Chapter Summaries

Allen and the company escaped Orc Town, survived Azog’s Warg attack, and reached Wilderness Town, where Allen welcomed them into his domain. After Bilbo showed him the One Ring, Allen experienced its powerful allure but resisted it and warned Bilbo to keep it hidden.

• Allen found Gollum in a side tunnel, left him unharmed, and escaped Orc Town with the company as Bilbo secretly obtained the One Ring.
• Bilbo pledged to help the Dwarves reclaim their home, and Azog’s Wargs forced the company to flee and climb the trees.
• Allen shot at the pursuing Wargs and wounded Azog, then clung to a falling pine until the Great Eagles rescued the company.
• The Eagles carried the company to Carl Rock, where Thorin woke, reconciled with Bilbo, and acknowledged losing his wager with Allen.
• Allen brought the company to Wilderness Town, introduced Firentis, and arranged lodging before asking Bilbo to show him the Ring.
• Allen touched the Ring, resisted the visions and temptation it provoked, and urged Bilbo to keep it safe and concealed.

Allen reviewed Wilderness Town’s growth and defenses, approved Ymira’s tax proposal, and hosted a feast for Thorin Oakenshield’s Company. As Gandalf prepared to leave for Lothlórien, Allen considered how to guide Thorin through the Woodland Realm and hoped he would return Thranduil’s Heirloom Gem.

• Ymira reported on Wilderness Town’s growth and proposed an annual household fee, which Allen approved.
• Firentis’s forces had defended the town and Horse-herding Village against Giant Black Spiders, Wargs, and Warg Riders while Alayen trained the troops.
• Artimenner had widened the roads and built two barbicans, and Allen praised his work and thanked his subordinates.
• Allen hosted a lavish feast for Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, and the Dwarves, and Thorin warmed to Allen’s friendship.
• Gandalf prepared to leave for Lothlórien, while Allen considered the dangers awaiting Thorin and hoped he would return Thranduil’s Heirloom Gem.

Allen prepared Wilderness Town and its allies for the coming war over the Lonely Mountain, while Sauron gathered forces to attack it. The chapter ended with Beorn and Wulf agreeing to join Allen, after Beorn asked him to arrange Jeremus’s help for Marian during childbirth.

• Allen arranged for Thorin Oakenshield’s company to travel with Deshavi’s caravan to the Woodland Realm and asked Thorin to avoid provoking Thranduil.
• The Dwarves departed Wilderness Town as Gandalf, Saruman, Elrond, Galadriel, and their forces gathered for the fight against Sauron.
• Azog prepared Uruk-hai, Wargs, Trolls, and Snaga for an assault on the Lonely Mountain, and sent Bolg toward the Woodland Realm to pursue Thorin Oakenshield.
• Allen joined Firentis, Alayen, and Bunduk in leading troops to destroy giant spiders near the logging site.
• Allen set Wilderness Town’s war plans, assigning forces and supplies for the campaign and planning to help Bard confront Smaug near Lake-town.
• Beorn agreed that he and Wulf would join Allen, and asked him to have Jeremus care for Marian when she gave birth.

Allen traveled to Thranduil's Hall to address the imprisonment of Thorin Oakenshield and his companions, but Thranduil refused to release them. After confirming Bilbo Baggins had escaped capture, Allen told Thorin he expected Bilbo to rescue the Dwarves and arranged to meet them in Lake-town.

• Allen crossed Mirkwood with Hollimion and the Twilight Knights after learning Thorin Oakenshield and the Dwarves had been captured by Thranduil.
• Thranduil welcomed Allen and examined the unfamiliar runes on his guests' equipment, but declined Allen's request to release the Dwarves.
• Thranduil granted Allen permission to visit the prisoners, and Allen checked each cell without finding Bilbo Baggins.
• Allen confronted Thorin Oakenshield about breaking their agreement, then privately assured him that Bilbo had escaped and would rescue the Dwarves.
• Allen told Thorin he would wait for him in Lake-town and left the dungeon.

