Quote:
	
	
		| Ah, but remember, there was a battle at the Lonely Mountain. | 
	
 The original question was about Sauron attacking Eriador - the initial poster acknowledged that Sauron was fighting Dale and Erebor.  Why not Eriador, he/she asked.  Eriador is the land west of the Misty Mountains where Hollin, the Shire, etc. were.