grieved to the heart； knowing that in the end Sauron would surely have his will。 Then he spoke to Elendil and the sons of
Elendil； recalling the tale of the Trees of Valinor； and Isildur said no word； but went out by night and did a deed for
which he was afterwards renowned。 For he passed alone in disguise to Armenelos and to the courts of the King； which
were now forbidden to the Faithful； and he came to the place of the Tree； which was forbidden to all by the orders of
Sauron； and the Tree was watched day and night by guards in his service。 At that time Nimloth was dark and bore no
bloom； for it was late in the autumn； and its winter was nigh； and Isildur passed through the guards and took from the
Tree a fruit that hung upon it； and turned to go。 But the guard was aroused； and he was assailed； and fought his way out；
receiving many wounds； and he escaped； and because he was disguised it was not discovered who had laid hands on the
Tree。 But Isildur came at last hardly back to Rómenna and delivered the fruit to the hands of Amandil； ere his strength
failed him。 Then the fruit was planted in secret； and it was blessed by Amandil； and a shoot arose from it and sprouted in
the spring。 But when its first leaf opened then Isildur； who had lain long and e near to death； arose and was troubled
no more by his wounds。
None too soon was this done； for after the assault the King yielded to Sauron and felled the White Tree； and
turned then wholly away from the allegiance of his fathers。 But Sauron caused to be built upon the hill in the midst of the
city of the Númenóreans； Armenelos the Golden； a mighty temple； and it was in the form of a circle at the base； and
there the walls were fifty feet in thickness； and the width of the base was five hundred feet across the centre； and the
walls rose from the ground five hundred feet； and they were crowned with a mighty dome。 And that dome was roofed all
with silver； and rose glittering in the sun； so that the light of it could be seen afar off； but soon the light was darkened；
and the silver became black。 For there was an altar of fire in the midst of the temple； and in the topmost of the dome
there was a louver； whence there issued a great smoke。 And the first fire upon the altar Sauron kindled with the hewn
wood of Nimloth； and it crackled and was consumed； but men marvelled at the reek that went up from it； so that the land
lay under a cloud for seven days； until slowly it passed into the west。
Thereafter the fire and smoke went up without ceasing； for the power of Sauron daily increased； and in that
temple； with spilling of blood and torment and great wickedness； men made sacrifice to Melkor that he should release
them from Death。 And most often from among the Faithful they chose their victims； yet never openly on the charge that
they would not worship Melkor； the Giver of Freedom； rather was cause sought against them that they hated the King
and were his rebels； or that they plotted against their kin； devising lies and poisons。 These charges were for the most part
false； yet those were bitter days； and hate brings forth hate。
But for all this Death did not depart from the land； rather it came sooner and more often； and in many dreadful
guises。 For whereas aforetime men had grown slowly old； and had laid them down in the end to sleep； when they were
weary at last of the world； now madness and sickness assailed them； and yet they were afraid to die and go out into the
dark； the realm of the lord that they had taken； and they cursed themselves in their agony。 And men took weapons in
those days and slew one another for little cause； for they were bee quick to anger； and Sauron； or those whom he had
bound to himself； went about the land setting man against man； so that the people murmured against the King and the
lords； or against any that had aught that they had not； and the men of power took cruel revenge。
Nonetheless for long it seemed to the Númenóreans that they prospered； and if they were not increased in
happiness； yet they grew more strong； and their rich men ever richer。 For with the aid and counsel of Sauron they
multiplied then： possessions； and they devised engines； and they built ever greater ships。 And they sailed now with
power and armoury to Middle…earth； and they came no longer as bringers of gifts； nor even as rulers； but as fierce men of
war。 And they hunted the men of Middle…earth and took their goods and enslaved them； and many they slew cruelly upon
their altars。 For they built in their fortresses temples and great tombs in those days； and men feared them； and the
memory of the kindly kings of the ancient days faded from the world and was darkened by many a tale of dread。
Thus Ar…Pharaz？n； King of the Land of the Star； grew to the mightiest tyrant that had yet been in the world since
the reign of Morgoth； though in truth Sauron ruled all from behind the throne。 But the years passed； and the King felt the
shadow of death approach； as his days lengthened； and he was filled with fear and wrath。 Now came the hour that
Sauron had prepared and long had awaited。 And Sauron spoke to the King； saying that his strength was now so great that
he might think to have his will in all things； and be subject to no mand or ban。
And he said： 'The Valar have possessed themselves of the land where there is no death； and they lie to you
concerning it； hiding it as best they may； because of their avarice； and their fear lest the Kings of Men should wrest from