Bilbo freed Thorin Oakenshield’s company from the Woodland Realm by hiding them in wine barrels, and Thranduil chose not to pursue them. Allen searched for Bolg’s Warg Riders and, after finding their trail, led his guards in pursuit.

• Bilbo found an opportunity to free the Dwarves after Galion and the dungeon captain got drunk, then waited for Allen to leave the dungeon.
• Bilbo helped the Dwarves escape in discarded barrels, and Bard helped them find lodgings in Lake-town.
• Thranduil learned of the escape but decided not to send anyone after Thorin’s company.
• Allen took Hollimion and his guards east of the Running River to search for Bolg, but found no tracks after two days.
• Allen returned along the river’s western bank, discovered the Warg Riders’ trail, and learned from Hollimion that their band numbered nearly a hundred.
• Allen ordered his guards to pursue and kill Bolg’s Warg Riders.

Allen ambushed Bolg’s Warg Riders, pursued them to the Running River, and defeated them in a cavalry clash. He killed Bolg, took his head and armor, and led the Twilight Knights toward Lake-town.

• Allen and his guards surprised the Warg Riders with Noldor Arrows, killing many and wounding Bolg.
• Allen led the Warg Riders on a running pursuit toward the Running River, shooting at them as the Twilight Knights used their faster horses to stay ahead.
• At the riverbank, Allen turned to fight, and the Twilight Knights charged through and shattered the Warg Riders’ formation.
• Bolg charged Allen, but Allen’s lance struck Bolg’s Warg; after Bolg rallied for another attack, volleys of Noldor Arrows pinned him and his Warg to the riverbank.
• Allen killed the dying Bolg, removed his armor, and took his head for Thorin, while Hollimion reported that the fleeing Warg Riders had been accounted for.
• Allen praised the Twilight Knights and led them toward Lake-town.

Allen reached Lake-town after killing Bolg and found Thorin Oakenshield and his company waiting at Bard’s house. He presented Bolg’s head to Thorin, then prepared to meet Lake-town’s Master to secure supplies for their journey.

• Allen led his armed guards to Lake-town’s gate, where Braga recognized him and opened the gate after Allen agreed to enter alone.
• Allen learned that Thorin Oakenshield and his company had escaped the Woodland Realm and had been waiting in Lake-town for nearly a week.
• Kili spotted Allen near Bard’s house and announced his arrival, relieving Thorin and Allen alike.
• Allen dismissed Braga with gold coins and reunited with Thorin, Bilbo, and the rest of the company at Bard’s house.
• Allen showed Thorin Bolg’s head and explained that he had killed Azog’s son while Bolg was hunting Thorin.
• Allen and Thorin set out to meet Lake-town’s Master and obtain supplies.

Allen arranged supplies, weapons, boats, and equipment for the Quest of Erebor by giving the Master of Lake-town a bag of diamonds, and secured the Dwarven windlance. After Thorin declared they would leave for the Lonely Mountain the next day, Allen asked Bard to stay in Lake-town so they could work together to protect its people from Smaug.

• Stephen hurried to meet Allen after learning that a noble visitor had gone to Bard’s house.
• Allen gave Stephen a half-bag of diamonds in exchange for supplies for the Quest of Erebor and the windlance atop the Master’s house.
• Thorin thanked Allen and said he was eager to return to the Lonely Mountain; Balin went with Stephen to arrange the supplies.
• Bard returned home, recognized Thorin’s plan to confront Smaug, and warned that the dragon could destroy Lake-town.
• Thorin said the Dwarves would leave the next day, and Allen told Bard the Dwarves had the right to reclaim their homeland.
• Allen asked Bard to wait for him and offered to work together to save Lake-town’s residents when Smaug threatened them.

Ymira managed Wilderness Town’s harvest preparations and postponed plans for a hospital, reservoirs, and army exercises until the grain was stored. Allen found the Lonely Mountain’s Secret Door with Bilbo and the Dwarves, then returned to Lake-town, where Firentis’s army had arrived and Bard had been arrested for warning townspeople about Smaug.

