The Tale of Sword-Thane (A Second Prologue to the Song of Beowulf)

The Tale of Sword-Thane

After his father's passing Beo ruled the keeps and settlements in the hold through his long life, loved leader of the Shieldings. He had an heir named Half-Dane, who ruled after Beo left his life on earth. This elder and war-chief of his tribe, Half-Dane, was a prolific producer of successors. 4 noble children sprang from his loins: the most senior Heorogar, father of Herward who was passed over for Danish kingship; the second was Hrothgar, whom fortune would smile on; Halga the Good was the third, and finally a daughter Yrse; she was given to Onela, that king of the Swedes, to be his queen and comfort in his chambers.

Upon Half-Dane's death, alongside him Heorogar, his eldest offspring, Hrothgar was given the ruling crown, command over the Danes. Such a great warrior was he, a winner of wars, that men young and old pledged themselves to obey his every word and will. The ranks of retainers swelled to an army of unmatched strength of numbers. Success was his since he followed the example of his forefathers.

In his head Hrothgar made mind-plans for a folk-hall, a shelter for weary warriors, a castle for keeping treasures. When his decree came, countless followers felled entire forests of trees, and laborers in the hundreds worked to erect that edifice which would become the mightiest of mead-halls, finest roof over any royal's head. Keen craftsmen, skilled artisans from around the world came to contribute their talents to Hrothgar's hall, where he would share his gifts granted by God with the people. Under his leadership no common lands or livestock would be confiscated, each man's property-whether he be earl or carl-would be safe.

Soon it stood after much work, walls and roof sturdily built, the interior finely furnished. No building stood taller or wider or more beautiful. Hrothgar christened his hall of halls Heorot-Hall of the Hart. In a great celebration of the Shieldings' prosperity and success Hrothgar graciously gave treasures, rings to the warriors and torques to their wives.

Hrothgar married the Wulfing princess Wealtheow, their union bounding the Shieldings and Wulfings together. Lady Wealtheow kept the peace between her husband Hrothgar and Helm, her father. While men wage war, women work to temper their husbands' hot heads, allow peace and good sense to prevail. Wondrous is the wife who quenches the heat of the battle-flame burning in her husband's heart! A good queen that fair Wealtheow. Her sons were set to inherit grand kingdoms: Hrethric the first-born, followed by Hrothmund, and a daughter Freawaru the Peace-Weaver, fated to be wed to Ingeld, son of Froda of the Hathobards.

This was the pinnacle of Danish society, never again would this height be reached in the history of their civilization. The wood walls and shingled roofs waited for a future flame that would burn it all down, wasted by war. Yet that time would come later in its history, with the fire-hot feud of in-laws.

Yet as God's providence shined on Hrothgar, his sons thriving and his mead-hall high, the forgotten heir Herward, son of Heorogar, first-born son of Half-Dane, began to envy Hrothgar his uncle. By the law of succession the throne and right to rule were his, but youth and unreadiness at the time of the King's passing moved his mother to put the safekeeping of the realm in Hrothgar's hands, wise with years and faculties proven through experience. Now grown, Herward coveted and craved the crown he thought he had claim to, leadership that the Almighty apportioned to Heorogar's brother. Ever since the first sin stained the soil of the earth, Satan's victory in Eden garden, jealousy has forever plagued kith and kin. So long as kings inherit thrones through birth, the junior brother shall envy his senior sibling. Nephews shall be endangered by their uncles seeking their own path to power and glory. Father must guard their heirs against their own household, lest they be betrayed by their closest kin. After the first fratricide, when Cain slew his brother Abel, the bond between kindred folk was forever broken.

Herward rallied round him thanes loyal to his father Heorogar, displaced and demoted in favor of Hrothgar's own friends. His followers spilled Danish blood in Heorot hall, then fled to the countryside where they waged war against their own, brother 'gainst brother. The feud deeply distressed Hrothgar, who was hesitant to raise arms against his household, but whose duty was to defend the Danes from danger, foreign or domestic enemies. The Shielding King prayed for one to conclude the conflict, cease the civil strife.