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endured for more than two thousand years； and was e to the zenith of its bliss； if not yet of its power。 But Atanamir
was ill pleased with the counsel of the Messengers and gave little heed to it； and the greater part of his people followed
him； for they wished still to escape death in their own day； not waiting upon hope。 And Atanamir lived to a great age；
clinging to his life beyond the end of all joy； and he was the first of the Númenóreans to do this； refusing to depart until
he was witless and unmanned； and denying to his son the kingship at the height of his days。 For the Lords of Númenor
had been wont to wed late in their long lives and to depart and leave the mastery to their sons when these were e to
full stature of body and mind。
Then Tar…Ancalimon； son of Atanamir； became King； and he was of like mind； and in his day the people of
Númenor became divided。 On the one hand was the greater party； and they were called the King's Men； and they grew
proud and were estranged from the Eldar and the Valar。 And on the other hand was the lesser party； and they were called
the Elendili； the Elf…friends； for though they remained loyal indeed to the King and the House of Elros； they wished to
keep the friendship of the Eldar； and they hearkened to the counsel of the Lords of the West。 Nonetheless even they； who
named themselves the Faithful； did not wholly escape from the affliction of their people； and they were troubled by the
thought of death。
Thus the bliss of Westernesse became diminished； but still its might and splendour increased。 For the kings and
their people had not yet abandoned wisdom； and if they loved the Valar no longer at least they still feared them。 They
did not dare openly to break the Ban or to sail beyond the limits that had been appointed。 Eastwards still they steered
their tall ships。 But the fear of death grew ever darker upon them； and they delayed it by all means that they could； and
they began to build great houses for their dead； while their wise men laboured unceasingly to discover if they might the
secret of recalling life； or at the least of the prolonging of Men's days。 Yet they achieved only the art of preserving
incorrupt the dead flesh of Men； and they filled all the land with silent tombs in which the thought of death was
enshrined in the darkness。 But those that lived turned the more eagerly to pleasure and revelry； desiring ever more goods
and more riches； and after the days of Tar…Ancalimon the offering of the first fruits to Eru was neglected； and men went
seldom any more to the Hallow upon the heights of Meneltarma in the midst of the land。
Thus it came to pass in that time that the Númenóreans first made great settlements upon the west shores of the
ancient lands； for their own land seemed to them shrunken； and they had no rest or content therein； and they desired now
wealth and dominion in Middle…earth； since the West was denied。 Great harbours and strong towers they made； and there
many of them took up their abode； but they appeared now rather as lords and masters and gatherers of tribute than as
helpers and teachers。 And the great ships of the Númenóreans were borne east on the winds and returned ever laden； and
the power and majesty of their kings were increased； and they drank and they feasted and they clad themselves in silver
and gold。
In all this the Elf…friends had small part They alone came now ever to the north and the land of Gil…galad； keeping
their friendship with the Elves and lending them aid against Sauron； and their haven was Pelargir above the mouths of
Anduin the Great。 But the King's Men sailed far away to the south； and the lordships and strongholds that they made
have left many rumours in the legends of Men。
In this Age； as is elsewhere told； Sauron arose again in Middle…earth； and grew； and turned back to the evil in
which he was nurtured by Morgoth； being mighty in his service。 Already in the days of Tar…Minastir； the eleventh
King of Númenor； he had fortified the land of Mordor and had built there the Tower of Barad…d？r； and thereafter he
strove ever for the dominion of Middle…earth； to bee a king over all kings and as a god unto Men。 And Sauron hated
the Númenóreans； because of the deeds of their fathers and their ancient alliance with the Elves and allegiance to the
Valar； nor did he forget the aid that Tar…Minastir had rendered to Gil…galad of old； in that time when the One Ring was
forged and there was war between Sauron and the Elves in Eriador。 Now he learned that the kings of Númenor had
increased hi power and splendour； and he hated them the more； and he feared them； lest they should invade his lands and
wrest from him the dominion of the East。 But for a long time he did not dare to challenge the Lords of the Sea； and he
withdrew from the coasts。
Yet Sauron was ever guileful； and it is said that among those whom he ensnared with the Nine Rings three were
great lords of Númenórean race。 And when the úlairi arose that were the Ring…wraiths； his servants； and the strength of
his terror and mastery over Men had grown exceedingly great； he began to assail the strong places of the Númenóreans
upon the shores of the sea。
In those days the Shadow grew deeper upon Númenor； and the lives of the Kings of the House of Elros waned
because of their rebellion； but they hardened their hearts the more against the Valar。 And the nineteenth king took the
sceptre of his fathers； and he ascended the throne in the name of Adunakh？r； Lord of the West； forsaking the Elven…
tongues and forbidding their use in his hearing。 Yet hi the Scroll of Kings the name Herunúmen was inscribed in the
High…elven speech； because of ancient custom； which the kings feared to break utterly； lest evil befall Now this title
seemed to the Faithful over…proud； being the title of the Valar； and their hearts were sorely tried between their loyalty to
the House of Elros and their reverence of the appointed Powers。 But worse was yet to e。 For Ar…Gimilz？r the
twenty…second king was the greatest enemy of the Faithful。 In his day the White Tree was untended and began to decline；
and he forbade utterly the use of the Elven…tongues； and punished those that weled the ships of Eress？a； that still
came secretly to the west…shores of the land。
Now the Elendili dwelt mostly in the western regions of Númenor； but Ar…Gimilz？r manded all that he could
discover to be of this party to remove from the west and dwell in the east of the land； and there they were watched。 And
the chief dwelling of the Faithful in the later days was thus nigh to the harbour of Romenna； thence many set sail to
Middle…earth； seeking the northern coasts where they might speak still with the Eldar in the kingdom of Gil…galad。 This
was known to the kings； but they hindered it not； so long as the Elendili departed from their land and did not return； for
they desired to end all friendship between then： people and the Eldar of Eress？a； whom they named the Spies of the
Valar； hoping to keep their deeds and their counsels hidden from the Lords of the West。 But all that they did was known
to Manw？； and the Valar were wroth with the Kings of Númenor； and gave them counsel and protection no more； and the
ships of Eress？a came never again out of the sunset； and the havens of Andúni？ were forlorn。
Highest in honour after the house of the kings were the Lords of Andúni？； for they were of the line of Elros； being
descended from Silmarien； daughter of Tar…Elendil the fourth king of Númenor。 And these lords were loyal to the kings；
and revered them； and the Lord of Andúni？ was ever among the chief councillors of the Sceptre。 Yet also from the
beginning they bore especial love to the Eldar and reverence for the Valar； and as the Shadow grew they aided the
Faithful as they could。 But for long they did not declare themselves openly； and sought rather to amend the hearts of the
lords of the Sceptre with wiser counsels。
There was a lady Inzilbêth； renowned for her beauty； and her mother was Lindóri？； sister of E？rendur； the Lord of
A