Fall

The atmosphere was tense, these days. News of the animosity Kent had towards Harvey had spread fast. No one knew why it had happened. The speculation ran wild. It didn't make things pleasant. If nothing else, though, Kent was keeping quiet about Harvey's nationality. For which Harvey was grateful. He wasn't sure how much longer he'd be extended that courtesy, though. It was only a matter of time before it got out too. Rarely could anyone keep a secret in a tiny village like this. Kent had also been grilling the Gotoran trader that came to town regularly, demanding to know if she had connections to the town doctor. After all, if Harvey was a spy, she was probably his contact. She'd confirmed she knew Harvey and knew his heritage, which hadn't helped either of them. Fortunately, Harvey had come upon the scene before Kent really got going, and told him off for harassing the poor woman. He'd gotten a discount out of it, which was a bonus. The woman wasn't afraid to charge after all, and happened to have some of the best wares out there.

On the psychiatric front, at one point Harvey had offered Kent a referral to another doctor in the city. Kent had just gotten up and walked out, which wasn't promising and was in fact a big concern of Harvey's. He wasn't sure why the man kept coming back to him. Maybe because Kent felt it was for the good of his family? Or maybe he was keeping tabs on him on the sly, searching around for any incriminating evidence. Harvey had tried to explain to Kent that going to see a psychiatrist in the city would his best bet to get back to normal. Jodi and the kids needed him to be okay again and in a stable place once more. A place Harvey didn't believe Kent could get to if he kept coming to him. Especially given what was going on between them. Kent kept ignoring his advice, though, and so things kept being hard and painful for the veteran and his family. It wasn't a good environment. Harvey was trying, but they'd gone back to square one. Sessions were doing precious little good, advancement was at a sloth's pace, and Kent was just getting worse. At this point Harvey didn't know what to do about him.

Meanwhile, the witch was getting agitated. The doctor was too neutral and calm. He wasn't acting out, wasn't antagonizing Kent, and so Kent felt no desire to antagonize him. At this rate they would be back to neutral ground in no time, and that wouldn't serve her plans well at all. She needed strife, she needed grief, she needed the children to break and flee to their faery friend. She needed the elf to act… She hadn't seen the creature since its appearance as a stag at the dance of the moonlight jellies. For that matter she'd hardly even seen the farmer! The elf king's pet, no doubt, or a vassal. Perhaps she should move against him to draw the thing out.

She shook her head, focusing on Kent who was leaving his latest session with Harvey. Harvey was tentatively saying goodbye. Kent gave him no response, just looked increasingly more miserable and guilty as the days went by. Before he got back to ground zero, she had to see him snap. Either at the doctor or at his family! Draw out a fight, draw out strife. Drive him to beat the doctor, make his sons flee from the home, anything! His youngest would run into the woods if things got very stressful. The elf would find him. Then at least there would be progress. She could cause strife. She was good at causing strife…

"Kent!" she called out to him. He glanced over. "I'm meeting up with some friends at the Saloon. Why don't you come along?" she said. It was a lie, of course, but that was alright. All the better, in fact. His son would be there today. His eldest. Kent was probably too much a wreck to take note of the schedules of his children right now, or so she was hoping. The boy Sam, upon seeing his father alone with a woman that wasn't a mother, might react less than well given the tension between him and his father. Then she would watch the house of cards start to tumble.

Kent looked over at her and seemed to lean more towards refusal, jaw tightening a bit. "It'll help you relax. Besides, there's… I witnessed something you might want to know about. Regarding Harvey." The mention of Harvey was the killing blow. He went without a word, walking right passed her and straight to the saloon. She smirked.

KAK

Kent listened carefully to the information the farm hand was giving him. It seemed Harvey went into the city on the same day each season. That could have been excused, after all the doctor needed to restock the clinic, but there was one thing wrong with that excuse. Harvey restocked on the first day of each season. This date the woman was mentioning? It was smack dab in the middle. There was absolutely no reason for Harvey to go to Zuzu city at that time. He was silent as he took in the woman's words, grim-faced.

"Is everything alright?" she asked him. He just drank from his mug. "What's your plan?" she asked after a moment. Again, he didn't reply. "Talk to me," she pled. He inwardly winced. Those were the words Jodi had taken to using on him these days…

"I don't know," he replied. He answered because he'd decided to make a concerted effort to try and respond to those words even if it was only to say he didn't know or he didn't feel ready to talk about it. That was what Harvey had encouraged him to do. Whether or not the doc was a spy, the man knew his stuff.

"Well… if you want a suggestion then I'd say follow him. When he heads out next time, follow him. The day he leaves again is coming up," she said.

"How do you know about this pattern of his? You haven't been here more than a season," Kent said.

"I'm friendly with Maru," the farm hand answered, flipping her hair over to appear like she was flirting. His son would be by very soon now.

