The Fool (spoilers for all RotE books, including LST)

[Farseer]

Hobb was finished with this story and put to paper everything she had to say, according to an article I read that quoted her.

Despite what she'd said, and very firmly at times, I never believed her...as so many posts of mine here attest to. First and foremost, the plot and the characters never allowed it to be the end. The tale had not been told to the 'The End' point. Farseer and Tawny Man are not separate to LST and RWC. They are part of the same epic, and very unfinished, tale and Changer still had (and has) things to do. He remains Changer.

Without trying to put words in her mouth, Robin's comments came mainly from the extremely negative feedback that she had received, and the graphic fan-fic stories of a Fool/Fitz relationship that she was sent and that were being circulated online, after the release of Fool's Fate. Just as you are unhappy with the conclusion (which, for me, was never a conclusion but a 'minstrel's pause'! ), so have many, *many* other readers been. Many readers had felt that Robin had copped out with Fitz returning to Molly. Rather than Kettricken though, as you suggested in the 'approach to series' thread, most tended to lean toward Fitz ending up with Fool...and the cop-out was seen as Robin being borderline homophobic. She'd turned aside from controversy and gave Fitz the 'girl' rather than 'boy'. So many were miffed.

EDIT: Had to quickly force my way back here to briefly extend on this in that, on the flip-side, there seemed to be just as many who felt that Fitz should have both got the 'girl' AND Fool...meaning that Fool should have finally did the big reveal and show 'himself' to be truly female and in love with Fitz (as Starling alluded to way back in Farseer) and they could live happily ever after with Fitz not having to compromise his heterosexuality in the doing. END EDIT

I really can't stand Molly and I'd have loved for Fitz to have ended up with anyone but her. I think the difference here is between not liking the ending and then actively criticising the ending. To say that Robin changed things is a given, with any aspect of the tale. She has even acknowledged changing details from time-to-time in line with editor/publisher feedback. Did she truly change the plot midway through so that Fitz ended up with Molly though? I would argue against that. Fitz is Changer. He is The Catalyst. A catalyst, while creating change, does not itself change. He was always going to complete the circle and experience life with Molly, despite the prophecy that The Catalyst would never know the feeling of a home and hearth with a loved one. FItz is Changer, and can seemingly change or undo prophecy as well as death.

I have to go...again...but more soon. Sorry if this does not all flow. Trying to type and think in a hurry does not bode *well* for one such as I...!