Ravenhill

Ravenhill was a remote elevated ridge where Ravens nestle under the Lonely Mountain. It is the nest of the Ravens of Erebor, messengers of the Dwarf Kingdom. This was also the setting of the concluding fights of Battle of the Five Armies in the Hobbit’s third installment, where Thorin and the Dwarves fought against Azog and Bolg

Ravenhill spans the south boundaries of the Lonely Mountain, towering over the plains of Dale and the River Running. There was a station established by the Dwarves on this hill, and the same location where the Ravens dwell. For this reason, it acquired the name Ravenhill. During Smaug's devastation of the Lonely Mountain, the leader of the Ravens [1] was Carc. When the Dwarves built the station, Roäc, the son of Carc, was the chief of the ravens.

In Battle of the Five Armies, the third installment of the Hobbit, [2] Ravenhill appears as a rocky tower blanketed in frost, veiled in the fogs surrounding the Lonely Mountain. It is the remains of a bare stronghold among the boulders. The fort has a high point emerging from barren steps and passages. Near the fortification is Celduin, the River Running, its waters turned into ice in the dead cold. Underneath the river is a waterfall of solid ice, spanning below the surface of the stony ravine. It was a ruined high point occupied by Azog, the Pale Orc, as his commanding station in the war.

Azog placed high emblem flagstaffs to signal his directives to his armies on the battlefield. The Pale Orc captures Ravenhill as a stronghold to strategically view the battlefield and coordinate his war tactics versus the combined armies of Elves, Dwarves, and Men. He sends his directives to the two legions in his command with a set of flags and trumpets.

He strategized with two fronts, one in Dale and the other at the doors of the Lonely Mountain. Azog calls out his directives to the other Orcs in the post, one Orc shifts the banners, while the other blasts the horn to direct the armies on the battlefield. As Thorin and the rest of the Dwarves join the battle from the Lonely Mountain, they steer the army of the Dwarves lead by Dáin II Ironfoot to tame the Orc front. Thorin notices the Pale Orc on the ruins of Ravenhill and heads there to take down the Orc army commander. Thorin used a mountain ram to storm to Ravenhill. Balin drives a Dwarf-made battle carriage with Fili, Kili, and Dwalin. As they ride to Ravenhill, the enemies kept on their trail with wargs, ogres, and a massive fighting troll attacking them. The chariot breaks apart, and Dwalin, Fili, and Kili took the rams to continue with Thorin. Despite all the enemies on their path, they reach Ravenhill.

When they arrived, the Pale Orc has vanished. Thorin directs Kili and Fili to check the higher area of the tower. But it was a trap Azog planned, as the northern forces of Gundabad are coming. The Orc warriors seize Fili. Thorin stands from beyond the River Running, as the Orcs toss Fili from the tower and killing him. Bilbo appears informing the Dwarves that an army is fast approaching. Later on, Bolg struck Bilbo, which made him faint. Soon after, Bolg fights Tauriel and almost defeats her, but Kili comes to rescue her. However, Bolg overpowers Kili and stabs him to his death. Tauriel heaves Bolg off the tower in anguish but falls with the Orc. Legolas sees Bolg preparing to strike the unconscious Tauriel and heads off to stop him. A gripping battle between the two takes place.

Legolas eventually kills Bolg by thrusting a long dagger through his head. Thorin and Azog engage in a riveting battle. Thorin cracks the frozen river water, and Azog sinks with his heavy mace. Thorin looks on at Azog's body beneath the ice. The Orc closes his cold eyes but suddenly stabs his foot and breaks out from the ice. Azog pins down Thorin with his blade pointed on his chest, as Thorin blocks him with his sword. But the Dwarf pulls back his weapon, and the Orc thrusts his blade onto his chest. With this, Thorin stabs him back with the Orcrist, turns Azog to the ground, and pierced him deeply until the sword sliced through the ice beneath, hence killing Azog. Bilbo finds Thorin lying wounded in the ice. With his last breath, Thorin asks for Bilbo's forgiveness and to part with him in friendship. Bilbo answers he is glad to be in the dangers they have gone through and considered it more than any Baggins deserves. Thorin dies, and Bilbo weeps. Soon after, the Dwarves arrive and grieve over their King's body.

1. ^Ravens.
2. ^The Hobbit Trilogy.