Small, random questions about RotE that still bother you (spoilers all RotE books)

[Farseer]

Good one, mervi...I'm thinking that this will become my favourite thread! I considered making one ages ago, because I have a few little questions that couldn't support a whole thread, so am glad you did.

I have always just assumed that 'the other one' was Chivalry as he was broken in the end, and left the throne/Buckkeep behind, despite having been strong enough early on to marry Patience against Shrewd's obvious displeasure. Shrewd later even mistakes Fitz as Chivalry on a number of occasions. If it is Chivalry, I would love to know what 'tests' he had to undertake! Possibly it was Shrewd, with Queen Desire's direction, who had placed Fitz's mother before Chivalry to see if he would turn aside from Patience and be unfaithful to her (not knowing that a future heir and possible rival to Regal would come from the union?!).

I also think it was Chade who spoke the words, "Don't talk to me about blood and family. Remember who I am to you! " Here Chade is reminding Shrewd that he may not be king in title but he would've been, as the older brother of the two, if he had not been a bastard. He is also Shrewd's assassin and behind-the-scenes mentor, sacrificing much, even his identity, for the sake of his king and the Six Duchies. From "It isn't his loyalty she's worrying about, or mine", I got the understanding from this that Shrewd has told Chade to undertake the test to prove Fitz's loyalty, or lack of loyalty rather, to Queen Desire. Once Fitz's loyalty is proven, Shrewd thinks it will lessen Desire's displeasure at Fitz's presence in the castle and she'll leave off from nagging him about it? In his response, Chade is saying here though that Queen Desire isn't truly worried about loyalty, as she is suggesting she is by the need to test Fitz, but is instead worried about the throne and the question of succession. With Chivalry out of the way, and Verity no doubt firmly on her radar, she wants no further complications with regard to Regal's right to his future kingship.

What interests me in this is that if they are talking about Queen Desire, she would only be made aware of the results of the test, and remain oblivious of Chade's role in the test, as she doesn't know that Chade even exists (I'm pretty sure I'm right in this?!). This is why Regal never knew of Chade either, and only came to know of Lady Thyme as a behind-the-scenes meddler.

As for Mere, no, the word 'mère' is French for 'mother' so I think Fitz was simply calling 'Mother', not his mother's actual name?

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Once Fitz's loyalty is proven, Shrewd thinks it will lessen Desire's displeasure at Fitz's presence in the castle and she'll leave off from nagging him about it?

Oops, forgot to add...alternatively, if Fitz's lack of loyalty is instead proven as a result of the test, it would have given Desire much ammunition for her on-going debate that Shrewd should finally get rid of Fitz permanently? I remember reading a letter penned by Desire to someone in Farrow or Tilth, saying something along the lines of that she couldn't understand why Shrewd hadn't killed Fitz from the beginning...and I think that letter also alluded to the fact that she had successfully taken Chivalry out of the picture via his 'accidental' death?