“You must run, Adelina,” said her mother, Queen Isabelle.
“ Their soldiers musn’t find you here. We need help from our allies,
but they know not of our situation. Our enemies have killed all our messengers.
You are our only hope. Take your sister, and flee through the forest.
Run to our nearest ally, and bring help.”

King Fellipe then came up to his daughters:
“Adelina, take this bow, and take my quiver. Adriana, take this dagger.
It was once mine when I was a small boy. May these protect you both.”

Adriana was crying. She was frightened. After all,
this was a situation that no eight year-old princess should face.
Adelina shed only a few tears, for she knew that she must remain strong for her sister.

They said their adieus, and turned to flee through the unknown forest behind them.
As they ran, they heard their mother shout:
“May Hermes guide you and Athena protect you!”

They pulled the hoods of their cloaks over their heads and both princesses ran.
They had not gotten very far when they decided to look back. Nothing could be seen,
for the darkness had locked around them, as one locks his most prized treasure in a chest.

Panic began to build in Adriana’s body. She raised her small, fragile hand,
and pointed into the unknown before them. Adriana then spoke:
“Adelina, I’m scared of these woods. What if a great bear comes after us? What will we do?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a bear of unimaginable size appeared not far from them.
A roar like no other shook the ground, as when Poseidon in all his fury splits the earth.

The princesses scrambled up a tree, just as the bear charged at them. Adelina let out a prayer:
“May the gods above help us! If there is anything I have ever done to please you Athena,
reward me now. Spare our lives.
Give me courage and strength. Help us overcome the beast!”

Adelina sprang from the tree, landing on the bear with such force that it was knocked aside.
This courage and strength could only have come from all-knowing Athena.
The bear began to charge toward her. She knocked an arrow onto her bow and let it fly.
It sank into the beast’s skull, and its motionless body skidded to a stop at her feet.

Thanking Athena, Adelina fetched her sister from the tree.
Ever-faithful Adelina took her sister’s hand and continued onward.
This is when Athena appeared to them, and both girls knelt in her sight. Athena spoke:
“No need to bow. Step to your feet, time is of essence. I have but one piece advice.
Think positively, not negatively. This forest is only whatever you think it to be.
If you think terror, you will receive it. If you think safety, you will receive it.
Remain faithful, and do not worry. I am with you.”

With this, Athena left, and the girls continued.
Adelina thought of beautiful meadows with thousands of bright flowers.
And the meadows appeared. There were pink lilies, bright daisies, crimson roses, amber daffodils, golden buttercups, and amethyst orchids. But amid all the flowers,
was one single bloom that neither princess had seen before.
It had large petals. Its petals were silver and glittering, and they seemed to omit a light
that pierced through the darkness.

Using the flower, the girls found their way out of the forest safely.
They now came to a tall canyon, with steep cliffs on both sides.
They greeted the warmth of the sun with great joy,
but it’s heat began to become overpowering.
The sun beat harshly on their backs, and the princesses’ water supply was waning.
The princesses frequently had to halt to find water.

During one of their stops, as Adelina was on her knees
to fill her canteen with water from a stream, a deep low growl was heard.
She looked up and saw a large wolf-like creature, with two heads, and six legs.
Before she could react it pounced on her, and she heard her sister shriek.

The creature began to claw at the flesh of her arm. Adelina couldn’t help but scream.
She was not strong enough to lift its weight off her body.
Suddenly, the weight was gone. The creature’s body lay slack and dead on the ground.
Adelina turned and saw her brave little sister,
holding her now blood-tipped dagger, with her eyes tightly shut.
“Is it dead?” she asked, almost to the point of tears. She was obviously horrified.

Adelina simply replied:
“Yes.”

She rose to her feet, and planted a soft kiss on her sister’s forehead,
comforting her with a strong embrace.
Leaving the canyon, Adelina and Adriana came to the mouth of a cave.
Adriana used the flower from the forest to light their way.
They both pressed on through its passages, but found themselves utterly lost.
There were so many different routes they could take.
None of the girls knew which route was the right one.

Then a handsome man appeared before them,
and both princesses kneeled when they noticed the wings on his shoes.
Hermes spoke:
“Do not fear. Your journey is reaching its end. I will guide you through the Labyrinth.
It is indeed impossible for any human to navigate through it.”

Hermes stood in between the princesses,
and grabbed their hands.
All three began to lift of the ground.
Hermes appeared to be pleased at the sight of the large grins on the girls’ faces.

They took off, flying through the tunnels at an incredible speed.
They took sharp turns and twists, even some steep drops.
The air whipped at their faces,
and the wind whistled in their ears as they flew by.

Their journey ended much too quickly.
They enjoyed their thrilling ride, but it was time to part ways with Hermes.
Adelina and Adriana thanked their god and walked on.

Finally, the kingdom of Ithaca was in their sights.
But the guard outside its gates refused to give them passage.
Adelina cried:
“You must let us through. I am King Felippe’s daughter, Adelina,
and this is my sister, Adriana. Our kingdom, the Kingdom of Farren is in danger.
You must let us through!”

The guard brought the princesses to King Odysseus,
accusing them of being blasphemous.

Here, King Odysseus questioned them:
“You cannot be the daughters of King Felippe.
You have no escort.
Two young princesses could never make it through the forest alone.”

Adelina let out a furious tirade:
“I am King Felippe’s daughter, Adelina!
Believe me or not!
Athena and Hermes have guided me.
I have not come all this way to be stopped now!
My sister and I would not have gone through this journey, unless it was of extreme urgency!
You are our ally and we need your help!
Please, the words I speak are true.
I am King Felippe’s daughter, Adelina.”

Adelina’s boldness and bravery appealed to King Odysseus, and he believed her.
He and his best warriors set out to vanquish the Kingdom of Farren’s enemies.
Adelina and Adriana remained in the protection of King Odysseus’ castle.
A week later, it was safe for them to return home.
Their enemies were defeated, and peace was restored.

The princesses were joyfully reunited with their parents.
The silvery flower was kept and cared for in the palace,
as a reminder of their perilous journey.
The story of their expedition was spread throughout the kingdom.
For Adelina and Adriana, never had it felt so good to be home.