Prelude to Battle: Strategy and Positioning
The cold morning mist hung low over the River Trident as the armies of Robert Baratheon and Rhaegar Targaryen prepared for one of the most decisive battles in the history of Westeros. The battlefield stretched along the banks of the river at Ruby Ford, a crossing named for the precious stones said to glimmer in the water, though today, it would be remembered for an entirely different kind of red.
Rhaegar, an intelligent and seasoned commander, had chosen his battlefield carefully. He had arranged his forces in a deliberate defensive formation, aiming to use both terrain and tactics to his advantage. Rather than meeting Robert's army in open combat, he set up a layered defense, inspired by the strategic depth employed in battles such as the Battle of Agincourt (1415) and the defensive stands at the Battle of the Somme (1916).
The Targaryen army took up positions on high ground on the eastern banks, creating a bottleneck along the river ford. The natural width of the crossing limited the number of attackers who could engage at once, forcing Robert's forces to either take heavy casualties crossing under fire or seek alternative, more dangerous routes.
Meanwhile, the Targaryen archers and crossbowmen were stationed along the slopes, their arrows positioned to rain down on any who dared approach. The main force, consisting of heavy infantry and cavalry, stood ready just beyond the ridge, waiting for the right moment to counter-charge once the enemy was committed to the crossing.
The rebel forces, despite their numerical advantage, were at a tactical disadvantage due to the terrain. They had been forced to approach from the west, meaning they had to cross the river under fire before engaging in melee combat. Unlike Rhaegar's well-positioned troops, Robert's men had no natural defenses and would suffer the consequences if they failed to break through quickly.
Robert, a battle-hardened warrior and charismatic leader, understood this and had devised his own offensive strategy. He divided his forces into multiple groups, each with a specific role in the opening engagement.
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The Composition of the Armies
The Royalist Army (Targaryen Loyalists)
Commander: Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
Total Strength: ~35,000 men
Formation: Defensive
Frontline Defense: Heavy infantry supported by spearmen at the ford
Ranged Units: Archers and crossbowmen positioned along the ridges
Reserves: Elite knights and cavalry stationed for a countercharge
The Rebel Army (Baratheon, Stark, Arryn, and Tully Forces)
Commander: Robert Baratheon
Total Strength: ~40,000 men
Formation: Offensive
Vanguard: Riverlords and Stormlanders tasked with the first push
Flanking Forces: Northern heavy infantry under Eddard Stark and Vale knights under Jon Arryn
Specialists: Howland Reed's Crannogmen, hidden in the marshes
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The Battle Begins: The Rebel Advance
As dawn broke, the sound of war horns echoed across the battlefield. The rebel forces, knowing they had little time before the enemy's superior positioning wore them down, began their advance.
The First Crossing Attempt
Robert's Stormlanders led the charge, their shields raised high as they stepped into the waist-deep waters of the Trident.
The first volleys of arrows came screaming down, striking shields, armor, and exposed flesh. Men fell into the river, their blood mixing with the cold water as the first casualties of the day were claimed. Some of the wounded were swept away by the current, their bodies disappearing downstream before they could be retrieved.
Despite the carnage, the Stormlanders pressed forward, their sheer determination and Robert's presence driving them on. Robert himself waded into the river, his massive warhammer held high, calling out to his men to push forward.
To the right of the main advance, the Riverlords, led by Hoster Tully's men, attempted a crossing further upstream, hoping to outflank the Targaryen position. They, too, faced relentless arrow fire, but the Tully men, skilled in river warfare, knew how to use the water's cover to their advantage, crouching low as they moved forward.
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The Northmen's Assault
Eddard Stark's Northern troops took a different approach. Rather than charging headlong into the river, they moved deliberately, using their large kite shields to create a shield wall as they advanced. Their slow but methodical movement mirrored the strategies used in the Roman Legion formations, minimizing casualties as they crossed.
However, the Northmen faced a different threat. Rhaegar had anticipated a second crossing attempt and had stationed his spearmen further downriver. The Northern forces suddenly found themselves engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat in the water, where footing was treacherous and visibility was low. The riverbed, uneven and filled with hidden holes, became a graveyard for many.
Despite the heavy resistance, the Northmen held their ground, hacking through Targaryen spearmen with brutal efficiency.
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Crannogmen Ambush and Skirmishes
While the main battle raged at the ford, Howland Reed's Crannogmen had been silently moving through the surrounding marshes, striking isolated Targaryen scouts and supply lines.
Using guerrilla tactics, the Crannogmen launched sudden ambushes, taking down groups of archers and disrupting Rhaegar's communication lines.
Small skirmishes broke out, with Targaryen soldiers struggling to fight in the marshy terrain, where the Crannogmen had the clear advantage.
This sudden harassment forced Rhaegar to redirect troops to deal with the threat, weakening the defense at the main ford.
This diversion created an opening, which Robert and his commanders quickly exploited.
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Captain's Charge: Breaking the Line
In the midst of the chaos, a lone warrior emerged from the rebel lines, armed with twin shields, a style rarely seen on the battlefield. Captain, a renowned fighter, slung his iconic shield onto his back and advanced through the waters with unwavering determination.
His dual-shield fighting style allowed him to deflect incoming arrows with one shield while using the other for offense. Each step he took pushed the rebels forward, as his aggressive advance created space for others to follow.
A group of royalist spearmen moved to intercept him, but he struck first, bashing one shield into a man's face while swinging the other to knock another soldier off balance.
Two more enemies lunged at him, but he sidestepped, letting the current pull one off balance before finishing the other with a brutal downward smash.
His relentless charge became a rallying point for the rebels, inspiring those around him to press forward despite the overwhelming odds.
By this point, Robert's forces had begun establishing a foothold on the opposite bank. Though casualties were heavy, and many lay dead in the river, the tide of the battle was slowly shifting.
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Conclusion: The Tipping Point
As more and more rebels crossed the river, Rhaegar recognized that his defensive line was beginning to falter.
Realizing that the rebels would eventually overwhelm his archers and spearmen, he prepared for a decisive counterattack. Behind the ridges, his heavy cavalry and elite knights—led by Ser Barristan Selmy—began forming up for a charge.
Meanwhile, Robert, now on solid ground, spotted his true target: Rhaegar himself. The battle was far from over, but the initial engagements had set the stage for the most crucial moment of the war.
As Robert raised his warhammer and called his men forward, the next phase of the battle was about to begin.
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To Be Continued…