Using adaptation theory and my own novel, "Shield Maiden," published in 2023 by Hachette, I examine how history of the English language (HEL) scholarship intersects with creative writing and writing craft. I've identified a large gap in our knowledge and understanding of how HEL can give us perspective and access to ancient texts and primary source materials while helping writers navigate from languages of the past to modern English. I use "Shield Maiden" as a case study for this relationship and demonstrate how to pay homage to the original text without imposing colonialist silencing over marginalized voices.