Read Online Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne - Free Book Online Page B

Annie. “Maybe she forgot.”
    Jack picked up the invitation. He read it again. He turned it over, hoping to find more information. The back of the scroll was blank. He handed the invitation to Annie.
    â€œShe must have forgotten,” he said.
    â€œDarn,” said Annie, staring at the gold writing. “I really wish we could go to Camelot.”
    The tree branches rustled.
    The wind began to blow.
    â€œWhat’s happening?” said Jack.
    â€œI don’t know—” said Annie.
    â€œWait a minute,” said Jack. “You were holding the invitation, and you made a wish.… ”
    The wind blew harder.
    â€œThat must have made the magic work!” cried Annie.
    Jack felt a surge of joy.
    â€œWe’re going to Camelot!” he said.
    The tree house started to spin.
    It spun faster and faster.
    Then everything was still.
    Absolutely still.

J ack shivered. He could see his breath in the dim light.
    Annie was staring out the window. “
This
is Camelot?” she said.
    Jack looked out with her. The tree house had landed in a grove of tall, bare trees. A huge, dark castle loomed against the gray sky. No light shone from its windows. No banners waved from its turrets. Wind whistled through its tall towers, sounding sad and lonely.
    â€œIt looks deserted,” said Annie.

    â€œYeah,” said Jack. “I hope we came to the right place.”
    Jack pulled his notebook and pencil out of his pack. He wanted to write a description of the dark castle.
    â€œHey, I see someone,” said Annie.
    Jack looked out the window again.
    A woman was crossing the castle drawbridge. She wore a long cloak and carried a lantern. Her white hair blew in the wind.

    â€œMorgan!” said Annie and Jack together. They laughed with relief.
    Morgan hurried over the frost-covered ground toward the grove of trees. “Annie? Jack? Is that you?” she called.
    â€œOf course! Who’d you think?” shouted Annie. She started down from the tree house.
    Jack threw his notebook into his backpack. He followed Annie down the rope ladder. When they reached the icy ground, they ran to Morgan and both threw their arms around her.
    â€œI was looking out a window in the castle and saw a bright flash in the orchard,” said Morgan. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œYou didn’t send the tree house for us?” asked Jack.
    â€œWith a Royal Invitation to spend Christmas in Camelot?” asked Annie.
    â€œNo!” said Morgan. She sounded alarmed.
    â€œBut the invitation was signed with an
M,
” said Jack.
    â€œI don’t understand … ,” said Morgan. “We are not celebrating Christmas in Camelot this year.”
    â€œYou aren’t?” said Jack.
    â€œWhy not?” said Annie.
    A look of sadness crossed Morgan’s face. “Do you remember when you visited my library and gave King Arthur the hope and courage to challenge his enemy?” she asked.
    â€œSure,” said Jack.
    â€œWell, Arthur’s enemy was a man named Mordred,” said Morgan. “After you left, Arthur defeated him, but not before Mordred’s Dark Wizard cast a spell over the whole kingdom. The spell robbed Camelot of all its joy.”
    â€œWhat? All its
joy
?” whispered Annie.
    â€œYes,” said Morgan. “For months, Camelot has been without music, without celebration, and without laughter.”
    â€œOh, no,” said Annie.
    â€œWhat can we do to help?” said Jack.
    Morgan smiled sadly. “This time, I don’t think you can do anything,” she said. “But perhaps it will lift Arthur’s spirits to see you both again. Come, let us go inside the castle.”
    Morgan held up her lantern and started toward the drawbridge.
    Jack and Annie hurried after her. As they walked through the outer courtyard, the frozen grass cracked under their sneakers.
    They followed Morgan over the bridge and through a tall