At this point in the battle of the Lonely Mountain, anyone with even a little military knowledge knew that the decisive engagement was imminent.
Alayen, Bunduk, and Gandalf led a mixed force of just over a thousand humans and elves, standing ready to the west of the half-orcs.
The human troops in particular were weaker. Although their morale was still decent, every face was tense and drenched in sweat despite the winter cold. They gripped their weapons so tightly that veins bulged on the backs of their hands.
To the east of the half-orcs stood nearly four hundred human cavalry under Firentis, along with roughly two hundred Dwarves Cavalry and three Dwarves Chariots under Dáin.
They occupied the eastern Hillside, watching the half-orc army hungrily, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.
Directly north of the half-orcs was a shield formation of over a thousand dwarves and elves, who had already spent a long time fighting them on the main battlefield.
Yet their fighting spirit remained strong. Led by their respective kings, they stood fearlessly before the half-orcs.
At that moment, Allen, accompanied by his Personal Guard and two Skin-changers, was arguing with Thorin Oakenshield and Thranduil over when to launch the decisive attack.
The battlefield now felt like the calm before a storm. The commanders on both sides seemed to be waiting for their opponents to move first.
Allen did not know what Azog was thinking, but he knew that the longer they delayed, the better it would be for his side.
After all, most of their soldiers still standing on the battlefield had already been fighting fiercely for a long time.
Even another minute of rest might restore enough strength to keep them alive in the coming engagement.
Meanwhile, all of Azog's half-orc troops had emerged