arms uplifted, between the advancing dwarves and the ranks awaiting
them. “Halt!” he called in a voice like thunder, and his staff blazed
forth with a flash like the lightning. “Dread has come upon you all!
Alas! it has come more swiftly than I guessed. The
     O Dain! whose father you slew in Moria. Behold! the bats are above his
army like a sea of locusts. They ride upon wolves and Wargs are in
their train!” Amazement and confusion fell upon them all. Even as
Gandalf had been speaking the darkness grew. The dwarves halted and
gazed at the sky. The elves cried out with many voices.
     “Come!” called Gandalf. “There is yet time for council. Let Dain son
of Nain come swiftly to us!”
     So began a battle that none had expected; and it was called the Battle
of Five Armies, and it was very terrible. Upon one side were the
Goblins and the wild Wolves, and upon the other were Elves and Men and
Dwarves. This is how it fell out. Ever since the fall of the Great
Goblin of the Misty Mountains the hatred of their race for the dwarves
had been rekindled to fury. Messengers had passed to and fro between
all their cities, colonies and strongholds; for they resolved now to
win the dominion of the North. Tidings they had
     Then they marched and gathered by hill and valley, going ever by