Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Heartwarming / TheWheelOfTime

Go To

1''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': with a series this long, it ought to have some moments that just make you feel warm and fuzzy.
2
3!!'''''SPOILERS ARE UNMARKED, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!'''''
4
5[[foldercontrol]]
6
7[[folder:0 - ''New Spring'']]
8* After being betrayed by a former friend and losing the last of his closest companions, Lan gets ready to effectively kill himself by riding into the Blight and fighting by himself for as long as he could. However, Moiraine gives him something new to live for by revealing her mission to seek out the Dragon Reborn and asks for his help by choosing him as her Warder. He accepts and thus begins a partnership that lasts for twenty years and culminates in the start of the main story.
9[[/folder]]
10
11[[folder:1 - ''The Eye Of The World'']]
12* Thom hates Aes Sedai because of what they did to his nephew, but he still protects Moiraine by scolding Nynaeve for nearly blowing her cover in Baerlon.
13* Lan gives one to Rand early on in the series, just as his daddy issues are starting to come up...
14-->"In the Borderlands, sheepherder, if a man has the raising of a child, that child is his, and none can say different."
15[[/folder]]
16
17[[folder:2 - ''The Great Hunt'']]
18* Rand's reunion with Thom.
19* After Ingtar is revealed to be a darkfriend, he prepares to lay down his life to let Rand escape and redeem himself. Rand in turn doesn't fight Ingtar's decision and says the Shienaran funeral rites which greatly relieves him and gives him peace with himself.
20[[/folder]]
21
22[[folder:3 - ''The Dragon Reborn'']]
23* Combined with a dose of FridgeBrilliance in hindsight: Siuan tells Mat that she had an uncle just like him: couldn't be tied down, always gambling, and performed a HeroicSacrifice to save children from a burning building. It's her way of telling him that she fully believes he's capable of great things. And, as the story progresses, he proves her right.
24* Mat tells Thom that he'll only help people that can pay, because only idiots help for free. Just as he finishes saying that, he sees a mother with three children who are all crying because they're so hungry. He's got several fat purses on him. So what does he do? He gives one of them to the mother and tells her to buy her children some food. "Only idiots", eh, Mat?
25* Hopper, one of Perrin's lupine allies who perished in the previous books, gets to live out his futile dreams of being able to soar like a bird in Tel'aran'rhiod, a fulfillment so earnest and joyful that it almost brings the young blacksmith to tears.
26* To psyche himself up for the daunting task of overcoming the mammoth walls of the Stone of Tear, Mat draws strength from a childhood memory of an adventure he shared with Ran and Perrin as they explored and climbed the peaks of the Mountains of Mist.
27[[/folder]]
28
29[[folder:4 - ''The Shadow Rising'']]
30* After they fight their way out of the Aiel's proving ground, Rand and Mat share a tender, private moment as they talk about the future.
31* Faile comes in from helping Mistress al'Vere bake bread, and tells Perrin she actually enjoyed it and wants to do it again. His response, that that makes sense as they won't want to just keep buying food forever, puts a delighted smile on her face that puzzles him. Faile understood, even though Perrin hadn't, that he wants to be with her for the rest of his life.
32* Perrin and Faile getting married just before the final battle. Also counts as a TearJerker, at least until she brings reinforcements from the next town over, rather than BringNewsBack to the rest of Andor and leave him to die, as was the plan.
33* After the battle of Emond's Field, Perrin meets a young child who gives his name as Jaim Aybara, Perrin's only living blood kin. Jaim tops it off by proclaiming that he won't ever get married, because GirlsHaveCooties.
34* In Seanchan culture, people who can channel are seen as dangerous animals with the men being executed and the women being enslaved and used as weapons. Egeanin, a Seanchan, meets Nynaeve and Elayne. At first wary, she interacts with them and learns about Aes Sedai eventually overcoming what she was taught since childhood. She also releases a channeller kept in captivity in the basement of her residence.
35* Rand clearly states that although Tam is not his father by blood, he is still his father in every other way and that's all that matters in the end.
36--> '''Rand:''' My father is Tam al'Thor. He found me, raised me, loved me. I wish I could have known you, Janduin, but Tam is my father.