• Ymira halted Jeremus and Artimenner’s argument and scheduled construction of the hospital and reservoirs after the harvest, while Firentis’s army exercise preparations were also delayed.
• Allen traveled with Thorin Oakenshield’s Company to the Lonely Mountain, surveyed the terrain around Ravenhill, and helped search for the Secret Door.
• Allen and Bilbo discovered the hidden stairway on the mountain’s western ridges in early October, and Thorin confirmed it led to the Secret Door.
• Allen bade farewell to Thorin and the Company, then returned to Lake-town, leaving Bilbo to undertake the burglary and advising the Dwarves to wait for Gandalf if necessary.
• Hollimion told Allen that Firentis, Alayen, and Bunduk had arrived with their troops and that Bard had been arrested after warning people about a dragon attack.
• Allen mounted his horse with Hollimion and rode toward the Wilderness Town army’s camp.

Allen gathered his officers, reminded them to protect the people, and ordered his army to march on Lake-town ahead of Smaug’s attack. At Lake-town’s gates, he pressured Master Stephen into sending Bard out to speak with him.

• Allen addressed his officers about loyalty and protecting the people, then ordered the army to march on Lake-town and persuade its inhabitants to evacuate.
• Allen told Beorn that only his Personal Guard and he would confront Smaug, and asked Beorn and Wulf to help intimidate Master Stephen.
• Allen assembled his army and led its cavalry to Lake-town while the infantry followed; Master Stephen prepared the town’s guards and summoned residents.
• Allen used the size of his approaching army to pressure Master Stephen, who agreed to his demand to send Bard out.
• Bard appeared above Lake-town’s gate and asked Allen what he wanted to discuss.

Allen coordinated Lake-town’s evacuation and set a trap for Smaug, then helped kill the dragon after his first shot with the Wind Crossbow missed. Smaug died in the Long Lake, Hollimion survived his injuries, and Allen asked Bard whether he wanted to rebuild Dale.

• Mayor Stephen agreed to evacuate Lake-town, while Hollimion secured Thranduil’s help and Allen and Bard prepared to draw Smaug toward the bridge.
• Bard led Lake-town’s guards in the Round Pool Market as Smaug attacked, and the Twilight Knights lured the dragon toward Allen.
• Allen’s Black Arrow shot from the Wind Crossbow missed Smaug’s exposed patch, and Smaug crushed the weapon as Allen retrieved the arrow.
• Hollimion wounded Smaug and distracted him while Allen fired the Black Arrow with his Noldor Rune Bow, striking the dragon’s vulnerable spot.
• Smaug fell into the Long Lake and died, and Allen used Miruvor and his necklace to save the gravely injured Hollimion.
• Allen asked Bard whether he wanted to rebuild Dale as the survivors watched Lake-town burn.

The White Council’s allied army defeated Sauron’s forces at Dol Guldur, and Lady Galadriel drove Sauron east with the Crystal Phial’s light. After the battle, the survivors set out toward the Lonely Mountain, where Sauron’s Half-orcs threatened the Kingdom under the Mountain.

• Glorfindel’s radiance dispersed the nine Nazgûl and weakened the Uruk, allowing Lord Elrond to lead the allied army through their ranks.
• The White Council entered Dol Guldur, where Gandalf’s spell revealed traces of darkness and the nine Nazgûl attacked Lady Galadriel.
• Sauron emerged and immobilized the White Council until Lady Galadriel raised the Crystal Phial, freed her companions, and forced him to flee east.
• Gandalf left for the Lonely Mountain, while Lord Elrond led the remaining allied army north and Glorfindel escorted Lady Galadriel and the dying Thráin II to Lothlórien.
• Saruman returned to Isengard, and Radagast hurried toward the Misty Mountains to seek the Great Eagles’ aid.

