Christmas in Camelot - Mary Pope Osborne [1]
p. cm.—(Magic tree house)
“A Merlin mission.”
“A Stepping Stone book.”
Summary: On Christmas Eve, Jack and Annie’s tree house transports them to King Arthur’s castle at Camelot, where they undertake a quest to the Otherworld.
eISBN: 978-0-375-89452-7
[1. Time travel—Fiction. 2. Magic—Fiction. 3. Arthur, King—Fiction.
4. Christmas—Fiction. 5. Tree houses—Fiction. 6. Brothers and sisters—Fiction.]
I. Murdocca, Sal, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.O81167 Ch 2001 [Fic]—dc21 2001019693
Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.
v3.0
For Mallory Loehr,
the real Keeper of the Cauldron
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
1. A Royal Invitation
2. This Is Camelot?
3. The Knights of the Round Table
4. Who Will Go?
5. Rhymes of the Christmas Knight
6. A White Comet
7. A Good Trick
8. The Otherworld
9. The Lost Knights
10. The Knights’ Gifts
11. The Crystal Cave
12. Fire with Fire
13. Your Horses Are Waiting
14. Return
15. Christmas Magic
16. Welcome Home
A Note from the Author
Special Preview of Magic Tree House #30: Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve
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
Once 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.…
Sunlight had faded from the late-afternoon sky. Puffy snow clouds were moving in.
“Let’s hurry. I’m cold,” said Jack.
He and Annie were walking home from school. Their Christmas vacation was just beginning.
Cooo—cooo.
“Wait,” 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.
“It’s a dove,” said Jack.
“It’s a messenger,” said Annie, “from Morgan.”
“No,” Jack said, afraid to get his hopes up. They hadn’t seen Morgan le Fay in a long time. He really missed her.
“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.
“Come on!” said Annie. “The tree house is back!”
“You’re just hoping!” said Jack.
“I’m knowing!” said Annie. She ran into the woods, following the white dove.
“Oh, 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 until they came to the tallest oak in the woods.
“See?” said Annie, pointing to the top of the tree.
“Yeah,” whispered Jack.
There it was: the magic tree house.
“Morgan!” 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.
“Wow, Morgan sent us a really fancy note,” said Annie.
“It’s an invitation,” said Jack. “Listen.”
“Christmas in Camelot!” said Annie. “I don’t believe it!”
“Cool,” whispered Jack.