37[[/folder]]
38
39[[folder:5 - ''The Fires of Heaven'']]
40* The Maidens of the Spear have all collectively adopted Rand as a first-brother (though some treat him like a son) because he is the first child born to a maiden that returned to them.
41* Aviendha continuing to wear the bracelet that Rand gave her in the previous book.
42* Aviendha approaches the Wise Ones and askes to be switched for lying twice, the reader can infer this was when she told Rand that her gift of a belt buckle meant nothing and when she told him she hated him.
43* Rand chasing Aviendha into the snow via a gateway, rescuing her, finally causing her to breakdown and admit her feelings for him.
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:6 - ''Lord of Chaos'']]
47* [[IronLady Siuan]] being healed from [[FateWorseThanDeath stilling]].
48-->For a moment Siuan only stared, expressionless. Then the glow of ''saidar'' enveloped her. Gasps filled the room. Slowly Siuan leaned forward and kissed Nynaeve on either cheek. A tear leaked down her face, then another, and abruptly Siuan was weeping, hugging herself and shaking; the gleaming aura around her faded away.
49* Despite the bad blood between Mat and Egwene, he and his men are among the first to actually show her some respect as Amyrlin when he sees that no one else, especially the rebel Aes Sedai group, is doing so.
50[[/folder]]
51
52[[folder:7 - ''A Crown of Swords'']]
53* A small one, but noteworthy considering who it comes from: Early in, the Maidens sneak Rand and a couple Asha'Man in Caemlyn's palace for a meeting with Bael and Lord Bashere. This is shortly after Rand was rescued from Dumai's Wells and he near freaks out when Jalani pulls a hood down on his face.
54-->Stiffening, he barely stopped short of seizing ''saidin''. Barely. Lews Therin snarled and gibbered. Rand forced himself to breathe normally. It was not total darkness. He could see moonlight below the edge of the hood. Even so, he stumbled when Sulin and Enaila took his arms and led him forward. [...] Sulin's hand moved. It took him a moment to realize she was stroking his arm.
55* When Lan rescues Nynaeve from drowning and they finally reunite. Followed by them getting married.
56* Rand and Min "comforting" each other after they receive bad news.
57* After this Rand has a moral crisis and begins questioning if he had unintentionally coerced Min into doing [[QuestionableConsent something she didn't want to]] because of the stress of the situation. This causes him to isolate himself and avoid Min. This culminates in Min talking sense into him and confirming that ''yes'', she did want it because she loves him.
58** During this argument, Min asks him why he allows the Maidens of the Spear to go on potentially dangerous missions when she cannot, he simply replies that it's because he doesn't love them, which means...
59[[/folder]]
60
61[[folder:8 - ''The Path of Daggers'']]
62* Aviendha reveals that when she ran from Rand in book 5, she ''wanted'' him to chase after her, albeit subconsciously.
63[[/folder]]
64
65[[folder:9 - ''Winter's Heart'']]
66* Elayne and Aviendha participating in the Aiel Rebirth Ceremony to become first-sisters with Amys as their new mutual mother.
67* Aviendha, Elayne and Min bonding Rand.
68** Aviendha, after the bonding is complete and with proud tears streaming from her eyes, tells the others that the constant physical pain Rand is under is proof that he is the true leader of her ProudWarriorRace people. Immediately after, she notes her joy in having confirmation that Rand truly loves her by being able to perceive the "bands of gold" that surround Rand's hardened heart.
69* Also Rand leaving a flower on Elayne's bed, a call back to the flower he attempted to make from some feathers back in Tear in book 4 (feathers which she had kept as a memento in the following months)
70[[/folder]]
71
72[[folder:11 - ''Knife of Dreams'']]
73* Loial's wedding to Erith. It's simple, but powerful. And, when Trollocs attack the mansion immediately after the ceremony and Loial joins in the fighting, Erith- who had heard the stories of what he'd done at Emond's Field and Dumai's Wells- gives him an axe to fight with and tells him, "You are my hero."
74** Rand's reaction and subsequent joy to celebrate Loial's wedding is one of the very rare moments we get to see that, for all of his attempts to harden his spirit prior to his epiphany at the end of Book 12, his original humanity still surfaces every now and then.
75* When does Tuon finally begin calling Mat by name? When she completes their marriage ceremony.
