The Dark Lord Arises
Prologue
Elendil the Tall came to Middle-Earth near the end of the Second Age. He came with a fleet of four ships, Isildur his first son came with three and Anarion the younger with two ships. They came with their followers and loved ones. Elendil was parted with his sons in the voyage and landed at Lindon, where ruled Ereinon son of Fingon Fingolfin's son or Gil-Galad, and among the things that they brought to Middle-Earth were seven palantiri or seeing stones, which the elves of Tol Eressea had gifted to the Numenoreans. Elendil presently created the realm of Arnor. At this time he met again his sons, whose ships had been carried by the tide into the south. They had established the realm of Gondor and Anarion dwelt in Minas Anor, the Tower of the Rising Sun, while Isildur dwelt in Minas Ithil, the Tower of the Rising Moon. For a short time there was mirth and all things were happy. But unbeknownst to the Quendi and the Atani, in barren lands east of Gondor, Gorthaur was yet awake, for he had escaped the Great wave, and survived still, and he was the enemy of both man and elf, for Sauron had tried to claim the elven rings of power and also caused the destruction of Numenor, earning him the fiercest hatred known in Middle-Earth.