Then Wiglaf hears something on the wind, a wordless keening, and he peers out across the sea, seeking the source of the sound. As he stares at the sea, bloodied now by the setting sun and the flames of the funeral ship, the keening begins to take another shape, becoming a beautiful song, a song more exquisite than any that has ever reached his ears or that he has ever before thought possible.
The song, Wiglaf. Grendel’s mother, the merewife…
And then he sees her, the form of a woman astride the prow of the burning dragon ship. The sunset gleams off her naked skin, and then she slips silently into the sea. Relieved of its queer passenger, the boat lists to starboard and immediately begins to sink. Wiglaf leaves his place in the boulders and walks quickly down to the wet sand, where something metallic sparkles as it rolls to and fro in the foamy surf. At first he thinks it only some trinket that must have fallen from the dead king’s ship, perhaps thrown free by the impact of the firefall. But when he stoops to pick it up, he finds the golden drinking horn, twice lost and now returned once more. He picks it up, though some more cautious part of his mind suggests he would be better off leaving it be, turning about, and following the others back up the cliff to the keep. Wiglaf stands there with the sea lapping at his feet and holds the horn, realizing that he has not until this second fully appreciated the elegance of its craftsmanship. He glances back toward the sea, which is quickly growing dark as the sun slips away.
She is rising from the water, the gilt-skinned mother of the demon Grendel, the mother of the dragon who was Beowulf’s only son. She stops singing and smiles, beckoning Wiglaf with one long finger. Wiglaf takes a hesitant step toward her, the sea rushing about his ankles and seeming to draw him forward. He is only dimly aware of the burning funeral ship now, as its carved bow rises high into the air and lingers there a moment before sliding backward to be swallowed up by the ocean. The water hisses and steams as the deep accepts the mortal remains of Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, into Ægir’s gardens.
“A man like you,” she says, “could own the greatest tale ever sung,” and Wiglaf, son of Weohstan, gazes deeply into the honeyed eyes of this woman from the sea. His mind is filled with the siren lure of her promises, but also does he clearly see the price he would pay, the price that so many other men have paid before him.
“A man like you,” she says again and extends a hand to the Geat.
“Might walk any road that pleases him,” replies Wiglaf, and the icy sea slops at his feet. “I know you, she-demon, and I know you speak of glory and of wealth and renown, and but for what I’ve seen, it might appear the fairest gift ever offered a poor fishmonger’s son.”
“As you say,” the merewife smiles, for she is ancient and skilled at waiting games, having yet more time before her than any mortal man might ever comprehend.
And the Norns—Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld—the three fates busily weaving beneath the roots of Yggdrasil, watch the progress of another cord held tight within their looms. For every single thread is a wonder to them, and so they spin and wait with the patience of all immortal things.
A Glossary of Norse, Icelandic, Old English, and Anglo-Saxon Terms Appearing in the Novel
Ægir—in Norse mythology, the personification of the sea and husband of the goddess Rán, father to nine daughters (the billows, waves); a synonym for “sea” in skaldic poetry. Ægir is sometimes described as a giant, though this seems unlikely.
aeglaeca—in reference to Grendel’s mother (“Grendles modor”); Anglo-Saxon, “awesome opponent,” “ferocious fighter.”
Æsir—the principal gods of the Norse pantheon, including Odin, Baldr, Bragi, Loki, Vé, Heimdall, etc.; excludes those gods referred to as the Vanir, with whom the Æsir do battle.
aglaec-wif—Anglo-Saxon, in reference to Grendel’s mother (“Grendles modor”); some controversy surrounds the correct translation of this phrase. The Dictionary of Old English translates it as “female warrior, fearsome woman.” Earlier authors translated it as “monster wife” and “monster woman,” but those same translations of Beowulf translate aglaeca and aeglaeca as “hero” or “warrior” when referring to Beowulf himself.
Árvak—Norse, “early riser,” one of the horses that draw the chariot of the sun goddess Sól.
Alsvin—Norse, “all swift,” one of the two horses that draw the chariot of the sun; also Alsvid.
Ásgard—the home of the Æsir, literally “enclosure-of-the-Æsir.”
Ásynja—feminine form of Æsir.
Audhumla—in the Norse creation myth, the first cow, who licked the first god, Búri, free from a block of salty ice.
Aurgelmir—“gravel-yeller,” father of the race of Frost Giants; also known as Ymir.
Bestla—a Frost Giant, mother of the gods Odin, Vé, and Vili, wife of Borr (Burr), daughter of Bolthorn.
Bilröst Bridge—also known as Bifröst, the Bifrost Bridge, the Rainbow Bridge, etc.; a great bridge connecting the homes of the Æsir with Midgard, the realm of men, to be destroyed at Ragnarök.
Bragi—Norse god of poetry, son of Odin.
Bronding clan—a Germanic tribe, probably located on the Swedish island of Brännö, west of Västergöt-land in the Kattegatt (an embayment of the Baltic Sea); Beowulf’s childhood friend, Brecca, was of the Bronding.
Búri—the primeval god in the Norse pantheon, father of Borr, grandfather to Odin.
Dark Fells—Nidafjöll, “fell mountains” of the Norse underworld, from whence came the great dragon Nidhögg Rootnibbler.
Dökkálfar—in Norse mythology, the subterranean “dark elves”; known also as the Svartálfar (“black elves”). Possibly synonymous with the dwarves (dvergar).
einherjar—in Norse mythology, the spirits of those who have died bravely in battle and so dwell with Odin in Valhalla, awaiting the coming of Ragnarök; also einheriar, singular einheri.
Éljudnir—Hel’s hall in the Norse underworld.
The Fates—(see Norns).
Fenrir, Fenrisulfr—in Norse mythology, a great wolf, son of Loki and the giantess Angrboda. Fenrir was bound by the Æsir, but will one day grow so large he will break his chains and devour Odin during Ragnarök, before being slain by Odin’s son, Vidar.
Frermánudr—frost month, twelfth month of the Old Norse calendar, corresponding roughly to mid-November to Mid-December, Yule month; also known as Ylir.
Fyrweorm—literally, “fire worm”; dragon.
Gandvik—probably an old name for the Baltic Sea; also Grandvik in some translations.
Geat—Beowulf’s tribe, a people who lived in what is now Sweden, in Götaland (“land of the Geats”); the Goths.
Ginnunga gap—a primordial void or chaos that existed before the world was ordered; also Ginnun-gagap.
Gjöll—in Norse mythology, one of eleven rivers (the Élivágar) whose sources are the Hvergelmir (the wellspring of all cold) in Niflheim. The Élivágar (“ice waves”) flow through Ginnunga Gap; Gjöll is also a name used for the stone to which the wolf Fenrir is bound.