# Princess Helena — With Fire and Sword character guide > Princess Helena in With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Helena, Princess Kurtsevichovna, Helena Kurtsevichovna **First appearance:** 0003-iv ## Snapshot A gentle, beautiful noblewoman whose hand becomes the prize of a Cossack's obsession, she anchors the novel's first love story and its earliest flight from violence. ## Who they are Helena lives quietly under her aunt's roof at Rozlogi, a sheltered princess whose beauty draws suitors she never chose. When Skshetuski's tenderness reaches her, she answers with a devotion that surprises even her, calling his words more precious than honor or gold. Yet Bogun's pursuit turns that same beauty into a danger, and her flight sets the plot's first chase in motion. ## Relationships ### [Pan Skshetuski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/pan_skshetuski) _romantic_ Pan Skshetuski and Princess Helena are deeply in love, with Skshetuski devoted to rescuing and protecting her from Bogun. ### [Pan Zagloba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/pan_zagloba) _friendship_ Pan Zagloba acts as a protective guardian and clever ally to Princess Helena, rescuing her from Bogun's clutches. ### [Bogun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/bogun) _psychological_ Bogun is obsessively in love with Princess Helena, viewing her as a possession and pursuing her with violent jealousy. ### [Pan Volodyovski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/pan_volodyovski) _friendship_ Pan Volodyovski is a protective friend to Princess Helena, assisting in her rescue and safety. ### [Bogdan Hmelnitski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/bogdan_hmelnitski) _rivalry_ Bogdan Hmelnitski views Princess Helena as a pawn in his conflict with the Polish nobility, using her to manipulate Bogun. ### [Prince Yeremi Vishnyevetski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/prince_yeremi_vishnyevetski) _family_ Prince Yeremi Vishnyevetski is Princess Helena's guardian and relative, fiercely protective of her honor and safety. ### [Pan Yanush Tishkyevich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/pan_yanush_tishkyevich) _social_ Prince Yanush Tishkyevich is a noble acquaintance of Princess Helena, involved in the political and military affairs surrounding her. ### [Pan Skshetuski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/pan_skshetuski) _romantic_ Pan Skshetuski and Princess Helena are deeply in love, with Skshetuski devoted to rescuing and protecting her from Bogun. ### [Pan Zagloba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/pan_zagloba) _friendship_ Pan Zagloba acts as a protective guardian and clever ally to Princess Helena, rescuing her from Bogun's clutches. ### [Pan Skshetuski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/pan_skshetuski) _romantic_ Pan Skshetuski and Princess Helena are deeply in love, with Skshetuski devoted to rescuing and protecting her from Bogun. ### [Pan Volodyovski](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/pan_volodyovski) _friendship_ Pan Volodyovski is a protective friend to Princess Helena, assisting in her rescue and safety. ### [Bogun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/bogun) _psychological_ Bogun is obsessively in love with Princess Helena, viewing her as a possession and pursuing her with violent jealousy. ## In the story ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/iii) Present in the carriage; she appears pale and terrified during the confrontation, and later weeps at the old princess's words. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/iv) Accepts Skshetuski as her future husband after being asked in his presence. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/v) Sends a letter to Skshetuski via Jendzian, reporting that Bogun has been sent away and that she is safe. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as the object of Skshetuski's love; he plans to bring her to Lubni for safety. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/vii) Joyfully reunites with Skshetuski, reaffirms her love, and learns of his impending journey. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xiii) Appears in Skshetuski's feverish vision, crying for rescue from Bogun. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xv) Skshetuski worries about her safety and hopes she has reached Lubni. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xvi) Skshetuski's deep concern for her safety drives his journey to Rozlogi. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xvii) The object of Bogun's obsession; Skshetuski's letter addresses her as 'Halshko' and urges her to go to Lubni for safety. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xviii) Appears at the door with blind Vassily during the massacre; her shriek is heard as she is captured by Cossacks. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xix) Expresses grief and anger over her cousins' deaths and Bogun's pursuit; finds some comfort in the steppe. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xx) Disguised as a peasant boy after cutting her hair; flees with Zagloba through the wilderness. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxi) Disguised as a minstrel boy, suffers from exhaustion and fear, witnesses atrocities, and is forced to drink vodka to avoid fever. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxii) Mentioned as the likely victim of Bogun's attack on Rozlogi. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxiii) Rescued by Zagloba, believed to be disguised as a young Cossack and possibly safe in Lubni. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxiv) Not found in Lubni; Skshetuski hopes she escaped with Zagloba's help. ### [Chapter XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxviii) Reported safe in Bar under the care of Pani Slavoshevska and nuns, remembered fondly by Skshetuski. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxxiv) Drugged with somniferous herbs; carried in a swing to Horpyna's mill; her wound is healing but she remains unconscious. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxxv) Resists Bogun's advances, faints from terror and emotion, and asserts her will to die rather than submit. ### [Chapter XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxxvi) Remains cold and defiant toward Bogun, refusing to show affection despite his pleas. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xxxvii) The subject of the knights' rescue efforts; believed to be alive and in Bogun's hands after the fall of Bar. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xlvi) The object of the search; her rescue is now more likely after Bogun's death. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xlvii) The object of the rescue mission; her hiding place is known only from Zagloba's overheard information. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/xlix) Skshetuski seeks her, believing she may be in Kiev or hidden by Bogun beyond Yampol. ### [LII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/lii) Skshetuski searches for her in Kiev; her fate is uncertain due to mob violence. ### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/liii) Reported murdered by suffocation in a monastery cell; her death is mourned by friends and relatives. ### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/lv) The captive they aim to rescue; her fate is uncertain, and she is guarded by the witch Horpyna. ### [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/lvi) Travels with the group, exhausted and alarmed; her beauty attracts dangerous attention from Cossack mobs. ### [LXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/lxi) Mentioned with concern; Zagloba hopes Jendzian has taken her to safety. ### [LXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/chapters/lxiii) Safe under the care of Pani Vitovska; Skshetuski is overjoyed to learn of her survival. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters/princess_helena - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_fire_and_sword_se/characters