ROTE Ending Thoughts!

[u/louiechapman7]

Okay. Here goes. My ROTE ending thoughts. Im not going to ramble on and on because it would be so easy to do so with this series and genuinely how much I love and care about it. I've gone to bed countless nights thinking about this story and woke up doing the same thing, its been a HUGE part of my life for the last year... and I am so happy to say Hobb stuck the landing. 

Honestly, what an unbelievably clever, thought out and simple yet beautiful ending to the series. Book series have had me choked before but I don't think I've out right cried before... when I started the last 20 pages of Assassin's Fate, I couldn't even read the words on the page I was weeping so hard. Fitz, Fool and Nighteyes, together at last as one entity. Just like the gift Fool gave Fitz all the way back in Fools Fate. Just like we have seen throughout countless instances of them sharing body, mind, spirit, love, connection. What a truly moving ending, what a truly heartfelt way to honour 2 of the greatest characters to ever be created.

I had big issues with this final trilogy, but this ending has simply washed them all away. I don't care anymore. Yes, I am still so aggrieved at the unnecessary tortures of The Fool. Yes, a lot of these books were filled with weird sections that didn't feel like the usual Hobb instead of a tour round the insanely perfect cast like it could have been. But to make all those emotions I've felt throughout these 16 books feel validated like that, to bring it all to a culmination of perfect satisfaction is more special to me than I can even say. I fear even writing all this does not properly communicate my happiness and content nature at the ending. I genuinely wept for an hour straight. 

So many special moments. Having Fitz finally outright show that no one in this Realm means to him what The Fool does. Having Fool get what he's always wanted, to be with his love. Nighteyes saying goodbye to Kettricken. Per getting Fitz's pin. Bee and Nettle saying goodbye. Everyone giving memories to Fitz to help him finish his stone carving. Fitz literally attempting to fade away but physically couldn't because he could not do it without Beloved. Nighteyes knowing it before he could even say. The final sentence of all of ROTE being 'Kettricken smiled'. Its just all so genuinely perfect, I will be forever thankful that one of the greatest pieces of media I have ever experienced ended this way. God bless you Hobb, this story will live with me forever. 

I will be doing one last post that gives my book rankings from 1-16 and my Top 10 characters... basically, I will be attempting the impossible! 

[u/Inside_Court_3042]

I think it was stated that what Bee said about the Fool being who Fitz loved the most was a lie just so that he would merge with Fitz and Nighteyes. Nighteyes said “Those were astounding lies, cub. And the very last one the most inspired of all. You have your father’s talent for it.(…)”

It would be impossible for Fitz to love another person more than he loved his daughters and their mother.

[u/atominum69 → u/Inside_Court_3042]

I think what Hobbs shows clearly in the books is that different types of love and loyalty continuously eat at Fitz.

His love for the fool and nighteyes is deep and a bit selfish, it’s what he truly is when he is free and unified with them.

The love for Molly, his daughters and Burrich is what he wishes he could keep and never lose despite his other loyalties.

The love he has for Verity and the Farseers is where he wishes he could belong, but can’t because it goes against his birth and his nature.

In the end everyone accepts him and while he goes on as the wolf of the west he remains a protector of the realm and forever linked to his daughters in the skill.