Grendel

I am Grendel. Cursed-fiend, born of sin

Condemned by G-d to prowl loathsome mists, hungry

Eternally shadow-cloaked, hidden from sky's-jewel.

Wyrd, inescapable, wills me to warriors' home,

Heorot; hall of kings, glory of man-king Hrothgar

Heorot; hall of weaklings, walls to hide a mouse-king,

Unworthy to face me, bane of humankind.

Vast oaken doors bar my wake; chains hinder my coming

Useless against me; I who am stronger than thirty men.

Timber falters beneath my fist, and I enter silent hall,

Fighting scathing laughter, lest sleeping warriors wake.

A thane's eyes, ghost-pale, stare at me from the gloom, stricken,

G-d's prayer on his lips, wyrd's will in his heart.

Swiftly I took him up, 'fore he could cry out,

Aethling's once calm heart pounding out a devil's dance in my palm.

My fangs bite deep into soft flesh, warm

Blood coats my tongue in its soft embrace,

Sending mead's fire through me, intoxicating.

Throaty yells crash through me, ending my pleasure,

A would-be hero recklessly leaps over comrades,

Eyes aflame with desire for vengeance.

Excitement rushes through my body; anticipation

Perhaps this one will challenge me as no other has.

Teeth bared, I turn to face him fully,

This human, possessed of animal-like rage,

A bear, awoken from his deep slumber,

Charges me, unafraid of sword's eternal sleep.

Even as I reach for surely doomed warrior

His fellow's blood still dripping from my open claws,

The man throws his weight upon me,

Clinging to my forearm like a drowning thing.

Pain; white-hot and unyielding, fills me

So strong a being, first of his kind, and last,

To bring such suffering and agony to me.

Wild calls assail me; warriors finally awakened

Run with wanton abandon to aid their leader,

As I now know this bear-like one must be.

Their weapons of steel and ice do little;

Mortal weapons, cast in vain by humans,

Pitiful efforts against so powerful a beast as I.

Swords splinter against dragon-skin,

Laughter rumbles deep in my throat,

For the sheep will never defeat the lion.

Not like this one, this determined destroyer

Of all glorious wickedness; of all that is me.

Fear begins to wrap her icy bands around me,

Shackles I have never known; nay even believed in,

Now threaten to swallow me whole.

The tearing of flesh, crimson sweetness flows,

Slaughter-dew of others I've so loved,

Now my own, rushing life from me, sealing my doom.

Years uncounted the night has been my companion,

Shrouded in cloying darkness, inescapable,

Forever denied day's golden warmth.

Now, as night eternal washes over me, I understand;

I am Grendel. I am the darkness.