Allen warned Thranduil of an approaching Half-orc army, prepared Dale’s defenses, and won Bard’s oath of fealty by promising to rebuild Dale and restore him as its lord. The chapter ended with Gandalf arriving as Allen gained his first vassal.

• Allen reached Dale with his army and told Thranduil that tens of thousands of Half-orcs were gathering to attack the Lonely Mountain.
• Allen asked to accompany Thranduil when he demanded the Starlight Gem from Thorin, then organized repairs to Dale’s damaged defenses.
• Bard asked Thorin for help for Lake-town’s displaced people, but Thorin refused, and Thranduil directed Bard to seek help from Allen.
• Bard accepted Allen’s offer, swore fealty to him, and received Allen’s promise to rebuild Dale and restore his title as its lord.
• Gandalf arrived at Dale and approached Allen and Bard.

Allen learned that Thráin II was alive and persuaded Thranduil to delay his attack while he tried to secure the Starlight Gem and an alliance against the Half-orcs. Thorin briefly agreed to return the gem and hire Thranduil’s army, but his dragon-sickness returned, and Allen escaped with half the gem and the contract as Thranduil waited in Dale.

• Gandalf told Allen, Thranduil, and the others that Thráin II was alive and that an army of Half-orcs was marching toward the Lonely Mountain, and Thranduil gave Allen half a day to try to recover the Starlight Gem.
• Thorin Oakenshield let Allen enter the Lonely Mountain, where Allen revealed that Thráin II was alive and warned that Azog’s Half-orcs were approaching.
• Thorin briefly regained his senses and agreed to return the Starlight Gem, hire Thranduil’s army, and pay the Elves a share of his treasure, then signed a contract.
• Balin gave Allen a box containing half of the Starlight Gem, but Thorin’s dragon-sickness returned and he repudiated the agreement.
• Allen fled the Lonely Mountain with the contract and gem, then reached Dale, where Thranduil was waiting and saw the box in Allen’s arms.

Dáin Ironfoot arrived at the Lonely Mountain with an army from the Iron Hills, and Thranduil signed the contract for the Starlight Gem after the Dwarves entered. As Allen continued preparing Dale’s defenses, Dáin confronted him about Thorin’s accusations and asked what was wrong with his cousin.

• Dáin Ironfoot led seven hundred Iron Hills soldiers to the Lonely Mountain, expecting to find it under siege, and ordered his forces to advance when he saw no battle underway.
• The Company cleared the barricade at the gate, and the Iron Hills army entered the Lonely Mountain while Thranduil’s Elves did not intervene.
• Thranduil signed the contract, hoping Thorin Oakenshield would honor his promise and return the other half of the Starlight Gem.
• Allen organized Dale’s defenses, ordering workers to damage the bridge, repair the walls, and prepare additional defensive positions against the Half-orcs.
• Dáin confronted Allen over Thorin’s claim that Allen had tricked him, but Allen showed him the properly signed contract and pointed out Thorin’s unusual behavior.
• Dáin asked Allen what was happening to Thorin, and Allen began explaining the situation.

Allen explained to Dáin that the Ring of Thrór had intensified Thorin's greed, then helped prepare Dale's defenses as Azog's forces gathered at the Lonely Mountain. The chapter ended with Azog poised to attack and Warg Riders appearing near Wilderness Town.

• Allen told Dáin that the Rings of Power had corrupted the nine human bearers and that the Ring of Thrór had awakened Thorin's greed.
• Dáin accepted Allen's warning about the coming Orc army and left Dwarf cavalrymen to help repair Dale's defenses.
• Allen and the Dwarves repaired Dale's walls and made two trebuchets usable before the Dwarves returned to the Kingdom under the Mountain.
• Azog established his command post on Ravenhill and planned to destroy Durin's Folk and later attack Allen's town.
• Allen worried about Azog's arrival but chose not to attempt an ambush, while Warg Riders began appearing near Wilderness Town.

Ymira prepared Wilderness Town to withstand the Warg Riders’ siege while the enemy waited for an opportunity to attack. The chapter ended as Azog’s deputy marched enslaved humans and reluctant Half-orcs toward the town as cannon fodder, while Azog watched from the forest.

