## Chapter 5: The Castle Gates

Harriet's breath came in ragged gasps as she stumbled through the thick snow, her legs aching and her heart racing with fear. The wolves had been closing in on her, their hot breath and snapping jaws mere inches from her face. She had thought all was lost, but then she saw them - the castle gates, looming large and imposing in the darkness. With a surge of adrenaline, Harriet reached the gates and pushed them open. The metal creaked and groaned as she strained against it, but she managed to get them open just wide enough to slip through. She slammed them shut just as the wolves were about to reach her, their jaws snapping shut mere inches from her face. Harriet leaned against the gates, panting and trembling with fear. She looked up and saw a huge, majestic castle in front of her, its towers and turrets reaching towards the sky like giant stone fingers. The castle's facade was covered in a thick layer of snow and ivy, and its windows glinted like ice in the fading light. As she caught her breath, Harriet realized that she had to get inside. The wolves would not give up easily, and she needed a safe place to hide. She stumbled towards the castle, her legs weak and her body cold. The snow crunched beneath her feet as she approached the entrance. The massive wooden doors loomed before her, adorned with heavy iron hinges and a large iron knocker in the shape of a lion's head. Harriet raised her hand to knock, but as she touched the door, it swung open by itself. She stepped inside, and the door creaked shut behind her, enveloping her in a warm, golden light. Harriet found herself in a large, dark foyer, with a sweeping staircase curving up to the left and a doorway to the right. The air was thick with the scent of old books and wood polish, and Harriet felt a sense of wonder and excitement wash over her. She had never seen a place like this before. As she looked around, Harriet could have sworn she heard faint voices coming from somewhere in the hallway. "The poor little girl must've lost her way in the woods!" whispered a male voice with a French accent. "Keep quiet, Black! Maybe she'll just leave!" hissed a second male voice that was deep and silky. Harriet's ears pricked up at the sound of the voices, and she strained to listen. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she was not alone in the castle. She called out, her voice shaking with fear and cold. "H-hello? Is anyone there?" The voices stopped, and Harriet was met with silence. She waited, her heart pounding in her chest, but no one responded. Just as she was starting to think she was truly alone, a low, rumbling voice spoke up. "Of course, Mademoiselle! No need to worry, you are welcome here!" Harriet spun around, trying to see who was speaking. That was when she saw him - a huge dog with a black coat and a friendly grin on his face. "Bonjour!" he said, his tail wagging enthusiastically. Harriet's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the dog. She had never seen a talking animal before, and she didn't know what to make of it. But as she looked into the dog's warm, brown eyes, she felt a sense of trust wash over her. Maybe, just maybe, she had found a place where she could be safe.