"Hmm… Fine. I'll do it," he said.

"Oh, I know you will," she said, leaning towards him closely. He barely noticed, he was so distracted with his own thoughts. And right on cue the saloon doors opened and she heard a gasp.

"Dad?!" a voice exclaimed.

Kent started and whipped around in surprise, eyes wide. "Sam!" he exclaimed, quickly rising from the stool as he realized how this probably looked to his son. He didn't spit out the classic 'it's not what it looks like' line, he knew full well that just made you seem guilty, he just settled with the name.

"What the hell are you doing with her?!" Sam demanded, pointing at the farm hand. "Where's mom?!"

Kent visibly flustered, settled for truth. "Your mother is at home," he replied, trying to keep calm. "The farm hand was meeting up with friends here and invited me along."

"Oh yeah? Where are her friends then?!" Sam all but sneered. "And why was she so close to you?!"

Kent opened his mouth then closed it again, suddenly aware he didn't have a believable answer to that. Sam scoffed and turned, storming out in anger. "Sam! Sam, wait, I'm telling you the truth! Sam!" Kent called, immediately grabbing his coat and going after his son, flustered and nervous. The witch watched them leave and smiled into her drink, ignoring the unimpressed glare Gus the bartender was giving her.

KAK

The shouting match could be heard even by Emily and Haley in their house, that night. Anyone walking too close by could hear it. It was between Jodi, Kent, and Sam all, and it was ugly. It was to be expected that the child couldn't bear it. He burst out of the house in tears, running away as fast as he could from all of them. He doubted they even realized he'd left. Maybe if he ran away from home they'd stop fighting and look for him! Then they wouldn't argue or yell anymore because they were looking for him, and when they found him they'd be so happy again that they wouldn't argue anymore or fight, and daddy would be okay again and mommy wouldn't be crying her eyes out and Sam wouldn't be so angry and hurt and they could be like they were!

He didn't know where he could run. Not to Jas's house, because that would be the first place they looked! He ran into Cindersnap Forest blindly, tears blurring his vision as he sniffed and tried frantically to wipe them away. He didn't know where his feet would take him, but as long as they took him away from the fighting he didn't care!

…He stepped into the Elf King's glade…

He wasn't even aware he'd done it, that he'd come upon the glen. He just knew that suddenly it was so, so peaceful and quiet… He could hear water running softly, a gentle breeze in the trees, wind whispering through the branches. It sounded so soothing. Like mama's gentle voice when she was trying to put him back to sleep after a nightmare. It was almost like it was speaking to him… He heard crickets chirping softly every so often, but not enough that it was annoying... He felt safe here… There was a waterfall, he saw. Up ahead, emptying into a pond. He went to it and sat, sniffing. He curled in on himself and just cried. He didn't try to hold back or anything. He let himself weep in grief and hurt and fear.

…He felt his presence before he saw him…

For a long moment there as just quiet. He knew its eyes were on him, but it didn't speak; so he didn't look up. Finally, it spoke. "You aren't supposed to be here," he said, voice deep and lulling.

"I don't care," Vincent answered tearfully, voice breaking. "Anywhere is better than home." He didn't hear him approaching, but knew he was. He sensed it cross the pond to kneel in front of him.

"Human child, what woe has seized your heart so deep?" it asked.

Vincent burst into fresh tears and blurted out everything, all but melting into the creature's arms and holding onto him like he was the one stable thing he had left in the world. He told him about how his father had changed, about how the man was hurt and so different and always seemed to be in so much pain and so sad. He told about how his brother was becoming so angry and hurt too, and worried and devastated for their father. About how Sam wished he could do something but didn't know how. He told him how mama cried every night because seeing papa like this, so closed off and far away, killed her inside. He told him how papa tried to play with him sometimes but then always ended up drifting off like he was somewhere else entirely instead of there with his family, safe at home.

It listened quietly, the ruler of the fae, and held the child gently. Its embrace was impersonal, but felt so very tender and comforting, its fingers gently combing through the little boy's hair in a soothing manner. Vincent wondered if once the elf king had had little ones of his own. It felt like he had. He probably didn't want to know why they weren't here with him anymore…

"Come away, oh human child," it finally said. And his tone… it was hard to describe. Dark but reassuring. Like a lure on a fishing line. Tempting, so very tempting and promising… but so dangerous also… "Come away with me. There is a place, in my glade, where the fairies have lain their vats. They are filled with reddest berries. Many colorful flowers are there on that beach. You dear child, come, go with me. Beautiful games I will play with you, and when it grow cold you may snuggle into a beautiful golden blanket and sleep."

"Berries and games?" Vincent asked, looking up at him with teary eyes.

"Most delicious berries and most lovely games," it confirmed, smiling a gentle smile. "Do you, fine boy, want to go with me? The fairies shall wait on you finely. The fairies lead the nightly dance, you know. They shall rock and dance and sing to bring you in."

