The Demise of the Elderlings (Spoilers for all books, especially RWC)

[Farseer]

when I re-read the Farseer trilogy I really wondered about the stained glass window Fitz sees in Kelsingra:

"The image presented was one of a woman and a dragon. They did not appear to be at odds, but instead stood as if speaking to one another. The woman in this window had black hair and black eyes and wore a band of bright red on her brow. She carried something in her left hand, but whether it was weapon or wand of office I could not tell. The immense dragon wore a jeweled collar, but nothing else in its stance or demeanor suggested domestication. I stared at the window, light gleaming through its dusty colors, for several long minutes before I could go on. I felt it had some significance I could not quite grasp"

Hmmm I am not sure what the 'significance' is .....?
But, I do wonder about the dragon's collar and the 'wand'(?) in the woman's hand. (control rod I say!)
Actually, another weird thing is that there is nothing to indicate she is an elderling, she sounds like a standard human?

Yes, this has long been one of my favourite parts of AQ whole "I felt it had some significance I could not quite grasp" tells me it's hugely significant...we are talking about blind Fitz after all!!!

Notice the black hair and eyes? She is on my list and I couldn't help but think of Nettle when I first re-read this passage in AQ after finishing TM.

That she is human and not depicted as the usual 'Elderling' is one of the reasons why I think the black hair and eyes of the Farseers is so significant, and wonder if they were not possibly the ruling seat of Kelsingra, way back in ancient days, and not just the Elderlings who had undergone changes? Still, the bright band upon her brow sounds very much like a scarlet crest, such as the Queen's crest that Malta has.

At the very least, I think that there may be a link to this woman and another but I have to check my facts first!

Fitz noted the Elders of the Skill River at some stage (FF, I think) and pointed out that Verity was there somewhere...Elders and Edlerlings are too close in word form for me...I think they are possibly one and the same though some may undergo dragonish changes, others may not? Still thinking on all of that but, yes, a significant hint that her Hobbness has given us...it's just up to us to answer the riddle/s!

As an aside, when Fitz noted all of the people milling around in the Kelsingra Map Tower, he didn't speak of scales etc. From memory, he merely noted their elongated human forms and varying eye colours. Possibly it is with Elderlings as it is with humans, Pecksies etc. Not all Elderlings look the same and have exactly the same features?

I really want to know what the thing is in her left hand!!!!

So much more to add but I have to run!

EDIT: I just had to come back after I realised I'd forgotten to mention "the future". The depiction of the woman and dragon is found within a stained-glass window artform, obviously of Elderling make. This relationship between the woman and dragon could link to the future as opposed to the past, if we liken it to Wintrow's stained-glass window which depicted a serpent and dragon. At the time he didn't know why he always included them in each of his attempts, attempts made while in a Skill trance I might add, but this link with serpents and dragons later proved to be a part of his fate. Possibly it will prove true of this window. It is not farfetched given the example of Wintrow and the Elderlings' love of predictions for the future. Even objects (often described as being incredible works of art) found along the Treasure Beach pointed to a future event.

Sorry 'thul beings...will have to read your post below at a later time!