they would。 Thus the Númenóreans were aware of many things that their enemies wished to conceal； and little escaped
their vigilance in the days of their might。
It is said that the towers of Emyn Beraid were not built indeed by the Exiles of Númenor； but were raised by Gil…
galad for Elendil； his friend； and the Seeing Stone of Emyn Beraid was set in Elostirion； the tallest of the towers。 Thither
Elendil would repair； and thence he would gaze out over the sundering seas； when the yearning of exile was upon him；
and it is believed that thus he would at whiles see far away even the Tower of Avallón？ upon Eress？a； where the
Masterstone abode； and yet abides。 These stones were gifts of the Eldar to Amandil； father of Elendil； for the fort of
the Faithful of Númenor in their dark days； when the Elves might e no longer to that land under the shadow of
Sauron。 They were called the Palantíri； those that watch from afar； but all those that were brought to Middle…earth long
ago were lost。
Thus the Exiles of Númenor established their realms in Arnor and in Gondor； but ere many years had passed it
became manifest that their enemy； Sauron； had also returned。 He came in secret； as has been told； to his ancient kingdom
of Mordor beyond the Ephel Dúath； the Mountains of Shadow； and that country marched with Gondor upon the east。
There above the valley of Gorgoroth was built his fortress vast and strong； Barad…d？r； the Dark Tower； and there was a
fiery mountain in that land that the Elves named Orodruin。 Indeed for that reason Sauron had set there his dwelling long
before； for he used the fire that welled there from the heart of the earth in his sorceries and in his forging； and in the
midst of the Land of Mordor he had fashioned the Ruling Ring。 There now he brooded in the dark； until he had wrought
for himself a new shape； and it was terrible； for his fair semblance had departed for ever when he was cast into the abyss
at the drowning of Númenor。 He took up again the great Ring and clothed himself in power； and the malice of the Eye of
Sauron few even of the great among Elves and Men could endure。
Now Sauron prepared war against the Eldar and the Men of Westernesse； and the fires of the Mountain were
wakened again。 Wherefore seeing the smoke of Orodruin from afar； and perceiving that Sauron had returned； the
Númenóreans named that mountain anew Amon Amarth； which is Mount Doom。 And Sauron gathered to him great
strength of his servants out of the east and the south； and among them were not a few of the high race of Númenor。 For
in the days of the sojourn of Sauron in that land the hearts of well nigh all its people had been turned towards darkness。
Therefore many of those who sailed east in that time and made fortresses and dwellings upon the coasts were already
bent to his will； and they served him still gladly in Middle…earth。 But because of the power of Gil…galad these renegades；
lords both mighty and evil； for the most part took up their abodes in the southlands far away； yet two there were；
Herumor and Fuinur； who rose to power among the Haradrim； a great and cruel people that dwelt in the wide lands south
of Mordor beyond the mouths of Anduin。
When therefore Sauron saw his time he came with great force against the new realm of Gondor； and he took
Minas Ithil； and he destroyed the White Tree of Isildur that grew there。 But Isildur escaped； and taking with him a
seedling of the Tree he went with his wife and his sons by ship down the River； and they sailed from the mouths of
Anduin seeking Elendil。 Meanwhile Anárion held Osgiliath against the Enemy； and for that time drove him back to the
mountains； but Sauron gathered his strength again； and Anárion knew that unless help should e his kingdom would
not long stand。
Now Elendil and Gil…galad took counsel together； for they perceived that Sauron would grow too strong and
would overe all his enemies one by one； if they did not unite against him。 Therefore they made that League which is
called the Last Alliance； and they marched east into Middle…earth gathering a great host of Elves and Men； and they
halted for a while at Imladris。 It is said that the host that was there assembled was fairer and more splendid in arms than
any that has since been seen in Middle…earth； and none greater has been mustered since the host of the Valar went against
Thangorodrim。
From Imladris they crossed the Misty Mountains by many passes and marched down the River Anduin； and so
came at last upon the host of Sauron on Dagorlad； the Battle Plain； which lies before the gate of the Black Land。 All
living things were divided in that day； and some of every kind； even of beasts and birds； were found in either host； save
the Elves only。 They alone were undivided and followed Gil…galad。 Of the Dwarves few fought upon either side； but the
kindred of Durin of Moria fought against Sauron。
The host of Gil…galad and Elendil had the victory； for the might of the Elves was still great in those days； and the
Númenóreans were strong and tall； and terrible in their wrath。 Against Aeglos the spear of Gil…galad none could stand；
and the sword of Elendil filled Orcs and Men with fear； for it shone with the light of the sun and of the moon； and it was
named Narsil。
Then Gil…galad and Elendil passed into Mordor and enpassed the stronghold of Sauron； and they laid siege to
it for seven years； and suffered grievous loss by fire and by the darts and bolts of the Enemy； and Sauron sent many
