The Wodensfang is a very ancient dragon who becomes a friend of Hiccup, and joins him in trying to build a permanent peace between humans and dragons.
At the introduction of the Wodensfang, Hiccup assumes he is a small species of dragon. However, he later learns that Wodensfang is actually an elderly Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus.
Quick Answers
What species of dragon is Wodensfang?
Who sent Wodensfang to kill Hiccup Horrendous Haddock I?
What is the relationship between Wodensfang and Hiccup?
What is Wodensfang's role in the peace between humans and dragons?
Why did Hiccup initially think Wodensfang was a small species of dragon?
History[]
Pre-Series[]
When the Seadragon Merciless was fighting to eradicate humankind, he sent the young Wodensfang, then a significantly larger and more imposing dragon, to kill Hiccup Horrendous Haddock I, as a prophecy foretold that Merciless would be killed by a Hiccup. The Wodensfang was caught in some branches when he was searching for Hiccup I (the first Hiccup) and left to die, but Hiccup I nursed him back to life. In return, the Wodensfang taught Hiccup Dragonese and Hiccup taught him Norse. The Wodensfang told Hiccup I where to find the Dragon Jewel and made him swear not to use it for evil. Hiccup I used the Jewel to teach dragons to fish, hunt and survive with humans. Hiccup I then used the Jewel to banish Merciless from the Archipelago. Peace subsequently persisted under Hiccup I within the Archipelago, although his successors would, as the Wodensfang grew into the gargantuan size and aquatic lifestyle of his middle age, increasingly begin to manipulate the Jewel's properties for personal gain.
Centuries after the death of Hiccup I, the Wodensfang, then shrunken to a size of a dog with age, confronted the last King of the Wilderwest, Speedfast, later known as Grimbeard the Ghastly, about how was mistreating both humans and dragons. Speedfast banned Dragonese and made the Dragonmark, which was meant to be the mark of the king, into the Slavemark, believing he would be a greater leader than his ancestors. Many years later, after seeing his mistakes, Grimbeard told the Wodensfang to guard the Crown and kill anyone who tried to use that power again.
How to Steal a Dragon's Sword[]
Decades later, Hiccup meets the Wodensfang while trying to retrieve the Crown. At first meeting, Hiccup "didn't recognize the species" (pg. 198) and then the Wodensfang introduces himself:
“ | Well, Hiccup the Third, I am the Wodensfang. | ” |
— pg. 221 |
Henceforth Hiccup refers to him as the Wodensfang, as though this is a species name. As revealed two books later, however, he is a Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus, but with age has shrunk in size to that of a lap-dragon, not much larger than Toothless. He is well over 1,000 years old.
The Wodensfang tells Hiccup about the story of Hiccup I. When Hiccup promises to use the Throne of the Wilderwest to free all dragons, the Wodensfang agrees to let Hiccup take the crown and live. When Furious and the Red-Rage Dragon Rebellion attack, the Wodensfang, the Windwalker and Toothless flee with Hiccup.
How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel[]
A year after the events in the previous book, the Wodensfang continues to help Hiccup find the Dragon Jewel. He constantly reminds Hiccup about Furious sending a dragon to eliminate him as well. He and Toothless are captured by Alvin, and Excellinor forces Hiccup to find the jewel. After he does, Hiccup frees Toothless and the Wodensfang, but loses the jewel.
Hiccup confides to the Wodensfang later about how Furious told him he would bring the end to the dragons since Alvin only has the Lost Things because Hiccup found them. The Wodensfang tells him not to worry, and to have faith in the future. He has doubts himself, but the Wodensfang convinces himself that humans and dragons CAN live together.
How to Betray a Dragon's Hero[]
The Wodensfang is revealed to be Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus, as well as able to speak Norse. Later that night, Toothless dreams of the conversation the Wodensfang has with Furious, which is actually happening! The Wodensfang agrees he will betray whoever becomes King of the Wilderwest if Furious agrees to stop hunting them through his and Toothless' thoughts. Their conversation also reveals that Toothless is a Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus as well, much to his confusion. The Wodensfang then erases Toothless's memory, so all he knows is that he had a bad dream, but can't remember what it was about.
At the end of the book, the Wodensfang is with the unconscious Hiccup, desperately hoping he'll wake up.
How to Fight a Dragon's Fury[]
When Hiccup does wake up, he has amnesia, and has forgotten his name and his quest, and even his favorite color, but not the air speed velocity of an unladen Windwalker. The Wodensfang attempts to explain to Hiccup the momentous events that are unfolding, but is rendered unconscious by a Sandshark's dart. The Wodensfang only recovers after Hiccup has been crowned King, and is surprised that Hiccup hasn't found the "true" dragon jewel. His plan had been to take the fake Jewel to the Dragon Furious leaving the True Jewel with Hiccup. He flies with Hiccup to single combat and attempts to help Hiccup make peace with the rebel dragons.
Trivia[]
- While Toothless did not like the Wodensfang at first, the two eventually become friends.
- The Wodensfang's agreement to betray the new King of the Wilderwest may not be completely directed at Hiccup. He never actually says he'll betray Hiccup, just the King.
- This ultimately turns out to have been a red-herring, and the Wodensfang's promise to betray the king was intended to have been a double-cross, regarding the true nature of the Dragon Jewel.
- The Wodensfang is shown to genuinely care about Hiccup and Toothless, as he truly believes the boy can somehow stop the rebellion, as well as erases Toothless' memories so he won't worry.
- The Wodensfang is the only Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus seen in the book series that has shrunk to his original size from old age.
- Merciless is chronologically older than the Wodensfang. During the youth of Hiccup the First, Merciless is grown up, while the Wodensfang is the size of a large riding dragon. The Wodensfang reached his old age earlier than Merciless, possibly due to Merciless' extended hibernation slowing the rate of his body's ageing.
- When Toothless introduced the Wodensfang to Stormfly, he called him "Wodensfang the Desperado".