A Supernatural Victory
by Bridget M., age 15
During the sixth century King Hrothgar of the Danes ruled Scandinavia as a judicious and generous king. As proof of his munificence, he erected a magnificent mead-hall, called Heorot, where his fearless nobles regularly feasted. Unfortunately, in the nearby swamplands Grendel, a savage giant, resented their mirth. Shambling maliciously up to the hall each night, he beset and slaughtered the thanes, who were unable to slay him. When this had gone on for several years, Beowulf, the faithful and determined prince of the Geats, resolved to loose the Danes from their plight. Not only inspired by the challenge but also indebted to King Hrothgar for past services, Beowulf dutifully assembled his bravest knights and rode to confront the seemingly indomitable beast. Upon reaching the problematic hall, Beowulf promptly discarded his armor and weapons, entrusting the outcome of the battle entirely to the omniscient Father.
As night gradually settled over the somber hall, the malodorous wanderer known as Grendel once more approached Heorot with malice gleaming in his eyes. Spotting the mass of dormant thanes, he delighted in his good fortune and resolved to kill the wretched creatures. Grendel wasted no time. Before he had yet finished his grisly work on the first screaming thane, however, he was confronted by Beowulf, who alone of the warriors had remained alert. Grendel soon found himself locked in a fierce handclasp more resilient than any he had ever encountered before. Although he struggled mightily and shrieked with terrible rage, Grendel could not free his arm from Beowulf’s supernaturally strong grip. Endlessly they toiled amid the horrified thanes until the entire mead-hall shook with the fervor of their combat.
Finally, after hours of relentless struggle, Grendel loosed a howl of defeat so horrific that it effectively stupefied the Danes. With one last surge of remarkable strength, Beowulf had ripped Grendel’s arm from his shoulder. Grendel fled to the marshes to die in agony, and peace was restored to the Danish war-hall. As Beowulf suspended the monstrous arm in the vast ceiling of Heorot, the Danes praised his courage. Many renowned warriors from distant lands flocked to behold the massive footprints of the infamous giant and the dreadful trophy displayed in the mead-hall. All wondered at the impossible victory, won not by numbers or weapons, but by a steadfast trust in God. Belatedly the Danes realized that if they, too, had only placed their trust in the almighty Father, He may have granted them a supernatural victory before so many of their brave young men were slain.
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