((Content warning - this is a Grimms' style dark fairy tale.))
There once was a forest beyond the edge of night, where three boys went winter-wandering, far from home. And those three boys came to a cottage, and they were afraid, for there was an evil stench about it and its windows were black.
But the door to the cottage opened, and there stood a man, tall and kindly and beautiful, and he greeted the boys with fair words. And the boys asked him who he was, and he told them that he was a prince of Faerie, named the Lord of Gifts. And further did he tell them that he would grant each of the boys a gift, if they willed it.
And so kindly and wise seemed this Lord that the boys agreed, for each of them were eager and suspected no evil of this fair noble. So the Lord of Gifts asked of them what they desired most.
The first boy was tall and strong, and he wished to become a great and mighty warrior, but was timid and meek by nature. So he asked the Lord of Gifts to make it so that he would never again feel fear or cowardice.
So the Lord of Gifts took the boy’s fear, and as he ran home swift and bold and heedless of all, he leapt from a high place and his body was broken, and he was lame and in pain the rest of his short days.
The second boy was thoughtful and considerate, and took joy in helping others and in aiding good deeds, but he was easily distracted by games or by passing wonders. So he asked the Lord of Gifts to bestow upon him the strength of mind to do right.
So the Lord of Gifts took the boy’s merriment, and he was become a nagger and a meddler who saw only ever imperfection and fault in others, and the greatest fault in himself, and people hated him for it and he was an object of ridicule and scorn for the rest of his days, and they were long.
The third boy was cheerful and loved joy and happiness, and was a dancer and a maker of music, but ever did he feel sorrow keenly when it visited him. So he asked the Lord of Gifts to give him the power to never again feel pain or suffering.
So the Lord of Gifts tore out his heart and left him to die.