Vincent wasn't sure what the elf king meant, but it sounded so wonderful… "You'll let me stay?" he asked, voice breaking a bit.

"I am charmed by you, little one. I care very much that you have sought me out, so sorrowful and solemn-eyed. Now come with me... If you aren't willing, I'll use force..." he said, tapping the boy's nose. He said it in a teasing tone, his smile light and playful… But somewhere deep inside, Vincent knew the creature wasn't joking… Yet he still couldn't bring himself to care or to refuse... "Come, stolen child, and let us walk hand in hand into the waters and wild, far away from your pain and from your grief. The world is more full of weeping than you can understand. It is not the sort of life you deserve to live. Come, and we will weave golden dances as the moon takes flight into the sky. To and fro you will leap in joy and merriment, never more to know grief or sorrow. You will be forever safe in my glade. While the world is full of troubles, anxious in its sleep, you will chase the frothy bubbles of my streams to your heart's content, dance and play with the fairies and junimos. No more will you face the strife and grief of your parents… Come away, human child…"

Vincent, gazing up at him, reached almost unconsciously out, taking the elf king's hand. The creatures closed his hand around Vincent's, firm enough that should the child decide to try and struggle, he'd have no success. He smiled a smile that seemed somehow victorious and malicious, but also kind and reassuring at the same time. He rose slowly, eyes glittering in the moonlight, and Vincent didn't know whether to be terrified or relieved…

By the morning the boy had vanished into thin air…

Stardew

There was instant and mass panic the moment it was discovered Vincent wasn't there, and everyone in town had gathered immediately at Town Hall. Jodi was sobbing, clinging to her husband. Kent had lost all control and was freaking out at anything and anyone except his family. He held Jodi tightly in his arms, almost painfully. Sam was having a panic attack nearby, and Jas was crying in Shane's arms as Shane stood grim and serious and concerned. Evelyn, Elliot, Willie, and Linus were grouped together away from the others, deeply disturbed. They knew immediately who would be blamed… For once they couldn't blame them, because this? This was damning…

"It took him. That thing took Vincent!" Marnie wailed. Even Shane, who adamantly refused to allow himself to accept the fact he had indeed seen elves—it had to be just some crazy cult with a mind-altering drug, it had to be—looked shaken at those words.

"That's not possible! The elf king likes those children, and even if he didn't they know better than to go there at night," Lewis tried to assure. "There's probably a logical explanation. Maybe what happened to Jas last year is happening to Vincent now! If we scour the forest I'm sure we'll find him. Right?"

"Ask the farmer where the elf is," the farm hand spoke up. All of them stiffened and every eye went quickly to said farmer. The farmer lingered in the back, expression set in a guarded frown as his eyes swept silently, calculatingly, over them all.

"Farmer, if you know where he is, if you're really some vassal of this mysterious creature, please, tell us where he is!" Lewis begged frantically.

The farmer was quiet. "I am no vassal," he finally answered. "He… offered his help to me, once upon a time, and kept coming back… But I know not where the elf king resides or what he does or where he is or who he is… He told me none of it. Should he again come to me, I will confront him… But I do not believe he will return… Not after this." The townspeople looked devastated and lost. "Search the woods all you will. But if indeed it was the elf king who stole away the child, you will not find him. And you have only yourselves to blame."

"What?" Kent demanded in a growl, icy and dangerous. He looked like he was about to go at the man. If not for the fact Jodi was in his arms, he probably would have.

The farmer gave a small smile, condescending and unimpressed. "It would not have taken the child for no reason, if indeed it took him, and the child would not have fled to him for no reason. So ask yourselves. What was it that drove the boy to flee from you?" the farmer replied, eyes fixed solely on the boy's family. Kent and Jodi were pale, understanding immediately what had driven Vince to run. "Your son's disappearance lies solely on you. Now you pay the price for your conceit and selfishness."

"No! No, please, please, tell me where my baby is! Tell me where my baby is!" Jodi pled desperately. Kent looked panicked, now, and flustered, searching frantically for words but unable to find them. Sam, fists clenched, was shaking in outrage and anger. All at once he tried to go at the farmer! Sebastian gasped, quickly seizing his friend and holding him back.

"Where is that elf?! Where did he take my baby brother?! Tell me!" Sam furiously shouted. The farmer turned and left without a word in response. "Coward, get back here! Where is it? Where is it? Where is it?!"