sorties against them。 There in the valley of Gorgoroth Anárion son of Elendil was slain； and many others。 But at the last
the siege was so strait that Sauron himself came forth； and he wrestled with Gil…galad and Elendil； and they both were
slain； and the sword of Elendil broke under him as he fell。 But Sauron also was thrown down； and with the hilt…shard of
Narsil Isildur cut the Ruling Ring from the hand of Sauron and took it for his own。 Then Sauron was for that time
vanquished； and he forsook his body； and his spirit fled far away and hid in waste places； and he took no visible shape
again for many long years。
Thus began the Third Age of the World； after the Eldest Days and the Black Years； and there was still hope in that
time and the memory of mirth； and for long the White Tree of the Eldar flowered in the courts of the Kings of Men； for
the seedling which he had saved Isildur planted in the citadel of Anor in memory of his brother； ere he departed from
Gondor。 The servants of Sauron were routed and dispersed； yet they were not wholly destroyed； and though many Men
turned now from evil and became subject to the heirs of Elendil； yet many more remembered Sauron in their hearts and
hated the kingdoms of the West。 The Dark Tower was levelled to the ground； yet its foundations remained； and it was not
forgotten。 The Númenóreans indeed set a guard upon the land of Mordor； but none dared dwell there because of the
terror of the memory of Sauron； and because of the Mountain of Fire that stood nigh to Barad…d？r； and the valley of
Gorgoroth was filled with ash。 Many of the Elves and many of the Númenóreans and of Men who were their allies had
perished in the Battle and the Siege； and Elendil the Tall and Gil…galad the High King were no more。 Never again was
such a host assembled； nor was there any such league of Elves and Men； for after Elendil's day the two kindreds became
estranged。
The Ruling Ring passed out of the knowledge even of the Wise in that age； yet it was not unmade。 For Isildur
would not surrender it to Elrond and Círdan who stood by。 They counselled him to cast it into the fire of Orodruin nigh
at hand； in which it had been forged； so that it should perish； and the power of Sauron be for ever diminished； and he
should remain only as a shadow of malice in the wilderness。 But Isildur refused this counsel； saying： 'This I will have as
were…gild for my father's death； and my brothers。 Was it not I that dealt the Enemy his death…blow？' And the Ring that he
held seemed to him exceedingly fair to look on； and he would not suffer it to be destroyed。 Taking it therefore he
returned at first to Minas Anor； and there planted the White Tree in memory of his brother Anárion。 But soon he
departed； and after he had given counsel to Meneldil； his brother's son； and had mitted to him the realm of the south；
he bore away the Ring； to be an heirloom of his house； and marched north from Gondor by the way that Elendil had
e； and he forsook the South Kingdom； for he purposed to take up his father's realm in Eriador； far from the shadow
of the Black Land。
But Isildur was overwhelmed by a host of Orcs that lay in wait in the Misty Mountains； and they descended upon
him at unawares in his camp between the Greenwood and the Great River； nigh to Loeg Ningloron； the Gladden Fields；
for he was heedless and set no guard； deeming that all his foes were overthrown。 There well nigh all his people were
slain； and among them were his three elder sons； Elendur； Aratan； and Ciryon； but his wife and his youngest son；
Valandil； he had left in Imladris when he went to the war。 Isildur himself escaped by means of the Ring； for when he
wore it he was invisible to all eyes； but the Orcs hunted him by scent and slot； until he came to the River and plunged in。
There the Ring betrayed him and avenged its maker； for it slipped from his finger as he swam； and it was lost in the
water。 Then the Orcs saw him as he laboured in the stream； and they shot him with many arrows； and that was his end。
Only three of his people came ever back over the mountains after long wandering； and of these one was Ohtar his
esquire； to whose keeping he had given the shards of the sword of Elendil。
Thus Narsil came in due time to the hand of Valandil； Isildur's heir； in Imladris； but the blade was broken and its
light was extinguished； and it was not forged anew。 And Master Elrond foretold that this would not be done until the
Ruling Ring should be found again and Sauron should return； but the hope of Elves and Men was that these things might
never e to pass。
Valandil took up his abode in Annúminas； but his folk were diminished； and of the Númenóreans and of the Men
of Eriador there remained now too few to people the land or to maintain all the places that Elendil had built； in
Dagorlad； and in Mordor； and upon the Gladden Fields many had fallen。 And it came to pass after the days of E？rendur；
the seventh king that followed Valandil； that the Men of Westernesse； the Dúnedain of the North； became divided into
petty realms and lordships； and their foes devoured them one by one。 Ever they dwindled with the years； until their glory
passed； leaving only green mounds in the grass。 At length naught was left of them but a strange people wandering
secretly in the wild； and other men knew not their homes nor the purpose of their journeys； and save in Imladris； in the
house of Elrond； their ancestry was forgotten。 Yet the shards of the sword were cherished during many lives of Men by
the heirs of Isildur； and their line