Week 12 Story: Beowulf's Race

“On your marks! Start!”

With that announcement, Beowulf and Breca bounded into the raging sea, each man determined to best the other in a treacherous swimming race. The rules were simple: first to the far shore would be declared victor. A testament to the courage of the two men, the route was several days’ swim even in good weather; yet presently a storm raged on, churning the sea and provoking great waves. The sky was blackened by grim clouds. This would be Beowulf’s first true test of might. He had been challenged by his compatriot Breca as a means to prove his alleged strength and bravery.

Beowulf took an immediate lead, nearly unfettered by the crashing waves that pushed back at his progress. It should be said that both men were fully equipped with armor and weapons against the legendary beasts said to lurk these waters. Though it was uncomfortable to swim in such conditions, Beowulf was a man of such strength that he was able to press on at an impressive speed.

For the first day, the greatest obstacle Beowulf faced was the sea itself. Even he was brought near exhaustion by his navigation of the unrelenting waters. After some time, he pause to take in his surroundings. Breca was nowhere to be seen, nor was the shore of home. Black sky and black waters raged with equal intensity. Beowulf swam through the night and only when dawn broke did the storm begin to calm. Fatigued, he calmed his pace as the waved subdued.

He wasn’t able to relax for long.

Many yards in front of him, he saw a great many bubbles breaking against the water’s surface. There was something breathing beneath the sea, and perhaps it was coming up for air. Beowulf braced himself and readied his sword in preparation. Soon enough, a serpent’s head came crashing into the open air, staring at Beowulf through slit eyes. Its scales were oily and green, and it opened its mouth to reveal fangs like daggers.

A sea monster (Wikimedia Commons)

The appearance of this sea monster was enough to rejuvenate Beowulf as he charged to make the first attack. He attempted to strike the serpent, but narrowly missed as the creature darted behind him. A whip of its tail knocked the steel helmet from Beowulf’s head. Beowulf turned to protect his skull against the next strike, and quickly slashed at the tail that made a second attempt at his head. As quickly as the battle had begun, it was over: the serpent, cut in two, sank to the bottom of the sea with one last hiss.

Though he made the attempt to swim onward, he was drained of all energy after the rush of battle slowly faded. At length he went limp in sleep, carried by the waves to an unknown shore. When he awoke days later, he knew not yet that he was the victor in a most honorably contested race.



Author’s Note: In The Story of Beowulf, some reference is made to a race between Beowulf and Breca. Until Beowulf battles with Grendel, the race is his only real claim to fame. I decided to write out how it might have gone! The legend tells of massive waves and sea monsters in a several-day race, and I tried to be true to that.

Bibliography. The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs. Web Link.