Now the witch was no fool. She stared after the farmer, eyes wide in shock and disbelief. It had taken her only seconds to piece together the truth… That the words that man had spoken were not words that fit in the mouth of a normal, functioning human. His callous reaction to the bereaved family that was neither wicked nor kind but only true, maybe with a tinge of bitterness easily explained away by his fondness for the children. The way he turned unapologetic and left wordlessly. Suddenly so much began to make sense that had puzzled her before. She lived in the presence of the elven king! She lived in his fields, in his glade, and he despised it because she did not belong there. That was why her cabin had been built so close to the way out and so far from him. That was why he laid out such strange rules to her. He had been in front of her all along…

She grinned wickedly, eyes glittering. This was more than perfect. She didn't even need to work on the Kent front anymore! She'd pushed things just far enough for the ball to start rolling. She had never expected it to start rolling so quickly, no, but she certainly wasn't complaining. She would wait one night, she decided, during which she would search for the child. She wouldn't find him, she knew as much, but tomorrow she would return to town and she would tell them all what their beloved farmer really was… Then she would let the chips fall where they may…

Stardew

Every member of the town, and even some outside of it, scoured the valley for Vincent, calling frantically for him and searching every place they could think of. Every member except the farmer. All day and well into the night they sought the child, but they couldn't find him and soon had no choice but to call off the search ffor the night and return home to sleep so they could start at the crack of dawn tomorrow. The witch watched them all go and cackled a little, letting her normal form reappear, summoning her broom, and climbing onto it. She flew quickly and silently through the elfin glade, keeping up a spell of protection to defend from any trickery. She also cast a spell that warned her when the elf king was too close, or any of his subjects. It wasn't long before she realized it had sensed her and was following, because suddenly she was being regularly warned of something lingering in the darkness. And it was getting closer. She took off immediately into the sky, flying away cackling.

It knew what would happen. It had known who she was from the start…

Now it would pay the price for its own silence. She landed somewhere safe, where she knew it wouldn't find her, and settled in to plot out the story she would tell the townspeople that would finally and completely turn them against the faery creature…

Stardew

"Mayor Lewis, I know where the elf king is!" the farmhand blurted, bursting into City Hall looking panicked. "You have to call the others, now! They all have to know!" Lewis, flustered, didn't even take the time to question, just immediately hurried to summon the people of Stardew Valley.

It was only minutes before everyone was gathered there, from the Adventurer's Guild and Gunther, to the Wizard, who she glared at icily and darkly. He hadn't yet put the pieces together. Good. If she kept this up, he never would. And all the better too. Soon the town would be focused on driving out the elf king. Their attention would be totally off her and she could go about making Rasmodius suffer by hurting the people he cared so much for, the sentimental fool. And there would be no elf king to aid them anymore… It would either be dead, driven out, or turning his back on the people who were turning on him.

The farmer wasn't there…

"Where is it? Where is the dirty thing that took my son?!" Kent immediately demanded, looking ready to go to war.

Evelyn fretted fearfully, wringing her hands together. Elliott and Linus shrank down, keeping out of public view. The others who knew the truth of the farmer looked equally as uncomfortable. None of them had tried to enter the farmer's field. Well, Penny had. She'd stood on the edge of it, psyching herself up to go in, but Sam had stopped her. He'd been worried about her… How could she tell him that the farmer was the elf just like that…? He would have gotten himself killed just storming in there vengefully searching for Vince! She could have found the creature… But she hadn't wanted Sam to be hurt! She'd planned to go there today. She'd been gathering supplies to leave and had been writing a note to Elliott, informing him of her plan, when the call from the Mayor had come through… Then everything seemed to come crashing down…

"I searched for Vince a little longer last night," the farmhand said. "I went out after dark, in the farmer's field, thinking that maybe the elf would come. There had to be a reason he gave me the rule not to go out at night! I hid in the corn, waiting to hear it… Then the door of the farmhouse opened, and the farmer came out… But he wasn't the farmer! It was him! It was the elfin king! Tall and proud and fair, eyes both blue and gray like an angry sky or a stormy ocean. He wasn't in farm clothes anymore. He was arrayed in silver and white robes with a long cape, and in his hand was an oaken staff. On his head was a crown of berries and red leaves woven between jagged twigs! He left the farmhouse in silence and went into the forest. I didn't dare follow him in case he spotted me and enthralled me. Then I couldn't have given any of you this warning. The farmer in your midst. He isn't what he pretends to be! He is the elfin king, and what he presents to you is nothing but illusion!"

Horror and outrage and shock and grief and guilt… All of those and more were the emotions that crossed the expressions of the townspeople. They didn't even question it or challenge the declaration, because this statement suddenly made everything about the man make so much more sense. They wondered at how they hadn't put it together before! Not one of them knew what to say to this. The farmer had saved their valley. He had brought back the Community Center, had driven out Joja Mart and transformed the abandoned wreck into a housing unit, had paid for a new home to be built for Pam and Penny, had filled out the museum and the library and cleared out the mines over and over to keep them all safe. He had fixed the bridge to the secret beach, had repaired the minecarts and the bus, and he'd done so much more! Now this?

