Elendil was the son of Amandil, who was the last Lord of Andúnie and the leader of the The Faithful before Numenor's downfall. He escaped to Middle-earth with his sons Isildur and Anarion and founded the Númenorean realms-in-exile, Arnor and Gondor. His name means 'Elf-friend' or 'Star-Lover', and he developed a strong kinship with the Elves of Eriador. Realizing that Sauron's power was only growing, he and Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor, brought a host of Elves and Men against Barad-dûr. He and his son Anarion were slain there, and Narsil Elendil's sword broke beneath him. It was then when Isildur took up the hilt-shard of Narsil and cut the Ring from Sauron's hand.