SPOILERS FARSEER/TAWNY MAN BOOKS - Moonseye

[Farseer]

She did know that he was taken to Moonseye at least, as she was there pleading with her father whilst he held Fitz's hand before the gate. He throws some snow and ice at her, if I recall correctly, to keep her back?

Yes, you're right, RZ. It was from this scene, as well as the incident in Buckkeep Town, that it became obvious it wasn't his mother's choice that Fitz be handed over to Chivalry/taken from her. I think this was later backed up by Kettle in AQ, and even earlier by someone from the Mountain Kingdom who had known his mother. *straining brain powers, trying to remember this latter point!*

As for why she never tried to seek him out... Personally, I'm not so sure that she didn't try. She made her appearance in Buck those few years later, and I suspect it was because she'd eventually tracked him down. But by then, Shrewd had claimed him and decided to train him as an assassin... I almost wonder if perhaps he chose not to return him to his mother? The way he sees Fitz as a tool and a weapon, I can easily see Shrewd deciding not to let him go. So, maybe she stayed in Buck hoping to perhaps catch him the way she did... but it was bad luck that Fitz didn't recognise her? There's no evidence of any of that, but it's still something I've considered!

Good one, RZ! Of course I knew that Shrewd would want to keep Fitz by his side, for all of the reasons you mentioned, but it had never occurred to me that he may actively keep Fitz separated from his mother once he had been bound to the Farseers. Not only would he not want to let Fitz go, but maybe he took it even further than that...no doubt it was one of the first jobs Shrewd gave to Chade when he heard word of Fitz's existence...seek out and identify the mother so she could be watched over, or even disposed of, if necessary?

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An afterthought ...

No doubt Fitz's mother worried over and fretted for him (he had, after all, been in her care for six years!) but I can picture her being particularly concerned for him once she'd heard that Chivalry had abdicated and had then been killed.