Friday, 28 October 2941 T. A.: Aid for the Lake-men

The quickly raised huts were certainly not comfortable.
But it was a beginning. (Erwin Vollmer, 1904)

On this day, in 2941 T. A., Bard's messengers finally arrived with Thranduil's host at the shore of the Long Lake where the surviving Lake-men were still desperately hoping for help. Much appreciated goods had already arrived by boat but the Woold-elves did not have sufficient watercraft to follow and had to march the distance on bad paths. Thranduil would not give humanitarian aid for free, though, and a bargain had to be achieved (which the Master was all ready to conclude). Then a new place further north was begun to be cleared, to provide space for closed huts at least. Many of the refugees from Esgaroth were in rather bad condition.

This delay gave Thórin ample time to fortify the main gate of Erebor - the only one that Smaug had left accessible - against things to come.