The Red Maiden, Part Eighteen
The Red Maiden
Disclaimer: This is a work of Fanfiction, as none of the content is my original work. The characters are created by Stephen King and J.R.R. Tolkien. The content belongs to MGM and Screen Gems, as the 2013 film remake of Carrie was directed by Kimberly Pierce and produced by Kevin Misher, and additional production is through MGM, Screen Gems, and Misher films as well as distributed by Sony Pictures releasing.
A true hero
If Carrie White thought being on this quest would be enough to handle, then it would be a matter of time before she atones for the prom massacre one way or another. She never would have imagined, however, in her wildest dreams that this was not about her anymore. Whether she still believed in the Red Maiden prophecy was something far from her mind. It was further pushed into the back of her head as she watched Thorin Oakenshield, the dwarf prince, step down the tree trunk to kill the pale orc. She did not hesitate or contemplate the risks of doing this as she scrambled down the tree as quickly as possible.
Any pleas from the company and Bilbo to prevent her from chasing after Thorin was too little too late. To Carrie, this was not a matter of life or death, as she didn’t care if she even lived or died at this point, prophecy or not. This was an act of sacrifice, and in extension, an act of love for Thorin as a true friend. It was an opportunity she wished could have done the same for Tommy Ross at the prom massacre. She blamed herself for not being able to save the only person that genuinely cared for Carrie’s welfare, and that ultimately paid the price for focusing her rage on her classmates.
All Carrie knew at this moment was to not make the same mistake of losing her close friend. She was going to do everything she could to protect Thorin from meeting the same fate Tommy did. Once she was able to climb down the tree trunk in a swift fashion, she could see the creatures try to scramble and chase her down in a frenzied fashion. Whether this was due to adrenaline or a small glimpse of her powers returning, she began to outrun a few of them, keeping her focus upon Thorin running toward the pale orc. However, the flames began to obscure Carrie’s view and left her cornered by the creatures with some straggling orcs.
What would have paralyzed Carrie with fear like a deer in headlights did not faze her one bit. She got into a stance, whipping out her dagger-like weapon, daring for any creature or orc to come closer. The training Thorin bestowed upon Carrie came into her mind as she bravely ran towards them. In the process of fighting each and every enemy, she could feel a spark of energy within her. It was as if it was begging for permission, even just a sliver of a chance to be released in deadly force.
A cry of pain soon stopped Carrie in her tracks just as she was gaining momentum. Her eyes widened as she heard the crunch of bones breaking, while the source of the cry left no question just who was hurt. “Thorin,” Carrie whispered as she trembled, tears streaking her face as a new form of rage bubbled inside her. It appeared to be her savior as she let out a blood-curdling scream, her telekinetic force knocking the surrounding orcs and extinguishing the flames long enough for her to pass through to him. She was not going to let someone she cared about die in front of her.
With a swift move, she stabbed an eye of the creature trying to chew up Thorin, managing to catch him in her arms with her powers and strength. She glared at the pale orc in a protective stance while his expression matched that of a toddler having a toy taken from him. She was determined not to let Azog hurt her dear friend, even when she could feel Thorin begin to lose consciousness. She did not break eye contact with Azog as he soon gave a dark chuckle, raising his weapon toward Carrie and Thorin.
“Give naj-ri up nauk-d vajaz,” Azog said as Carrie did not relent in her mission to protect Thorin, even at the cost of her own life as her powers began to waver once more. She shook her head, using every little bit of her regained powers to not let Thorin go. She held him tighter to her own body and closed her eyes, using her telekinetic strength and renewed rage to draw nearby flames to them. Her knees buckled from this effort but did not let go of him, using those flames as a form of protective shield so no one or anything could breach it.
“It’s okay, Thorin, it’s okay,” she whispered, refusing to open her eyes to break concentration as she was prepared to use all of her telekinetic energy to save him. “No one is going to hurt you, not on my watch. You have more purpose ahead than I. I love you, my friend,” she added in her hushed volume as she clutched him tighter—how a child would for a precious teddy bear. She could hear Azog’s cry of frustration, swords clashing against another, and an intense battle arising.
She thought she could hear Bilbo fighting the orcs and creatures within the created chaos. But that did not deter Carrie from holding Thorin close to her as she rocked back and forth. If there was a proper way to die for someone Carrie had ever cared for, this would be an ideal time. As her telekinetic power and strength began to fade, she kissed Thorin’s forehead allowing herself to become unconscious. The last thought that came across her mind before she finally gave in was the idea of her being in heaven—as if she could feel herself ascend and believed she would be seeing her momma soon.
