History Heartwarming / DragonAgeII

*** Think about this one a little harder and you realize this is meta-heartwarming. Your story? You decide when to move on and how to proceed? That's Creator/BioWare in a nutshell. The devs are as good as telling you "hey, if you need to take a break and process what just happened, that's okay. We'll be here when you're ready to come back."

* One party banter between [[GirlNextDoor Merrill]] and [[PirateGirl Isabela]] has the former commenting that Isabela has led an exciting life as a pirate, a duelist, and her [[AnythingThatMoves many love affairs]]; she then wonders how Isabela could like a girl as boring as Merrill, and wishes she had Isabela's life. Isabela immediately denies this, and says Merrill has a beautiful heart, and is deserving of so much more than what she has.

* "On the Loose." Two of the mages you're charged with tracking down have been consumed by demons, and are beyond saving. But Emile de Launcet hasn't turned to blood magic or harmed anyone; he's just an awkward guy who's been confined to the Circle since he was six years old, for something that he couldn't help. He laments never being allowed to cook something for himself, stand in the rain, or kiss a girl. One of your options is to send him back to the Templars. The other is to [[VideoGameCaringPotential let him go free.]]

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*** Similarly, if Carver becomes a Warden and Hawke sides with Meredith, he outright states that he doesn't understand how Hawke could follow "that bitch". Meaning the risk-avoidant Carver is fully expecting his sibling to throw their full support to fellow mages and flip the bird against the Templars. Nonetheless, he supports Hawke's decision and offers to stand with them.

*** Similarly, if Carver becomes a Warden and Hawke sides with Meredith, he outright states that he doesn't understand how Hawke could follow "that bitch". Meaning the risk-avoidant Carver is fully expecting his sibling to support their fellow mages and flip the bird against the Templars. Nonetheless, he supports Hawke's decision and offers to stand with them.

*** Similarly, if Carver becomes a Warden and Hawke sides with Meredith, he outright states that he doesn't understand how Hawke could follow "that bitch". Nonetheless, he supports Hawke's decision and offers to stand with them.

-->'''Aveline''': ''(softly)'' It is a fine shield. ''[beat]'' You do know that Orlesian smiths slap Ser Aveline's name on every second piece of armor. This really didn't belong to her.

*** Think about this one a little harder and you realize this is meta-heartwarming. Your story? You decide when to move on and how to proceed? That's Creator/BioWare in a nutshell.

* Hawke's romantic partner, Fenris or Isabela, get new details added to their in-game model after commsumating their relationship. Isabela gets a red arm sash and new pauldron, and Fenris will wear a red wristband and Hawke's symbol on his belt. It's purely asethetic but very sweet.

** It's quite sweet for Cassandra's part as well for not interrupting or calling bullshit to Varric's usual embellishing of Hawke's actions at ''Legacy''. One might think that in addition to her growing admiration towards the Champion as the truth is slowly revealed by Varric's account throughout what happened at Kirkwall that lead to the crisis Thedas' facing right now, she can empathize with their situation because like them who lost their mother via a demented blood mage, the same horrible people took her beloved brother Anthony away. Like them, she lost a lot (and will lose more, given to the events of the ''Inquisition''), is clearly hurt about those misfortunes, but never for once falter just for the sake of doing the right thing. In some way, Cassandra might agree with Varric that yes, Hawke really needs some closure with their mother.

** If both Bethany and Carver are dead, Hawke gets to talk to Gamlen instead. He '''admires''' Malcolm for what he was ready to go through for his family. Remember that at the beginning, he '''despised''' this guy. If the right dialogue options are chosen, this scene becomes even more heartwarming. Gamlen tells you how he helped your parents by distracting Lord Amell so they could sneak out, and then once more expresses his grief over Leandra’s death. The conversation may end with an awkward declaration that if Hawke needs anything, they just have to ask. This doubles as a TearJerker since at this point your entire family, except for Gamlen, are dead.

** Much of Hawke and Bethany's relationship could count, really. Given the number of people who are willing to screw over siblings for some material advantage such as Bartrand and Varric, Fenris and his sister Varania, and Gamlen and Leandra, the fact that Bethany early in the game mentions that she could never turn on her own sibling like that is sweet enough. But the fact that Hawke and Bethany can go through the entire game and not once turn on each other is both incredibly heartwarming and a big middle finger to the CrapsackWorld nature of the ''Dragon Age'' universe in general.
** Oppositely, if Carver came to Kirkwall and became a Grey Warden, he thanks you for saving his life, and see his [[CharacterDevelopment growing up]] from being resentful of always being in your shadow, and he asks to fight by your side. Very touching.

** Merrill and Hawke agree that she is in a better place, whether by the Maker's side or with Falon'Din, the elven god. She just sits there with Hawke though, being there for them like they were for her.
** If Hawke hasn't romanced anyone, it's Aveline who arrives to offer words of comfort. Unlike the love interests, her visit is very short, and she doesn't sit down; she just invites Hawke to come and talk to her if they feel so inclined. This seems abrupt until one remembers that of all the companions, Aveline has known Hawke - and Leandra - the longest. ''She's also grieving,'' and she doesn't want to intrude on Hawke's solitude.

* Even the reviewers who hated the game and denounced the "lame story" praise the characters. They, altogether, are a band of people with various {{Fatal Flaw}}s, bigotries and resentments, which makes it all the more real that characters being gay - in either gender - isn't even questioned, or brought up. Characters that are gay aren't in a 'gay relationship'. They are depicted as being in love. The game was even commended by the official GLBTQ board of Seattle, Washington.

** Especially evident when he suggests she should treat herself to an orlesian dress. Why? Because she’d look "pretty" in one. Aww.

-->'''Aveline''': Shut up, whore.