Ch10-All Good

CHAPTER TEN All Good

The dragon's eyes were flaming. Its horns and claws and scaly skin flashed in the moonlight. Its open batlike wings began moving against the night sky, sweeping back and forth, back and forth. Jack, Annie, Oki, and Guinevere huddled with the king in the raging windstorm. In a flash of fire and smoke, a portal opened before them. Colors swirled—red, black, yellow, and green. Images from mythic realms of the otherworld passed by Jack's eyes. Flying stags, gossamer-winged fairies, one-eyed ice wizards, spider queens, raven kings, water horses, wolf shadows, sea serpents, snow giants, and fallen knights all flew by, ghostly and real at the same time. And then nothing. Nothing at all. Only darkness. Annie's voice broke through the black silence. "Jack. Jack," she said. Jack opened his eyes. He was sitting in soft wet grass, still clasping the red stone Cafelle had given him. Annie sat beside him, and Guinevere and Arthur lay nearby. Jack heard water splashing. It sounded as if fish were jumping, but when he sat up, he couldn't see

anything through a golden mist that was rising from a lake. The breeze was soft and smelled of lavender and lilac. "What happened?" he said. "We were pulled into the portal, and it brought us to Avalon," said Annie. Yip! Oki popped up beside her. "Right, Oki?" Annie asked. "I believe you are right," answered the queen. Jack and Annie turned around. Guinevere was sitting up, her golden hair tumbling around her shoulders. She looked dazed but happy. "How are you both?" she said. "I think we're good," said Annie. "All good," said Jack. He slipped the red stone back into his pocket. Guinevere smiled at them. Then she reached out and tenderly touched the king's shoulder. "Wake, my lord," she said. King Arthur opened his eyes and stared up at the pale sky. Oki scampered over the grass and licked the king's cheek. Arthur laughed softly and stroked the puppy's fur. "Where's the dragon?" said Jack.

"You're sitting beside him," said Annie. Jack looked down and saw the gold statue shining in the dewy grass. When he wrapped his hand around it, the statue was still warm. "What about the giant living, breathing dragon?" he asked. "I don't know," said Annie. "Everyone saw a giant dragon, right?" said Jack. "It wasn't just me?" "Yes, I saw it," said Guinevere. "And I," said the king, sitting up. Arthur's voice was hoarse, but his eyes were clear. Color had returned to his face. "Oh, wow, Your Majesty! Are you going to be okay now?" asked Annie. The king took a deep breath. "Yes, Annie. I believe my wound has already begun to heal." "I'm really glad," Annie said. "Me too," said Jack. Suddenly Oki let out a yelp. Then the puppy dashed to the shore of the lake and barked wildly. High, beautiful singing was coming from across the mist-covered water.

"Who's singing?" Jack asked. "Mermaids," said the king. "Mermaids?" said Annie. Jack just smiled. In this strange new world, nothing seemed impossible. "Look!" said Annie. Slowly, a cinnamon-colored boat with a white sail glided out of the haze. At the helm of the boat was a tall bearded man in a blue robe. A small penguin stood beside him. "Merlin! Penny!" breathed Annie. She and Jack jumped up and ran to the edge of the water. When Merlin saw Jack and Annie, his eyes grew wide with astonishment. Peep, chirped Penny. "Greetings!" called Jack. "Greetings, indeed!" said the magician. "How on earth do you children come to be here in Avalon?" "Magic!" said Annie. Merlin landed the small sailboat, and he and Penny came ashore. Oki rushed forward and

nuzzled the baby penguin's fuzzy head. Penny flapped her wings and made squeaking sounds as if she was giggling. "New friends!" Guinevere said. Merlin cried out in amazement when he saw the king and queen walking toward him. "Your Majesties!" said the magician. "What has happened? Why are you all here in Avalon?" "Soon after you left Camelot, word came of enemy forces in the east," said the king. As he began telling Merlin the story of the invaders, a snow-white unicorn pranced out of the golden haze. Teddy and Kathleen were on its back. "Dianthus!" Annie cried. "Teddy! Kathleen!" "Hi!" yelled Jack, and he and Annie ran away from the shore to greet their friends. Teddy and Kathleen shouted with wonder and joy when they saw Jack and Annie. The young enchanters jumped off the unicorn and threw their arms around them. Oki yapped and leapt joyfully around Dianthus. "Hi, Dianthus! We missed you!" said Annie. She lifted Oki up to the unicorn. Dianthus sniffed the