"My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair,
And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year,
My heart is pierced by Cupid, I disdain all glittering gold,
There is nothing can console me but my jolly sailor bold"
-"My Jolly Sailor Bold"
I Disdain All Glittering Gold
Chapter Eleven
A/N: I just wanted to apologize to my readers if I sounded rude/disrespectful by asking for reviews. I had absolutely no intention of coming across that way. I'm merely asking for a bit of feedback, and I totally understand if you don't feel like it. Anyway, sorry for the delay with this chapter. A lot has been happening in my life lately. Please enjoy!
"So here we are again," Marina muttered.
She was sitting across from Jack in a row boat, as they glided down the river.
She wasn't quite sure where they were headed, as Will had refused to involve her, but she knew whatever it was, it wouldn't be pleasant.
Will had made a deal with Jack, in order to ensure the safety of Elizabeth. Knowing Jack, whatever Will had promised to do would be complicated and dangerous.
Marina gripped the edge of the boat, looking down into the depths of the murky water.
"It would appear so, love," Jack's eyes remained sharp and aware, as if he were expecting the worse.
"And what is it, exactly, that we're doing?" Marina noticed that the vines and swampy plants were retreating, as if a sign that they were approaching their destination.
"Use your head," Jack replied distractedly, "you're not just a pretty thing to look at."
"I'm quite aware of that," Marina huffed.
But she took a moment to think.
"We're going to go see someone."
Jack didn't respond.
"Someone you're afraid of."
"I'm not-,"
"I can see it in your eyes. And I know you've made a deal with Will. He's helping you with something...maybe to find something or someone?"
Jack kept silent.
"Honestly, I don't blame you for being afraid. If it's someone you associate with, there's reason to be."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Jack smirked.
"I recall Barbossa being a former associate of yours. He wasn't the most pleasant man, was he?"
"Oh I dunno," Jack chuckled under his breath, "he seemed keen on you."
Marina rolled her eyes.
She opened her mouth to make a clever retort, when she saw lights in the distance.
A small house rested in the swamp. Jack's face turned pale and serious once again, and Marina looked at the boat behind her, where Will had a similar expression.
What awaited them now?
"No worries, mates," Jack stood up and addressed the crew, "Tia Dalma and I go way back."
Marina raised her eyebrows. A woman- who Jack was afraid of. She was already excited to meet her.
"Thick as thieves," Jack added hastily, seeing Marina's expression.
Jack pushed open the front door, pulling back a bit as if it might explode.
Marina stood close behind him, falling back when he stopped.
"Bloody hell, Jack," she said.
"Jack Sparrow!" A woman's voice simpered.
"Tia Dalma!" Jack responded, sauntering forward.
Will and Marina followed behind, looking around them.
There were candles hanging from the ceiling, and collections of jars and odd objects all around.
A curious place, Marina thought, for a curious woman.
Tia Dalma had an abandoned beauty to her. She was gorgeous, if a bit disheveled, and she had flames in her eyes that Marina admired. A respectable woman, a powerful woman.
She dipped her head, almost in respect.
Tia Dalma moved to greet Jack, when she saw Will and Marina, and made her way to them.
"You...," She looked in Will's eyes, "have a a touch of destiny about you..., William Turner."
Her eyes sparkled and she turned to Marina for but a moment.
She ran her fingers through Marina's tattered curls, a ghost of a wicked smile on her lips, like she knew something about her.
"You know me?" Will demanded.
Tia smirked and made a pass at Will. Marina would be disgusted, if it weren't for how mesmerized she was.
"There'll be no knowing here," Jack interrupted, shaking his head, "so Turners put your eyes pack into their sockets."
Both Marina and Will flushed.
"We've come for help, and we're not leaving without it," Jack added, trying not to sound timid.
What service may I do you?" Tia asked, "you know I demand payment."
"We brought payment!" Jack declared, "look: an undead monkey!"
Jack held Barbossa's old monkey in a cage, and shot it for demonstration.
Marina raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms, standing just behind her brother, who was still quite focused on Tia.
"The payment is fair," Tia decided.
"We're looking for this," Will took a piece of parchment out and spread it across the table.
Marina leaned forward to see a drawing of a key. Interesting. So Jack was searching for a key. But to what?
"And what it goes to," Will added, staring deeply at Tia.
"The Compass you bartered from me...it cannot lead you to this?" Tia glared at Jack.
Jack avoided the answer, looking at his feet.
A fair question, Marina thought.
Tia Dalma shook her head, and told them a tale of chest that belonged to Davy Jones, and what was inside it.
"He couldn't literally put his heart in a chest, could he?" A crew member muttered.
Tia Dalma's smile grew. Marina strained her eyes.
"So all that's left is to climb aboard the Flying Dutchman, grab the key, you go back to Port Royal, and save your bonnie lass!" Jack explained.
"It can't be that easy," