Allen's three legions, and departure

During those days, Allen found himself busier than he had ever been.

Since the road between Wilderness Town and Horse-herding Village had yet to open, Ymira could not take charge of Horse-herding Village for the time being.

Nor did she have enough time or energy to handle it. After all, building a new village and managing one were two different things.

Allen had to personally direct his subordinates, mobilizing supplies and manpower to work alongside the rejuvenated Artimenner on the construction of Horse-herding Village.

None of this work was difficult for Allen. It was simply far too tedious.

Countless little matters required Allen's decision, keeping him firmly tethered to his tent.

But with Allen's full cooperation and the tireless labor of several thousand people, construction progressed far faster than it had at Wilderness Village.

At last, on the first day of the year 2941 of the Third Age, construction of Horse-herding Village reached a stopping point.

Allen had previously designated this day as New Year's Day. Barring any unforeseen events, he would pay for a feast on this day every year and invite everyone to attend, letting them drink and celebrate to their hearts' content.

In fact, throughout this period, Allen had not spent every day in his tent working on this task alone.

He had reorganized his forces again, intending to form an army with a full complement of infantry, ranged troops, and cavalry.

Previously, Allen had been short on Denars and lacked enough weapons and equipment to arm his levies as organized units.

Now he could. Allen had far more resources at his disposal: over two hundred thousand Denars, sufficient manpower and horses, and a batch of military equipment purchased from the Woodland Realm. This was enough to form several different legions.

To that end, Allen held a military meeting attended by Firentis, Bunduk, Alayen, Hollimion, Deshavi, and Ymira. There was no helping it-the army had to eat, too.

At the meeting, after discussing it with the others, Allen decided to draw on the Rhodoks military system, organizing his army into ten-man squads, hundred-man companies, and legions.

Unlike the Rhodoks system, however, Allen's ten-man squads included their squad leaders in those ten men, and the same applied to the hundred-man companies.

Each legion commander would command all the company commanders and have a personal guard of no more than twenty men to help manage the troops.

Of course, the vast majority of soldiers in these forces would still be levies who farmed in peacetime and donned armor for war.

The personal guards, squad leaders, company commanders, and legion commanders would receive a decent additional salary in return for taking part in day-to-day management.

If they were already professional soldiers, they would receive two salaries.

Once the basic rules of administration had been settled, Allen began appointing the commanders of the various legions.

Firentis would command the cavalry legion.

All the cavalry Allen had could barely make up four hundred-man companies. Most were Khergits, with a smaller number of prisoners who had sworn allegiance to him.

Most of their officers were Swadia Knights and Khergit Lancers.

Allen spent several tens of thousands more Denars replenishing their equipment, making up their shortages of weapons and Leather Armor.

Firentis's personal guard consisted of the Swadia prisoners Allen had brought back several years earlier.

After years of reform through labor, they had successfully become Allen's subjects. Firentis was their countryman and had often looked after them, so the arrangement fell naturally into place.

Allen also handed Dáin's gifts-the ten sets of Human Armor and ten Dwarven Longswords-to Firentis, leaving him to distribute them as he saw fit.

Alayen, formerly captain of the personal guard, was assigned to command the infantry legion.

Using all the resources at his disposal, Allen assembled a six-hundred-man melee force, composed primarily of Rhodoks soldiers and Woodland Dwellers.

It included one hundred heavy infantry wearing Chainmail and carrying Great Shields and melee weapons.

There were also five hundred light infantry wearing Leather Armor and carrying Elves Spears. Since most were Woodland Dwellers, they also carried their own bows and arrows.

The infantry officers were mainly drawn from the Rhodoks soldiers, not because their fighting ability far surpassed that of the Woodland Dwellers.

Rather, they had undergone military training in the Kingdom of Rhodoks and had some experience organizing troops.

Equipping these soldiers drained most of Allen's savings. The hundred heavy infantry clad in iron armor alone cost him well over a hundred thousand Denars.

Finally, Allen assigned ten Nord Royal Guards to serve as Alayen's personal guard, lest the young man get carried away in battle and charge too far ahead with no one to protect him.

Allen believed Alayen should be capable of handling the job.

There was no question about the young man's loyalty. He was also of noble descent and had received a complete noble education.

Over the years, he had fought in plenty of battles, both large and small, alongside Allen, giving him a measure of experience.

He needed an opportunity to prove himself. Allen was willing to give him one, and Alayen accepted with great excitement.

Moreover, Alayen would have Bunduk working alongside him, since Bunduk would command a four-hundred-man ranged legion.

They were mainly Rhodoks Crossbowmen and Woodland Dwellers, including one hundred crossbowmen and three hundred archers equipped with Elves Longbows.

