On and on Ingrid walked, the silvery compass still pointing the way, its gentle hum a comforting whisper in the vast, silent wilderness. The land grew colder still, but the magical cloak kept her as warm as toast, and the endless bread kept her strong. She saw mountains of ice that scraped the sky and valleys filled with sparkling frost that looked like diamond dust. It was a truly extraordinary place, growing taller and whiter with every step.
Finally, after what felt like many days and nights, the compass began to glow more brightly, and ahead, towering against the pale sky, Ingrid saw it. The North Wind's Castle! It was a magnificent fortress, carved entirely from pure, glittering ice, with spires that touched the very clouds and walls that shimmered like a million tiny mirrors. A great swirling sound, like a thousand sleepy giants sighing, echoed from within.
With another deep breath, Ingrid pushed open the enormous, creaking ice doors. Inside, a vast cavern opened up, filled with swirling snow and the chill breath of winter. And there, in the very center, sat the North Wind himself! My word, what a sight met her eyes! He was a colossal giant, made entirely of swirling snow and glittering ice crystals, with eyes like deep blue glaciers and a beard of icicles that reached to the floor.