Free Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne Page A

Cauldron

O brother, had you known our Camelot,
    Built by old kings, age after age, so old
    The King himself had fears that it would fall,
    So strange, and rich, and dim … 
    Alfred Lord Tennyson
Idylls of the King

O nce upon a time, in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, a mysterious tree house appeared in the woods. A boy named Jack and his sister, Annie, climbed into the tree house. They found that it was filled with books.
    Jack and Annie soon discovered that the tree house was magic. It could take them to the places they read about in the books. All they had to do was point to a picture and wish to go there. They discovered that during their adventures, no time at all passed in Frog Creek.
    Jack and Annie eventually learned that the tree house belonged to Morgan le Fay, an enchantress from Camelot, the long-ago kingdom of King Arthur. On one of their journeys, Jack and Annie visited Morgan’s library in Camelot and brought hope and courage to King Arthur.
    Now it is winter. Jack and Annie have not seen Morgan or the magic tree house for many months.… 

S unlight had faded from the late-afternoon sky. Puffy snow clouds were moving in.
    â€œLet’s hurry. I’m cold,” said Jack.
    He and Annie were walking home from school. Their Christmas vacation was just beginning.
    Cooo—cooo.
    â€œWait,” said Annie. “Look.”
    She pointed to a white bird sitting on a bare tree branch at the edge of the woods. The bird was staring straight at them.
    â€œIt’s a dove,” said Jack.
    â€œIt’s a messenger,” said Annie, “from Morgan.”
    â€œNo,” Jack said, afraid to get his hopes up. They hadn’t seen Morgan le Fay in a long time. He really missed her.
    â€œ
Yes
,” said Annie. “She has a mission for us. I can feel it.”
    In the hush of the cold twilight, the dove spread its wings and flew into the Frog Creek woods.
    â€œCome on!” said Annie. “The tree house is back!”
    â€œYou’re just hoping!” said Jack.
    â€œI’m
knowing
!” said Annie. She ran into the woods, following the white dove.
    â€œOh, brother,” said Jack. But he took off after Annie.
    Even in the growing darkness, they easily found their way. They zigzagged between the bare trees and ran over the frozen ground untilthey came to the tallest oak in the woods.
    â€œSee?” said Annie, pointing to the top of the tree.
    â€œYeah,” whispered Jack.
    There it was: the magic tree house.
    â€œMorgan!” shouted Annie.
    Jack held his breath, waiting to see the enchantress at the tree house window. But Morgan did not appear.
    Annie grabbed the rope ladder and started up. Jack followed.
    When they climbed inside the tree house, Jack saw something lying on the floor. It was a scroll, rolled up and tied with a red velvet ribbon.
    Jack picked up the scroll and unrolled it. The thick, yellowed paper shimmered with large gold writing.
    â€œWow, Morgan sent us a really fancy note,” said Annie.
    â€œIt’s an invitation,” said Jack. “Listen.”

    â€œChristmas in Camelot!”
said Annie. “I don’t believe it!”
    â€œCool,” whispered Jack. He pictured a beautiful, glowing castle lit with candles and filled with knights and ladies feasting and singing.
    â€œWe’re going to celebrate Christmas with Morgan and King Arthur!” said Annie. “And Queen Guinevere!”
    â€œYeah,” said Jack. “And the Knights of the Round Table, like Sir Lancelot!”
    â€œLet’s go!” said Annie. “Where’s the book?”
    She and Jack looked around the tree house for a book about Camelot. The only book they saw was the Pennsylvania book that always brought them home.
    â€œThat’s strange,” said Jack. “Morgan didn’t send a book about Camelot with the Royal Invitation. How does she expect us to get there?”
    â€œI don’t know,” said