Ecgtheow was Beowulf's father, a Waegmunding warrior. Hrothgar once settled Ecgtheow's blood-debt with the Wulfings, creating the bond of obligation that drew Beowulf across the sea to aid the Danish king against Grendel.
Wiglaf was the only warrior who stood by Beowulf against the fire-dragon when all other retainers fled. He stabbed the dragon's belly, enabling the dying Beowulf to deliver the killing blow. Beowulf bequeathed his armor and kingdom to Wiglaf as his last faithful retainer.
Beowulf, aged king of the Geats, struck Beowulf's Dragon with his sword Naegling while Wiglaf stabbed its belly, together slaying the beast — but the dragon's venomous bite swelled in Beowulf's neck, and the old king died on the headland beside the hoard he had won.
Beowulf tore off Grendel's arm in hand-to-hand combat in Heorot, as no weapon could pierce the monster's enchanted hide. Grendel fled to his mere and died of the wound, ending twelve years of terror over Hrothgar's hall.
Beowulf pursued Grendel's Mother to her underwater hall beneath the haunted mere. After Hrunting failed against her hide, he seized a giant-forged sword from the wall and beheaded her, then decapitated Grendel's corpse before surfacing with the golden hilt.
Beowulf defended Heorot from Grendel by fighting the monster bare-handed in the great mead hall, tearing off its arm. The hall that had stood empty for twelve years was restored to its purpose as a place of fellowship and feasting.
Beowulf crossed the sea to repay a debt his father Ecgtheow owed Hrothgar, who had once settled Ecgtheow's blood-feud with the Wulfings. Beowulf freed Hrothgar's hall from Grendel and his mother, and the old king wept when the young hero departed.
Hygelac was Beowulf's uncle and king. Beowulf served as Hygelac's greatest warrior and refused the throne when offered, serving Hygelac's son Heardred instead. Only after Heardred's death did Beowulf accept the Geatish kingship, ruling for fifty years.
Unferth challenged Beowulf's reputation at Hrothgar's court, taunting him about a swimming contest with Breca. Despite this hostility, Unferth later lent Beowulf his sword Hrunting for the descent to Grendel-Mother's underwater lair.
Beowulf wore a mail-coat wrought by Wayland the Smith when he descended to the mere, armor so finely linked that no battle-grip could harm his body.
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