Chapter 6

In the morning, Old Bear gave them enough supplies to get them on the journey and they set out. As they walked Tina thought about what Old Bear had told her and she knew she had to do something to help the others. She didn't know how yet, and she didn't know what it meant to overthrow the queen and her magic, but she'd decided that she'd do something. She'd be like Lynx. She'd be strong.

They walked for many days, sleeping in empty tree trunks or nesting in the crowns of the giant oaks that lined the way. As they went on, it got colder and colder until one day Lynx said, "We're almost there." And fay took them to the palace wall, and they began to climb it. Tina didn't see any guards, but Lynx had told them the Queen didn't need any, no one dared to disturb her.

When they came up to the railing, Lynx led them to a hole in the palace wall that seemed to be a deserted tunnel. Tina hesitated for a moment, but when both Ratatosk and Lynx crawled in, she followed. It was cold and eerily quiet and she had to tell herself to be strong as Lynx, be brave like Lynx and to stop being afraid.

After some time, Tina heard Ratatosk whisper, "I see a light! We're almost there!" Lynx looked ahead with gritted teeth and a set face. "Good, let's go," fay said. They crawled through the end of the tunnel and came out in a corridor. "I know where we are," Lynx whispered. "Come, follow me." Fay began to run, stopping every other meter to make sure no one was around. As they turned a corner, fay halted and pointed to a door on the other side of the corridor. "That's her room," fay whispered. Fay turned and looked Tina in the eyes. "Remember. Remember what you promised me.", fay said. Tina nodded, she would do anything for Lynx if fay would help her. Lynx looked at her one last time, then whispered, "Let's go." And fay began to walk towards the door and as fay came closer it opened by itself, as if by magic...

"Lynx..." Ratatosk whispered. But Lynx just kept walking and Tina and Ratatosk followed, not knowing what else to do. They came into a big hall with tall windows full of ice and white drapery coming down from the ceiling. And in the middle of the room stood the Queen, smiling at them. "You came Lynx," she said sweetly. "And you brought her, just as you were ordered to do."