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 the Lord thereof may yet make other worlds to be gifts to those that
serve him； so that the increase of their power shall find no end。'
And Ar…Pharaz？n said： 'Who is the Lord of the Darkness？'
Then behind locked doors Sauron spoke to the King； and he lied； saying： 'It is he whose name is not now spoken；
for the Valar have deceived you concerning him； putting forward the name of Eru； a phantom devised in the folly of their
hearts； seeking to enchain Men in servitude to themselves。 For they are the oracle of this Eru； which speaks only what
they will。 But he that is their master shall yet prevail； and he will deliver you from this phantom； and his name is Melkor；
Lord of All； Giver of Freedom； and he shall make you stronger than they。'
Then Ar…Pharaz？n the King turned back to the worship of the Dark； and of Melkor the Lord thereof； at first in
secret； but ere long openly and in the face of his people； and they for the most part followed him。 Yet there dwelt still a
remnant of the Faithful； as has been told； at Romenna and in the country near； and other few there were here and there in
the land。 The chief among them； to whom they looked for leading and courage in evil days； was Amandil； councillor of
the King； and his son Elendil； whose sons were Isildur and Anárion； then young men by the reckoning of Númenor。
Amandil and Elendil were great ship…captains； and they were of the line of Elros Tar…Minyatur； though not of the ruling
house to whom belonged the crown and the throne in the city of Armenelos。 In the days of their youth together Amandil
had been dear to Pharaz？n； and though he was of the Elf…friends he remained in his council until the ing of Sauron。
Now he was dismissed； for Sauron hated him above all others in Númenor。 But he was so noble； and had been so mighty
a captain of the sea； that he was still held in honour by many of the people； and neither the King nor Sauron dared to lay
hands on him as yet。
Therefore Amandil withdrew to Romenna； and all that he trusted still to be faithful he summoned to e thither
in secret； for he feared that evil would now grow apace； and all the Elf…friends were in peril。 And so it soon came to
pass。 For the Meneltarma was utterly deserted in those days； and though not even Sauron dared to defile the high place；
yet the King would let no man； upon pain of death； ascend to it； not even those of the Faithful who kept Ilúvatar in their
hearts。 And Sauron urged the King to cut down the White Tree； Nimloth the Fair； that grew in his courts； for it was a
memorial of the Eldar and of the light of Valinor。
At the first the King would not assent to this； since be believed that the fortunes of his house were bound up with
the Tree； as was forespoken by Tar…Palantir。 Thus in his folly he who now hated the Eldar and the Valar vainly clung to
the shadow of the old allegiance of Númenor。 But when Amandil heard rumour of the evil purpose of Sauron he was
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