Neither Elliott or Evelyn chimed in with their typical 'the fae are neither kind nor cruel' spiel, because the way Kent looked? It would probably be suicide. Not even Rasmodius dared to speak. Not even those whom the elf had befriended—if it could be called that—spoke. "Where is the farmer?" Kent's dark and murderous voice finally asked.

"At his farm of course. At least he was," the witch replied, keeping on the mask of concern and fear. Kent spun on his heel, storming towards the door fully intent on grabbing his gun and going at it.

"Sam. Where's Sam?!" Penny suddenly said, looking around fearfully. He'd been right here standing behind her! Oh no… What if he'd already rushed out?! Kent froze in place. Jodi stood still in shock as she registered what Penny had just said.

"Oh shi…" Sebastian began.

Kent charged like a bull out of the town hall, running straight to his home to grab every weapon he could get his hands on and still carry. He didn't even hear the warning shouts of the other villagers, or the pleas of his wife to be smart about this. He just ran. "Kent!" Jodi screamed, racing after her husband frantically. Penny gasped, following them in fear. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening! …Only the Wizard and the Witch remained…

Stardew

Rasmodius stared at her, eyes narrowed and expression cold. She looked over towards him and gave a lazy, triumphant smile. "Only you could wish this amount of pain and stress and grief on these good people… I should have known the moment you first came…" he said.

"I warned you what would happen. It seems not even your elfin friend can help them now," the witch replied, abandoning the faux appearance and taking on the true one. "I said I would make the people of this valley suffer, so suffer they will. This is only the beginning. And now you can't even call on it. He'll either be dead or will have fled and turned his back on these people for this slight… And they'll be torn forever in a civil war between themselves as to whether the elf is good or wicked, and whether it should die or live. Kent left one war behind. Now he's walked into a new and totally different one. He'll be my vassal and pawn in this fight. Where has yours gone? Or was it you who was the vassal and pawn? Oh what am I saying, of course it was. As if the erl-king could be made anyone's pet. Will it be your illegitimate child, I wonder, who you'll recruit? Perhaps the writer with all his fanciful thoughts and imaginings? Maybe my own pawn's son or wife, when all's said and done. It doesn't matter. Really there's no one here who'll be able to stand against a PTSD army vet with a vendetta. No one but you, maybe. Perhaps Shane in a rage, if you anger him well enough and if Kent isn't armed. Maybe one of the old men at the Adventurer's Guild, but I doubt it seriously."

"He has our help if he needs it," a voice said. The witch and Rasmodius gasped, turning quickly. Rasmodius started then smirked. Marlon. The man came alongside him, glaring daggers at the witch.

"Swords against guns… Pathetic," the witch replied, glaring. "Enjoy the chaos that's to come of this, fools. I'll just sit back and laugh at the strife and war that will soon break out." Cackling, she summoned her broom and flew away.

Rasmodius and Marlon looked after her, eyes narrowed. "Damn her," Rasmodius finally said.

Marlon grunted in agreement. He looked over at the wizard. "If her vassal and pawn will be Kent, you know of course who yours must be." Rasmodius was quiet. "You know there's no one more suited to it. It has to be the doctor. He knows how Kent ticks."

"Kent doesn't trust him. You can't be so blind that you haven't noticed what's been going on between them," Rasmodius said.

"That was mighty low," Marlon flatly said.

Rasmodius sighed. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry," he said.

Marlon shrugged. "You have the guild's help, but you need Harvey's more," he said.

"What can Harvey do? Play psychological games with Kent? He isn't that sort of person. He isn't that cruel," Rasmodius said.

"Well he might have to be," Marlon said. "Because a rampaging and wildly suspicious POW with PTSD, trust issues, and a vendetta, will only end in death and tears. And not just for the guilty. That thing took his little son… It may cost him his eldest now too, and if things go particularly horribly possibly his wife as well. He's just unlucky enough to be the only one to escape. You think he'll tolerate anyone or anything taking the elf king's side after all that…?"

Rasmodius was quiet, head hung. "Harvey isn't that cruel," he finally repeated.

"Maybe he won't have to be… That's something you need to discover for yourself. By asking him," Marlon said. "And again, you have our backing… I always suspected there was something particularly special about that farmer… I'm less than surprised this is it."

Rasmodius nodded. "Thank you," he said. He would… have to look into Harvey. Maybe the travelling merchant would have some insight on the quiet doctor who tended to like to keep to himself.

