I know there will be difficulties in our path , but we will face them together . ' Then , with tears in her eyes , the princess took leave of her old horse , who galloped back to her father . She had ridden only a few miles further , when she saw a golden curl lying on the road before her . Checking her horse , she asked whether it would be better to take it or let it lie . ` If you take it , ' said Sunlight , ` you will repent , and if you do n't , you will repent too : so take it . ' On this the girl dismounted , and picking up the curl , wound it round her neck for safety . They passed by hills , they passed by mountains , they passed through valleys , leaving behind them thick forests , and fields covered with flowers ; and at length they reached the court of the over-lord . He was sitting on his throne , surrounded by the sons of the other emperors , who served him as pages . These youths came forward to greet their new companion , and wondered why they felt so attracted towards him . However , there was no time for talking and concealing her fright . The princess was led straight up to the throne , and explained , in a low voice , the reason of her coming . The emperor received her kindly , and declared himself fortunate at finding a vassal so brave and so charming , and begged the princess to remain in attendance on his person . She was , however , very careful in her behaviour towards the other pages , whose way of life did not please her . One day , however , she had been amusing herself by making sweetmeats , when two of the young princes looked in to pay her a visit . She offered them some of the food which was already on the table , and they thought it so delicious that they even licked their fingers so as not to lose a morsel . Of course they did not keep the news of their discovery to themselves , but told all their companions that they had just been enjoying the best supper they had had since they were born . And from that moment the princess was left no peace , till she had promised to cook them all a dinner . Now it happened that , on the very day fixed , all the cooks in the palace became intoxicated , and there was no one to make up the fire . When the pages heard of this shocking state of things , they went to their companion and implored her to come to the rescue . The princess was fond of cooking , and was , besides , very good-natured ; so she put on an apron and went down to the kitchen without delay .
When the dinner was placed before the emperor he found it so nice that he ate much more than was good XXXXX him .
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