Sunday, 7 November 2941 T. A.: Living lights in dead Dale

They saw lights as of Fires and torches away south in Dale
("Gunner" F.J. Mears, British Soldiers Marching Towards Ruins at Night, ca. 1917)

On this day, in 2941 T. A., the sun was already setting when the joint forces of Wood-elves and Lakemen finally came within sight of the main gate of Erebor. Somehow, whether by boat or by a ford, a part of their host had crossed the River Running, and they advanced in parallel along both banks until they reached the ruins of deserted Dale.

In the early evening, before the moon rose, the watchposts of the Dwarves observed the living lights of fires and torches in dead Dale and knew that their foes had arrived. There was reportedly very little sleep available that night.