Helena stared for a few minutes into the black star studded sky. She slipped out of her soft warm bed and felt around in the cold dark for her bag. The bag was filled with food and an extra pair of clothes. Yesterday she had buried her pretty clothes and things. That way nobody could claim them when she disapeared. She tied her bag firmly to her purple cord belt. Helena tiptoed to the edge of the smooth white petals of her flower home and soared into the night sky,

Helena was a young one-and-a-half-inch forest faery. She lived with a family of flower faeries. Flower faeries and forest faeries usually keep to themselves but Helena and her flower friend Nimue had been friends forever.

Nimue had been married to Scock and they had a baby. His name was Pootsie until he was old enouph to pick his own name. Helena lived with the family and was the godmother.

Helena had always prefered the flower faeries home in the Mermaid Lagoon to the dark rouph life of the forest faeries. There was something so romantic to living a water lily floating atop the waters of a deep lagoon. The jungle foliage around The lagoon was pretty but the cliff on the left hand side was the best. It had an ancient stairway carved into it that went all the way down into the water. A waterfall fell from the edge of the cliff. and made rainbows with its spray in the sun.

The seven mermaids who lived in the lagoon were nice most of the time. They thought the tiny speck of Nimue's baby was divine. Helena had to watch the baby closely or they would go so far as to steal him for awhile.

Anyway, Helena hoped the mermaids would be careful with him while she was gone. She would come back someday but for now it was exploring and adventure.

Helena woke up and got together her things. After seven days she had finally crossed the deep forest. Now there was an endless ocean of tall grass waving in the wind.

A rustling in the grass caught Helena's Attention. She weaded her way through the grass and ran right into a bunch of wiskers and a soft pink nose. She thought for an instant that this would be a perfect time for an exiting getaway but the large black and orange striped beast was munching on it's lunch and ignored her.

Behind the beast she heard voices and she saw two young ladies having a picnic. Helena in the line of true adventure had packed only thistle nut for it's lasting quality and nutrition. These ladies were having moist spice bread with lemon cheese and sparkling berry preserves.There was foamy cold honey milk and ice cold wedges of melon. Helena crept closer and dipped her finger in the lemon cheese. While she snitched she listened to them talk but she didnt' show herself. These big people were usually no threat to faeries but Helena became very aware of her appearance. She had not packed a brush because you only need the bare minimum on an adventure and her clothes were very unpresentable.

These girls were very fine. The taller one was violet eyed with lovely blonde wavy hair.She had a petal soft beautiful complexion. Her dress was a lovely shimmery blue and silver. The other girl was slightly darker with curly thick dark copper brown hair and very icy green eyes. She had on a silken green and pink dress with creamy white petticoats. She had lots of flowers in her hair. Everything about these girls was nice.

Helena saw their trail through the grass and decided to see where they came from.The trail ended at a large stone, moss encrusted castle. It was very imposing sitting in the prairie right on the edge of a forest all by itself. It had lots of flowers and trees around it and a stone fountain.Helena saw a balcony covered with vine roses. She flew through the curtains hanging in the balcony and into a bedroom. She flew down a staircase through lots of rooms and into the kitchen.She Explored almost the whole castle and it was so neat! There were all kinds of magnificent rooms. On her way back up the stairs though, she noticed that the door to the bedroom had been blown shut by the wind coming in the balcony! Helena didn't even worry. She knew there had to be another exit somewhere. She didn't know that every other door and window was locked while the girls were away. After a quick search she realized she was stuck!!!

Helena sat on the wooden kitchen table hugging her knees. She thought of her family and friends back home and wondered if they missed her.She thought of her fat little godson and her familiar bed and home. She wanted to cry,she thought she should cry. It was the right thing to cry at a time like this but no matter how many times she blinked her blurry eyes no tears rolled out.Her mind wandered here and there. She was too big to fit through a keyhole and too small to break a window or open a door.She really was stuck in this castle!Who knew when the inhabitants would return? She could die of hunger or thirst before they returned!Her stomache twisted. She loosened the rope on her pack and took out the last nut.She munched on it and wished for some water.

The next morning Helena searched through the castle again. There was a ballroom with windows for two whole walls and the ceiling was soo high she thought it must go up for several stories.The living room was very cozy and was full of soft cushions and beautiful carpets. It had a huge long fireplace. The castle was full of halls, stairways,towers, lots and all sorts of windows,and the most amazing curiosities.There were odd houseplants, secret hatchways, velvet drapes, shells, ivory knick knacks and on and on.

Later in the day it started to rain and kept it up all night long. Helena licked the mist off the windows and ate peices of the edible looking houseplants.

Helena woke up and looked around she had been sleeping in the kitchen again. It wasn't as mysterious and creepy as the other rooms. She was very hungry but she didn't notice it as much as her thirst. A salty wet tear dropped off the end of her nose. Another one followed, and then more and her cheeks were all wet. Her nose got itchy, swollen and sqeaky clean. Her eyes hurt and Helena fell asleep.

Helena awoke the next morning in a warm flannel bed. Little bits of food and water were layed out next to the bed. A warm candle glowed over her head. She was in the room she had first flown into several days ago! The two fine girls were sitting on the bed watching her. She was too hungry to care so she started filling her tummy. "What is your name?"the blonde asked. "Helena" "My name is Zatalia and this is my sister Roslyn. We live here. When we got back from camping we found you looking almost dead on the kitchen table." Helena thanked them for the food and told them about her home.The girls told her about their life here in the castle. They talked for several hours and invited Helena to stay the night.

The next day they made some new clothes for Helena wich was very hard but they looked nicer then anything Helena had ever owned. They went swimming and picnicing and had so much fun that Helena decided to stay. The castle was actually a very nice place! She stayed for two weeks having loads of fun before she decided she needed to see her home again.

Helena packed up and and left the next day. She was so glad to get home! She told all her friends and family about her trip and they were very glad to see her and very happy that everyone was invited to the castle whenever' they wanted!!!!