By sunset, the four armies of Dale were preparing for war, sharpening swords and collecting supplies. During the preparation, several members of Buffy's army moved out of the way when Gandalf gallops into the city on his horse.

"Let me through!" Gandalf shouted. "Make way!"

"Whose he suppose to be?" Dav asked.

"No idea." Sunday said. "Come on."

Gandalf dismounts in the main courtyard and looks surprised to see thousands of warriors drilling with swords and companies of elves were marching by.

"No, No, NO! Oi! You - pointy hat!" Alfrid called to the wizard.

Gandalf turns to look at him.

"Yes, you." Alfrid grinned and began to insult him. "We don't want no tramps, beggars nor vagabonds around here. We got enough trouble without the likes of you. Off you go! On your horse."

"Who's in charge here?" Gandalf asked.

"Whose asking?" Giles asked him.

"I am." Gandalf said to him.

"Who are you suppose to be?" Sunday asked, demanding to know who he was.

"I have no time to answer foolish questions, I must speak to the leaders at once!" Gandalf exclaimed. "They have no idea what is coming!"

"Are you meaning me?" Buffy asked, approching Gandalf.

"Buffy." Gandalf whispered in relief.

"Where have you been?" Buffy demanded.

"It's quite complicated." Gandalf answered.

"Well look who decided to show up." Xander spoke as he came to join them.

"I do remember that you were planning on meeting us at the slopes of Erebor." Cordelia said sharply. "Why didn't you meets us?"

"I'm sorry." Gandalf apologized to her and the others. "I was... delayed."

"So why are you here then?" Cordelia asked.

A little bit later, Gandalf meets with Buffy, Giles, Amy, Xander, Riley, Joy, Samantha, Amber, Larry, Xander, Wesley, Angel, Spike, Thranduil, Faith, Nancy, and Joyce in a large tent.

"You must set aside your petty grievances with the dwarves." Gandalf explained quickly to them. "War is coming! The cesspits of Dol Guldur have been emptied. You're ALL in mortal danger!"

"Mortal danger!" Xander exclaimed.

"What are you talking about?" Bard asked.

"I can see you know nothing of wizards." Thranduil spoke and passed a glass of wine to Bard. "They are like winter thunder on a wild wind rolling in from a distance, breaking hard in alarm. But sometimes a storm is just a storm."

"Not this time." Gandalf continued. "Armies of orcs are on the move. And these are fighters! They have been bred for war. Our enemy has summoned his full strength."

"Why show his hand now?" Thranduil asked.

"Because we forced him." Gandalf continued his explaination about what had happened. "We forced him when the company of Thórin Oakenshield set out to reclaim their homeland. The dwarves were never meant to reach Erebor. Azog the Defiler was sent to kill them. His master seeks control of the mountain. Not just for the treasure within, but for where it lies, its strategic position."

"So what does that mean exactly?" Wesley asked the wizard.

"He means its a gateway for something." Faith answered.

"Precisely." Gandalf said. "This is the gateway to reclaiming the lands of Angmar in the north. If that fell kingdom should rise again, Rivendell, Lothlórien, the Shire, even Gondor itself will fall!"

"These orc armies you speak of, Mithrandir - Where are they?" Thranduil asked.

Gandalf is unable to answer.

"Why wasn't I told of this?" Buffy demanded.

"Because I already knew too Buffy." Amy said.

"Why didn't you tell us about this?" Larry asked her.

"I was about to, but Buffy told me to wait until later, so I'm telling you right now." Amy admitted.

"Amy told me that too." Giles said. "But I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to stand against this threat."

"Riley, tell everyone to get themselves ready for tomorrow." Buffy ordered him.

"Right." Riley complied. "Come on Samantha."

"Here we go." Faith breathed. "I'm ready for action."

"We are out of time." Buffy whispered.