Chapter 10

They went through the cold passages of the castle with determination to defeat the witch.

Room after room they searched for the witch. But she was nowhere to be found. Then they finally came to the last room in the castle and knew that she must be inside.
Cautiously, they peeked into the room.

They could sense the presence of evil even before they stepped into the room.
It was a strange room. Immediately they knew that this must be some kind of a ritual room. On the walls were written all the chants and words of spells.

“Well, looks like the ritual will start soon.”

The wolf told Lessie who was puzzled as she didn’t know what the ceremony was about. So she asked the wolf,

“What is this about? What is she doing and why? “
The wolf replied,

“Ahh, that wicked witch needs to take something special so that she could keep her strength, beauty and youth. Normally, she would take the heart of animal and eat them raw. However this will not give her what she wanted permanently. If she wants to be young, beautiful and strong forever, she must eat a human heart!”

Lessie stood staring at the wolf with her eyes wide opened. She could not believe what she had just heard. Her heart was beating so fast she could not control her emotion!

“What?” she almost screamed!

“Shhhhhh!!!!Quiet! She’ll hear us!” the wolf hushed her up and to lower her tone.
Both of them took a peek of the room. The wolf took a step back, obviously shocked at what he saw! Then he continued sadly,

“Oh no! The witch had just killed my friend, the deer. Oh my friend, my dear friend, I am going to miss you very much!”

Lessie knelt down and put an arm round the wolf’s neck and gave him a hug. Her other hand was patting his shoulder while she tried to comfort her new found friend. She felt the pain and sadness he was going through as if she had lost a dear friend herself.

Then she stood up, folded her arms and spoke boldly,

“Okay, what do we have to do to stop this wicked wicked woman from carrying out her plans? How can I help to save this kingdom of yours? Tell me wolf, and I’ll do it. We must stop this evil from destroying your world!”

The wolf was encouraged by the bravery of Lessie and he raised his head in defiance, and spoke,

“Yes! It is time we stop this madness! The witch must be stopped at all cost! The only way to destroy her Ice Kingdom is sunlight and brightness. Come on girl, we have only three hours before the nightfall takes over the evening sky! “

The wolf whispered to Lessie his plan and immediately they swung into action. They both ran to the mirror room. Between the two of them, they pushed or carried the mirrors and arranged all the mirrors at the door facing the outside world.

The idea was to catch the reflection of the not-so-bright sunlight and focus the ray on to the ice and snow outside the castle.
As soon as the reflected lights hit the snow and ice, the ground began to shake and tremble!

The ice began to crack. The crack became longer and wider. Then something happened. The ice and snow began to melt. It started to create little stream as the melting snow flowed away.

From a little streamlet, it became a stream. The water started to form holes in the ice and water was beginning to fall into crevices like waterfalls.
The twelve mirrors were doing a good job of redirecting and focusing the magnified sunray deep into the snow.

Somewhere in the room, can be heard a screeching voice screaming away. The witch was so enraged and angry!

“Where are my white soldiers? What are you all waiting for you idiots! Find and attack those who are responsible for this. Now! Now! Now!”

She continued screaming at the top of her voice!

The soldiers were running all over the place looking for Lessie and the wolf. It looked like the beginning of the end for the witch has begun!