Encouraged by a string of successes, Cole defied common wisdom and increased his level of misplaced bravado on the battlefield on Afdah Movie. Dragonstone was getting impatient with Rhaenyra's absence while they discussed their options and Cole kept attacking and destroying the Riverlands. When Cole and his men prepared to attack Rooke's Rest, she chose to launch a counterattack using Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys, now that she finally knew where she stood. Aegon followed Cole's example and brought Balerion into the fray. Having said that, Cole's conceit was partially motivated by a strategy. Although Aemond and Vhagar waited, Meleys decimated Cole's army in the largest known fight taking place in the skies. The crux arrived after Aegon and Balerion were swiftly eliminated.