conuly

Yeah, I always figured the kid was sick, and the Erlkönig was either a hallucination, or there but visible only to the child. The father, it seems to me, is just terrified that his son is so ill and tries to comfort him by assuring him that he's only seeing the fog and hearing the wind, and is only riding through the dark woods in order to get his child to safety.

I only ever read it in German, though; maybe the original is clearer. BTW, I think this (http://www.moonfairye.com/library/Erlkoenig/erlking.htm) is a better translation.