Chapter 2: The Hero Of Berk

''In the popular imagination, the end of the Viking Era is inevitably tied together with the Hero of Berk, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Despite the hagiographic efforts of both contemporary and subsequent biographers, according to both his own accounts and those of his associates, he was an extremely humble individual throughout his entire life, his journals revealing a man honestly bewildered and disturbed by the adulation. However, his accomplishments do speak for themselves, as a polymath and inventor whose name has become synonymous with both genius and altruism in the subsequent centuries…''

—The Second Flowering Of Yggdrasil: An Analysis Of The Norse Resurgence, 1710

Chapter Overview
One of the tribe's skalds sings the saga of the Hero of Berk. Hiccup has trouble accepting the praises.

Synopsis
Chessnut sings the saga he composed for Hiccup. After he finishes, Hiccup shows his appreciation but he leaves the Mead Hall because he's not used to such praise. Astrid helps him deal with the positive attention.

Ruffnut is upset on her Uncle Chessnut's behalf, but Chessnut himself is understanding of Hiccup's actions, knowing that Hiccup is not used to being praised and that Stoick himself behaved similarly when praised. Chessnut surmises that Ruffnut is upset partially because she's jealous of the relationship Hiccup and Astrid has when her own prospects are less than stellar.

Setup:

 * Chessnut brings up Ruffnut's lack of romantic options within the tribe. Payoff in Chapter 17.
 * Mildew and Johann are witnessed by Ruffnut arguing. Payoff in Chapter 28.

Payoff:

Epigraph Tie-In

 * The epigraph mentions Hiccup was a humble individual bewildered by the praises he gets. The chapter shows how unused he is to the praise he's getting, an issue Chestnut recognises and compares to when Stoick felt that he was undeserving of praise.

Links to the Chapter
ArchiveOfOurOwn link