• Azog’s Warg Riders found Horse-herding Village abandoned, burned its houses, and surrounded Wilderness Town instead.
• Ymira organized Wilderness Town’s defenses, sheltered the migrants and livestock, stockpiled supplies, and kept residents under military administration.
• Deshavi investigated smoke at Horse-herding Village, learned that more than a thousand Warg Riders were approaching, and returned to warn Ymira.
• After days of standoff, Ymira spotted hundreds of Warg Riders driving nearly a thousand Half-orcs and human slaves across the shallows toward the west gate.
• Azog sent the unarmed slaves and unwilling Half-orcs forward to distract the defenders while he watched from the forest.

Ymira defended Wilderness Town from Azog's Warg Riders, using the Half-orc assault on the southern wall to draw the attackers into a trap at the west gate. The Warg Riders fled, and Ymira turned to rescue the abandoned human captives as she looked toward the Lonely Mountain.

• Ymira held fire on the human captives as Fimbul's Half-orcs approached the southern wall, then allowed archers to target the Half-orcs hiding behind them.
• The Half-orcs climbed the southern wall's ladders, and Wilderness Town's guards fought them while Azog led more than eight hundred Warg Riders toward the west gate.
• Klethi and Deshavi's archers doused the Half-orcs in the west gate barbican with fire oil and flaming arrows, trapping Azog and his followers inside.
• Grim killed Azog, and his roar sent the Wargs fleeing; Fimbul also retreated, leaving the surviving Snaga to escape down the ladders.
• Ymira arranged to clear the battlefield and take in the abandoned captives, then looked toward the Lonely Mountain.

The battle of the Lonely Mountain began as Azog’s Uruk army attacked Dale and the Dwarves at the mountain gates. Allen led efforts to destroy the enemy’s Trebuchets while Dáin’s forces fought a desperate battle, and the chapter ended with Thorin Oakenshield torn between joining his kin and his dragon-sickness.

• Four Were-worms emerged near the Lonely Mountain, then withdrew as Azog sent his Uruk army to attack Dale and the mountain gates.
• Allen and his troops defended Dale, killing a Trebuchet-bearing Troll before Uruk broke through part of the wall; Elven reinforcements helped them hold the breach.
• Allen led his Personal Guard across the battlefield and destroyed one Troll Trebuchet squad with help from Thranduil’s archers.
• Dáin Ironfoot led the Dwarves out to meet the Uruk, using Dwarves Axes, Goat Riders, and Heavy Infantry to attack and defend the shield wall.
• Trolls smashed through the Dwarven shield wall, letting Uruk divide the Dwarves into surrounded groups.
• Thorin Oakenshield watched from the Lonely Mountain’s walls, then withdrew to Thrór’s Hall and struggled against his dragon-sickness.

The Dwarves, Elves, and humans fought to hold the battlefield as Thorin Oakenshield recovered from Dragon-sickness and returned to lead his people. With Azog assembling his forces for a decisive clash, the allied armies gathered to face him and sought a chance to kill him.

• Trolls shattered the Dwarven infantry’s shield wall and destroyed two chariots, but Thranduil led the Woodland Elves in rescuing the surrounded Dwarves.
• Allen returned to Dale’s walls, rallied Firentis and the cavalry, and learned that Thorin Oakenshield had come out of the Lonely Mountain with his Company.
• Thorin Oakenshield led the Dwarven infantry into battle, while Allen and Dáin cleared the center of the battlefield as Azog gathered the Uruks before the Tunnel.
• Allen, Thranduil, and Thorin agreed that Azog had to die and prepared to draw his attention during a decisive clash.
• The Dwarves and Elves advanced toward the Half-orc host, and Gandalf urged the defenders to leave the walls and join the final battle.
• Alayen raised Allen’s Crown Three-Star Banner and called the soldiers still able to fight to march beneath it and support their lord.