them the deathless realm and rule the world in their stead。 And though； doubtless； the gift of life unending is not for all；
but only for such as are worthy； being men of might and pride and great lineage； yet against all Justice is it done that this
gift； which is his due； should be withheld from the King of Bangs； Ar…Pharaz？n； mightiest of the sons of Earth； to whom
Manw？ alone can be pared； if even he。 But great kings do not brook denials； and take what is their due。'
Then Ar…Pharaz？n； being besotted； and walking under the shadow of death； for his span was drawing towards its
end； hearkened to Sauron； and he began to ponder in his heart how he might make war upon the Valar。 He was long
preparing this design； and he spoke not openly of it； yet it could not be hidden from all。 And Amandil； being aware
of the purposes of the King； was dismayed and filled with a great dread； for he knew that Men could not vanquish the
Valar in war； and that ruin must e upon the world； if this war were not stayed。 Therefore he called his son； Elendil；
and he said to him：
'The days are dark； and there is no hope for Men； for the Faithful are few。 Therefore I am minded to try that
counsel which our forefather E？rendil took of old； to sail into the West； be there ban or no； and to speak to the Valar；
even to Manw？ himself； if may be； and beseech his aid ere all is lost。'
'Would you then betray the King？' said Elendil。 'For you know well the charge that they make against us； that we
are traitors and spies； and that until this day it has been false。'
'If I thought that Manw？ needed such a messenger；' said Amandil； I would betray the King。 For there is but one
loyalty from which no man can be absolved in heart for any cause。 But it is for mercy upon Men and their deliverance
from Sauron the Deceiver that I would plead； since some at least have remained faithful。 And as for the Ban； I will suffer
in myself the penalty； lest all my people should bee guilty。'
'But what think you； my father； is like to befall those of your house whom you leave behind； when your deed
bees known？'
'It must not bee known；' said Amandil。 'I will prepare my going in secret； and I will set sail into the east；
whither daily the ships depart from our havens； and thereafter； as wind and chance may allow； I will go about； through
south or north； back into the west； and seek what I may find。 But for you and your folk； my son； I counsel that you
should prepare yourselves other ships； and put aboard all such things as your hearts cannot bear to part with； and when
the ships are ready； you should lie in the haven of Romenna； and give out among men that you purpose； when you see
your time； to follow me into the east。 Amandil is no longer so dear to our kinsman upon the throne that he will grieve
over much； if we seek to depart； for a season or for good。 But let it not be seen that you intend to take many men； or he
will be troubled； because of the war that he now plots； for which he will need all the force that he may gather。 Seek out
the Faithful that are known still to be true； and let them join you in secret； if they are willing to go with you； and share in
your design。'
'And what shall that design be？' said Elendil。
'To meddle not in the war； and to watch；' answered Amandil。 'Until I return I can say no more。 But it is most like
that you shall fly from the Land of the Star with no star to guide you； for that land is defiled。 Then you shall lose all that
you have loved； foretasting death in life； seeking a land of exile elsewhere。 But east or west the Valar alone can say。'
Then Amandil said farewell to all his household； as one that is about to die。 'For；' said he； 'it may well prove that
you will see me never again； and that I shall show you no such sign as E？rendil showed long ago。 But hold you ever in
readiness； for the end of the world that we have known is now at hand。'
It is said that Amandil set sail in a small ship at night； and steered first eastward； and then went about and passed
into the west。 And he took with him three servants； dear to his heart； and never again were they heard of by word or sign
in this world； nor is there any tale or guess of their fate。 Men could not a second time be saved by any such embassy； and
for the treason of Númenor there was no easy absolving。
But Elendil did all that his father had bidden； and his ships lay off the east coast of the land； and the Faithful put
aboard their wives and their children； and their heirlooms； and great store of goods。 Many things there were of beauty
and power； such as the Númenóreans had contrived in the days of their wisdom； vessels and jewels； and scrolls of lore
written in scarlet and black。 And Seven Stones they had； the gift of the Eldar； but in the ship of Isildur was guarded the
young tree； the scion of Nimloth the Fair。 Thus Elendil held himself in readiness； and did not meddle in the evil deeds of
those days； and ever he looked for a sign that did not e。 Then he journeyed in secret to the western shores and gazed
out over the sea； for sorrow and yearning were upon him； and he greatly loved his father。 But naught could he descry
save the fleets of Ar…Pharaz？n gathering in the havens of the west。
Now aforetime in the isle of Númenor the weather was ever apt to the needs and liking of Men： rain in due season
and ever in measure； and sunshine； now warmer； now cooler； and winds from the sea。 And when the wind was in the
west； it seemed to many that it was filled with a fragrance； fleeting but sweet； heart…stirring； as of flowers that bloom for
ever in