The monster Grendel, that had plagued King Hrothgar and the Danes, had been slain by Beowulf, but now its mother had emerged to seek revenge for her son. King Hrothgar told Beowulf of an uncanny mere where the water burned, and the warrior and his men soon found that place, the water red with gore and writhing with sea-dragons and monsters. Beowulf, undaunted, armoured himself with helmet and fine chain-mail, and took up the sword Hrunting, which had never failed its wielder, though they faced dreadful foes.