Risterskinn the Wishmaker

Once upon a time, there lay a village neath the moonlit sky. 

A quiet cloister made up of people and livestock. Kept to themselves they did throughout the cold nights that scraped upon their doorstep.

Oh sweet little Molly, as she shook and held her toy tight deep into this winter dark. A wooden horse that had been gifted to her by her father, for he knew her love for the animal very well. A stoic man with love for his daughter like no other. He forbade her from ever be near the windows as the winds slammed their weight upon it, as if the devil himself was knocking. Molly, however, was at the age in which curiosity had taken root, and she approached her father's mother for answers she had long been craving.

"Why is it that my father fears the night so, is it naught just the wind?" she asked. Her grandmother, in her chair, whispered back to the curious child:

"It is for the darkness that hides behind the snowflakes," she answered. "You are of age to know the truth now, my child. A nursery rhyme which has been whispered among this here commune for years." Molly's grandmother now leaned in closer as of to make sure Molly's father did not hear.

"Risterskinn, Risterskinn. Don't let her in, don't let her in. Black as coal and wickedest grin. She offers gifts but the lies are thin. Black of soul and no heart within. Risterskinn, Risterskinn. Don't let her in."

That night Molly lay awake fearful of what could be outside the threshold of her window. A faint knocking upon it. Molly knew not to turn her head and face what may be watching. It's naught but the wind she thought to herself again. Then she heard a whispering tune, distinct upon the howling sound of any wind she knew. "Small one, would you let me in? It's ever so cold out here and my coat is naught doing it's work, and I fear I may soon perish in this winter cold."

A stranger upon her window? Molly's lapse of judgment made her turn her head. She saw naught, but the moon. Three of them and red as blood. The voice continued softly from beyond the window.

"Small one, just for a moment I plead of you. The winter would take my life and your room looks ever so warm."

Molly was indeed in the age of curiosity, but her grandmother's warnings rang in her head.

"What is your name?" Molly asked, raising the blanket to cover her mouth.

"I am the one who brings gifts to children who are to help me, and you know my name, as I can only bring gifts to those who know of me. The adults slander and lie, for they are too old to get anything, so they trick children not to get anything either."

Molly held her wooden horse close as she stared out that dark window. The dark then asked; 

"Look at my coat child, does it look scary to you?" 

"No," said Molly.

"Does my smile look harmful to you?" 

"No," said Molly again.

And does my cane look dangerous?" 

"No," said Molly a third time.

"Then let me into the warm room, small one. If you do I'll give you anything you wish for."

Molly thought for a second, and then replied a fourth time with a "no" and no more requests were heard from the window that night. 

The next morning, Molly found her father and mother sitting by the table with stern faces. All their farm animals had disappeared last night without a trace. Grandmother sat by her corner knitting as usual. Molly whispered to herself "Risterskinn, Risterskinn. Don't let her in." That night, she once again heard the knocking upon the window.

Wont you let me in, small one? The night is upon us again and I am freezing my toes off. I'll grant you any wish."

Molly didn't answer, she hugged her wooden horse tight as she curled up under the bed sheets.

The next morning, she found her father and mother at the table again, now her father was crying. Grandmother was not to be seen anywhere. Same as the other two nights, the dark came upon her window and knocked.

"I'll grant you any wish you want," it whispered.

Molly was crying as she ignored it until morning came. 

Now only her father was sitting by the table as dawn came, holding his head perked up with his two hands covering his face, sobbing loudly. A fourth night came and she did what she had done on previous nights, repeating the phrase "don't let her in" over and over as she cried herself to sleep.

"Any wish at all."

When she woke up to a stormy and dark morning, she was all alone in the house. Her grandmother, her mother and now her father had disappeared as if they had never existed, leaving little molly all by herself. This time, she heard the knocking upon the door. 

"Small one, I'll grant you any wish if you just let me in, I promise." 

Molly dropped her toy and walked up to the door, sobbing with tears pouring down her cheeks. 

"I want my family back," she said as she opened the door.

"Your wish is granted," Risterskinn said as she gave a huge smile.

Later that day, Molly's parents and grandmother returned. The farm animals had run off on the first night, but were found by a farmer who lived on the other side of the forest. Molly's grandmother had been visiting an old friend, but got trapped by the snowy nights on the second night. On the third night, Molly's mother traveled to help grandmother get home. On the fourth night, her father who had been so worried to tears that something had happened, for he feared the winter nights, had gathered courage and ventured out to fetch them both, only to find that they were fine, walking steadily home.

When they came home, Molly was gone and only the wooden horse remained, next to a pile of dust.

The End