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Lace Harding, although one of the first companions inDragon Age: Veilguard, is also a character found in Inquisition, making her a companion that fans of the series will enjoy. This dwarf character, though small in stature, possesses a heart as big as can be, embarking on an inner journey to discover her powers in Veilguard.
Harding, with her sweet, and likable personality, often creates heartwarming moments when she stands by your side. While dwarves might appear as cold as stone, this is not the case for Harding. If you want to get to know her better and have an exclusive relationship with her, we’ve gathered everything you need to know in this guide.
How To Recruit Harding
Lace Harding will be your first companion. In the game’s first quest, considered the prologue, The End of the Beginning, as you’re leaving the tavern with Varric, a demon will attack civilians. Harding will protect them and join your party. After that, you’ll engage in your first combat encounter.
Harding Romance Quests And Events
Throughout the game, use the table below to select options that earn Harding’s approval and initiate your romance with her. Once you’ve gained enough approval and progressed in the romance, you’ll likely be able to enter an exclusive relationship with Hardingsometime after The Siege of Weisshaupt main quest.Until then, you’re free to flirt with others.
When you receive The Bond Rekindled companion questfrom her, you’ll officially enter an exclusive relationship, meaning you can no longer flirt with anyone else.
Be sure to talk to Harding and check in with her after completing main and side quests, as some of her conversations are time-sensitive and can be missed if not triggered in time. Additionally, prioritize her companion quests before progressing with main quests.
Your Answer
Outcome
In the game’s first quest, The End of the Beginning,when you approach Solas, Varric will explain his plan to change Solas’s mind.
Varrick:“Solas needs someone to sell him another option, to help him justify changing his mind.”
This is a mistake.
Harding approves.
While Varric speaks with Solas—without much success—you willdecide to stop Solas’s ritual. At this point, both Lace Harding and Neve will offer to join you. Choosing one of them will earn their approval.
Harding:“Either way someone needs to stay back and deal with the demons. "
Harding, with me.
Harding greatly approves.
In the Shadows of Ancient Arlathan quest,after completing the task of speaking with Neveat the Lighthouse, you can optionally talk to Harding. You’ll find her in the Conservatory.
Harding:“There’s so much to do. We have to keep going.”
Are you okay?
In the Shadows of Ancient Arlathan quest,you’ll discuss the situation at the tablewith Neve and Lace Harding. Neve will advocate for more investigation, while Harding will push for action.
Harding:“And how many more people will get hurt—get killed—while we spend time investigating?”
Before the Ogre boss fight, if Harding is with you.
Harding:“Right. Because darkspawn, demons, and animated suits of armor aren’t tricky enough.”
Of course it is.
After defeating the Ogre boss, you will head to the Veil Jumper camp and speak with Irelin.
Irelin:“We could ask it about the gods. Figure out their next move.”
The Dalish are priority.
In the Shadow’s Crossing main quest, you mustdecide the Mayor’s fate.Your choice will determine Lace Harding’s approval
Harding:“Rook, you’re a Grey Warden. You could pack him off to Weisshaupt as punishment."(If you are Grey Warden)
Leave him here.
At the end of the Shadow’s Crossing main quest,after meeting Morrigan, Bellara will talk about the gods.
Bellara:“Our gods are back. Our gods! And they’re killing people and blighting the world. How do we stand up against that?”
We work together.
In The Singing Blade main quest, when you first go to Harding tosearch for Solas’s dagger, she will blame herself.
Harding:“I should’ve taken the shot.”
We all carry blame.
At the end of The Singing Blade quest, you willtalk about Harding’s newly acquired powers.
Harding:“I know it’s strange, but is this going to create problems for us?”
Just make sure to aim.
In The Enemy of My Enemy quest,before contacting Solas,you can talk to Harding. You will find her alone, reading a sentence from a book.
As the dialogue continues, and she explains the meaning of the word “isatunoll”.
Harding:“They don’t remember. No one remembers. We don’t even know what we lost.”
You’re cute when focused.
Flirting with Harding.
Harding: “I am. We are. This. And that. Here. There. Now. And forever.”
Triggers “An Unfamiliar Sense” companion quest.
In “An Unfamiliar Sense” companion quest, you first need to find eluvian in Arlathan Forest. After going to Arlathan Forest andafter her unsuccessful attempt at earth-bending magic, followed by her successful use.
Wanna talk?
After completing the “An Unfamiliar Sense” quest, if youtalk to Harding at the Lighthouse, she will mention the mysterious voice she heard at the end of the quest. She will then talk about the dwarves living underground.
Harding:“Maybe there are other people down there with magic.”
Will you let me come along?
At the end of the Shadows of Minrathous quest,Maevaris will introduce herself.If you are from the Shadow Dragons, Rook will recognize her. Choose the “You’re Maevaris Tilani!” dialogue option, then:
Maevaris:“I know you, don’t I? Rook. They told me Varric stole you away for a job.”
You know Varrick?
