Within seconds of the fairy's final command, Sara was naked in front of others for the first time since Nature had  granted her the body of a mature and lovely woman.  She hated what she was being asked to do, but recognised,  in the Good Fairy, a person who would brook no argument.  Her future happiness was in the hands of this implacable person.  She knew at once what she must do and had not the slightest hesitation in doing it.

She must marry Prince Adelbert and that was that!  Whatever the next year and a day might hold, whatever hardships and humiliations  might be in store for her,  would all be worth while and of no account, once Adelbert's eyes gazed on her with the same desperate longing that she felt for him.

Martha removed her own clothes and the fairy glared at her.

"Get dressed at once!  I know what you are thinking.  You want to share the Princess's hardships!  Very estimable, I'm sure,  and she is lucky to have such a loyal friend, as well as totally undeserving!  She must face her ordeal alone.  No one from this Kingdom must accompany her.  Disobey me and you will be sorry."

The Fairy disappeared and Sara immediately walked towards the Palace door, followed by the King and the Countess Martha, both crying bitterly at the thought of this bright and lovely jewel being lost to them for so long, perhaps for ever!  Princess  Sara, on the other hand,  had no tears in her eyes and no fear in her heart, now that she knew what she must do.

The amazed stares of the servants and courtiers were of no consequence to her.  This shy and very private girl who had feared to show herself,  even to her very dearest friend, was now naked before the entire world.  She suppressed her embarrassment and controlled herself - so well that not the slightest hint of a blush could be seen on her ivory white, lovely,  grimly determined  face.  Whatever was to befall her, she was a Princess and a very beautiful one at that.  This was something she was never to forget until the day she returned to claim the love of her chosen man!

Like Martha before her, the touch of the rough ground under her bare feet sent signals up and down her body.  The feel of the warm sun, allowed to caress her skin for the first time ever,  was another revelation.  A light breeze blew and brushed against her white and shapely slimness, as if the very air itself were taking the Princess into its care and safe keeping.

"Don't fear for me, Father darling, or you,  my sweet beloved companion!  I 'll be back - you'll see!"

The King and the Countess accompanied her to the entrance to the Palace gardens and embraced her tenderly.  She returned their embraces and shed a tear for the first time since receiving her sentence from the Good Fairy.   The sorrowing pair looked at her departing nudity as she strode confidently into the distance.  They did not turn away to return to the Palace until the Princess, who meant so much to them both,  was quite out of sight.

Martha considered the Good Fairy's warning for a while and decided that no power in this world or any other would come between her and her duty to her lovely friend.  Now that she had no Princess to whom to be a companion, she had no place at Court.  Her time was now her own and she knew how she would use it.  The Fairy knew what was in her mind and cogitated with herself what terrible vengeance she might take on the loyal girl.

(I wonder if she really is THAT good a fairy - author)

......................................................................................................................................

Once she knew that she could no longer be seen by those nearest to her, the former Princess, now a naked vagrant girl,  slackened her pace, in deference to the soreness which her tender young feet were already experiencing.  Even if she tried to avoid rough and stony places and trod only on grass, the effect of her barefootedness was increasingly painful and it was  only a massive application of her haughty will power that prevented her from limping.  She would walk the world naked, alone and desperately poor for a year,  and she would walk proudly, no matter what the cost to her in pain.

By the end of the day, the Princess was still well within  her father's Kingdom and several passing people had recognised her.  They doffed their hats in deference and seemed no wise surprised to see her in such a naked and wretched state.  She could swear that the birds in the trees as she passed were saying.

"There walks the lovely Princess.  She will be worthy of the love of her chosen man.  May she be protected from harm."

As a matter of fact, that is precisely what they were saying!

The heat of the day wore off and dusk succeeded the midday brightness, and still the naked wanderer pressed on.  Night fell and the aching tortured feet continued to stride in the direction of the border and the world beyond her own country.  For three days she ceased not to walk until she knew that the Fairy's instructions had been fully obeyed and that she was finally in a foreign land, away from all friends and from all who would help her.  Once on foreign soil,  she sank to the ground and slept.  Now that her adventure was truly begun, she felt only peace in her heart.  She dreamt a happy dream for a change, a dream in which Prince Adelbert figured very prominently and was doing all manner of really nice things to her!