Chapter 4: Change
Up in the caves of the moors, Grendel walked sadly along the water's edge. With a broken heart, he collapsed in the water and laid there, tears filling his eyes.
"My son, my poor son." His mother approached him, trying to comfort him.
"Mother?" Grendel sniffed. "Oh mother."
"Sleep now, my son."
"I cannot, for I fear I will die in my sleep over a broken heart."
"My poor son, your sister has commanded you to leave and never come back."
"It was for my own good. Beowulf will kill me if I return."
"Yes, unless, you change darling."
"Change?" Grendel frowned.
"Yes, Grendel." The water demon nodded. "If you change and become one of the Danes, you will be welcomed in open arms, and you will be able to see your sister once again."
"Become, a Dane." Grendel gasped. "Mother, you are suggesting that I join the men in celebration in the mead hall!"
"Yes, my son, I am." She nodded. "Be one of them, eat with them, drink with them, sing and tell stories with them. Your ear is not as sensitive anymore now that man has made it go deaf. You can join them without harm now, and they will welcome you. Maybe not at first, but in time."
"If this is what it takes to be with my sister again, then I will do it." Grendel nodded. "I will be a Dane."
….
The next morning, Geats and Danes stood around the funeral pyre, honoring the lives of the Geats that suffered Grendel's wrath. Afterwards, they gathered in the mead hall as Beowulf told the story of the battle last night, leaving out Genevra's secret.
However, when the Danes heard that it was actually the child herself that caused the monster to retreat and never come back, they became suspicious, especially Unferth.
"What, position, does the child have in this?" He asked.
"That is a secret I will only let Genevra tell." Beowulf answered.
"I'd rather not say." Genevra sighed. "But I will, for it is best you all know."
The crowd moved in closer, eager to hear what it was she was about to say.
"Grendel… is my older brother."
The Danes gasped at these news. The sister of a monster, living amongst them, and yet she's human.
"And that is why the demon would not harm you." Unferth nodded.
"Don't call him a demon." Genevra hissed. "My brother may be different than us, but that does not make him a monster."
"You defend your brother." Hrothgar smiled. "That is true sibling love."
"You don't know what I sacrificed to keep Onii-chan alive." Genevra shook her head. "I told him to never come back or he'll be killed. I… can never see him again."
The Geats and Danes all bowed their heads sadly as Genevra weeped in her hands. They did not realize how much she loved Grendel.
"Young one, let me make a promise to you." Hrothgar said to the child. "If Grendel can come down here and act like one of us without killing anyone, then I will gladly end his banishment, and he can live amongst us, with you."
"It's not going to happen." Genevra shook her head. "He's never going to come here again.. Not after I told him not to."
Genevra continued to cry, while the hall stayed silent.
….
That night, Grendel looked down at Herot from his dark lair. He could just faintly make out the perfectly lit hall.
"The hour is upon us, my son." Grendel's mother announced behind him. "Go to them, make your appearance. Be, one of them."
Grendel gulped nervously before he ran, making his way to the mead hall, feeling guilty for breaking his sister's commands.
….
In the mead hall, Genevra sat alone in the corner of the hall, feeling sorry for herself. Some of the Geats and Danes celebrated soft and lowly. Though they were happy that Grendel was gone, they still respected and felt sorry for the child, especially Beowulf, Wiglaf, Unferth, Hrothgar, and Welthow.
"Genevra, are you sure your brother will not come back?" Welthow asked.
"Of course," Genevra nodded. "There's no reason for him to disobey me, now that Beowulf has made his ear go deaf. That's the reason why he attacked in the first place. His ear was really sensitive to noise."
"That's why he dropped me when I screamed." Beowulf nodded.
"Indeed."
Suddenly, a soft, but heavy knock came from the doors, like something big was trying to knock softly. The people looked at each other, confused as to who could possibly be outside that was knocking like that.
A brave Dane woman stood up and slowly approached the hall doors. She cracked them open a smidge, and peered outside. She gasped at what she saw, looking back at her people.
"It's Grendel." She gasped.
