Our adventures with young Swedish hero Beowulf continues this week as Heorot celebrates his victory over Grendel, the monster. Read on....
King Hrothgar of Heorot, relieved that Grendel the monster had been killed, presented Beowulf with new armour, helmet and a banner depicting a wild boar. So grateful was he that he also gave the brave warrior his father Healfdene’s sword.
At this point, Queen Wealhtheow gently put her hand on her husband’s arm. By giving Beowulf the sword of his own father, Hrothgar was indicating that he wished this young man to be his heir. “Bestow upon him whatever you wish. For what he has done the country and all of us are forever indebted.... But pray, do not deprive your sons of what is their legacy,” she whispered to the king.
Turning to Beowulf, she said, “Heorot is grateful for what you have done for us. I hope you’ll be kind to my sons too in the future.”
“Your Majesty! Your sons are brave and courageous. But if they need my help, I’ll be glad to come to their aid,” replied Beowulf. Touched by his gentleness, Queen Wealhtheow gifted him a necklace and a corselet.
The King and his men slept peacefully that night. But little did they know their troubles were far from over. There was someone mourning the death of her monster son — Grendel’s mother. Now Grendel’s mother was twice as wicked and powerful as her son. She had heard the laughter and merrymaking at the celebrations at the palace. In the last quarter of the night she rose from her lair with a bloodcurdling cry and made her way to the palace hall. She would avenge her beloved son’s death.
Quietly she came into the hall and picked up one of Hrothgar’s sleeping men. The unfortunate victim was Aeschere, a loyal adviser to the king. After killing the sleeping man soundlessly, she retreated to her lair carrying his body. On that night Beowulf, asleep in a private chamber, did not hear or witness the tragedy.
The next morning when the men woke up they discovered the blood stains and found Aeschere missing. “It is that Grendel’s mother,” cried King Hrothgar, “Beowulf, you must help us again!” Beowulf put on his new armour and breastplate. He turned to Unferth who had mocked him when he first came. “Unferth, I need to borrow your sword.” Unferth, now full of admiration for Beowulf, immediately gave him the sword known as the Hrunting.
Beowulf approached the watery lair of the monsters and dived in. Grendel’s mother sent water serpents to attack Beowulf. But he killed them all with the sword. Grendel’s mother then swam up and dragged Beowulf down under. She led him to the vaulted chamber where she lived with her son, who now lay dead in a corner. Beowulf swung the famed Hrunting but it proved useless. Discarding the sword, he fought with his bare hands. Beowulf was thrown to the ground and the monster mother drew her dagger to stab him. But it could not cut through his corselet. Beowulf noticed a large sword hanging on the wall and made a dash for it. It was a large sword for a mortal but Beowulf could lift and swing it effortlessly. With one deft stroke he chopped off the head of the monster and Grendel’s mother lay dead.
Still carrying the sword, he made his way to where Grendel lay dead. He swung the sword and cut the head off the monster. He would take away Grendel’s head as proof of his victory. The poisoned blood of the monsters melted the big sword and Beowulf retrieved the Hrunting .
As he returned with Grendel’s head, all of Heorot cheered him again. Beowulf then returned to his own country Geatland where he would be king in the not so distant future.