Chapter 9: The Final Battle
Grendel, Genevra, Wiglaf, and Beowulf rode as quickly on their horses, trying to catch up with the fast flying dragon.
"It's heading for Herot!" Genevra shouted. "What do we do?!"
"Just keep riding, Onee-chan." Grendel ordered. "We have to catch up!"
"Relax, I'll handle this!" Beowulf assured as he stood up on his saddle.
He balanced on the saddle and threw his hatchet at the dragon, catching it at the side. The dragon roared and flew higher into the sky, taking Beowulf with it.
"Father!" The siblings cried.
"Is he nuts?!" Genevra shouted, outraged.
"Come on, Genevra, this is Beowulf we're talking about!" Grendel shouted back.
"Look out!" Wiglaf cried.
The siblings looked up and saw what it was that Wiglaf was screaming about.
Arrows from archers came raining down on them. They did everything they could to avoid being hit.
"Hey, aim for the dragon, not us!" Genevra shouted angrily.
They looked back up at their common enemy and realized something a miss. Beowulf was gone!
"Where is he? Where did he go?" Genevra gasped.
"Over there!" Grendel pointed.
They looked over and saw their king running to the bridge, which the dragon had burned in attempt to kill its attackers.
They watched as Beowulf jumped over the bridge and landed on the dragon's back.
"What in the name of Odin is he doing?!" Genevra frowned.
Suddenly, the dragon turned, heading to the sea.
"It's going to drown him!" Genevra gasped.
To their horror, the dragon dove into the water, taking Beowulf with it. Large heat bubbles burst on the surface as the dragon swam deeper and deeper.
After a few minutes, it finally emerged from the salty water, flying to Herot once again.
"Where's Beowulf? I can't see him!" Grendel frowned.
"There he is!" Genevra pointed as the man swung from a chain connected to the dragon's mouth.
"He's just trying to get a free ride, now ain't he?" Wiglaf huffed.
"Look out!" Grendel cried.
The three of them reeled in their horses as they reached the burning bridge.
"We'll never make that!" Grendel shook his head, referring to the big gap in the middle of the only way back to Herot.
"Have faith, Grendel!" Wiglaf laughed as he got the horses galloping again.
The siblings sat in their saddles nervously as they let the horses do the work. They gathered as much speed as they could, then jumped, clearing the gap easily and landing safe successfully on the other side.
"See, I told you we could make it." Wiglaf smiled as they rode on.
Grendel and Genevra rolled their eyes and looked back up to the golden beast. To their horror, it had reached Herot, and it was now on an attacking spree, trying to harm the ones that were trapped on the wall by it's fire. Beowulf's whore, and Queen Welthow.
"Come on, Beowulf, do something!" Genevra pleaded.
Her prayers were answered when Beowulf swung over to the dragon's front and used his dagger to cut the fire pocket to the heart.
"He's going for the heart!" Genevra gasped.
"But the heart is really deep!" Grendel explained. "There's no way that dagger will be able to reach far enough. Isn't there any other way?"
"Hrothgar once said, as he was explaining to Beowulf, that the heart is the only way to kill a dragon." Genevra answered. "There is no other way."
….
The three of them finally got to Herot. Beowulf was still trying to reach the dragon's heart as they rode up the stairs.
"He can't reach the heart!" Genevra gasped as the king fell back. "The blade is too short!"
"I told you!" Grendel frowned. "How is he ever going to kill such a large beast with only a short dagger?"
They looked back up and watched as Beowulf looked at his chain wrapped arm and brought up his sword.
"He's gonna cut off his arm!" Grendel cried.
"My lord!" Wiglaf shouted, trying to get Beowulf's attention.
But the great man paid no mind as he stuck the blade between the shoulder of his armor and cut off his arm. Hanging by only his mail-shirt, Beowulf swung from the dragon and stuck the blade in for the heart.
Unfortunately, as the dragon tried to get the queen and whore with its teeth, it ended up swallowing some of the rocky wall.
"No!" Beowulf cried as his hand came back empty.
"He lost his sword!" Grendel gasped.
"What's he doing?" Genevra frowned as Beowulf swung back from the dragon and reached his hand in.
"He's gonna rip it out of the dragon's chest!" Grendel gasped.
Seconds later, the dragon screamed as Beowulf swung back, holding the heart in his hand, screaming in victory. The dragon fell, almost taking the queen with it as it and Beowulf fell down the cliff.
"Father!" Grendel and Genevra cried as Beowulf fell.
"We have to go after him." Genevra insisted.
"I'll come with you." Wiglaf agreed once he finished ordering the other soldiers to protect the queen.