After the events recounted above, the two companions resumed their previous happy existence together. The Spring continued and the weather became  warmer.  They took longer and longer rides together every morning and would go out provisioned with enough food and drink to have an alfresco meal together, often not returning to the palace until evening.  These were idyllic times for both girls.  The only fly in the ointment wasPrincess  Sara's recurring bad dream.

One such sunny Spring day found the two friends lying side by side on the grassy summit of a hill several miles away from home.  Sara was wearing a white gown made of light material, since it was so warm.  Martha had eagerly discarded her clothing altogether as soon as they were out of sight of the Palace and was reclining naked beside her companion.

The humiliation visited upon her by her angry former mistress and present friend had caused stirrings within her.  Although she had felt nothing but shame and embarrassment while walking through the Palace apartments towards the King's room, once she had stepped out of doors, it had been a different matter.  The touch of the rough and cold ground under the soles of her bare feet had sent a surge of excitement all through her body.  Even the icy hand of the early morning cold on her skin had been not unwelcome to her.  It had made her feel aliveand vibrant  in  ways she would never have dreamed possible beforehand.

As she had stood for so long holding the bridles, the feeling of liberation had not abated,  despite her shivering. And the look that the groom had given her had convinced her that she did not need fine clothes to secure the admiration of men.  This was a discovery that still caused her to exult in the power that her fine young body had to reduce strong men to abject slaves -  the poor groom was far beneath her now that she was the Countess Martha and many handsome scions of well-to-do families were firmly in her sights - after all, the Princess would marry some day and where would she be then?

The Princess awoke from a brief nap and turned onto her side to talk to Martha.

"You get browner and browner every day.  I keep thinking you can't get any darker, yet you still do.  It really suits you!  You must be the most lovely girl in the whole world!  I love those brown eyes and creamy skin - and I noticed Baron Schroder was impressed at the ball the other night!  I think we may have a wedding to plan before so long!  What a shame he doesn't get to see as much of you as I do."

Martha smiled at this last remark.  She knew the devastation that the sight of her as she now was would cause to the baron's susceptibilities!  Maybe it could be arranged!

"Why don't you take off your clothes, Sara?  It's so hot today - you must be sweltering, even in that light dress.  I've never seen you  naked since we were little.  I'd like to see how you look now you are a woman!"

The Princess shook her head.  She had a horror of letting anybody rest their eyes on her nudity, even her best friend.  Ever since the onset of puberty she had been terrified of exposure.  She frowned angrily and turned away from her friend for a while.  Finally she turned back and put her hand on Martha's shoulder, in a gesture with which that girl had long been familiar.  This touch always betokened a coming confidence on Sara's part.

"You have something to tell me, dear Sara?"

"Yes.  I keep having a terrible dream and its effects linger for hours.  That is why I was so awful to you last month - I was so disturbed.  I am sorry, again - by the way.  It still torments my conscience to think how cruel I was!"

"What happens in this dream?" asked Martha, relieved that at last the Princess was confiding in her.  She had seen how distressed the girl was becoming and longed to help.

"I dream that I am exiled from here and homeless, wandering the world without shelter, cold and naked.  I wake up feeling desolate and frightened.  I suppose that is why I made you undress that day - that is how I had been in my dream and I hated it so much!"

Martha laughed at this.

"How could you ever be alone, my darling.  I will always be at your side, no matter what misfortunes you may go through.  Remember that!  Let's be going back to the Castle - there is that Reception we must be at in all our finery.  Maybe this is the time when your Prince will arrive and sweep you off your feet!"

Martha dressed herself with great reluctance and the pair returned to the Royal Castle to prepare themselves for the festivities.  It was to be a lavish entertainment and the King had invited a wealthy and handsome young Prince to attend.  Sara hoped he would be more intelligent and better looking than her previous suitors - not very difficult, she told herself with an inward sneer.

As she rode back side by side with her dearest friend, she felt happier than for many days past.  Sharing her dream with Martha had released her in part from the darkness that had overhung her life for too long.  It was as well for her that she did not know that she was soon to lose her peace of mind and be plunged into deeper despair than she had ever known before.