Clara and the Magical Charms Read Online Free Page A

looking at her fairy. “I’ll give her mine.” She unwound her purple scarf from her neck and wrapped it around her snow fairy. “Much better,” she said.

    â€œMy gnome needs a cap, but he’s not getting mine, not after I had to rescue it from your snowballs so many times.” Rowan looked around him. “Plus, the snow is coming down harder now.”
    All at once, Clara realized she’d been having so much fun that she hadn’t even thought about Rosy and Goldie, Sylva and Squeak. “I’d better get home,” said Clara. “What if my sisters need me? They won’t even know where I am!”
    â€œWe’ll send them word, to let them know you’re all right,” said Rowan. He whistled a low whistle, and the doe Clara had seen earlier came bounding through the snow.
    â€œYou can talk to deer?” asked Clara in wonder.
    â€œOch, it’s not much of a skill. All of us gnomes can talk to woodland creatures,” said Rowan. He cradled the deer’s neck in his arms, very gently, and whispered in her ear. The doe bounded off again. “She’ll tell Queen Mab. Your sisters will be fine.”
    â€œLet’s hope so,” said Clara. “I worry about them.” And she started to fly away.
    â€œWait, Clara,” said Rowan. “Your wings might get bogged down in this squall. Come on the toboggan with me. It’ll be the quickest way.”
    Much as she wanted to fly, Clara knew Rowan was right. She climbed onto the long, slender sled behind him. Suddenly cold, she shivered.
    â€œHere,” said Rowan. “Take my scarf.”

    Clara was too chilled to turn him down. He knotted his old brown plaid knit scarf around her neck.
    â€œThanks, Rowan,” she said.
    â€œOch,” he said, “it’s nothing.” He paused for a moment. “Will you be all right?” he asked.
    â€œI’ll be fine,” she said.
    â€œThen hold on tight!” he said. “Let’s go!”

ten
    S wiftly, they raced down Sunrise Hill. Clara laughed as they bumped and slipped and slid their way down the hill. “I’ve never gone this fast on land before!” she called, her eyes bright. She would have enjoyed the ride even more if she hadn’t been so worried about her sisters. When they reached the deep snow at the bottom of the hill, Clara said a hasty good-bye to Rowan. Then she flew toward home.
    Under the cover of trees, Clara did not need to worry about snow on her wings. She flew straight to the Bell fairy house. All the way home, she fretted about what she would find there: Rosy overwhelmed, Goldie in tears, Sylva frozen in a snowbank, and Squeak crying her eyes out, frightened and alone. Why couldn’t she fly any faster?
    Finally, panting and out of breath, she arrived at her beloved fairy house. She burst through the door. “Oh, sisters, sisters, where are you? Are you safe? Are you all right?”
    She looked around. She didn’t see anyone. Not even Rosy. Not even Squeak!
    â€œGoldie, Sylva—where are you?” she cried. “Rosy! Squeakie! Have I lost you forever?” Then Clara heard a very familiar sound.
    â€œNo lolo!”
    In front of the fire, in a cozy heap, were Rosy, Goldie, Sylva, and Squeak. Three mugs of steaming hot chocolate were on the toadstool table (plus a special bottle of warm milk for you-know-who). Fluffy white marshmallows were roasting on sticks. The smell of popcorn was in the air. The great room was as warm as toast.
    â€œYou’re all right?” Clara said. “You knew what to do without me?”
    â€œOf course we’re all right,” said Rosy. “We’ve had so much fun! This house was built to last.”
    â€œDoesn’t Sheepskerry look pretty?” asked Goldie. “Everything’s white and fresh.”
    â€œQueen Mab herself flew over to see us,” said Sylva. “She got a message from a