Chapter 15: The Crimson Tide Meets the Serpent's Fury

The advance of Tywin Lannister's army was a slow, inexorable tide of crimson and gold, rolling eastward across the ravaged landscape of the Riverlands. His scouts reported the signs of Loki's brutal occupation: burned villages, desecrated septs, and the terrified whispers of a populace living under the shadow of the dragon-prowed longships. These sights only fueled the burning need for vengeance within the Lannister ranks.

Tywin, riding at the head of his vanguard, a grim figure clad in polished plate armor, his crimson cloak billowing behind him, surveyed the land with a hawk's eye. He was a seasoned commander, and he recognized the strategic importance of the terrain. The open fields near the ruins of a once-prosperous town called Harroway's Town offered a potential battlefield, a place where his superior numbers and disciplined formations could be brought to bear against the unpredictable ferocity of Loki's Skardheim warriors.

His initial probe force, a few thousand men under the command of the seasoned Ser Addam Marbrand, had engaged a smaller Skardheim raiding party near the ford of the Blue Fork. The clash had been brutal and swift, the berserkers fighting with a terrifying disregard for their own lives, but ultimately, Marbrand's disciplined knights had prevailed, though with significant losses. The captured Skardheim warriors, interrogated under duress, revealed that a larger force, led by one of Loki's Jarls, was positioned further east, tasked with securing supply lines and quelling any nascent rebellion.

Tywin knew this Jarl was likely Hakon the Ruthless, the brutal governor of King's Landing, a man whose reputation for savagery preceded him. This would be the first true test of strength between the might of the Westerlands and the iron fist of Loki's conquest.

He deployed his forces with meticulous care. The main battle line, composed of his most experienced knights and well-trained infantry, formed a solid wall of steel and shields. Archers, protected by ranks of spearmen, were positioned on the flanks, ready to unleash volleys of arrows. His cavalry, the pride of the Westerlands, were held in reserve, poised to exploit any weakness in the enemy lines or to deliver a decisive charge.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the fields, Loki's forces finally appeared on the horizon. They were a stark contrast to the disciplined ranks of the Lannister army. Hordes of shield-bearing warriors, clad in furs and boiled leather, their long axes and swords glinting menacingly. Berserkers, their eyes wild and their movements frenzied, ran ahead of the main body, their guttural roars echoing across the fields. Leading them was Jarl Hakon, a towering figure clad in crude but effective armor, his massive axe resting on his shoulder, a cruel smile playing on his lips.

Hakon, confident in the raw power of his warriors and perhaps underestimating the strategic acumen of the Westerosi lords, arrayed his forces in a less structured manner, relying on their individual ferocity and the shock of their initial charge. He had learned of Tywin's advance through his own scouts and saw this as an opportunity to crush the first major threat to Loki's dominion outside of King's Landing.

The battle began with a deafening roar as the berserkers charged forward, their axes raised high, their cries a terrifying symphony of bloodlust. The Lannister archers unleashed their volleys, the sky darkening with a rain of arrows. Many of the berserkers fell, their charge faltering, but others, seemingly impervious to pain, continued their relentless advance.

They crashed into the Lannister shield wall with brutal force, the clang of steel on steel echoing across the battlefield. The disciplined Westerosi infantry held their ground, their shields locked tight, their spears thrusting forward. The fighting was fierce and chaotic, a maelstrom of blood and steel.

On the flanks, the Lannister cavalry, led by the daring Ser Jaime Lannister (released by Tywin for this crucial battle, his golden hair a beacon in the fray), waited for their moment. Tywin, observing the unfolding battle from a slight rise, his gaze sharp and calculating, held them in reserve. He saw the initial ferocity of the Skardheim charge begin to wane against the disciplined resistance of his infantry.

Hakon, realizing that a simple frontal assault would not break the Lannister lines, ordered his shield-bearing warriors to engage the flanks, attempting to envelop the Westerosi forces. This was the opening Tywin had been waiting for. With a curt nod, he signaled Jaime.

The Lannister cavalry, a thundering wave of armored knights and destriers, charged into the exposed flanks of the Skardheim warriors. The impact was devastating, the heavy lances tearing through the less armored flanks, the swords and axes of the knights cutting down the surprised Vikings.

Jaime, fighting with the reckless abandon of a cornered lion, carved a bloody path through the enemy ranks, his golden sword a blur of motion. The Skardheim warriors, accustomed to facing less disciplined foes, found themselves outmaneuvered and outmatched by the coordinated assault of the Lannister cavalry.

Hakon, witnessing the collapse of his flanks, roared in fury and led his personal guard, a unit of elite berserkers, into the thickest of the fighting, hoping to rally his wavering lines. He sought out the Lannister banners, his massive axe cleaving through men and steel.

Tywin, seeing Hakon's desperate attempt, remained calm. He ordered his own personal guard, clad in crimson and gold, to intercept the Skardheim Jarl. The clash between the elite warriors was a brutal ballet of death, the Lannister swords meeting the crude but powerful axes of the berserkers.

The battle raged for hours, the fields turning into a muddy morass stained with blood. The disciplined formations of the Lannister army, combined with the devastating cavalry charge, began to take its toll on the Skardheim warriors. Their initial ferocity could not overcome the superior tactics and training of the Westerosi forces.

Slowly but surely, the tide of battle began to turn. Hakon's initial confidence gave way to a grim realization that he had underestimated his opponent. His lines began to break, his warriors falling back under the relentless pressure of the Lannister assault.

Seeing the battle turning against him, Hakon ordered a retreat, signaling his remaining forces to fall back towards the east. The Lannister cavalry pursued them relentlessly, cutting down fleeing warriors and preventing any chance of regrouping.

By the time the sun began to set, casting a bloody hue across the battlefield, the victory belonged to Tywin Lannister. The fields were littered with the bodies of fallen Skardheim warriors, their dragon-prowed banners trampled underfoot. The Lannister losses had been significant, but the first major challenge to their advance had been decisively repelled.

Tywin, surveying the carnage, showed no outward signs of elation. Victory was expected. Vengeance, however, was not yet complete. He ordered his maesters to tend to the wounded, his men to collect the spoils of war, and his scouts to track the retreating Skardheim forces.

The captured Skardheim warriors were brought before him. Their eyes, once filled with savage fury, now held a mixture of fear and grudging respect. Tywin questioned them relentlessly, seeking information about Loki's plans, his defenses in King's Landing, and the strength of his remaining forces.

One captive, a scarred warrior who spoke a broken form of the Common Tongue, revealed that Loki himself was still in King's Landing, consolidating his power and preparing for further resistance. He spoke of the strange magic wielded by Loki and his inner circle, whispers of illusions and unnatural strength.

Tywin listened intently, his expression unreadable. He was a pragmatist, and he understood that this war would be fought not just with steel, but perhaps with more subtle weapons as well.

He sent ravens back to Casterly Rock, detailing his victory and requesting reinforcements. He also dispatched messengers to Stannis Baratheon and Eddard Stark, informing them of his success and subtly urging them to press their own attacks, to prevent Loki from concentrating his full strength against the Westerlands.

The victory at Harroway's Town was a significant blow to Loki's prestige and a much-needed morale boost for the forces resisting his invasion. The myth of the invincible Skardheim warriors had been shattered on the fields of the Riverlands. The Lion had roared, and the Serpent had tasted blood. But Tywin Lannister knew that this was only the first battle in a long and bloody war. The true test would come when he reached the walls of King's Landing.