The Battle of the Wailing Willows was a costly episode in Aegon Targaryen’s campaign around the Gods Eye: a surprise attack by two of King Harren’s sons inflicted heavy losses, but Balerion’s counterattack destroyed their longboats and killed them as they returned to Harrenhal.

Setting and Campaign

Aegon was advancing northwest toward the Gods Eye and Harrenhal when his forces faced repeated attacks along the lake’s southern shore. The Battle of the Reeds ended in a Targaryen victory, but the fighting at the Wailing Willows made that success costly. The engagement showed that control of the battlefield did not prevent Harren’s forces from exploiting the lake and striking at the royal army’s rear.

The Surprise Attack

Two of King Harren’s sons crossed the lake in longboats, muffling their oars to conceal their approach. They fell upon the Targaryen forces from behind and inflicted heavy losses. Their attack was a sharp reversal amid the Targaryen victory at the Battle of the Reeds, and Aegon had himself been attacked twice on the south shore of the Gods Eye during the campaign.

Balerion’s Counterattack

After the assault, the victors at the Wailing Willows crossed back toward Harrenhal. They were unprepared when Balerion descended from the morning sky. The dragon burned the longboats, and Harren’s sons died in the attack. The episode ended with the surprise raiders themselves caught off guard, as dragonpower turned their withdrawal into a fatal defeat.