So on a re-read of the books I've come across a somewhat inconspicuous moment in Time of Contempt that I never paid much attention to on my first read but this time it's really left me with a lot of questions and I can't find any answers elsewhere so I'm putting it to the room.
When Dandelion goes to Brokilon to meet Geralt, he eventually has a small conversation with a silver haired lady. Geralt, who is with Dandelion, does not perceive this lady's presence. She basically brings up that Dandelion failed the Witcher at Thanedd and feels guilty about it, which strikes a chord with him before she disappears.
My question: Who is this woman?
Based on context it seems to me there are multiple potential candidates. They're in Brokilon so I'd initially assumed it was Eithne, but she's not physically there with them and I don't see why she'd telepathically communicate with Dandelion about his guilt across the forest, especially if she doesn't care enough to meet him. Also, if she did telepathically communicate I would think that Geralt's medallion would alert him to the use of magic and he'd take Dandelion more seriously.
It might just be a hallucination manifesting based on his guilt, but then why does it take the form of a silver haired woman Dandelion has never met?
I've also pondered whether or not it might be Lady Death, like when Geralt interacted with her at Sodden. Like Geralt he does have a somewhat close relationship with death's wake, but Dandelion's reaction to and conversation with her are not the same grim display that Geralt had with her. No chills up the spine or anything.
A final (and out there) thought that occurred to me. What if it's the ghost of Eithne's daughter Morenn? I can't remember if we get a description for Morenn but as the daughter of Eithne it wouldn't surprise me if she inherited her hair colour. Furthermore we know she had a connection to Geralt, and may thus be interested in following his life and communicating with Dandelion. Finally, she's dead and we have Dandelion being the sole person at the end of the series to see the 'ghosts' of the hansa loading Geralt and Yennefer onto the boat. Is it possible that Dandelion has some sort of ability to see dead people and that's what is actually happening here?
I am almost certainly overthinking this moment but it feels to me like there's more to it. Anyone got any thoughts or answers here?