Stardew

Sam had slipped out the minute it left the farmhand's mouth that the farmer was the elf king. He went there with nothing on his mind except getting his brother back by any means necessary. Oh he was so going to get arrested for this… He ran onto the field without hesitation. He immediately began trying to kick down the door to the farmhouse which, FYI, wasn't half as easy as they made it look in the movies. It seemed to be weakest by the door handle, so he focused attention there before stopping, panting, and backing up a bit to see if there wasn't an easier way in. When he looked, though, he gasped, paling. The farm looked totally dilapidated! Nothing like what it had become under the farmer's hand! Was this the illusion or the reality, he wondered with a chill? "Open up!" he shouted, running at the door again and pounding at it. "I know you're here! Open up, you psycho creep! Give me back my baby brother! Give me Vincent right now, damn you! I said open up!" He viciously kicked at the door handle again. This time it cracked and started to splinter. He kicked it four more times before it finally gave way, crashing open. He ran into the house and froze, catching his breath with eyes widening in shock. "Oh. My god," he said numbly.

He felt like he'd stepped from outside into outside. The floor looked as if it were made of the greenest grass. The walls appeared as an endless night sky. Trees and flowers and plants and earthy pillars adorned it, the furniture made of wood that still retained its leaves… None of it was dying… It was beautiful…There was no television, no phone, no modern convenience except the appliances Robin had put in with the kitchen upgrades. Probably the basement ones too… But it went unused… This house… It was almost like nothing had lived in this place… He touched the grass and caught his breath. It was real! He went to the chairs and attempted to move them. They were rooted there, like they'd grown right from the ground. Sam swallowed and looked around. He walked cautiously through the house. The boards and beams creaked and groaned. He peered cautiously into the bedroom. If not for the fact the bed had been used, he would have doubted the elf king stayed here at all. How often, he wondered, did he? A chill raced up and down his spine.

Something was watching him…

He gasped and spun and cried out in alarm, stepping quickly back with eyes wide. Standing there was the farmer! But he didn't look like a farmer anymore… "Oh my god," Sam breathed, holding the sides of his head. "Oh my god, it's true." It began to move towards him. He backed away, arms dropping to his sides and balling into fists in case he had to fight. "Where-where is my brother?!" he demanded. It didn't answer, but little voices began to speak from the beams and the earthy pillars.

"The human child plays and sings,

And dances in the fairy rings.

In his heart there's no more pain,

A place of safety has been his gain.

In his breast there's no more fear,

Whilst the elf king lingers near," they sang gently, little more than windy whispers.

"But you, mortal boy, who dares intrude,

You now have sullied our playful mood.

You came here where you never should,

So win no favor where your brother could.

The elf king's bitter and unimpressed,

And for this slight you will not be blessed."

"Shut up and give me back my brother!" Sam snapped at them, not in the mood for fairy games or rhymes. He gasped as suddenly the elf king was there, hand around his throat and pinning him against a wall, staring into his eyes. Its eyes were unreadable, deep and eternal and aged… He couldn't read his eyes… Wait. He couldn't breathe! He gasped, quickly seizing the wrist of the creature, but he couldn't pry it loose. It moved near to him…

"Leave," it whispered. It didn't say that this was his only chance, but Sam sensed it was...

Stardew

Suddenly Sam jolted and came awake. He looked around in fear. He… he was back outside? "Sam!" he heard his mother scream. He looked quickly over. Jodi raced to him, engulfing him in a fierce hug. "Don't you dare ever do that again!" she angrily said.

Kent arrived right behind her, looking immensely relieved. "Mom, dad, he's in there! He's in the house! At least I think?"

Kent ran right into it without hesitation. Jodi gasped, looking after him. "Kent, wait, we don't know what we're dealing with! Kent!" she shouted, racing in pursuit of her husband.

Sam went to follow, but just then… "Sam!" he heard a desperate voice cry. He turned quickly, and his expression softened. Penny. She seized his arm, holding it fast.

"It's in there, Penny. I have to go after my parents!" he said.

"How do you know it's there?" she demanded. He quickly summarized what he'd experienced inside, but rather than bring her relief like he'd hoped it would, her fear only grew. "Don't go in there! Don't go after it!" she pled, holding him tight. "It told you to leave! It doesn't want you inside that house."

"My parents are in there! My brother too probably!" Sam insisted.

"Your brother isn't in there, Sam. Vince isn't in there," she said, shaking her head. "Don't go inside. If you do you'll never come out!"

"But-but mom and dad…" he began, sounding a bit unsure.

"They'll be…" she began.

Just then Jodi screamed. Sam gasped, spinning. "Mom!" he shouted, trying to bolt.

"Sam what are you talking about?!" Penny exclaimed, holding him fast.

"That was my mom's scream! She needs help. Let me go, Penny! Now!" Sam shot, breaking free.

"Sam there was no scream," Penny cried after him, eyes wide and skin pale. Sam froze in place. After a moment he turned to her in unease and uncertainty. "There was no scream, Sam," Penny said, shaking her head frantically. "And even if there was, don't you think your dad would protect her?! Where are the shots he would have fired?" Sam was utterly still, visibly scared now. "It's an illusion. It's his trickery."

