Pirates Of The Caribbean: What if you were there?

19: Tia Dalma

You made it to the river and got into boats. You were with Jack, the mute, and another man. Will was in the other with Mr. Gibbs, the two idiots and the midget.

There was something eerie about the place, silent but for the occasional bird. You felt a little comfort as Jack took your hand and held it tightly.

You reached a dimly lit house and crawled out of the boats. Jack then said "No worries, mates. Tia Dalma and I go way back. Thick as thieves. Nigh inseparable, we are." He paused. "Were. Have been. Before."

You stifled a laugh. Jack's little adventures don't always do him good.

"I'll watch your back," said Mr. Gibbs.

"It's his front he's weird about," you replied, with a smirk. "Mind the boat."

We walked in and Tia Dalma smiled, "Jack Sparrow."

"Tia Dalma." He almost knocked a bottle hanging from the roof. The yellow boa took a liking to you and you allowed it to slither around your arms.

"I always knew the wind was going to blow you back to me one day," she said. She looked at Will. "You... you have a touch of destiny about you, William Turner" she turned to you. "And you... you have a strong scent for purpose, Y/N Adney."

"You know me?" Asked Wil. You rolled my eyes. God, Will is so embarrassing.

"You want to know me?" replied Tia Dalma, getting close to his face.

"There'll be no knowing," you intervened, stepping in front of Will. Tia Dalma smiled and touched your face.

Jack spoke up, "we've come for help and we're not leaving without it. I thought I knew you"

"Not so well as I had hoped," she said while Jack led her away. "Come. What service may I do you?" She put her hand on Wills shoulder and touched his chin. "You know I demand payment."

"I brought payment." Jack whistled and they brought in the monkey. "Look," he shot it, "an undead monkey. Top that."

Tia Dalma opened the cage and Mr Gibbs said "you've no idea how long it took us to catch that."

You held back a laugh thinking about the crew trying to get the monkey. You had called the monkey over and it came right to you and into the cage.

"The payment is fair," said Tia Dalma.

"We're looking for this," you said, motioning to the picture of the key Will was holding.

She seemed a little shaken for a second at the sight of the key. "And where it goes to," added Will.

Well we know that, you thought.

Tia Dalma composed herself and turned to Jack. "The compass you bartered from me, it cannot lead you to this?"

"Maybe. Why?" He asked.

She smiled. "I hear you." She glanced at you. "Jack Sparrow does not know what he wants." Now she was straight on looking at you. "Or do you know but are loath to claim it as your own?"

Jack made no answer.

"Your key go to a chest," continued Tia Dalma. "And it is what lay inside the chest you seek, don't it?"

"What is inside," asked Mr. Gibbs. You looked at Jack but he seemed to be purposely avoiding your gaze.

"Gold?" asked Pintel. "Jewels? Unclaimed properties of a valuable nature?"

"Nothing bad," added a nervous Ragetti. "I hope?"

"You know of Davy Jones?" Asked Tia Dalma.

"Yes," you replied. They all looked at you. The boa was still on you, comfortably moving about your other arm.

"A man of the sea," continued Tia Dalma. "A great sailor. Until he run afoul of that which vez all men."

You watched Hack pocket something. "What vexes all men?" Asked Will.

Tia Dalma chuckled, caressed his hand and said, "what indeed?"

"The sea," said Mr. Gibbs.

"Sums," suggested Pintel.

"The dichotomy of good and evil," added Ragetti. You faced him and smiled. He never failed to come up with something interesting.

"A woman," said Jack. He looked at you. You see.

"A woman," confirmed Tia Dalma. "He fell in love."

"Nononono," Said Mr. Gibbs. "I heard it was the sea he fell in love with."

"Same story, different version," replied Tia Dalma. "And all are true. See, it was a woman as changing and harsh and untamable as the sea. Him never stopped loving her." Jack was observing you and seemed to make a decision. "But the pain it cause him was too much to live with." Jack walked over to you. "But not enough to let him die."

Jack was next to you now, he went for your hand and you laced your fingers. He seemed uncomfortable so you let out a small laugh. 

"What exactly is in the chest?" Asked Will.

"Him heart," answered Tia Dalma. Jack squeezed your hand.

"Literally or figuratively?" Ragetti was uncomfortable.

"Taking into question what we are dealing with, take a guess," you replied. He nodded slowly and you walked up next to him to put your arm around him. Ragetti was becoming a good friend of yours. 

"It was not worth feeling what small, fleeting joy life brings," continued Tia Dalma. "And so... him carve out him heart. Lock it away in a chest and hide the chest from the world. The key, he keep with him at all times."

Will got up abruptly. "You knew this."

"I did not," he replied. "I didn't know where the key was. But now we do. All that's left is to climb aboard the Flying Dutchman, grab the key, you go back to Port Royal and you save your Bonnie lass." You nudged him and he chuckled. He was starting to walk away when Tia Dalma said:

"Let me see your hand." Jack stopped dead in his tracks and showed it to her. She revealed the black spot.

Mr.Gibbs gasped, "The black spot!" He tapped himself three times, turned around, and spit twice. The idiot duo did the same.

"My eyes sight's as good as ever just so you know," said Jack. He was getting nervous.

Tia Dalma had walked to the back and you heard her say, "I have just one thing. Now, where did I put it." There was some clattering. "My little beauty, where are you?"

Jack took a ring and gave it to you. You quickly hid it and you smiled like idiots.

"Davy Jones cannot make port," said Tia Dalma, emerging from the back. "Cannot step on land but once every ten years. Land is where you are safe Jack Sparrow, and so you will take land with you."

She held out a jar and Jack let go of your hand to take it. "Dirt. This is a jar of dirt."

"You did say your eyesight's as good as ever," you said sarcastically.

"Is the jar of dirt going to help?"

"If you don't want it, give it back," answered Tia Dalma.

"No." Jack clutched the jar protectively.

You laughed, "Then it helps." Tia Dalma smiled at you.

"My boa likes you." She came over to inspect you. She nodded here and there. "You will do nicely."

You kept quiet, which she appreciated. Then Will interrupted, "It seems we have a need to find the Flying Dutchman."

Tia Dalma walked away. "A touch," said Tia Dalma, sitting down. "Of destiny."