Beowulfric

Hwaet! We have heard	of heroes brave
fierce in fighting	fraught with war-spirit.
The strongest of men	call the Mists their home.
Strongest of these	thane and prince
bear-man warrior	Braun of the Mists
protects the mist-land	with His princess Eliza.
Braun called for a feast	for fairest Eliza
called for his shield-knights	his cooks and his minstrels
all ladies fair	and ladies fairer
though none are fairer	than fairest Eliza.
The Princess's guardians	her pavilion raised
blue pennants flying.	The populace travelled
sought foods and feasting	and flowers garlanded.
The nobles gathered	garbed in riches
barons and baronesses	brightly jewel-gleamed
all come to honor	comely Mist-rulers.
The first day of feast	fed by Gwenhllian
the wooden food-tables	in the white pavilion
heavy with game	with gold bread and cheese
groaned and creaked	and glowed with plenty.
Fionn poured his honey-mead	passed the ale cups
toasted the prince	and talked of beauty.
Wiglaf and Woodsende	waged a game-contest
the mightier man	would maintain a feast-chair
held above his head	high and long.
Wiglaf won.	Then Wander sang
of glory and goodness	great deeds of tourney-knights
songs of battle	brave fighting men.
The feasting slowed	and sleep came to all
in the white pavilion	the populace rested.
Then Grendel came.	A great roaring monster
foul and fiend-faced	all feared his hate-call.
Brave war-baron woke	Wilhelm purple-garbed
grabbed sword and shield-guard	to save his baroness.
Grendel tore the sheet-wall	sheared the pavilion
roared in the doorway	downed the mist-wall.
The princess's guardians	grouped in a war-shape
sought to succor	their sweet Eliza.
Grendel grabbed Megan	gulped her head off
swallowed her fingers	next finished her bones.
Wilhelm war-baron	bright fighting-stick swinging
fought the foul monster	fright-visaged demon
his sword-cuts useless.	Savagely Grendel
swung his sharp hands	sword-fingers cutting
Wilhelm's grey head gone.	Grendel left the pavilion
unhurt and heart-happy	his hunger gone.
Great grew the groaning	the grief and heart-cries
as Braun and Eliza	blinded by tears
grieved for their lost ones	that Grendel devoured.
The second feast day	scared mist-dwellers
frightened by fiend-hate	fled to their shires.
Prince Braun and Eliza	proud but heart-weary
mourned their lost subjects	stayed at the feasting-place.
Bravely they feasted	fed by Gwenhllian
Fionn filled the mead-cups	few nobles remained.
Brave Beowulfric	baker renowned
stayed with his prince	strong mist-dweller.
Braun and his brave knights	Beowulfric as well
slept in the white pavilion	settled for night.
Eliza the princess	proud but not stupid
slept in a guest tent	surrounded by ladies.
Cynthia slept there	and Suzanne de Veleson
with beautiful hats	hanging beside them
and Lady Donata	dreaming of Beowulfric
strong-fingered bread-kneader	bedded beside them.
Deep in the darkness	demon-Grendel howled.
Beowulfric the bread-kneader	bread-baker sleeping
woke to the wailing	in the white pavilion.
War-knights awakened	weary and grief-filled
grabbed for their sword-sticks	as Grendel approached.
Blond-maned Theophilous	thane of the Mist-prince
hefted his war-ax	hewed at the monster.
Grendel demon-spawn	grimed and foul
slimy of fur	fanged and clawed
no war-ax sharp	nor smith-wrought blade
his fury-strong fur	could fray or maim.
Theophilous strong-arm	swung his ax-blade
but deadly Grendel	dined on his head.
Braun's strong fighters	smith-blades wielding
cut at the hell-fiend	hacked with their swords
but the claw-monster	cut them savagely
poured a blood-pool	from painful cuts.
Brave Beowulfric	baker heroic
soon stood alone	near slain death-piles
no sword in his hands	strong bread-kneaders
while sharp-clawed Grendel	grabbed for his head.
Brave Beowulfric	bread-crafter renowned
caught Grendel's claw-hand	carver of war-thanes
held with his bread-hands	the hand of a demon.
Though Grendel growled	his grip held firm
Beowulfric bread-kneader	broke off Grendel's arm.
The savage hell-monster	screamed in his terror
dealt his death-blow	damned to torment
his rich death-blood	red life-pool
covered the war-knights	his wound of death.
The night-fiend dying	fled to the darkness.
Handsome Beowulfric	hung the fiend-arm
red drops pooling	on the pavilion white.
Braun and Eliza	and everyone rejoiced
drank from mead-cups	called out praise.
Braun the bear-prince	Beowulfric's thane
called his jewellers	Geoffrey Matthias
and Hirsch the handcrafter	hailed them close.
Soon their treasure	toiled over
laurel-brightened gold	a gift of honor
Prince Braun held	Beowulfric called forth
praised the hero	prince-worthy words.
Spoke Prince Braun	bear-like warrior,
"Brave Beowulfric	baker heroic
I honor your greatness	give you this gift."
Held in his paw-hands	handsome and bright
a miniature monster arm	mounted on gold.
Spoke Prince Braun	to Beowulfric his thane,
"You have our thanks	young bread-warrior.
We give you this gift	grant you this arm."
Brave Beowulfric	baker heroic
feasted with honey-mead	famous warrior.