His Queen

Chapter 25 - Kitra

In the hushed hours before dawn, while the others in her party slumbered, Kitra slipped away from their campsite to meet Galadriel as she had been instructed. Her heart raced with anticipation and a hint of fear as she made her way through the dense forest towards the appointed meeting place. It had been many years since her first encounter with the elf queen's mystical mirror, nearly two decades since she had gazed into its crystal-like waters. The last time she had seen visions of her past, plagued by memories of the hardships she had faced due to her outward appearance. But this time, as she approached the clearing where Galadriel awaited, she could feel a stirring within her. A sense of hope and possibility that she had not felt in years.

Even from a distance, Kitra could see the intense gaze of the elf queen upon her, knowing and wise. As she drew closer, she could make out the pitcher of water in Galadriel's hand - the essential tool for creating the magical mirror within the basin. Kitra's heart pounded with anticipation as she stepped into the clearing and prepared herself for what was to come.

Kitra's heart fluttered nervously as she approached the elven queen, her anticipation almost tangible. Galadriel stood regally beside a beautifully crafted pedestal, her long hair cascading down her back like liquid silver. In response to Kitra's question, the queen remained silent and simply motioned for her to come closer. With hesitant steps, Kitra closed the distance and stood across from Galadriel, her eyes drawn to the basin resting on top of the pedestal. As Galadriel poured water into the basin, its crystalline surface shimmered in the sunlight like a rainbow captured in glass. Kitra leaned forward and peered into the water, no longer afraid of what she might see. Instead, she was met with an awe-inspiring sight - the water rippled and churned, revealing a vision of time and space that held Kitra captive in its grasp.

As Kitra gazed into the mirror's enchanted waters, the surface began to shimmer and swirl, forming shapes and scenes that slowly came into focus. At first, the visions were hazy, like a dream struggling to be remembered upon waking. But then, with startling clarity, Kitra saw herself - a dark, twisted version of the woman she knew.

In the mirror, Kitra was clad in armor as black as midnight, a stark contrast to the pure silver she usually donned. Her face was obscured by a helm that left only her eyes visible, and they glowed with an unnatural, malevolent red. This dark Kitra moved with a ruthless purpose, her blade flashing as she cut down foes left and right.

To Kitra's horror, she recognized the fallen. There was Frodo, the brave hobbit who carried the burden of the One Ring, lying lifeless at her feet, the Ring clutched in his hand. One by one, she watched as her dark self slaughtered her companions - Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas, Gimli. Each fell to her merciless blade, their blood staining the ground crimson. Kitra's heart seized as she saw Aragorn, her dearest friend and the man she had grown to love, standing before her dark reflection. They engaged in a fierce duel, their swords clashing in a deadly dance. Aragorn fought valiantly, but he was no match for the ruthless power that possessed Kitra's mirror self. With a final, devastating blow, she drove her blade through his heart.

As Aragorn crumpled to the ground, the light fading from his eyes, Kitra's doppelganger reached down and wrenched the Ring from Frodo's lifeless hand. She held it aloft, a twisted smile of triumph on her face as the Ring's power coursed through her. The world around her began to warp and darken, the once vibrant colors of Middle Earth fading to ashen grays.

Kitra, still transfixed by the mirror's horrifying vision, watched helplessly as her dark self embraced the Ring's corrupting influence. The red glow in her eyes intensified, and a malevolent aura pulsed around her, growing stronger with each passing moment. She turned her gaze towards the horizon, where the armies of men and elves were gathering to make their final stand against the forces of Sauron.