"Then-then how can I know you're not the illusion?" he asked, voice coming out far quieter than he'd planned for it to.

"Because the illusion wouldn't have held you back… The illusion would be telling you to go find your parents…" she answered. Sam stayed put, torn. Just then the door opened. He caught his breath, turning quickly. Kent and Jodi were coming out.

"Mom, what happened?" he asked.

"What?" Jodi said.

"You-you screamed. Didn't you?" he asked.

Jodi was quiet, looking concerned and worried. "Honey, no. I didn't scream." Sam went white, backing away from the house like it was a plague.

"Was Vincent there?" Penny asked nervously.

"No," Kent replied, eyes dark and murderous as he glared at the ground. "He wasn't there."

Sam was still. Suddenly he made a break for the forest. "Sam!" Jodi shouted.

"Sam, no!" Penny cried out, racing after him.

"Penny, don't!" Jodi screamed, making to go after her son and the girl.

Kent caught her arm, holding her back and shaking his head. "Let them go. They can explore west while we explore to the south," he said.

"Do you even know what we're up against?!" Jodi screamed at him, jerking her arm away. "If he disappears into that garden we'll never see him again, Kent! Never! This isn't some mortal, some-some Gotoran soldier you can track down! This is one of the Fair Folk, dammit! This is the King of the Fair Folk! And if he finds our oldest son, we may lose him too." Kent was still, blinking in surprise at the outburst then looking uneasy. She shook her head at him and turned, running deeper into the garden, the forest, after Sam and Penny. Kent was still, looking torn and unsure. Did he know what they were up against…? He ran after them. "Jodi, Sam, Penny!" he shouted, running deeper into the garden. The garden of flowers and edibles and fruit trees and forest trees and wheat and so much more, spread so far. "Jodi, Sam, Vince, Penny!" he shouted out, searching for them. He couldn't see them. He couldn't see them! "Sam, Vince, Jodi!" he yelled frantically. "Where are you?! Sam, Vince, Jodi, please! Answer me, please! Please! Please!"

Terror began to seize his heart and seemed to squeeze all the air out of his lungs. He felt like he was about to have a panic attack, dammit! He tried to remember Harvey's tips, but he couldn't focus. He stopped in place, beginning to gasp frantically for breath. He couldn't breathe, he realized in fear. He couldn't breathe! "Jodi! Sam! Vince!" he cried out. Barely cried out. He called for them in bursts of air before collapsing to his knees and gripping the grass tightly, struggling to take in air and think clearly again. Where were they? Where were they?! He didn't know at what point he'd begun to sob, but he was suddenly aware of it now. And aware he was rocking back and forth, holding his head in his hands with eyes screwed tightly shut and teeth gritting together. He willed himself to get a grip, but he couldn't. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't think, he couldn't-couldn't find his family… Dammit, dammit, dammit, where were they? Where were they?!

He heard a sound in the forest and fired on instinct right towards it, but something forced up his hand, so the bullet hit the trees. He turned sharp and his eyes widened in fear. The elf king was there, standing at his side! His eyes fixed on the creature, who looked down at him and tilted its head. A feeling of peace washed through the soldier. He felt the panic subsiding. He felt his heart slowing, his lungs working again, his brain becoming less and less cluttered. He was utterly still as he gazed up at it. It met his eyes calmly… Reassuringly… Kent didn't understand… He felt the panic driven away by a wave of calm washing over him. The elf turned, looking towards the forest. Kent, shivering, followed its gaze. From the forest stepped a little fawn, new and too late born to survive… But it would… He sensed it would… Look at who's garden it resided in… Following it came a doe that nuzzled along a second, older fawn. He didn't know why his brain made the connection to his wife and children—well he kind of did—but it didn't matter. He broke down, arms wrapping around himself as he wept. The creatures stared at him silently for a long time before finally bounding away… Kent looked shakily up once more at where the elf had been… It was no longer there…

He felt himself coming back to his senses. He stayed kneeling for a few minutes more before rising and starting forward again at a walk, calmer and more collected. He put all his focus into finding either his children, his wife, or the thing that had taken them… Now that he was thinking straight, he could.

Stardew

There it was. Seated on a throne of wood in a small clearing. A staff in its hand, a crown on its head, it lounged there. Watching. Waiting. He could only gape, at first, pointing his gun at it in fear with eyes wide, lips parted in disbelief. The elf regarded the gun coolly. "Be very certain it is me you will shoot, should you pull that trigger," it warned darkly.

"What? What do you mean? Of course it's you!" Kent replied. "Now give me back my son!"

"Be very certain it is me you shoot," it repeated, tone darker and more threatening. Kent looked conflicted, unsure what it meant by that. "What if the thing you perceive to be me, is something much, much more precious to you?"

