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One day Fishlegs found himself before the Great God Woden.
"Why?" Fishlegs asked. But Woden did not answer.
"Why did I have to be born in such a difficult time and place?" Fishlegs asked. "Why did I have to grow up in the Barbaric Archipelago, facing mortal peril on a daily basis, when I could have had a peaceful life as a poet if I'd grown up somewhere else?" But Woden did not answer.
"Why did I have to spend my teen years at the center of a devastating interspecies war, when I'm not even any good at fighting?" Fishlegs asked. "Why did I have to live a full year of my childhood in slavery in the Amber Slavelands? Why couldn't I just be left alone?" But Woden did not answer.
"Why did I have to have so many health problems!?" Fishlegs asked, starting to get angry. "Isn't just growing up in such a violent and hostile land hardship enough!? Why did you have to also give me asthma, and eczema, and allergies, and a squint, and a childhood leg injury that never fully healed!?" But Woden said nothing.
"Why did you make me a Berserk!?" Fishlegs asked challengingly. "Was that just some sort of big cosmic joke!? Well!? What's the purpose of giving that kind of a gift to someone with no capacity to use it!? All your Divine Rage ever did for me was get me into even worse trouble! Was that the point!? Did you just want to laugh while I got myself killed by Norbert the Nutjob!?" But Woden said nothing.
"Why did I have to be born a runt and put out to sea on my first day of life!?!?" Fishlegs asked furiously. "Why did I have to be separated from the Deadly Shadow who would have protected me!?!? Why did I have to be raised by a Long-Eared Caretaker Dragon in a flooded hut, instead of by a mother who loved me!?!? Why did I have to be so alone for so much of my life!?!?" But still Woden said nothing.
"WHY DID MY FATHER HAVE TO BE ALVIN THE TREACHEROUS!?!?!?" Fishlegs shouted.
Woden blinked his one eye.
Fishlegs huffed and puffed angrily, but said no more.
Finally, Woden spoke. "Hiccup needed you."
Fishlegs blinked his two eyes.
"Not a healthier version of you," Woden said. "Not a version of you raised by Termagant or her Deadly Shadow. Not a version of you fathered by a Peaceable fisherman. He needed you as you are."
Fishlegs opened his mouth, then closed it.
Woden looked down at Fishlegs.
Fishlegs looked up at Woden.
"Oh," Fishlegs said softly. "I see."
Woden continued looking down at Fishlegs.
Fishlegs continued looking up at Woden.
"Alright then," Fishlegs said. Then, "Thank you for making sure Hiccup was taken care of."
"For that you can thank yourself," Woden said, almost smiling.
Fishlegs nodded. "I suppose I can."