Beowulf and the Dragon
It has been many winters, fifty in fact, since we have heard of any great deeds done by Beowulf. However, recently Beowulf has earned glory and fame once more by killing a dragon. The dragon apparently was angry because a thief had stolen a jeweled cup from the dragon's boar of gold. The dragon had been laying waste to the Geats' land until Beowulf and eleven of his warriors where lead by the thief who stole the jeweled cup, to the dragon's lair. Beowulf was ready to fight what was to be his last battle and one of his greatest battles. The great king Beowulf fought alone for a time and was shortly after joined by a brave young soldier named Wiglaf. Beowulf's other warriors, who are now full of guilt, cowered while Wiglaf and his king, Beowulf, fought the dragon. In the end Beowulf was the victor but was fatally wounded. Before he died Wiglaf showed the king the gold that he sacrificed his life for. In the end, Beowulf ordered " Have the brave Geats build me a tomb, when the funeral flames have burned me, and build it here, at water's edge, high, on this spit of land, so sailors can see this tower, and boats in the darkness, and mist, crossing the sea, will know it" (pg 45 line 809-816) and then said to Wiglaf "You're the last of all our far-flung family" (pg 45 line 821)and he was dead. After Beowulf died, 12 of the bravest Geats rode around telling of their sorrow. Now Wiglaf is king.