The hall gasped at these news. The monster was back, but in a civilized manner. The Dane looked back outside, he was still there, waiting for somebody to open the door in a nervous manner.
"He's just standing there." The woman frowned. "Looks like he's waiting, but he's awfully nervous."
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Hrothgar frowned. "Open the doors."
"Yes my lord." The Dane nodded before opening the doors fully, startling the creature outside. "Grendel, what are you doing here?"
"Wow," Grendel gasped. "You didn't scream when you saw me. I guess that means now all of Denmark knows."
"They know, Storebror." Genevra nodded as she approached her brother, her arms crossed unapprovingly. "But answer the question. What are you doing here after I clearly told you to never come back?!"
"You see, that's the thing, Lillesøster." Grendel sighed before turning to the people. "Danes, Geats, and my sweet little sister, Genevra. I come to you seeking peace."
The whole hall gasped as they waited for him to continue.
"You see, when my sister told me to leave and never come back, I was heartbroken. I knew that if I obeyed, I would never be able to see my sweet sister again. I could not stand that sad fact. So, I came up with an idea. I have come back, not to disobey Genevra's demands, but to show I can be civilized. To try and be, a Dane.
The people gasped once more, looking at each other with excited glances, remembering what King Hrothgar had said if this happened. If the test was successful, Grendel and Genevra will be united once again, for good.
"You, really mean it, Storebror?" Genevra gasped, tears filling her eyes.
"I do, Lillesøster." Grendel smiled.
"Well done!" Hrothgar clapped happily. "That's the spirit, Grendel. And, as I have already said before, if this test is successful, you will no longer be banished, and you will be welcomed to live amongst us."
"But, caution must still be aware." Beowulf approached. "I'll be watching you, Grendel. And one, I mean one! One slip up. One harmful action, and I will ignore your sister's protests, as I kill you right in front of her."
"That seems a little bit harsh and extreme, don't you think?" Grendel gulped.
"Then don't let it come to that."
….
The party continued as it always had, but it was louder and more happy, testing the creature that was in the room with them. Grendel sat next to his sister and said nothing, watching as the Danes and Geats danced to the music.
"I'm surprised, Grendel." Genevra's voice made him jump. "You haven't said a word since the noise started."
"I have no reason to, sister." Grendel shook his head. "Beowulf has made my ear go deaf, so noise does not bother me no more. In fact, I find it quite enjoyable now."
"Wow, that's great, Storebror! So, do you think you'll be alright here?"
"I think I can manage it."
Suddenly, Unferth came up to them, carrying two cups of mead.
"Here you are, children." He smirked at Grendel playfully. "A cup of mead for each of you."
"Thank you, Unferth." Genevra nodded at him before turning to her brother. "Grendel, you must try some mead."
"I don't know." Grendel was hesitant." I've never had mead before."
"In order to be one of us you must drink like us." Unferth insisted. "Drink."
Grendel gulped and hesitantly took his cup. He froze as he felt eyes on him. He knew the whole hall was probably looking at him.
"Drink, brother." Genevra encouraged him as the soft drink sloshed around in his cup.
Grendel sighed shakily before taking a big sip. His eyes popped open as the golden liquid trickled down his throat, leaving a deliciously pleasant taste in his mouth.
"It's delicious." He admitted as he set his empty cup back down.
"You hear that?" Hrothgar said to his people. "Grendel likes the mead!"
The people in Herot cheered for the creature as they continued to celebrate, happy once more.
"You know, Grendel," Genevra started as she drank her own mead. "I just noticed, you've gotten smaller."
"Have I really?"
"It looks like it." Genevra nodded. "Beowulf!"
Beowulf looked up as the child called to him.
"Can you be a friend and compare our heights? It looks as if Grendel has gotten smaller."
"Of course." Beowulf nodded as he approached. "Why don't you two stand back to back? It's easier that way."
Genevra and Grendel nodded as they both stood back to back, while Beowulf compared their heights.
"He certainly did shrink." He nodded. "Genevra, you're almost up to his elbow now."
"Grendel, you've shrunk to the size of man!" Genevra gasped. "I am only twelve, and yet I am to your elbow! You are the size of man now!"
