differences between the new dragons and the ones from the past. They were learning that they need humans for survival and learning to work with them and keepers were also not as subservient as the old ones used to be. The dragons and elderlings challenge each other in order to get to an understanding.

The Fool had the foundation for it. Early on he was told people were tools for him to use in order to create a better future. That was his goal when he headed for Buckkeep. He intended to be a puppeteer as he was told he should to make his vision come true. But then something happened: the Fool met King Shrewd and Fitz and those two showed him kindness as he hadn’t experienced in years. Those two people changed his perspective on his mission. Before, the Fool only cared about the world as a whole thing, but he learned to care about each individual that was part of that world. The Fool was the one that said things like: 

“It's all connected. When you save any part of the world, you've saved the whole world. In fact, that's the only way it can be done.” and “What is the value of a life lived like they held no value in the grand life of the universe? A sadder thing I can’t imagine. Why wouldn’t a mother tell herself, if I would raise this child correctly, if I love her and care for her, she will lead a life that will bring joy to her surroundings, and in that way change the world? Why wouldn’t a farmer planting a seed tell his neighbor, this seed I am planting today will feed someone, and in that way I will change the world today?“

My pointing hand indicated the quiet harbour. I struggled to sit up taller, to see more. The darkened town spread out before me like a patchwork of houses and roads. [...]”

- “Royal Assassin” (Farseer #2) by Robin Hobb

A lot to unpack in this chapter but this was the thing I only noticed and understood fully on the reread. The scene is told from Fitz’s perspective, but the actions and the words are King Shrewd’s and the Fool’s. So, Fitz doesn’t have a complete understanding about what is going on but my take is that Shrewd is using the Fool’s strenght to be able to use the Skill and this is not the first time he is doing it.

The scene starts with Shrewd talking to the Fool about bits of information that he got through the Skill. But since he is sick and weak he only got little bits of information. He says “A rising tide. Bearing ships. Red-keeled ships...”

Then the Fool goes quickly to him and puts a hand on his shoulder hesitantly. He is aware of what is going to happen. He is aware that Shrewd needs him to be able to see more and use the Skill in order to do so. Fitz thinks the Fool is trying to see what Shrewd is seeing or reassuring him, but that doesn’t seem like it. Besides, the word loyal is used too. Like, as always the Fool is loyally by the king’s side and available to be used by him if needed (The Fool came hastily to stand beside me. He crouched to peer where I pointed, but I knew he could not see. Still, he loyally placed a hesitant hand on my thin shoulder...).

Shrewd doesn’t like it, but he is too weak and worried about his people so he does take the Fool’s hand in order to use his strenght. This is something they both understand in a way that happened before. I wouldn’t say Shrewd is hesitant but for sure it pains him to use the Fool like this and he is also upset that he is so weak he cannot fully use the Skill by himself. Shrewd takes his time to look at the state of his hands and the ring that marks him as king in order to remind himself why he is doing what he is doing before foccusing on using the Skill (I clasped the long-fingered, pale hand that rested on my shoulder. For a moment I looked down at my withered hand, at the royal signet ring that clung to a bony finger behind a swollen knuckle. Then my reluctant gaze was drawn up and my vision taken afar.)

The use of the Skill stops when Shrewd puts his hand in a fire and the Fool rushes to help him, breaking the connection. 

“Yes?”

“Is this how it was for you? Your first time?”

He looked down at his hands, and for a moment he fingered the angry red scars that dotted the back of his left hand. The silence grew long, but I waited.

“I was a year older than you are,” he said at last. “And it was simply the doing of it, not the deciding if it should be done. Is that enough for you?”“

- “Assassin’s Apprentice” (Farseer #1) by Robin Hobb

Before that there is also this observation:

“He sighed, and then shook his head to clear it. When he looked up, he focused on me totally. It was a knack Chade had. He could set aside a problem so completely you would swear he had forgotten it.”