This is a complete walkthrough for Harding's companion quest, The Waiting Stone, in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. See this guide for quest information, unlock requirements, objectives, and major decisions!

The Waiting Stone Overview

The Waiting Stone Objectives

Get to the Deep Roads

Fast travel to the Deep Roads with Harding, and traverse the caves, fighting a few deepstalkers on the way. You will reach the dwarf Stalgard by the entrance to the Kal-Sharok Outpost.

Follow Stalgard as he leads the way, and defeat the darkspawn in your path. Continue following Stalgard until you reach the blighted door.

Destroy the Blight Roots

The main door to the Lyrium Sanctum is corroded and blocked by blight, and you must find and destroy its roots in the area to proceed.

Fix the Elevator

Head to the elevator that leads to the blight's start, but you'll find it stuck upon arrival. Use Harding's companion ability to move the stone slab above for it to be operable.

Mind the Gap

Now on the top floor, on the path forward you will arrive at a narrow gap you have to pass through.

Once past the gap, you can choose whether to turn left or right, but you still must destroy both main blight roots at the end of each pathway.

First Root

Step	Location
1	Turn left and kill the ghouls stationed in the path. On the right, destroy the blight boil and use Harding's ability to make the stone slab rise and climb it.
2	There will be a more climbing and parkour ahead, use Harding's ability on the stone slabs needed to traverse, and destroy all the blight boils along the path.
3	At the end of the obstacle course, defeat the darkspawn in the cave and destroy the final blight boils, the largest one being protected by those on the pillars.

After destroying the root, turn around to destroy the blight blocking the path, leading to a shortcut back to the earlier path.

Second Root

Step	Location
1	Turn right and kill the ghouls stationed in the path.
2	Destroy the blight boils on the first floor. The first two are behind breakable barricades. Once the boils are destroyed, use the ability on the stone slab to proceed climbing.
3	At the end of climbing and traversing the path, you will find a Frenzied Ogre in the same room as the second root.

Once the roots are gone, head back to the door where Stalgard is.

Reach the Lyrium Sanctum

Destroy the boils left on the door and use the lever to open it. Accompany Stalgard and Harding as the team goes to meet the Oracle.

Once you reach the statue of the Oracle, investigate it to start the cutscene.

Defeat the Wrath of the Stone

After speaking with the Oracle, the Wrath of the Stone will challenge Rook and the party. Watch out as the boss will immediately dive towards you with a big AoE slam, so be ready to dodge quickly.

As you fight, deepstalkers will come out of the caves and attack you as well. Defeat the boss to end the battle, and speak again with the Oracle.

Lighthouse Return

After speaking with the Oracle and the team, Rook and Harding return to the Lighthouse. There are romance dialogues available to select when speaking with Lace.

The Bond Rekindled Sub-Quest

Harding Romance Opportunity

The Cauldron main quest must be accomplished at this point to continue.

You can then acquire the Bond Rekindled quest by speaking to Harding in the Lighthouse, where she will ask you to go with her to Rivain where she will train and wind down.

Choose Whether to Commit to Harding

Travel to the Hall of Valor and meet Harding at the Hilt - Lower Balcony area. The commitment dialogue options will appear in your conversation with her.

The only choice that will secure the romance with Harding is the top left option. The other choices will ensure a more platonic relationship between Rook and Harding, and have no negative consequences.
Harding Romance and Approval Guide

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Related Guides

All Quests List

All Quest Guides

List of All Harding Companion Quests