"It must've happened during our battle!" Grendel gasped at he looked at Beowulf. "When you punched my ear!"
"It must've." Beowulf agreed. "Grendel, I am sorry."
"No, no, don't apologize. I should be thanking you. The new size makes me seem a bit more, normal."
"There is nothing normal about you." Wiglaf frowned. "But, at least you're trying."
"Genevra," Welthow suddenly called, causing the child to look at her. "Are you up to a little singing?"
"Oh no, my queen." Genevra shook her head. "I'm not sure I should."
"Oh, but I insist." Welthow urged. "You have such a lovely voice. And I doubt your brother has ever heard you sing."
"You sing?" Grendel stared at his little sister.
"Well, maybe just a little." Genevra blushed. "I've only sang for the crowd three times."
"Three times?! How come I've never heard it?"
"Because we're siblings and we can't hear each other when we're far apart."
"Come, come Genevra." Hrothgar insisted. "You must sing for us."
"I don't know." Genevra sighed.
Suddenly, the whole hall was cheering her on, insisting that she should sing. Danes, Geats, and even Grendel shouted to sing.
"Alright, alright!" She cried as she stood up. "I'll sing."
The people cheered as Unferth handed her her instrument, a pipe flute. Genevra took the flute and stood in the middle of the hall, while the people surrounded her. She brought the flute up to her lips and began playing, as the people danced to her music. She brought the flute down, and began singing.
A promise that I keep, I'll never share I'll never speak. To my grave the secret goes.
The beating heart, the beating heart.
The mystic creatures wander far.
Through these veins the wolfblood flows.
A change will come I know, behold my future. As sure as day returns to night.
The passion on my clan.
To be at one with them.
And hidden from the world outside.
Grendel watched, bewildered, as his sister sang with such beauty in her voice. She opened her mouth for the second verse.
A promise that I keep, I'll never share I'll never speak. To my grave the secret goes.
The beating heart, the beating heart.
The mystic creatures wander far.
Through these veins the wolfblood flows.
As she brought up her flute to play the instrumental, Genevra danced to her own music. The people cheered her on as she played and danced. Grendel was mighty impressed.
A change will come I know, behold my future. As sure as day returns to night.
The passion on my clan.
To be at one with them.
And hidden from the world outside.
A promise that I keep, I'll never share I'll never speak. To my grave the secret goes.
The beating heart, the beating heart.
The mystic creatures wander far.
Through these veins the wolfblood flows.
A change will come I know, behold my future. As sure as day returns to night.
The passion on my clan.
To be at one with them.
And hidden from the world outside.
A promise that I keep, I'll never share I'll never speak.
Through these veins the wolfblood flows.
As Genevra howled the last note, the hall howled with her. Grendel stared with unbelieving eyes.
He had been watching his sister, and he could've sworn that for a split second, her eyes had turned yellow.
….
That night, as the hall slept, Genevra cuddled against her older brother, feeling safe in his arms. Grendel pulled his little sister close to him, but he could not sleep. He has had a wonderful time with the people in the hall, and he was not sure if he should stay, or return home back to their mother.
And what if Hrothgar did end his banishment? It would mean he would no longer have to live in the moors, leaving his mother all alone.
"Storebror, why don't you sleep?" Genevra yawned when she realized he was still awake.
"I can't sleep Lillesøster." Grendel sighed. "I have too much on my mind."
"Like what?"
"Like living here, leaving mother alone. That's what's going to happen if Hrothgar ends my banishment."
"Yes, but, the bird has got to leave the nest sometime."
"Yes, but we're not birds."
"It doesn't matter, we're still partially human. And humans always leave their parents once they're old enough."
"Are we old enough?"
"Look at me, brother. I'm twelve and I've been living without mother for years."
"I see your point." Grendel nodded. "I guess, mother can live without us now."
"Of course she can." Genevra smiled. "Now, sleep, Grendel."
But, as Genevra slept soundly, Grendel still had trouble falling asleep, as he could've sworn that he had just heard their mother cry out in rage at his decision.