The Fall of Númenor

Edited by Brian Sibley, this volume assembles J.R.R. Tolkien's writings about the Second Age of Middle-earth into a single chronological narrative, drawing from The Silmarillion (including 'Akallabêth'), Unfinished Tales, volumes of The History of Middle-earth, and The Lord of the Rings. Following the timeline from Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings, the compilation spans more than 3,400 years, from the aftermath of the First Age to the defeat of the Dark Lord Sauron and the loss of his master ring, the One Ring, forged to dominate all other Rings of Power. Appendices include chapters from Tolkien's unfinished novel The Lost Road and a brief chronicle of the Third Age.

The Second Age begins in ruins. The great battle against Morgoth, the original Dark Lord, has shattered the northwestern lands of Middle-earth, sinking the region of Beleriand beneath the sea. The Valar, angelic powers who govern the world on behalf of the creator Ilúvatar, summon the Elves to return to the Undying Lands, the immortal western realm where the Valar dwell, but many refuse. Gil-galad, last High King of the Noldor Elves, remains in the coastal land of Lindon with Elrond, son of the mariner Eärendil and of mixed human and Elven descent. Galadriel, greatest of Elven women, and her husband Celeborn also linger in Middle-earth. The Elves build the Grey Havens, from which ships may still sail the Straight Road, a special sea-path to the Undying Lands.

As a reward for Men who fought against Morgoth, the Valar raise the island of Númenor from the sea. Elros, twin brother of Elrond, chooses mortal life and becomes its first king. The Númenóreans receive long life but remain mortal, bound by the Ban of the Valar, which forbids them from sailing to the Undying Lands. The star-shaped island centers on the holy mountain Meneltarma, where the Númenóreans worship Eru Ilúvatar. The Eldar, the Elves of the Blessed Realm, bring gifts including a seedling of the White Tree, which becomes an enduring symbol of the royal line.

Around Year 500, Sauron, formerly Morgoth's greatest servant, begins to stir. After Morgoth's defeat, Sauron had briefly repented but refused to return to Valinor, the western land of the Valar, for judgment. His original love of order curdles into a desire for absolute dominion. Meanwhile, around Year 600, the Númenóreans achieve their first voyage to Middle-earth, encountering other Men and teaching them language, agriculture, and crafts.

The book's longest narrative, 'Aldarion and Erendis,' concerns Aldarion, son of the fifth king Tar-Meneldur, and his wife Erendis. Aldarion develops a consuming love for the sea, founding a mariners' guild and undertaking ever-longer voyages to Middle-earth. Erendis loves him but despises the sea that claims him. They marry and have a daughter, Ancalimë, but Aldarion's prolonged absences destroy the marriage. Erendis withdraws to a rural estate, raising Ancalimë in bitter isolation. Upon returning, Aldarion delivers a letter from Gil-galad warning that a servant of Morgoth is rising in the East. Tar-Meneldur abdicates in Aldarion's favor, recognizing his son understands the threat better than he does. The story, left unfinished by Tolkien, records that Erendis "perished in water" (114). Tar-Aldarion changes the law of succession so that the eldest child, regardless of sex, may inherit the sceptre.

Concurrent with these events, Sauron chooses the fortified land of Mordor as his stronghold around Year 1000. Around Year 1200, disguised in fair form and calling himself Annatar, "Lord of Gifts," he approaches the Elves. Gil-galad and Elrond refuse him, but the smiths of Eregion, led by Celebrimbor, a descendant of the craftsman Fëanor, welcome his instruction. By Year 1500, these smiths begin forging the Rings of Power, artifacts whose chief function is the prevention of decay. Celebrimbor completes the Three Rings alone around Year 1590. Around Year 1600, Sauron forges the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, the volcanic mountain in Mordor, pouring his own power into it to control all other Rings. The instant he puts it on, the Elves perceive his intent and remove their rings. Celebrimbor consults Galadriel, who counsels him to hide and disperse the Three.

War erupts in Year 1693. By 1697, Sauron's armies destroy Eregion and kill Celebrimbor. Elrond founds the refuge of Imladris (Rivendell). Sauron overruns nearly all of Eriador, the northwestern region of Middle-earth, but in Year 1700, a great Númenórean navy routs him back to Mordor.

Emboldened by this triumph, the Númenóreans shift from benevolent teachers to imperial overlords. Under Tar-Atanamir the Great, the thirteenth king, they rebel against the Ban and demand immortality. The Valar warn that mortality is a gift, but Atanamir rejects their counsel. The populace divides into the King's Men, hostile to the Elves and Valar, and the Faithful, a persecuted minority. Sauron distributes the remaining Rings: seven to Dwarf-lords, who resist domination but are consumed by greed, and nine to mortal Men, who become the Nazgûl, terrifying Ringwraiths bound to Sauron's will. Successive kings persecute the Faithful and abandon Elvish customs.

Tar-Palantir, the twenty-fourth king, attempts reform but fails. After his death, his nephew Pharazôn forces the rightful heir, the king's daughter Míriel, to marry him and seizes the sceptre as Ar-Pharazôn, the last king. Learning that Sauron has declared himself "King of Men," Ar-Pharazôn sails to Middle-earth with overwhelming force. Sauron submits and allows himself to be taken to Númenor as a hostage, secretly delighted. Within three years, he becomes the king's closest advisor, preaching the worship of Morgoth and urging Ar-Pharazôn to seize immortality by force. A great temple is built for human sacrifice. Isildur, grandson of Amandil, the leader of the Faithful, steals a fruit from the White Tree before Sauron has it felled. Amandil instructs his son Elendil to prepare ships for flight, then sails west to plead with the Valar. He is never heard from again.

Ar-Pharazôn sails against the Undying Lands, his fleets encompassing Eressëa, the island near the Blessed Realm, and landing on the shores of Aman, home of the Valar. Manwë, chief of the Valar, calls upon Ilúvatar, who reshapes the world: A great chasm swallows the fleet, Númenor is destroyed, and the Undying Lands are removed beyond mortal reach. The world is made round. Sauron's body perishes, though his spirit escapes.

Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anárion flee in nine ships, carrying the palantíri (seven Seeing-stones), the seedling of the White Tree, and scrolls of lore. Elendil founds the northern kingdom of Arnor; his sons establish Gondor in the south. Sauron returns to Mordor, takes up the One Ring, and attacks Gondor in Year 3429. Gil-galad and Elendil form the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, assembling the greatest host since the War of Wrath, the final First Age battle that overthrew Morgoth. After the Battle of Dagorlad, they besiege Barad-dûr for seven years. In Year 3441, Sauron comes forth; Gil-galad and Elendil both die fighting him, but Isildur cuts the One Ring from Sauron's hand. Sauron's spirit flees, and the Second Age ends. Elrond and Círdan, lord of the Grey Havens, urge Isildur to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom, but Isildur refuses, claiming it as compensation for his father's and brother's deaths.

Marching north to claim Arnor, Isildur is ambushed by Orcs at the Gladden Fields. The Ring slips from his finger in the river, and Isildur is killed. The volume's appendices carry the story further. A brief chronicle of the Third Age traces the decline of the Dúnedain, the Númenórean exiles and their descendants, the coming of the Wizards, and the rediscovery of the One Ring by a hobbit, setting the stage for The Lord of the Rings. The Númenórean chapters from The Lost Road present a father-son dialogue on the eve of Númenor's fall, depicting a totalitarian state and ending with a son choosing loyalty to his father over compliance with Sauron's regime.