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Ar-Pharazôn 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.'
Pharazon left the prison of Ar-Adunakhor and returned to Armenelos. He often sat alone in the Throne Room and his mind was filled with dark thoughts. He attended the council meeting, but there was little to debate, and he seldom spoke.
Often the members aske the king about what wars he wanted them to engage in. However, the hostilities had vanished from Middle Earth, and the armies and navies of Numenor could travel unchallenged.
Miriel came to see the king.
"My husband, I eager you to step outside into the light. The people has not seen you for years;" she said.
The king seemed not to react to the words of Miriel. Instead, he said; "look at you, you look as young as the day we married, but me on the other seems to be a victim of age. What is you secret."
Miriel answered; "I had no secrets for the prince Pharazon, who returned victorious from Middle Earth, but I cannot recognize him now. He has become a slave of thoughts not initiated by himself."
Pharazon got up he took Aranruth and drew it from the scabbard he held it against the throat of his wife.
He said; "I am Ar-Pharazon king of Numenor."
Fear came into Miriel, but she stood still.
She said; "who hold this sword? Against who will he use it? His own wife? I believe not unless he ahs become one with the person he once swore to defeat."
Ar-Pharazon lowered the sword. He then stopped and lok at it.
"Look, it glows!" he said; "it was made to glow in the presence of enemies. Are you my enemy Miriel?"
Miriel answered quickly; "this sword has been in the hands of Sauron for more than a millennium. Do you expect it to be able to differ between what is good and what is evil?"
As the stood there the sword started to fade. Finally, Pharazon put it back in the scabbard and place it where it had stood in ancient times.
"I want to live on;" he said with a weak voice.
Miriel stepped forward and place her hand on his shoulder.
"I want to help you and I want to help Numenor;" she said.
Pharazon did not answer he stood still, shaking his body as he was fighting a fight that no one would be able to understand.
"Leave!" he said without looking at his wife.
In the prison of Ar-Adunakhor, Sauron smiled. It was clear that he had used his knowledge on Aranruth and that he knew the king had come on where his loyalty laid.
Miriel left Ar-Pharazon in the Throne Room. She went outside in the courtyard and looked at Nimloth. It looked old and unattended, with no flowers and many dead branches.
She spend more time with the elendili I Romenna, and returned only to the capital for the feasts.