Christmas in Camelot - Mary Pope Osborne [13]
As they started into the wild growth, Jack went first so he could clear the way for Annie. Without talking, they pushed steadily through the trees and bushes, moving farther and farther from the Keepers’ cave.
Finally, they heard music in the distance. They walked closer and closer toward the sound, until they stepped back into the green glade.
The winged dancers were still there, dancing in their magic circle. Jack’s heart raced. He wanted to join them again. But he knew that if he did, he would never escape their dance.
“Look!” said Annie. “The knights are awake!”
Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, and Sir Percival were standing just beyond the circle of dancers. They were buckling on their swords.
“Hi!” called Annie. “Guess what! We got it!”
The knights walked shakily toward Jack and Annie. They still looked thin and tired, but color had returned to their cheeks.
“We have the Water of Memory and Imagination,” said Annie. She held up the silver cup.
The knights smiled.
“Now we just have to get it back to Camelot,” said Jack.
“We would like to help you,” said Sir Lancelot. “But it seems we have lost our three horses.”
“No, you haven’t!” said Annie. “Your horses are waiting for you!”
“They’re on the other side of the hill,” said Jack.
Jack and Annie led the knights over the hill. On their way, Jack picked up the red velvet cloak. When they came to the meadow, they saw the three horses.
The horses neighed and cantered over to the knights. As Sir Lancelot stroked the mane of the black horse, he turned to Jack and Annie.
“You can both ride back to Camelot with me,” he said.
“Thanks!” they said.
Jack fastened the red cloak around his neck. Sir Lancelot helped them onto the back of his horse, then climbed on himself.
Annie sat behind Lancelot. She held on to the knight with her right hand. She held the silver cup in her left hand.
“Can you carry the water without spilling it?” Jack asked her, worried.
“I’ll try,” she said.
Sir Galahad mounted the brown horse, and Sir Percival climbed on the gray horse. Then the three knights started through the pale green meadow.
“Careful, careful,” Jack whispered to Annie.
“I got it, I got it,” she said.
When they came to the iron gate, the knights drew their swords.
“Open the gate! In the name of King Arthur of Camelot!” Sir Lancelot called. Though he still sounded hoarse, the knight’s deep voice carried an amazing strength.
The iron gate slowly swung open. Sir Lancelot urged his horse onward.
The guards watched silently as the knights passed by them and started across the bridge.
The three horses trod in single file over the wooden planks. Again, Jack was amazed by the difference between this world and the Otherworld. Here it was dark and freezing and foggy. The red cloak flapped in the bitter wind.
As the horses stepped off the bridge, they each neighed loudly.
“Oh, wow!” whispered Annie.
Standing high on a rock, in a swirl of fog, was the white stag.
The three knights gazed in wonder at the white stag.
“Here, take this!” Annie said to Jack. She handed him the silver cup. Then she slipped off the back of Lancelot’s horse and ran to the stag.
“Thanks for coming for us!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck.
The three knights looked at Jack.
“That’s the white stag,” said Jack. “He brought us here.”
“Are you wizards?” Sir Percival asked in a hushed voice.
“No, just ordinary kids,” said Jack. “But I know he’s magic. We got here from Camelot in no time at all. I guess he’s come to take us back.”
“Then you must go with him,” said Sir Lancelot. “You will have a much faster journey, I can assure you.”
Sir Lancelot held the silver cup as Jack slipped down from the black horse. Then Jack took the cup and carefully climbed onto the back of the stag behind Annie. He held the cup with both hands as the stag stood up.
“Tell King Arthur we will return to Camelot before the first night of the New Year,” said Sir Lancelot.
“Farewell, Jack and Annie!” said Sir Galahad.
“Godspeed!” said Sir Percival.
“Same to you!” said Annie.
“Have a safe trip!