What I got out of the book
Of the five
armies
1)
Dwarves
2)
Men
3)Elfs
vs
4)
Orcs
5)
Wargs
The idea the book gave me was that the
Eagles weren't initially involved in the battle. Its hard for me to recollect as it was a while ago when I read The
Hobbit, but I would definately say of my own opinion that the Orcs and Wargs were two different armies, allied, yes, but not the same. Though the Orcs did ride the Wargs, the wargs were very capable on their own of being a force to be reckoned with. The Orcs simply rode the Wargs to the
Lonely Mountain as it made their travelling swifter, and two heads are also better than one. I do not doubt that after their rider was slain, the wargs continued on with the battle.
As my memory is quite bad, it being so long since I read The Hobbit, I seem to recollect the Eagles taking no major part in the battle, if at all, and if they did, I believe it was just a little "clean up" job of the remaining "
evil" forces.
-Viceras Daydark
PS: This post is in response only to the original post. I read the first page of posts, but didn't get to the 2nd or 3rd, and simply wanted to put in my input as it seems most people counted the eagles and not the wargs, and I wanted more voice for this theory. If you agree, thank you, and if you don't,
books and imagination leaves room enough for different views. While I won't agree with your opinion, you are certainly entitled to it and yall may think I am wrong as well