The Two Towers

Death was ever present, because the Númenoreans stül. as they had in their old kingdom, and so lost it, hungered after endless life unchanging. Kings made tombs more splen- did than houses of the living, and counted old names in the rolls of their descent dearer than the names of sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on heraldry; in secret chambers withered men compounded strong elixirs, or in high cold towers asked questions of the stars. 354