Kent paled, immediately catching on. His sons or his wife. "I-I would hear them call me!" he said.

"Believe what you will, mortal, but be very sure it is me you shoot, if you pull that trigger," it said again.

"You wouldn't do that! You care about Vince!" Kent immediately protested.

"I have no such fondness for Sam or for Jodi," it replied. It left out Penny, so Kent assumed the creature had a measure of fondness for her as well. "If you are going to shoot me, mortal, then shoot me."

A voice somewhere whispering. Echoing in the back of the soldier's mind behind the voice of the elf king.

"Dad? D-dad, stop it, please… Dad, stop! You're scaring me! It's me! It's me not him…! Plea-please… Stop pointing the gun at me! Stop it! Stop!"

"Shoot me," it repeated again, the fae. He didn't even know what was real or illusion anymore, dammit! But whether Sam was the illusion or not, he didn't care. His child's life wasn't a gamble he would ever take! Ever! He let out a gasp, dropping the weapon numbly onto the ground and staring at the creature, pale. It approached, dangerous and menacing. He started to regret dropping the gun, clenching his fists tight but holding his ground. It ran at him full speed. He swallowed, closing his eyes. He couldn't risk that it was his son…

He felt the thing attack him and cried out in alarm, automatically grabbing its arms before registering it wasn't an attack. It was a hug. He gasped, opening his eyes and looking down. In his arms was Sam, shivering and fighting back tears as he clung to his father. Kent let out a shaking gasp and wrapped his arms around his eldest tightly, holding him close and swaying him from side to side, feeling the increasingly common threat of tears in his eyes. He sniffed and pushed Sam back a little way, gently brushing hair away from his face. "Where's your mom?" he asked his son in his generally gruff tone. The break in his voice wasn't helping it stay sounding tough, though.

"She thought she saw Vince," Sam replied, looking down. "She followed him to the river. Penny went with her in case it was a trap and I… I slipped away to find you…" He looked at the gun on the ground and shuddered, closing his eyes and looking away from it, swallowing. The image of his father pointing that gun at him, staring at him in wide-eyed fear mixed with rage… It was a picture that was going to stay burned there forever now… His father had almost shot him…

Kent was quiet, glaring at the gun almost loathingly. Finally he went to it, picking it up and examining it. His mouth twitched, and with a furious cry he threw it off into the woods somewhere far away. Let the faery creature do with it as he would. He turned back to his son. "If there was the slightest chance it was you or your brother or your mother, I wasn't going to fire… But I almost did and that terrifies me…"

Sam was quiet, looking down. "It's what you were trained for," he finally said.

Kent shuddered. "Never, ever say those words again," he hollowly warned. The reality of it was too painful to face up to. It's what you were trained for… What? Killing boys, some younger than his eldest son? Killing children or anything that moved that seemed like it could be a threat whether it was or wasn't? Shoot first, question later. Yeah… Some training… How did you question a corpse…?

"I can't find him, dad," Sam said, voice breaking slightly. "I can't find Vince."

Kent was quiet, heart painfully clenching. "I know…" he finally replied in a whisper. And he didn't know if they ever would… Dammit, how had things gotten this bad…?

"What if we can't find mom either? Or… or Penny…?" Sam said. Hell, what if they couldn't find their way out?

Kent was quiet. "I won't lose you too," he finally answered. "No more running off, Sam. Stay by me." Sam nodded in understanding. "This forest can't be endless… It can't be…" Vincent had not just disappeared off the face of the earth… He was here… He had to be…

As evening approached, Kent and Sam made it out of the garden exhausted. There was no sign of Vince… They hadn't seen Penny or Jodi either, but when they got out and looked up, they saw the two there with the rest of the townsfolk, who apparently had followed them here and had begun to scour the garden too… To no avail… Discourage, depressed, and broken, they left the glade in silence to return to their homes to sleep. Kent and Jodi sat up that whole night, waiting and longing to see their youngest child come up the road, clinging to one another and crying together. They didn't need to speak, they just needed each other's comfort and strength… They were so scared… What if they would never see their little boy again…?

Stardew

Meanwhile, the wizard had a whole other angle to work out. The witch and her plans for Kent and for the whole valley. He approached the travelling merchant's cart and paused there, tapping at it. The travelling merchant soon came. "Closed for the night. Come back tomorrow," she sleepily said.

"I need to know what you know of Harvey," the wizard said simply. The merchant was silent, warily summing him up with extreme caution. "Please... Something it coming you can't understand..." She stayed quiet, warily staring. "Then tell me this at least. How do you know him? What is he to you?"

She was quiet. She shifted, looking around a bit nervously, then turned to the wizard once more. "He... Harvey is my brother," she said in a whisper, like confessing as much was a sin. Rasmodius started, visibly taken aback. This? This was unexpected.