76* Furyk Karede, the leader of the Deathwatch Guard, the guardians of the Imperial bloodline, is outwardly TheStoic, a huge {{Determinator}}, and feared by everyone else in the Ever-Victorious Army. The chapters from his point of view reveal he's almost a fanatic, but too in-control and level-headed--yet ready to take on any foe, to kill, and to die, to protect the Imperial family, at their whim, or simply defending their honor. But when Tuon reveals not only that she remembers him saving her as a child, and the doll she gave him as thanks, but that she kept tabs on him all through his career, and remembers the family he lost to a fire, he is so overcome he cannot trust himself to speak without giving away how touched he is.
77[[/folder]]
78
79[[folder:12 - ''The Gathering Storm'']]
80* Siuan finally bonding Gareth Bryne.
81* Rand's catharsis, wrapped up by the last line of the book:
82-->Storms will come. But for now, I am here.
83-->I am here.
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:13 - ''Towers of Midnight'']]
87* The first chapter, where Rand is able to use his newfound epiphany to give hope back to an old man and his village. The fact that it's a minor CallBack to a scene from the first book helps- it really brings to light how far Rand has come in two and a half years: from [[ActionSurvivor terrified shepherd boy]] to [[MessianicArchetype Messiah]].
88* After Mat's first encounter with the ''gholam'' in the book that left his servant and four Redarms dead, Mat is scared to death that Olver also got killed. After finding out Noal had kept Olver in his own tent after the lad fell asleep rather than carrying him back to Mat's, Mat hugs the old man and thanks him for saving Olver's life.
89* The emotional reunion between Rand and Tam, where Rand tearfully embraces and begs for his father's forgiveness, ''finally'' shows the warmer, loving side of Rand that has not been seen in a ''very long'' time. This scene not only [[HappilyAdopted reinforces the strong bond]] that exists between Rand and his adoptive father, but also shows how human and young Rand still is.
90** In general, a great deal of the most heartwarming moments in the series seem to revolve around Rand and his strong relationship with his adoptive father.
91* Nynaeve has just endured the most hellish test for the shawl in the history of the Tower, just barely raised to full Aes Sedai, and practically forced Myrelle to hand over Lan's Warder bond. The whole thing comes to a head when she collapses in relief and realizes everything she'd just done was worth it with two words, "He's alive."
92* All the Lan perspective bits were great, but the best is easily in the chapter "Stronger Than Blood," especially since it takes place after his Warder bond had finally been passed to Nynaeve.
93-->''Burn that woman,'' Lan thought as he heard the call being raised through the fortress. He'd been outmaneuvered. ''Curse Nynaeve. And bless her, too.'' He tried to send a sense of love and frustration through the bond to her.\
94And then, with a deep sigh, he gave in. "The Golden Crane flies for Tarmon Gai'don," Lan said softly. "Let any man who wishes to follow join and fight."\
95He closed his eyes as the call went up. It soon became a cheer. Then a roar.
96* Morgase and Tallanvor's marriage. Perrin's utterly floundering through the ceremony only makes it better.
97* Near the end, when Perrin meets Boundless. For most of the series, he's been terrified of losing control and becoming like Noam, the Wolfbrother who had become a wolf in his mind, and rejects his ability for fear of becoming a monster. When he meets the wolf that was once Noam, he realizes that Noam only became a wolf because he didn't want to be human anymore; each Wolfbrother's path is whatever he chooses to be, and Perrin was never in danger of losing his humanity. It's the perfect resolution to Perrin's character arc and helps him find the middle ground he seeks.
98* Rand introducing Min to his father. One of the most humanizing moments in the entire series.
99* Morgase and Galad's reunion. The latter thought the former was dead and killed a man whom he thought killed the latter (and guilty of many other crimes) and agonized over it (for a little while). The scene even caused MoodWhiplash to a tense situation.
100* Perrin becoming a GuileHero by using the peaceful way to free his followers from his opponents rather than fight them. As both sides fight for the Light Side, this is most satisfactory.
101* Egwene and Gawyn bonding.
102* Fandom Example: A long-standing member of a fansite died of cancer in the summer of 2010. When Creator/BrandonSanderson found out, he agreed to use her name in the next book. Then ''Towers of Midnight'' was published and her friends learned the character was one of Rand and Aviendha's daughters and a POV character.