Their officers were primarily Allen's former personal guards and Rhodoks Sharpshooters.

Infantry and ranged troops usually fought together, so Bunduk would operate alongside Alayen. If any problems arose, the two could consult each other.

After all, Bunduk had at least several decades of military service behind him and a wealth of experience.

Allen's own personal guard would henceforth consist of Hollimion and the Noldor Twilight Knights. They were also the strongest force at his disposal.

They would follow Allen into the most dangerous parts of the battlefield.

Finally, Deshavi would become the scouting captain, leading those several dozen Khergit horse archers on routine reconnaissance. This also freed the Swadia Knights from that duty. After all, their proper role was as shock cavalry.

These three legions represented most of what Allen had accumulated in his four or five years here, and they were the source of his confidence in joining the Battle of Five Armies.

Of course, Allen had some other forces as well, such as Beorn's people and several hundred members of the Reserve Corps whose equipment was not particularly good, among others. There was no need to dwell on them.

One point worth mentioning was that, since these were not regular troops, they still had to take part in farming and construction work.

For now, Allen required them to train once a week. These people had fought Half-orcs for years, so they lacked neither combat experience nor courage. What they lacked was coordination and an understanding of discipline.

After all, as Allen remembered it, there was still some time before the Battle of Five Armies would begin.

If events followed the original novel, it should take place some time after Durin's Day, which fell roughly around late October-in other words, during the coming winter.

If events followed the film, the timeline was clearly a mess. In any case, Allen would be joining the Dwarves' expedition and would have to return at some point. For now, he was only making preparations.

With all this work finished, Allen waited for Gandalf to come and collect him.

It should be soon. In both the original novel and the film, Gandalf first met Thorin Oakenshield in March of this year.

The Quest of Erebor followed that meeting. The difference was that, in the original novel, their meeting was entirely by chance, and Thorin was the one who approached Gandalf.

In the film, however, Allen suspected Gandalf had deliberately waited for Thorin at the Prancing Pony before persuading him to undertake this great endeavor. Allen had already confirmed that point at the White Council meeting the previous autumn.

Sure enough, speak of Gandalf and he would appear. Only a few days after New Year's Day, Gandalf arrived in Wilderness Town.

He looked travel-worn and exhausted, as though he had not had a proper rest in a very long time.

Seeing how tired Gandalf was, Allen treated him to a warm welcome.

Even Gandalf, who was not particularly demanding when it came to food and drink, could not stop praising the wine from Pendor.

He even joked that he hoped Allen would prepare plenty of it for the journey ahead.

Allen had no reason to refuse such a small request from his friend.

Later, while chatting with Gandalf, Allen learned what had kept him busy over the past few months.

After the meeting, Gandalf had traveled tirelessly across Middle-earth. He had gone to Eriador to find the acting leader of the Dúnedain Rangers and discuss a joint attack on Dol Guldur.

Afterward, Gandalf had returned alone to Wilderland and scouted the area around that ancient fortress, where he saw Azog, the Pale Orc Allen had spoken of.

The old man had been traveling tirelessly across Middle-earth. It had truly been hard on him.

As they chatted, Gandalf also prepared to give Allen a brief outline of his plan.

"We must leave within the next few days. I received word from a trusted friend that Thorin Oakenshield, Son of Thráin, has been seen in Rhûn."

At that point, Gandalf remembered that he had once intended to take Allen there, and a smile crossed his face.

He continued, "Clearly, I was not the only one to hear that Thráin had been seen in Rhûn. Thorin is searching there for traces of his father as well, but I suspect he will most likely return empty-handed."

Allen naturally knew Thorin Oakenshield would return empty-handed, because Thráin II was still suffering in the dungeons of Dol Guldur.

One thing Allen could not help admiring, however, was that Thráin II was already nearly three hundred years old.

Even if Dwarves of the House of Durin lived somewhat longer than ordinary Dwarves, his will to survive was still remarkable.

If the attack on Dol Guldur went smoothly, Thráin II should be able to personally tell Thorin Oakenshield what he wanted to say to his son.

"Once Thorin finishes searching Rhûn, he will certainly return to his lands in the Blue Mountains. If we leave promptly, we can wait for him at Bree in the Shire."

At that point, Gandalf paused briefly in thought before continuing:

"Well, if he wants to take an easy road, he will have to pass through there. Otherwise, we will have to seek him out in the Blue Mountains. But before that, Allen, there are a few things I need to tell you."

Somewhat puzzled, Allen looked at Gandalf's rather serious face and motioned for him to continue.

"I think we cannot tell Thorin Oakenshield our entire plan, particularly the Elves' involvement. If Thorin learns that we are working with the Elves to use him and his family's Lonely Mountain as bait, then, knowing this Dwarven prince as I do, there is very little chance he will agree to the expedition."

