#also i rewatched httyd 1 + 2 recently and when stoick says '''youre not longer my son''' really hit me. i like to imagine that maybe he was

[drakyns]

𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘 . . .

a brief explanation of the origins of hiccup's real name (håkan) and how he came to accept it. it is believed that in old norse customs, the use of bynames was common; they could be praising or condescending, sometimes even used without one's given name, rewriting them. the collection of many bynames and honorary titles could indicate glory, fame and endless spirit.

ㅤhe was born a moon cycle too early, already too anxious to live. a wee thing, like his mother said: small, fragile, almost the size of a cat. he fought against his own little lungs, deafening all around the crib with his cries. his father was proud, for he squeezed his finger, and it hurt. he thought him a warrior, in a hurry to leave footsteps into the world. when stoick held him, he raised him to soak in dawning moonlight. as if smiling down on their family, thor sent thunder cutting through the skies... or was it a dragon roaring in the distance? the chronicles won't say for certain. blinded by promises only he could hear or perhaps projecting much of his own greens in his son's eyes, his father wanted to name him quickly, before the sun reached its peak. so soon, ausa vatni bathed his forehead, welcoming him in the arms of the chieftain, claiming him heir and part of the tribe. the storytellers sang the name chosen by the great and the vast: håkan, and the storytellers etched his runes so the gods would not forget his calling: ᛡᛆᚴᛆᚿ.

ㅤwhile some would call it arrogance, love was what made stoick not name his child ulf, bjørn, toke, arne, njal or any derivation from animals or fables. the name was a promise: his son was exalted by his father, the leader of the pack, and his mother, the queen, chosen by the very heavens, born to lead and rule, destined for greatness in all his might, a warrior in the making, strongest of them all. first of his name, his son was the mark of a better tomorrow to come, according to his father's speeches. a worthy heir for his legacy and tribe! no father could be more proud, more excited for grey days to come. his name, noble and princely, served to warn all others of his to-be imposing and towering presence. all expected him to be like stoick.

ㅤneedless, thus it is to say that, as his child grew, he did not seem to fit in the pledged shoes. he got sick often and was scrawny, body petit like a branch, trembling against harsh winds. clumsy he was on his feet, far too enamoured with stupid fables and childish wonders. he always let his prey escape and did poorly in sports. barely had a competitive spirit. he could not hold much of his drinking, either. sailors called him a bad luck charm, and gatherers avoided his son. he did not seem to have an ounce of charisma: he stuttered in shiness, fumbling on his words. his byname was soon fixed to be hixti inn (hiccup man, hiccup). so fitting it was that even his father adopted it. hence, ᛡᛆᚴᛆᚿ was replaced by ᛡᛁᚴᛍᛐᛁ ᛁᚿᚿ in young royal stories. hiccup embraced it, for he was hiccup, and not håkan. at least as a mere hiccup he did not feel so pressured. or that is what he believed, at least. sometimes, though, fate is a funny trickster thing.

ㅤ[ ... ]ㅤwhen the dragons were tamed and brought home, he showed himself bigger than hiccup or håkan, for he was both, neither and more. he stopped flinching or hesitating when someone called him by his given exalted name, and he smiled whenever his father would ruffle his hair in pride then. his chest was bigger now, heart more daring and outwards. thanks to his works and ambition, he collected other bynames so legends to prose: smiðr (ᛍᛘᛁᚦᛦ, great smith, metal maker), draig kyn (ᛑᚱᛆᛁᚵ ᚴᚤᚿ, dragon-kinned, of fire and scales) and hersir (ᛡᛂᚱᛍᛁƦ, chieftain and loved guardian). even the elders gave him honourary titles: first rider, cloud chaser, pride of berk, berk's shield, blade cutter, heart and soul of dragon. though ghosts of feeling unworthy still burdened his nightmares and shoulders, he carried himself tall like his father taught him: he needed to try and be that great, that brave and that selfless. for his father was proud at the table of the kings, smiling down on him, and he watched as every step of his son now left bold footsteps behind. for he was first of his name and unlike all before him.

håkan, hiccup, hersir, smiðr, draig kyn. he wears them all on his coat.