Chapter 29-Naming

"She's your daughter and I will not tell you what to do, but I highly recommend that you leave her here with me. I can begin to train her and help her with her inability to speak while you find a much safer place for her until she gets strong enough to protect herself." Lady Emmi said then added "does that sound okay to you?"

The silence was deafening and I could feel my parents looking at each other; unsure of what the other wanted to do.

Her words made sense to me and I felt that I would be safe her with her. I remembered my initial reason for getting stronger; to protect and not be a burden to my family. I felt that if I was in danger, then they would be as well.

I slapped the palm of my little hands against the wood I was sitting on to get everyone's attention before signing to my dad and brother who could understand me "Okay".

"Well..." my mom began to say before she was interrupted.

"What is it that she just did?" curiosity laced through Lady Emmi's question.

"It's her own way of communicating. Each movement has a meaning and with that we are able to mostly understand her."

"Ingenious!" Lady Emmi exclaimed. "Would you teach me while you are staying with me?"

I simply nodded my head yes with a smile. I felt that we would be getting along well.

"How long does she need to stay here before we can take her back?" my mother asked.

"How long will it take you to secure a safe and secluded spot for her to mature at?"

"...probably a month...or two" my dad said hesitantly.

"Where will my baby girl be sleeping?" [mom]

"I have several spare rooms. She will be fine, I promise!"

More silence followed before Sapphire broke it with her question. "So now that we know her gifts, what are we going to name her?"

"We didn't imagine that she would have them all. We hadn't researched a name for them all." [Dad]

"May I do the honors?"

"You, Lady Emmi?"

"Yes" she replied. "Your family chooses it based on gems, correct?"

"That's right. I have Gemma and our gems."

"Hmm. How about Tourmaline. I believe it is a gem that comes in a wide variety of colors".

Seemed like quite a mouthful to me, but I figured that once I had my voice back I could alway request that they shorten it to Aline. Although at this point, it was nice to at least have a name!

"Tourmaline" my brother said and I smiled at him.

"Alright then. Tourmaline it is"

My family stayed only a short while after before heading home to begin making plans. I didn't really worry about them as I knew I had my own task to complete before I could join them.

"Alright, I hope you understand what I am about to tell you. You seem quite smart. There will be things that you see and hear while you are staying with me that you must not tell another soul. Do you understand, Tourmaline?"

I nodded yes that I understood and smiled at her to try and convey that I would never betray her confidence.

"Excellent! Follow me". Lady Emmi said before she turned and began walking. I followed her as best I could by following the sound of her footsteps, the air movement around me as well as her unique scent.

We didn't travel very far, fortunately for my short little legs, before entering a room filled with the scent all kinds of herbs.

"First I'm going to do something about your inability to speak and then we will begin gift training tomorrow....Come over here" she said patting her palm on a surface nearby.

I slowly moved closer to her trying to avoid bumping into anything. I was still too weak to extend my aura out which left me frustrated. With my aura I had almost forgotten what it was like to be completely unable to see my surroundings. Once I bumped lightly into what appeared to be a bed, I was picked up and placed on top of the bed. She had me open my mouth and listened to me when I tried to make sounds; something I hadn't tried to attempt since the first couple months I had been poisoned.

"Well, the good news is you weren't poisoned"

'Huh???' I thought. 'The doctor who had assessed me told me I was poisoned'.

"No, really. It is a substance that damages and paralyzes the vocal cords. Without proper treatment the recipient will regain their voice after about 5 years, but the vocal cords will remain damanged to an extent and the voice will never sound...normal."

That didn't really sound great, but I looked at Lady Emmi expectantly. She had told my family that she would cure me and I had every faith in her that she would do what she said she would.

"I have to concoct your medicine and I warn you that it will take a couple of hours."

I simply nodded and quietly listened to her movement and the sound of clinking glass and what sounded like metal and ceramic. Then the smell and heat of a flame appeared. I wanted to look for the little green light whose appearance I had missed only to find I had fallen asleep.

I awoke to Lady Emmi's tapping on a nearby table.

"Here's your medicine" She said as she put a cup up to my lips. The smell was similar to that of peppermint and had a soothing feeling as it went down my throat.

"Come little one" Lady Emmi said as she picked me up and placed me on the ground. "I'll show you to your room. Don't try and talk yet. Give the medicine time to work and try the day after tomorrow".