There once was a beautiful girl who knew two things very well indeed. The first was that her looks would make her her fortune, and the second was the sea. For her elderly father was one of the sailors on board the Argo who travelled to retrieve the Golden Fleece. He told her many tales of those days and taught her the secrets of the oceans. Often they would sit together on the beach by firelight and hear the waves calling whilst he recounted his stories. She would listen intently and next day go out in the rowboat to explore. She always wished to be as adventurous and bold of spirit like her father. She knew it was not thought comely for a maiden to crew a ship, but she could dream. Her aspirations as she grew changed, and she then became fixated on finding herself a ship's captain. He would whisk her off on his trading expeditions to far off countries. She would have great stories to tell her father and she'd finally live. But her father would laugh at her aspirations and say sweetly to her, "child your milk soft hands could never tend to the ropes and rigging. Your beauty would be a distraction to any sailor on board and the envy of the sirens. They would lull the men to their deaths in a fit of jealousy. No child, you'd best stay on shore and wed a Prince instead." But she didn't take heed, and she fuelled her desires and made her wishes be known to all who would listen.
There were many men of Iolcos and their mothers who heard of her aspirations. Either they sent their sons to woo her or else they saw her beauty and went so willingly. Her father was a relatively rich man having been an Argonaut and he was much respected too. Indeed when she came of age there had already been many fine proposals put forward. Her father was pleased there was so much interest, especially from fine strong young men who were already sailors or fishermen. He trusted men of the sea. However, his daughter was not to be bought with fine words and promises of help with the nets and vessels. She'd made her mind up only a ship's captain would be good enough. It was the least she deserved, after all, her beauty was becoming legendary. Her complexion was flawless and her chestnut hair shone like burnt copper. Men noticed her figure and her haughty manner, and they smiled. They were used to taming the wild seas, and the ocean was a harsh mistress until you took a firm hand. Each man thought he could tame her and win her love, and they didn't stop trying.
By the time she was eighteen Helena had many admirers, but she was still spurning them all. They'd spoilt her with jewels and gifts in an effort to sweeten her nature. She now had a sizeable little fortune and she'd dream of using it to run away. She knew her father to be a great traveller himself, and she felt she deserved nothing less. Whilst the men who came calling saw a small flourishing fishing business, and a fair maiden waiting to equally be taken, they met with little or no success. For sure some caught Helena's eye for they were fit and strong, handsome or well schooled, but none were sea captains and none had the promise to become so. She argued many times with her father over offers of betrothal. He wanted her to settle down and give him grand children, to forget all these notions of sailing the world. Many times he blamed himself for his folly in treating her like he would a son. Now she was headstrong and had that wild spirit sailors possess before they find out what a cruel life the seas can be.
The time came one day after another fair offer was rejected and her father became angry. "You won't be young and beautiful forever Helena, you need to think of the future." "But father I am," she declared loudly. She was feeling exasperated, and though she knew ultimately a parent decided such matters, she wished she had free will to choose. "I'm better than these would be suitors father. I'm able to navigate the seas by the stars, I can speak three languages and have my own little nest egg of savings. My beauty hasn't left me yet and I can find myself a great man. Just let me go to the city and search." "Oh no Helena, impossible. I won't let you out of my sight. It's a dangerous world out there and a woman alone is a tempting target for every rogue and would be charlatan." "Then come with me!" she insisted. "How can I? I've a livelihood to continue with and may I remind you it's what keeps you in pretty dresses and with the potions and lotions to aid you in keeping those beautiful looks. I won't be put off Helena. You will marry someone soon and I'd sooner I chose someone you liked. You will come to love them like your mother and I did. Bless her soul, she was a beauty much like yourself." Helena changed the subject. She had no desire to marry who her father chose, and she knew talk of her late mother always made him sad. She loved her father, but she felt she knew best.
That night under the glow of a crescent moon Helena made a fateful choice. She knew she couldn't hold her father's decision off much longer and she knew the offers from local men would keep coming. There would be a propsal her father would accept on her behalf and her dreams would all be over. She wasn't intending to bend on this, and her loving father wouldn't meet her half way. So she dragged the little rowboat along the beach and into the calm sea. It wasn't wise to sail in such a little craft by night, but she was used to the sea round here. She knew the rocks and tides, the swells and currents like she knew the back of her hand. This was the night she'd take action. This was her chance to leave and live and decide for herself. She'd brought along some provisions and all her jewels. She affixed the lantern to the helm and rowed off into the dark towards her dreams. This was a momentous occasion. She'd miss her father and her life here, but it was so small and she dreamed so very big. If she could just row to the nearest city further along the shoreline she could make it to a large port. From there she was sure to net herself some rich and handsome sea captain who'd fall in love with her. She'd be able to persuade him better than she could her own father. She felt sure of her destiny and that this was the only path open to her. So she rowed into the black of night and kept the North star always in view. If she could make it round the coast she'd be half way there to freedom and adventure.
Sadly as she turned the cliffs towards her intended destination, the seas weren't as familiar to her as she had hoped. They raged more violently than she had ever known, and they pushed her stronger than she could row. She drifted further and further off course and away from the coastline. It was a good deal far away by the time she was so exhausted she fell dangerously asleep. And when she woke she found it was still dark. She'd been washed ashore a tiny island of rock and the sea was receding just enough to keep her dry and able to step out. The rock was slippy but firm underfoot. Helena kept calm but judged her position to be far from her home, and far from her intended future. This was a place unknown to her and as the sea claimed more she couldn't see anything or anyone around. The salt spray ruined her hair and the cold wind froze her smooth pale skin. She felt isolated and afraid and she shouted out into the night. "Hello. Hello is there anyone out there? Oh Poseidon, please hear my prayer. I'm a daughter of the sea, please won't you tell me what remote island is this have brought me to?" you There was the call of the gulls and the roar of the waves that filled her ears. She could wait and maybe she could set sail again and try her luck, or trust to fate with her limited provisions. But either way surely her days were numbered if she had drifted too far from land or another boat. "Please Posideon I bed you, screamed desperately into the night," where am I? What island do I find myself stranded upon?" She hoped by knowing she could plot a course back home or forwards into the unknown. Then she heard it on the Northerly gale, a voice on the chill air. "Daughter, you stranded yourself girl. " You're at home on the island of Pride."
