Dol Guldur was an eerie, abandoned Castle. In the Second Age, it had been called Amon Lanc, meaning "Bald Hill," because no trees grew on the hill.
Back then, the forests surrounding Dol Guldur had still been home to the Woodland Elves, who lived across the river from their kin in Lothlórien.
Oropher, a Sindar from Lindon, father of Thranduil and grandfather of Legolas, had ruled here as king of the Woodland Realm.
But darkness had risen so swiftly in Mordor that Oropher, fearing for his people's safety, had been forced to leave.
Now Dol Guldur was occupied by Sauron. Ordinarily, apart from the minions who served him, even the lively birds were unwilling to linger here.
Today, however, an allied army of more than two thousand humans and elves approached the ancient fortress, openly challenging Sauron.
Under Lady Galadriel's command, this army of the forces of good now faced a host of Uruk Half-orcs on the open ground near Dol Guldur.
After Azog had led most of Dol Guldur's forces north toward the Lonely Mountain, the members of the White Council had unanimously agreed that the time for a decisive battle had come.
With Lady Galadriel as supreme commander, the members of the White Council and the allies they had invited crossed the Anduin River and arrived near Dol Guldur.
This immediately drew Sauron's attention.
Only then did the Dark Lord realize that while he had been plotting against others, others had been plotting against him.
Faced with such danger, the cunning, treacherous Sauron knew that recalling Azog's army was no longer a realistic option.
Yet the White Council's attack did not frighten the Dark Lord.
Long ago, he had already prepared a retreat for himself in Mordor, far to the east.
That was his true stronghold, the place