If it weren't for the mare and the two of us together with the former tied to a carriage, the journey would have been relaxing and slow. My behind was sore from sitting on the mare for too long. But with my dress, thanks to the man ridding with me, was comfortable enough to ride with a horse without sitting sideways.
As uncomfortable as the journey was, we were able to reach the palace in a few hours, about two hours before the sunset, rather than half a day, with a running horse. But after alternating my place with the king, I, most embarrassingly, fell asleep on his back without meaning to and kept at it until we reached our destination.
When the tiring journey came to an end on the road leading to the palace entrance, we were struck with a calamity again. The guards knew me and were ready to take me to the dungeons to torture me for leaving the premises without the king's permission. Or so they thought and they made their own decision.
