The combat did not happen on clean tournament sands. It played out in wet churn, wood splinters, and close-quarters savagery. On one side stood the defenders of a nameless traveler; on the other, the apex of royal authority, including Prince Maekar, Prince Aerion, Prince Daeron, and three sworn brothers of the Kingsguard.
| Phase of Combat | Key Combatants Involved | Tactical Action & Casualties |
|---|---|---|
| The Initial Charge | All fourteen mounted knights | Lances shattered instantly; Prince Daeron unhorsed immediately; Ser Humfrey Hardyng’s leg pinned by an enemy lance. |
| The Melee in the Mud | The Kingsguard vs. Baelor Breakspear; Lyonel Baratheon | Ser Humfrey Beesbury falls dead; Hardyng takes mortal wounds; Baelor holds off Kingsguard without slaying them. |
| The Prince vs. Prince Duel | Prince Baelor vs. Prince Maekar | Maekar engages his elder brother in hand-to-hand combat; a devastating mace blow strikes Baelor’s dark helm. |
| The Final Reckoning | Ser Duncan the Tall vs. Prince Aerion | Duncan uses brawling tactics from Flea Bottom; beats Aerion into submission and forces him to withdraw the accusation. |
Duncan did not win through superior swordsmanship. Outmatched by Aerion’s ornate weapons and vicious agility, Duncan tackled the prince from his horse, dragging the royal into the silt. Stripping Aerion's weapon away, Duncan used his shield and heavy gauntlets to batter the prince's face until Aerion screamed for mercy and publicly retracted his charge, ending the trial on the spot.
