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

[Nuytsia]

Also, as far as I can tell, Fitz has remained under Galen's imprinted Skill command throughout the entire story so far and, yet, has been powerful in the Skill despite the command's presence and the negativity it has no doubt wrought in him.

Hmm I thought Verity removed it from Fitz when he first went to him in the tower, and that's the reason Fitz was able to Skill? Although your quote below from Verity seems to suggest otherwise. I don't have AA to check! Maybe Verity partially removed it??
I am fairly certain that after Galen put that suggestion there Fitz had NO ability to Skill, then Verity tinkered with his head, then Fitz got the ability to Skill in a broken type way? Wasn't that how it went? Prior to that Fitz thought 'oh poor me I stink at the Skill, Galen's not such a bad sort' And then when Verity did whatever to him he *remembered* what Galen had done. I am guessing Verity's intervention was a partial success only.

I certainly think residual effects of Galen's tinkering couldn't have helped Fitz's state of mind, but there were probably many contributing factors such as elfbark addiction which you also mentioned. His natural personality and being treated like a tool by pretty well everyone he ever met must not have helped either.

On re-reading AA I was particularly struck by how needy Fitz was from the very beginning. Although he had a 'troubled' relationship with Burrich he craved his approval, and then when he met Chade he craved HIS approval. His reaction to the incident with the knife and Chade not calling for him for a while was a case in point. He was Devastated! He even felt privileged that the Fool decided to talk to him! (and he was generally considered a kook by all and sundry)
I hadn't recalled all that until I re-read.

Fitz also had a number of suicidal thoughts, some of which we've touched on before - one that was put down to the actual Skill command from Galen (when Fitz thought about throwing himself off the edge of the Queen's Garden...how strong he must be in the Skill to have been able to turn aside from that?!)), one was put down to the bad dreams and negative effect of the Rain River/Cursed Shores during his trip down to Bingtown and yet another was put down to a massive elfbark downer he experienced after he'd lost his Skill on Aslevjal.

Yes, and even I think at the end of AA ? There's an indication that the narrator (ie Fitz) wants to end it all .... (with an overdose) ..it makes some reference to a voice saying 'No' (not sure if that is meant to be Nighteyes?)
To be honest I don't blame Fitz for feeling that way when considering what he's gone though! Skill command or not! But there is the possibility it is at least partly to blame....

Maybe all of this could suggest that possibly a) Chivalry and Galen were so srongly Skilled that their commands stuck indefinitely, and Fitz didn't do as good a job on Dutiful or b) Fitz's command was strong but Dutiful was stronger in the Skill and so able to reverse it ? Still pondering...

I think it's said that Galen is actually quite weak in the Skill? (but no doubt much better educated on it than Fitz, at least at first)
I think it's possible Dutiful is stronger in the Skill than Fitz, or at least has learned it 'properly' without the setbacks Fitz had to deal with along the way (yes main one being Galen's Skill command! But also head injury/fits/elfbark/no proper teacher)