Christmas in Camelot - Mary Pope Osborne [6]
She gathered the red cloak up in her arms. “We’ve got our first gift,” she said. “Let’s go.”
“Wait—we should figure this out first,” said Jack.
“No. We should just go,” said Annie. She turned and headed for the archway.
Jack pushed his glasses into place and looked back at the Round Table, at the frozen king and queen, at the frozen knights, and at Morgan le Fay.
He loved Morgan. She was their great friend and teacher. If he and Annie did not go on their quest, Morgan’s story and the stories of Camelot and all the stories about the magic tree house would end forever.
Jack took a deep breath. He put his notebook into his backpack. Then he turned toward the archway.
“Annie?” he said.
She was gone.
“Annie, wait!” he shouted. “Wait!”
Jack ran out of the great hall.
“Annie!”
“I’m here,” she said quietly. “I’m waiting.” She was standing at the end of the entrance hall peering outside.
“How do we get to the Otherworld?” she asked.
“Maybe the tree house can take us there,” said Jack. “Come on.”
Together, Jack and Annie hurried through the inner courtyard of the castle and over the drawbridge. They ran over the frozen ground to the moonlit grove of trees.
Clutching the red cloak, Annie started up the rope ladder. Jack followed. They climbed inside the tree house and sat on the floor.
Annie picked up the Royal Invitation. “Close your eyes. I’ll make the wish,” she said.
Jack closed his eyes. He was shivering from the cold.
“I wish we could go to the Otherworld,” said Annie.
The bare branches of the trees rattled in the wind.
“I think it’s working!” whispered Annie.
The wind stopped blowing.
Jack opened his eyes. He and Annie looked out the window. The dark castle loomed against the sky. They were still in Camelot.
“It d-didn’t work,” said Jack, his teeth chattering.
“Yes, it did!” whispered Annie. “Look down.”
Standing below the tree house was the biggest deer Jack had ever seen. The deer was staring up at them with amber eyes. His huge antlers seemed to glow in the cold moonlight.
Most amazing of all, the deer was completely white, as white as new-fallen snow.
“A white stag!” said Jack.
Puffs of frosty air blew from the stag’s nostrils. He stepped toward the tree house and shook his giant head.
“He’s come to take us on our journey,” said Annie.
“People don’t ride deer,” said Jack.
But Annie had already started down the rope ladder. Jack watched from the window as she walked to the stag and spoke softly. The stag knelt. Annie climbed on his back.
“Come on!” she called to Jack. “Bring the cloak!”
“Okay, okay,” said Jack. He gathered up the heavy velvet cloak. Clutching it against his chest, he climbed down the rope ladder. He hurried over to Annie and the white stag.
“Put on the cloak and climb on behind me,” said Annie.
Jack put the cloak on over his backpack. He pulled it around his shoulders and buttoned it at the neck. As the cloak fell down around his body, the soft, smooth cloth made him feel warm and safe.
“Ready?” said Annie.
“Yeah,” said Jack. He climbed on the stag’s back behind Annie.
The white stag slowly stood up. Annie leaned forward, putting her arms around its neck. Jack leaned forward, too, and held on to Annie. The red velvet cloak draped over both of them, falling past their feet.
The white stag stepped gracefully over the frozen grass. He walked through the outer gate of the castle. He blew out a puff of air, then broke into a leaping run.
Jack held on tightly to Annie as the stag dashed across a frost-covered field. He jumped over hedgerows and stone walls. He bounded across icy streams.
Annie’s braids floated on the wind. The red cloak billowed behind them. Jack was amazed at how easy it was to ride on the stag’s back. He felt calm and safe as the stag sped like a white comet through the wintry countryside.
The stag ran past flocks of sheep and herds of goats asleep in the meadows. He ran past thatched huts and quiet stables.
The stag ran on and on through the starry night. Jack saw a cloud-covered mountain range in