"I fear nothing," cried the Princess, "and will brave all dangers to reach dear Fairy-Land."
"Then thou must go three days' journey through this wood, when thou wilt come to a range of mountains; climb that one whose head is crowned with clouds, and there, upon a projecting cliff, stands King Eagle's castle. He alone can take thee to Fairy-Land."
The Princess then kissed the Storks all round, and the Sunbeam kissed her, after which they ran upon their journey, seeking berries, and playing hide-and-seek the whole day long.
At last night came, and Sunnylocks lay down beneath an old oak-tree. Here she slept sweetly until the Sunbeam coaxed a frolicking Breeze Fairy to shake some dew-drops down upon her lovely face. That made her laugh and shake her golden curls, and then she ran a race with them, until she was quite tired out, when they caught and kissed her.
Presently they met a merry little Robin-Redbreast, who was busy getting his breakfast, and he invited them to sit down and have some too, which they accordingly did; and Robin had a long story to tell of how a wicked white owl had eaten a dear little wren who was his sweet companion.
When he had finished, the Sunbeam vowed he would tease that owl all day, and so did the Breeze Fairy.
The Princess now thanked the Robin, who sang her a sweet song, and even accompanied her a little way; then they parted, and Sunnylocks ran gayly on her journey.
Just at sunset she found a lovely bank of white violets, which, of course you know, are the Fairy Queen's own flowers, shielded by her magic power from all evil; consequently on them Sunnylocks slept sweetly all that night.
When she awoke she looked about for the Sunbeam, but neither he nor the Breeze Fairy was to be seen; so she ate her breakfast, and then began her last day's journey.
At last she reached the mountains, but as it was fast growing dark, she began to search for a resting-place. Now as she looked uncertainly about her, a beautiful long-eared Rabbit came out of a little cave in the mountain-side, and asked her what she sought.