I don't like Chade because...

He left his duties when he thought Fitz had died in AQ. He DID respect Fitz's wish to stay away from Nettle, even though he openly disagreed.

I haven't slept for some days, and pulling things from memory, so please, excuse my flimsy recount.

The story is written by a very broken Fitz, who clings dearly to the few things he has, irrationally so. And disregards the state of the present because of the proof of the past. This makes interactions with concerned friends seem like a personal attack on Fitz.

There was little reason to dislike Chade until AQ when the first discussion about Nettle occurred. Remember how distant Fitz was, he spent over ten years living a relatively short trip away, and never visited, which has been pointed out to have deeply wounded the old mentor. Of course, Chade didn't visit Fitz either, but I choose to believe his claim that he was respecting his wishes.

They grew apart, and wounded eachother, both broken characters. But until the end they express and prove affection. Chade trusted Fitz with his children and when he failed to protect them he forgave him and trusted he'd bring them back. Not an insignificant sentiment.

Saying Chade didn't love Fitz is like saying Fitz only loved Bee for what she represented and as a possession, which is, of course, wrong.

The books are written as to have been written by Fitz and is therefore dramatically skewed in his favour, but in actuallity dealing with that kind of person can be exhausting and loving them can be draining.

/r/robinhobb Thread