First Tumbleton
During the chaos and shifting allegiances, the conflict between Rhaenyra Targaryen and King Aegon II Targaryen continued to escalate. The Hightower army, led by Lord Ormund Hightower and supported by Prince Daeron and his dragon Tessarion, advanced steadily, defeating Rhaenyra’s forces wherever they went.
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During the siege of Longtable, a tragic event occurred when Prince Maelor Targaryen and his protector, Ser Rickard Thorne, were attacked by a mob of Rhaenyra’s supporters in Bitterbridge. The young prince was torn to pieces, leading to a vengeful retaliation from Daeron, who burned the town.
Meanwhile, Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer, two Dragonriders previously aligned with Rhaenyra, switched sides and joined the Greens. In the First Battle of Tumbleton, despite the deaths of Ormund Hightower and his cousin Ser Bryndon, the Greens gained the upper hand. The dragons Vermithor, Silverwing, and Tessarion unleashed their flames upon Tumbleton, which was brutally sacked.
In response to the news of Tumbleton’s fall, Rhaenyra ordered the gates of King’s Landing to be closed and barred. Suspicion fell upon dragonseeds Ser Addam Velaryon and Nettles, leading to their arrest. Addam managed to escape with the help of Corlys Velaryon, while Nettles was captured. The situation in both King’s Landing and Tumbleton grew increasingly chaotic. The Green Army, now leaderless, faced desertions daily as internal conflicts and ambitions tore their ranks apart.
The Battle
At the beginning of the battle, Ser Garibald Grey led six thousand soldiers fighting for Rhaenyra Targaryen against Lord Ormund Hightower’s troops. Ormund’s archers significantly thinned Garibald’s ranks, and as they retreated, the bowmen of Robb Rivers provided cover. Lord Roderick Dustin led the Winter Wolves, a group of Northmen, against the Hightowers despite being vastly outnumbered.
In a fierce skirmish, Roderick managed to reach the commanders of the Greens, killing both Ormund and his cousin, Ser Bryndon Hightower, before succumbing to his wounds.
The defenders of Tumbleton believed victory was theirs after the fall of the Hightowers. However, the situation changed drastically when the Two Betrayers, Ser Hugh Hammer and Ser Ulf White, turned their dragons on the town. Tessarion, ridden by Prince Daeron Targaryen, appeared on the battlefield. While Tessarion was smaller than Vermithor and Silverwing, his presence didn’t deter Tumbleton’s defenders.
The Two Betrayers unleashed dragonfire upon the town, reducing buildings to ash and causing thousands to burn to death or drown in the Mander River. Ser Pate of Longleaf was unhorsed and trampled, and Tessarion’s flames burned Garibald.
Ser Roger Corne’s men opened Tumbleton’s gates for the Greens, and Lord Owain Bourney betrayed Ser Merrell the Bold within the castle. Despite Lord Footly’s men surrendering, the Greens cruelly executed them. Tumbleton fell into chaos as fire and betrayal consumed the town.