When spring came after winter in Thrace, Alexios did not move from the Chersonesos. However the empress Eirene fell ill. He sent her home in the imperial trireme, while he remained reviewing the military registers, till he heard that she had reached the palace. He then made the same journey himself in one day. While the empress recovered, he spent the time in adminstrative matters, largely hearing and replying to petititons at the Philopation. [Anna Komnene describes these sessions on petitions a little earlier, connects them particularly with Franks in the capital, and makes them a cause of Alexios' gout.]