Chapter 34: Kira's Fate
Meanwhile, at Rivendell, Kira continued lying on the bed looking pensive, deep in thought. Her father, Sensei came in.
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"Kira," Sensei said to his daughter, "tollen i lû (it is time)."
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Kira heard her father speak and sat up quickly.
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Sensei went on, "I chair gwannar na Valannor. Si bado, no círar (The ships are leaving for Valinor. Go now, before it is too late)"
"I have made my choice." Kira replied firmly.
Sensei slowly proceeded towards his daughter, as he said, impatiently, "…he is not coming back."
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"Why do you linger, when there is no hope?" Sensei asked, trying to reason with his rebellious daughter
"There is still hope," returned Kira, softly,
Kira lowered her head, stubbornly refusing to listen to her father, making it very clear that she doesn't want to leave, as she remembered when Trent told her the same thing before he left with the Fellowship.
Sensei went silent after his statement, as he understood Kira's resolution. He truly sympathized with her and her devotion to Trent.
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"…But if Trent survives this war, you will still be parted," added Sensei as he walked towards the window.
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Kira doubtlessly knew what her father was saying, because giving up her immortality would inevitably lead to her eventual death… as a mortal.
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Sensei paused before he went on, "…if Sauron is defeated and Trent made king and all that you hoped for comes true... you will still have to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the sword, or the slow decay of time, Trent will die… "
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Kira began to see a vision of her future, shared by Sensei as he spoke…
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She was dressed as a queen in mourning garb and looked down upon Trent, with the crown of Gondor on his brow, the sword of his ancestors in his hand, and dead. Mourners are walking around the altar, paying their final respects. Kira was weeping over her dead husband…
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Sensei sadly explained, "… and there will be no comfort for you, no comfort to ease the pain of his passing…
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"…He will come to death…
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"…An image of the splendor of the kings of men in glory, undimmed before the breaking of the world…"
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As years passed… the body of Trent, was now cast as a monument in stone. Kira stood before the monument veiled in black… still weeping and mourning her long lost love. And in all those years that have passed, she wished that Trent didn't have to die before she did…
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"…But you, my daughter… you will linger on in darkness and in doubt… as nightfall in winter that comes without a star…"
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Time passed again. Kira could not take more of her mourning of Trent. On a day at sunset, Kira… still veiled in black and weeping… walked alone endlessly through the deserted woods of Lothlórien. She remembered when the woods were full of her people, but now… they have been gone for many, many years and generations hence…
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"…Here you will dwell…
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"…Bound to your grief, under the fading trees…
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"…Until all the world has changed and the long years of your life are utterly spent."
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Kira and Sensei's sad vision ended… and Kira began to cry, not knowing of the hard road that lay ahead because of her decision. Elrond turned to his daughter, solemnly.
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"…Kira," he spoke to his daughter, concluding sadly, "…there is nothing for you here… only death."
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Kira looked at her father with those crying eyes of hers, shaken up after hearing her father's sad predictions of her future that tore into her like a demon. She didn't know whether to thank her father for telling her… or to curse him. Either way… she was now crying her heart out because of it. Kira believed that she couldn't go on without Trent. She couldn't decide what to do next, with her soul as confused as it was…
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Sensei went over to his daughter and sat beside her with his hand on her cheek. "A im, ú-'erin veleth lîn? (Do I not also have your love?)," he asked Kira.
Kira, out of sadness, fell into her father's embrace and replied, "…gerich meleth nîn, ada (You have my love, father)."
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A procession of Elves, cloaked, and each carrying a lantern, set off from Rivendell proceeding on their journey to the West. Sensei watched their departure from a balcony with a stony expression. He also looked on as Kira leaves with them. She had agreed to go with her people to the undying lands of Valinor.
Kira turned back to look at her father one last time before she departed. Sensei continued to stare after her with an expression of resigned sadness. He truly understood his daughter's stubborness and sense of hope from within her. But, as a protective father, naturally, he had to do what he thought… was best for his daughter. Sensei had no regrets about what he has done, believing that Kira will never be sad again.