After finishing “Completing The Veilguard” quest,once your conversation with Solas ends, you will discuss the events with your entire team. If you saved Treviso:
Neve or Lucanis:“Treviso could have used a dragon hunter. That much is true.”
We couldn’t have known.
Aftercompleting either Where The Dead Must Go or The Dragon Slayer quest, you can have a time-sensitive conversation with Harding about the Inquisition.
Harding:“I spent more time with the ordinary people. The ones you didn’t hear about.”
In the “More” section, ask her all the available questions before selecting “Do you miss the Inquisition?”
Each question in the “More” section will grant approval from Harding.
Aftercompleting Where The Dead Must Go, followed by The Dragon Slayer, you will have a conversation with everyone about recent events.
Bellara:“Feels like we’re at war. A lot of little wars.”
The gods move fast.
After completing Where The Dead Must Go,Neve or Lucanis will rejoin your group.
Lucanis:“I am.”
Meet… everyone.
At the beginning of the Shades of the Blight quest, you willspeak with Morrigan, who will introduce you to the Inquisitor.
Harding:“Well, this is Inquisitor. The man/woman who led us all.”
Harding knows everyone.
Inquisitor: “You’ve put together an impressive team, and you’ve got the best chance—maybe the only chance—to stop Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain.”
You can count on me.
In the Lighthouse, when youtalk to Harding about her mysterious friend.
After this, in the next dialogue,selecting the More option and talking about Kal-Sharokwill earn you additional approval:
Harding:“Orzammar has requested I stop harassing their citizens with my talk of dwarven magic.”
Harding:“Orzammar can’t help. What have I got to lose?”
Unlocks “The Waiting Stone” companion quest after the conversation.
After completing the Shades of Blight main quest, you willreceive Harding’s companion quest, The Waiting Stone.
Once youfinish the quest and defeat the boss, Harding will find more questions instead of answers. After your adventure in the Deep Roads ends and you return to her room, you will have the chance to flirt with her.
You’re brooding.
As the conversation continues, you can flirt with her again, leading her to acknowledge that she now sees you as more than just a friend.
Harding:“I just wish I knew what to do.”
I don’t know, but I’m here.
At the end of the ‘Something Wrong’ quest, after collecting the samples, theFirst Warden will arrive.
First Warden:“Your sensitivity to blight is useful, Warden Antoine. But you’ve had more than one snake in your ear.”
Let’s be reasonable.
At the end of the “Fire and Ice” quest, you will return to the Lighthouse and discuss recent events with your team.
Arlathan makes sense.
After completing the Bloodbath companion quest, you will talk with Harding in her room. At some point in the conversation, she will talk about her dreams. If your flirt count is high and you’ve followed this guide, you canexpress your romantic interest without creating a commitment, and you may still flirt with other characters.
If your flirt count is low, the dialogues will change, and you should select other flirt options.
Harding:“There’s something that glows red just out of my sight. I know it’s going to get me, but I don’t know how I know.”
Anything I can do to help?
Expresses romantic interest in Harding.
Unlocks “The Bond Rekindled” quest later.
In your next conversation with Harding, you will receive “The Bond Rekindled” companion quest. You canstart the quest by talking to her at The Hall of Valor.This quest will romantically commit you to Harding andyou will no longer be able to flirt with other characters.
Harding:“It’s drawing me out. Drawing me down.”
I won’t let it take you.
Commits you to an exclusive relationship with Harding.
The dialogues in the table take place after completing theRegrets of the Dread Wolf quest, when you place the Wolf Statuettes you obtained into the library at the Lighthouse.
Lucanis:“Then she sides with Elgar’nan over him. A betrayal.”
Afterplacing the second Wolf Statuettein the Library.
Bellara:“There’s an old legend about it. Davrin. The one with Andruil’s armor? Not sure it matters.”
Afterplacing the third Wolf Statuettein the Library.
You can get one more approval from Harding in the continuation of the dialogue
Lucanis:“What do you think, Rook?”
Harding:“Did we?
Afterplacing the fourth Wolf Statuettein the Library.
You can get one more approval from Harding in the continuation of the dialogue.
I guess our secret’s out? (if you are Elf)
Harding:“Maybe, but not just that. Solas was scared. They built their bodies out of lyrium, and it made the ground shake. "
Afterplacing the fifth Wolf Statuettein the Library.
Davrin:“Instead, it’s a caged animal, mistreated and imprisoned for centuries, until all it knows is fear.”
Can we fix the blight?
Where To Find Harding’s Gift
The gift you can give to Harding is not available in the early stages of the game, asit can be bought at the Black Emporium.The Black Emporium is located in Dock Town. However, to access it, you mustcomplete Lucanis' companion quest, Bloodbath.After that, you need totalk to the Caretaker at the Workshopin Lighthouse to receive this quest.
If you’ve flirted enough with Harding and she has approved, you can start an exclusive relationship with her without needing to give her a gift, and you can assign your commitment to her.
The Black Emporium quest will be completed once you reach Dock Town. Afterpurchasing the Hinterlands Oak from there,you will receive the Fit For A Scout quest, and all you have to do is give it to Harding.