Gandalf added, "What I mean, Allen, is that this is not deception. Helping the Dwarves reclaim their home is a noble undertaking. We need only carry out that part of the work, and the rest will happen naturally. Though these matters are connected, that does not change the outcome."

Gandalf had some misgivings. He worried that Allen might see this as deceiving and exploiting Thorin Oakenshield, and therefore have reservations.

Clearly, he worried needlessly. Allen wholeheartedly agreed.

"I agree, Gandalf. I also think we need not tell Thorin Oakenshield everything. In fact, we do not even know whether we will succeed. Let us leave all that until after we have succeeded. What do you think?"

Hearing Allen agree with his proposal, Gandalf smiled and said, "Whether we succeed remains to be seen, but we have already made a good start, have we not?"

Allen laughed at that and said, "Thorin Oakenshield still has to agree first, but I do not think he has any reason to refuse."

The old man and the young man laughed together in Allen's banquet hall.

Once their laughter subsided, they began discussing the details of their departure.

Allen suggested that Gandalf spend a few more days resting here, since the road ahead would not be easy.

Allen also needed some time to arrange matters in the village.

Gandalf agreed. He really had not had much proper rest over the past few months.

He also wanted to use these few days to get to know Allen's village better.

A few days later, Allen finally finished arranging everything in Wilderness Town and Horse-herding Village and was ready to leave.

In the past, he had gone away for a month, or two at most. This time, he knew he probably would not return for at least half a year.

Allen was not worried that he would return to find some great upheaval, but he did have concerns about the villages' safety.

In fact, throughout these four or five years, Allen had wondered why Azog had never sent anyone to attack his village, and why the Orc King had never sought revenge again.

However, after his first attempt at revenge failed, their Half-orc artist, Mr. Fatty, had become rather reluctant to provoke Allen. He had not survived from the First Age to the present on his musical accomplishments alone.

Especially once several Skin-changers appeared near Wilderness Town, that strength deterred not only the Orc King but even Azog, who abandoned his efforts to avenge Bolg.

Allen's strength had grown too quickly. Neither of them wanted to tackle such a tough opponent.

Meanwhile, Azog himself was very busy, having to carry out his master's instructions while also attending to his own affairs.

At this very moment, Azog was lying in wait for Thorin Oakenshield in Rhûn. He was the one who had spread the news about Thráin II.

How could the Pale Orc forget the loss of his arm? Not only had he spread false information, but he had also offered a hefty bounty for Thorin Oakenshield's head.

In the dark corners of the world, everyone knew of it. Many humans who had sided with Darkness were searching for Thorin Oakenshield.

But none of that had anything to do with Allen anymore, as he sat astride a Great Eagle.

Over these four or five years, Allen had maintained his relationship with the Great Eagles. Among his few harsh laws was a prohibition against shooting arrows at the Great Eagles overhead.

Anyone who violated it would have all their property confiscated and then be banished from Allen's territory.

Moreover, whenever the Great Eagles brought new information, Allen would have his subordinates prepare suitable gifts to welcome them.

In particular, after Allen obtained the Diamonds last time, he had asked the Dwarven craftsmen to make a golden crown and a pure silver necklace.

The two gifts were set with more than a bagful of diamonds. Allen gave the necklace to Thranduil, believing that silver better suited Elves who loved starlight.

The crown had been specially commissioned for the Eagle King, and Allen entrusted it to the other Great Eagles to deliver as a gift.

Allen did not know why the creatures of Middle-earth loved gemstones so much. Perhaps his own gemstones had come too easily, leaving him unable to understand the feeling.

Allen had not summoned the Great Eagles to help. His contact with them had always been one-way: he had no means of reaching them. But Gandalf the Grey did, and Gandalf had called them over.

Though it was spring and the river valley had begun to warm, the wind and snow above the Misty Mountains had never stopped.

For Allen and Gandalf to cross Orc Town's territory and traverse the Old High Pass on foot was not a good option.

At this time, the only easy route was to cross the ford of the Isen near Isengard, take the Great Road, and then head for Bree.

But that would take far too long, and neither man wanted to make that choice.

So Gandalf used his magic to summon two Great Eagles. What he did not know was that Allen also had a very good relationship with them.

As a result, the Great Eagles carried them a long way. They mounted the Great Eagles at Carl Rock, rested for a day at the Eyrie, and were then carried onward to the vicinity of Rivendell.

The two did not go to Rivendell to trouble Lord Elrond. Instead, they crossed the Last Bridge, took the East-West Road, and headed toward Bree.

End of volume one: An interlude in self-development