Chapter 6: Six Years Later
Six years passed.
Beowulf was a successful old king. Wiglaf had turned into his advisor. Unferth had turned into a priest. And Welthow, she pretty much stayed the same.
As for 18 year old Genevra and 20 year old Grendel, they have been adopted by the king himself.
As of this moment, they were in battle with Finnish warriors.
Beowulf looked down at the battle before him, sighing in disappointment.
"This is not a battle." He shook his head. "This is slaughter."
"I couldn't agree more, father." Genevra agreed.
Suddenly, a demand from below made it's way to Grendel's healed ear. He looked down at the battle as his partially deaf but sensitive ear, continued to hear the screamed demands.
"Father, a Finnish warrior demands to see you." Grendel told the king.
Beowulf nodded, and they rode down to the finished battle. It didn't take them long to find the last warrior, being tormented by Danish warriors.
"Leave him!" Beowulf demanded. "Do you think it is not foolish to mock your opponents in this fashion? Let him die quickly!"
"Coward!" The warrior shouted. "Kill me yourself!"
"The king shall not engage in direct battle." Wiglaf kicked the warrior.
"Stop!" Beowulf demanded. "Let him up."
The warriors let go as he and the Finnish warrior stood face to each other.
"My lord, the king must not engage in direct battle." Wiglaf insisted.
Beowulf ignored his friend and approached the warrior.
"You want your name in the song of Beowulf?" He challenged. "You think it should end by me being killed by a Finnish warrior with no name?"
"I'm Finn, and my name shall be remembered forever." The warrior challenged right back.
"Only if you kill me!" Beowulf demanded as he quickly drew his sword and Finn picked up an axe. "Otherwise, you are nothing. Do you think, that you are the first? Or the hundredth, person to try to kill me? Let me tell you Finn, the Gods will not let me die so easily, not by a sword or fire or sea. I have slain more monsters and demons and people than you can count!"
"You did not slay the Grendel, though!" Finn pointed out.
"That's different." Beowulf frowned as he dropped his sword. "Grendel changed his ways and became a Dane. He reunited with his sister and did not try to stop me when I killed his mother!"
"I will kill you, Beowulf! And then the bards shall sing songs about me!"
"Then go ahead!" Beowulf shouted, ripping his clothing to show his bare chest. "Lay your axe upon my chest, Finn. Do your deed! Take my life!"
"Father!" Grendel and Genevra cried, frightened for their crazy adopted father.
"Somebody, give him a sword!" Finn demanded. "Or I'll…"
"You'll what?!" Beowulf demanded. "Kill me?! Well go ahead! Do it! Kill me! Kill me! Kill me!"
Finn whimpered as he dropped his axe, falling on his knees. Beowulf took the axe and lifted Finn's chin.
"Do you know why you can't kill me, my friend? Because I died many many years ago when I was young."
Beowulf tossed the axe aside and turned away.
"Give him a gold piece and send him home." He ordered. "He has a story to tell."
….
After the battle, Beowulf and the siblings looked down at the kingdom from the walls of Herot, which was newly built to be a mead hall within a castle.
"That was crazy what you just did out there my lord." Grendel frowned.
"How so?" Beowulf challenged.
"What if he had killed you?" Genevra hissed. "You have no heir. Denmark would go without a king, and brother and I will be orphans once again."
"I would not let that happen." Beowulf smiled at them. "Trust me."
"My lord?" A voice caught their attention.
They turned towards the voice and saw a Dane whore approaching them.
"Are you hurt?" She asked.
"Ah, not a scratch." Beowulf kissed her. "So young, and so beautiful."
"Bards sing of your greatness from all over the world." She smiled.
"Good." Beowulf smiled back. "And soon, they'll be singing of Grendel. We can't forget what tonight is."
"The night when Grendel changed his ferocious ways and became a Dane." The whore smiled. "And brother and sister was united once again."
"Do you really think the bards will sing about me?" Grendel asked.
"Of course." Genevra smiled. "It's not everyday a demon changes from bad to good."
"Beowulf," Another voice behind spoke. "You have returned."
"Be humble my queen." Beowulf nodded to the aged Welthow. "You are not a widow yet."
"How humbling," Welthow glared at the whore as she passed. "My husband."
….
That night, the people watched as another Dane bard told the story of how Grendel became the person he is today. When he finished, the crowd clapped.
"Genevra." Welthow smiled to the 18 year old. "Why don't you go up there and tell your version of the story?"
"Yes, Lillesøster." Grendel agreed. "You've been working on that song for some time, why don't you show it to the others?"
"Alright." Genevra nodded.
She stood up and stood in the center of the hall. The people waited, and then she began to sing.
We were both young when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts, I'm standing there.
In the mead hall in the summer air.
See the lights, see the party, the Dane gowns.
See you make your way through the crowd and say hello.
Little did I know.
That you were my brother, you were coming to see me.
And Hrothgar said "Stay away from the mead hall, demon!"
And I was crying on the staircase, begging you please don't go.
And I said.
Brother take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run.
You are Storebror.
And I am Lillesøster.
It's a sibling story, Grendel just say yes.
So I sneak out to the moors to see you.
We keep quiet 'cause we're dead if they knew, so close your eyes.
Leave this place for a little while.
'Cause you were my brother, you were coming to see me.
And Beowulf said "Stay away from the mead hall, demon!"
But you were everything to me, I was begging you please don't go.
And I said.
Brother take me somewhere we can be alone.
I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run.
You are Storebror.
And I am Lillesøster.
It's a sibling story, Grendel just say yes.
Brother save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel.
This love is difficult, but I know it's the real deal.
Don't be afraid.
We'll make it out of this mess.
It's a sibling story, Grendel just say yes.
Oh, oh.
I got tired of waiting, wondering if you were ever coming around.
My faith in you is fading, when I met you in the outskirts of town.
So I said.
Brother save me, I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting for you, but you never come.
Is this in my head?
I don't know what to think.
He knelt to the ground, and wrapped me in a hug and said.
Don't you worry sister dear, you'll never have to be alone.
I love you and that's all I really know.
I talked to the Danes, I'm here to stay.
It's a sibling story, Genevra just say yes.
Oh, oh.
'Cause we were both young, when I first saw you.