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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
Andúni？ in the days of Ar…Sakalth？r father of Ar…Gimilz？r。 Gimilz？r took her to wife； though this was little to her liking；
for she was in heart one of the Faithful； being taught by her mother； but the kings and their sons were grown proud and
not to be gainsaid in their wishes。 No love was there between Ar…Gimilz？r and his queen； or between their sons。
Inzilad？n； the elder； was like his mother in mind as in body； but Gimilkhad； the younger； went with his father； unless he
were yet prouder and more wilful。 To him Ar…Gimilz？r would have yielded the sceptre rather than to the elder son； if the
laws had allowed。
But when Inzilad？n acceded to the sceptre； he took again a title in the Elven…tongue as of old； calling himself Tar…
Palantir； for he was far…sighted both in eye and in mind； and even those that hated him feared his words as those of a
true…seer。 He gave peace for a while to the Faithful； and he went once more at due seasons to the Hallow of Eru upon the
Meneltarma； which Ar…Gimilz？r had forsaken。 The White Tree he tended again with honour； and he prophesied； saying
that when the Tree perished； then also would the line of the Kings e to its end。 But his repentance was too late to
appease the anger of the Valar with the insolence of his fathers； of which the greater part of his people did not repent。
And Gimilkhad was strong and ungentle； and he took the leadership of those that had been called the King's Men and
opposed the will of his brother as openly as he dared； and yet more in secret。 Thus the days of Tar…Palantir became
darkened with grief； and he would spend much of his time in the west； and there ascended often the ancient tower of
King Minastir upon the hill of Orom？t nigh to Andúni？； whence he gazed westward in yearning； hoping to see； maybe；
some sail upon the sea。 But no ship came ever again from the West to Númenor； and Avallón？ was veiled in cloud。
Now Gimilkhad died two years before his two hundredth year （which was accounted an early death for one of
Elros' line even in its waning）； but this brought no peace to the King。 For Pharaz？n son of Gimilkhad had bee a man
yet more restless and eager for wealth and power than his father。 He had fared often abroad； as a leader in the wars that
the Númenóreans made then in the coastlands of Middle…earth； seeking to extend their dominion over Men； and thus he
had won great renown as a captain both by land and by sea。 Therefore when he came back to Númenor； hearing of his
father's death； the hearts of the people were turned to him； for he brought with him great wealth； and was for the time
free in his giving。
And it came to pass that Tar…Palantir grew weary of grief and died。 He had no son； but a daughter only； whom he
named Míriel in the Elven…tongue； and to her now by right and the laws of the Númenóreans came the sceptre。 But
Pharaz？n took her to wife against her will； doing evil in this and evil also in that the laws of Númenor did not permit the
marriage； even in the royal house； of those more nearly akin than cousins m the second degree。 And when they were
wedded； he seized the sceptre into his own hand； taking the title of Ar…Pharaz？n （Tar…Calion in the Elven…tongue）； and
the name of his queen he changed to Ar…Zimraphel。
The mightiest and proudest was Ar…Pharaz？n the Golden of all those that had wielded the Sceptre of the Sea…
Kings since the foundation of Númenor； and three and twenty Kings and Queens had ruled the Númenóreans before； and
slept now in their deep tombs under the mount of Meneltarma； lying upon beds of gold。
And sitting upon his carven throne in the city of Armenelos in the glory of his power； he brooded darkly； thinking
of war。 For he had learned in Middle…earth of the strength of the realm of Sauron； and of his hatred of Westernesse。 And
now there came to him the masters of ships and captains returning out of the East； and they reported that Sauron was
putting forth his might； since Ar…Pharaz？n had gone back from Middle…earth； and he was pressing down upon the cities
by the coasts； and he had taken now the title of King of Men； and declared his purpose to drive the Númenóreans into
the sea； and destroy even Númenor； if that might be。
Great was the anger of Ar…Pharaz？n at these tidings； and as he pondered long in secret； his heart was filled with
the desire of power unbounded and the sole dominion of his will。 And he determined without counsel of the Valar； or the
aid of any wisdom but his own； that the title of King of Men he would himself claim； and would pel Sauron to
bee his vassal and his servant； for in his pride he deemed that no king should ever arise so mighty as to vie with the
Heir of E？rendil。 Therefore he began in that time to smithy great hoard of weapons； and many ships of war he built and
stored them with his arms； and when all was made ready he himself set sail with his host into the East。
And men saw his sails ing up out of the sunset； dyed as with scarlet and gleaming with red and gold； and fear
fell upon the dwellers by the coasts； and they fled far away。 But the fleet came at last to that place that was called
Umbar； where was the mighty haven of the Númenóreans that no hand had wrought。 Empty and silent were all the lands
about when the King of the Sea marched upon Middle…earth。 For seven days he journeyed with banner and trumpet； and
he came to a hill； and he went up； and he set there his pavilion and his throne； and he sat him down in the midst of the
land； and the tents of his host were ranged all about him； blue； golden； and white； as a field of tall flowers。 Then he sent
forth heralds； and he manded Sauron to e before him and swear to him fealty。
And Sauron came。 Even from his mighty tower of Barad…d？r he came； and made no offer of battle。 For he
perceived that the power and majesty of the Kings of the Sea surpassed all rumour of them； so that he could not trust
even the greatest of his servants to withstand them； and he saw not his time yet to work his will with the Dúnedain。 And
he was crafty； well skilled to gain what he would by subtlety when force might not avail。 Therefore he humbled himself
before Ar…Pharaz？n and smoothed his tongue； and men wondered； for all that he said seemed fair and wise。
But Ar…Pharaz？n was not yet deceived； and it came into his mind that； for the better keeping of Sauron and of his
oaths of fealty； he should be brought to Númenor； there to dwell as a hostage for himself and all his servants in Middle…
earth。 To this Sauron assented as one constrained； yet in his secret thought he received it gladly； for it chimed indeed
with his desire。 And Sauron passed over the sea and looked upon the land of Númenor； and on the city of Armenelos in
the days of its glory； and he was astounded； but his heart within was filled the more with envy and hate。
Yet such was the cunning of his mind and mouth； and the strength of his hidden will； that ere three years had
passed he had bee closest to the secret counsels of the King； for flattery sweet as honey was ever on his tongue； and
knowledge he had of many things yet unrevealed to Men。 And seeing the favour that he had of their lord all the
councillors began to fawn upon him； save one alone； Amandil lord of Andúni？。 Then slowly a change came over the
land； and the hearts of the Elf…friends were sorely troubled； and many fell away out of fear； and although those that
remained still called themselves the Faithful； their enemies named them rebels。 For now； having the ears of men； Sauron
with many arguments gainsaid all that the Valar had taught； and he bade men think that in the world； in the east and even
hi the west； there lay yet many seas and many lands for their winning； wherein was wealth uncounted。 And still； if they
should at the last e to the end of those lands and seas； beyond all lay the Ancient Darkness。 'And out of it the world
was made。 For Darkness alone is worshipful； and th