We began the year with Beowulf. And just when I thought I couldn't make something sexual out of nothing, this quote came up. And because I know soul mates may not have anything to do with sexual relations, I decided to write about Aeschefe and Hrothgar having sexual relations.
No, this has no smut sadly. It started out as a crack parody of the utter seriousness with which the author of Beowulf treated heroism and drama. Then I just, you know, had this wonderful feeling welling inside of me...and thus I birthed and ejaculated this lovely artsy scene.
Enjoy!
Soul-Mate to Hrothgar
"Aeschefe is dead. He was Yrenlaf's elder brother and a soul-mate to me"(1323-1325)
Seamus Heaney Translation
Hrothgar stood in the gaping hall of Heorot where the Danes consumed their food and mead. The door lay unhinged in the middle of the stone floor, the flags fluttered, torn and bloody.
"Aeschefe has been taken!" Hrethic struck up a cry. "Wise Aeschefe! The monster's mother has come to avenge her son!"
Amid the cries of outrage and disbelief (for the Danes and their voyaging seafaring guests, the Geats, had believed Grendel to be motherless) one lone figure stood up. A spotlight descended upon him as he raised his battle sword.
"I will avenge him!"
"YEAH!"
The hall erupted in a flume of testosterone and hate, but Hrothgar could only remain immobile.
"You are not well!" Wealhtheow exclaimed quietly in her husband's ear. "You cannot go and fight! Beowulf has come to save us! Let the Lord's work be done!"
But Hrothgar could no better fight than run. There were sometimes rivers too deep in the stone to drain. Memories which ran in the wrinkles down his face which had no reflection in his wife's sweet hand.
"I am alright," Hrothgar told her, turning from the war cries in Heorot. "I am...fine."
So he turned inward towards his chambers as his lover bled beneath the sea. And Aeschefe was dead. And his wife's kisses across his face burned.
When Beowulf returned with Grendel's head, Hrothgar spoke to his daughter.
"You will wed Ingeld...what is love but sacrifice?"
And Wealhtheow pried the mead from Hrothgar's hand for she had loved once and lost twice.