103[[/folder]]
104
105[[folder:14 - ''A Memory of Light'']]
106* The arrival of Moiraine at the Field of Merrilor in Book 14. Rand is in awe of her arrival, assuming her dead for some time, but is snapped out of his anger at Egwene. Forces on both sides aiming for good DopeSlap [[AuthorityInNameOnly Roedran of Murandy]] with BlowYouAway when he tries to interrupt. And, as the highest of it all, Nynaeve, who had been characterized early on partially by her hatred of Moiraine for her control of her life, introduces herself again by ''hugging her and crying'', utterly shocking Perrin. She does, however, say that [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain Lan can never find out about it.]]
107* Pretty much any scene involving the relationship between Androl and Pevara in Book 14.
108* The ending of A Memory of Light. Despite the hell the characters go through, the utter nightmare that was the Last Battle, all the deaths, and nearly losing it all, the survivors look forward to a new age of hope. The world is far from perfect, and the nations teeter on an uneasy peace, but things are looking up. And so what if the Dark One ever returns, he's been sealed tighter in his prison than ever before, and as long as humanity doesn't lose hope and the Dragon stands for their salvation, the spirit of life can never be crushed. In a word, beautiful.
109* Logain finally gets the "glory" the Min foresaw for him near the end of Book 14. [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight By doing what's right.]]
110--->He had abandoned that power for what? To save these refugees? People who would spurn him and hate him for what he was. People who...
111
112--->[[SubvertedTrope ...who looked at him with awe.]]
113
114--->Logain watched with wonder as the people flocked around his Asha'man, weeping for their salvation. Elderly men took Asha'man by the hands, overcome, praising them.
115
116--->Nearby, a youth looked at Logain with admiration. A dozen youths. Light, a hundred. Not a hint of fear in their eyes. \
117
118--->"Thank you," the young mother said again. "Thank you."
119
120--->"The Black Tower protects," Logain heard himself say. "Always."
121
122--->"I will send him to you to be tested when he is of age," the woman promised, holding her son. "I would have him join you, if he has the talent."
123
124--->[[InsistentTerminology The talent.]] [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre Not the curse. The talent.]]
125* Rand's final fate. After spending two years of his life fighting against darkness, he's given a second chance to live the life he's always wanted to, simply WanderingTheEarth as a [[BroughtDownToNormal somewhat]] [[RealityWarper normal]], if physically impressive, specimen of mankind. After you realize that this was something that he'd been dreaming about doing ''since the first book'', and after all the pain, suffering, responsibility and loss, to find that he can just walk away from it all, once more healthy and strong, to find his own happiness... he certainly deserves it.
126* A big one from "AMOL". Doubles as a [[TearJerker tearjerker]], considering his death shortly afterwards, but one can feel a little fuzz from Hurin's one and only POV, the forces of the Light all but broken, Hurin overwhelmed by Trollocs, but firm knowing everything would be all right, because "Lord Rand was all right again".
127* Rand's sparring match with Tam. Why it took 13 1/2 books for a scene like that, the readers will never know.
128* In ''Memory of Light'', Olver is scared and surrounded by enemies; having lost everyone around him and separated from everyone he cared about, he blows the Horn of Valere knowing he's going to die and possibly eaten by Trollocs...until Jain Farstrider, his mentor, hero, father-figure, and friend, comes back from the dead and saves him. The happiness that is described in Olver makes you tear up.
129* Egwene's thoughts on Mat taking over as commander of the Forces of Light. What does she think of him? That he's an irresponsible, conniving lech. But does she trust him? ''Yes!'' That's all she needs.
130** Just to elaborate on this a little. When thinking it over Egwene tries to do her usual thing of thinking the worst of Mat in order to not give him control. But then she remembers when they were kids and he thought one of the other kids had gone under some water. They hadn't and the entire town was making fun of him for it. Skip a year later and one of the younger kids ends up under the water and no one noticed. Except Mat.
131--->''That was how Mat was. He’d grumbled and muttered all winter about how people made sport of him, insisting that next time, he’d just let them drown. Then the moment he’d seen someone in danger, he’d gone splashing right back in. Egwene could remember gangly Mat stumbling from the river, little Jer clinging to him and gasping, a look of pure terror in his eyes.''
132

Top