Disclaimer: Don't own them. :P

A/N: My contribution for the small fandom for the game "Folklore". THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS

"Scarecrow is waiting for you," one of the voices from the pub whispered. The straw mannequin lifted his head, and his spirits fluttered. Yes, he was waiting. A very long time.

He remembered when he first met her, wearing a different name and beautiful emerald eyes that welled up with tears.

"I'm scarecrow. I'll play with you forever," he promised, brushing her tears away with a scraggly straw finger.

"Scarecrow?" Her eyes widened, her fears slightly lifted from the sight of her imagination come to life.

"Yep, uwww hee hee."

"Will you really be with me... forever?" the girl asked tentatively, hands clasped to her chest.

"Really uwee hee hee." Scarecrow smiled inwardly, matching his continuous outward smile. Before he felt sad to see the girl in pain and deeply wished to show his sympathy, but then again, he thought later that his eternal smile was there to help her cheer up. She did create him.

He was there for her when the other orphans picked on her, muttering childish nothings when she dared not. The green glow of his lantern was there as she slept and her fears soothed by his presence. When she felt alone, he was bouncing around her, exclaiming, "Tag! You're it!"

And when she felt guilt pouring over her, his scratchy chest was there, though he was at a loss for words during those times.

As the two years since the events at Doolin passed, she didn't seem to need him as much. She grew used to being lonely, preferring to spend her time drawing, and she avoided snuggling up to him, finding his scent-- straw and dirt mingled with the salt of the sea-- reminding her of home. Of Doolin. Of the past.

And although her forgetting about him wasn't sudden, it felt unexpected to Scarecrow. He frowned to himself, wishing that the girl had overcome her past rather than running away. Though, he couldn't blame her. She was still too young to accept such a murky incident. He doubted that even an adult could accept it.

His sadness deepened as he realized that even though she had forgotten what had happened, she would still get hurt. He desired more than ever to grant the girl's wish.

"Scarecrow...?" Her voice, still sweet and shy, snapped him from his nostalgia.

"That's my name! Uwee hee hee."

She turned around and upon facing him her hands flew to her flabbergasted face. "You're--"

Knowing she wouldn't recognize him despite her words, he interrupted her. "You're looking for your mother, am I right, Ellen? I can help you uwee hee hee."

He eagerly hopped towards her, his smile glowing. "I've been waiting for you for a long time uwee hee hee..." He circled her and hopped south. "Follow me."

At first he doubted she would come along and paused, about to turn around and face her, but he found he didn't have to, hearing the gravel crunch under her boots.