"That is all right. I should be apologizing. I should've been there for your mother. But, that is all behind us now. Will you please play that tune you played the first time I heard you?"

Alaina brought the ocarina to her lips. She played the song she knew so well, as she concentrated on soothing herself, hoping that it would heal her more. She felt her body become spiritually and physically stronger and she became calmer. Power and emotion surged through the melody until her very last note, which hung in the air. When she opened her eyes, Jaetyn was silently weeping and Genevieve had wrapped an arm around him.

"Have I done something wrong? Jaetyn?" Alaina asked.

"No, child," said the princess. "He is very happy. He is just thinking on past memories."

Jaetyn mumbled an apology and then left the room. Alaina watched him leave and then gasped when she found the magnificent lady, her grandmother, in the doorway.

Alaina closed her gaping mouth, not knowing what to say. Then she asked, "Why?"

"I did not want to be burdened with caring for you," the woman answered tartly. "Do not try to have me pity you for your hard life. That is a small price to pay for killing my daughter."

At this, the princess stood up and looked as if she would explode.

Alaina spoke first, in a confident voice that did not reach her heart. "Do you love me?" Alaina looked straight into her grandmother's eyes.

"No," she responded, staring back. Her grandmother then began to leave the room. "I want you out of this house in the morning."

Alaina laid her head on her pillow and felt a tear go down her cheek. There was nothing she could have done differently to save her mother or have her grandmother love her. None of it was her fault, and yet, it felt as though everything bad that happened was because of her.

"What happened yesterday?" Alaina asked quietly. "I heard you talking to me and then I passed out."

"We heard your music which tugged at us. It began to drift away so we followed. The music sounded helpless and hurt. Jaetyn knew right away that it was you. He knocked down the front door and ran up the stairs as I checked on your master. He was passed out on the sofa. But, before I could do anything for him, Jaetyn called for me to heal you."

"You have a Touch?"

Genevieve smiled. "Yes, I have the Healer's Touch. I healed you as much as I could before getting too weak. Then Jaetyn carried you here, and hasn't left your side until now."

"Where are we?"

"Your grandmother's house. If you want anything from your master's home I will be glad to walk you there later on. For now," she began pulling the blankets over Alaina's shoulders. "You must rest."

Alaina whimpered when Gem started to leave the room. "Please, um..."

"My loved ones call me Gem."

"Gem, I don't want to be left alone. Please," Alaina pleaded.

Gem smiled and then curled up on the chair. Alaina, reassured now, closed her eyes and slept.

***

Alaina felt renewed when she woke up next. She sat up and smiled brightly when she saw the sunrise, yet she did not know it was sunrise. The only time she had ever seen a sun was in books with pictures, and sometimes when it was the right time and her master opened the door.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Jaetyn asked softly. He then offered his hand to her, who took it gratefully and climbed out of the bed.

Jaetyn helped her to the window and then opened it. The wind caressed Alaina's hair and the scent of nature made her dizzy with glee. The sounds and sights and colors and smells were all so overwhelming.

"We need to leave," Gem said, breathlessly. "We must go to her master's home to get her belongings and then leave."

Jaetyn gave Alaina's hand a reassuring squeeze and then began to leave the room. "Jaetyn?" Alaina panicked.

Once again he hunched over as if he was hurt for a split second and then turned around smiling brightly, "Don't worry, I'll be back."

Reluctantly, Alaina turned from the window to face Gem. "Would you like to get dressed?" Gem held out a stunning purple gown for her. "I'm afraid it may be too big but once we are out of the city we'll change into travel-wear. You'll be a lot more comfortable."

"I can wear this?"

Gem laughed her beautiful twinkling laugh. "Of course you can. It was your mother's. Your grandmother was kind enough to give us some of her clothes."

"She did?"

"Yes." Gem began helping her change. "Once you're ready, we'll go to your master's home and collect your things."

"I really don't have anything I need there," Alaina said, downcast. "Everything I own was given to me by my grandmother, and I don't want something to remind me of her. Jaetyn or you can see if anything belongs to my mother." Alaina sat on the bed when Gem was done tying her laces and brushing her unruly hair. Gem knelt at her feet.

"What's wrong?"

Alaina looked into Gem's eyes and immediately trust washed over her. It was, in fact, more than trust. She couldn't quite describe this feeling for the woman that was mostly a stranger to her.

"I don't want to go back. I don't want to see my master again. I don't think I'd have the courage to leave."

"Are you sure?"

"It's all I can do to keep from running back over there to scrub the bathing room and bucket. Please, Gem, I don't want to go back there."

Without question Gem sat next to Alaina and held her close, Alaina's second hug of her life. "You don't have to go there ever again."

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