Chapter 2

Chapter TWO The sleigh ride to the Winter Fairy Realm was wonderful! Uncle Wren drove and we set off with a swoosh, soaring up, up, up into the slate-coloured sky. I watched the houses and streets below get smaller and smaller as we climbed up towards the clouds. Eventually, we broke through the clouds into a whiter, fluffier place. As we

flew along, the air began to sparkle and I noticed tiny snowflakes swirling about in the frozen air. The clouds below started to look like snowy landscapes. I could see mountains and valleys, icy waterfalls, and glittering snowy houses! I munched on the

snowballs and snuggled back into my seat between Aunt Crystal and Uncle Wren at the front, as the wind whipped at my hair and nipped at my nose.

'We're almost there!' said Aunt Crystal, twitching the reins so that the sleigh began to descend through the air, heading towards a house on the edge of a big, snowy fir forest. It looked almost like a little gingerbread house, with an icing- covered roof and windowsills hanging with sugar icicles.

The sleigh landed in the garden and we all jumped out. 'Is there time to build a snowman?' I asked hopefully. 'I think so, smiled Aunt Crystal. 'We'll be leaving for the Frost Festival in about an hour.'

'I want to take the suitcases into the house and unpack,' said Mum, but maybe Dad can help you?' 'I can try,' puffed Dad, as he began to shuffle through the snow, weighed down by his many capes. I gathered some snow in my hands and pressed it together, rolling it along the ground to create a ball. It got bigger and bigger until it was almost as tall as me! 'It's heavy, I said, struggling to push it any further. 'I'll help,' said Dad, wading through the snow towards me. His face was looking very red and he was starting to sweat.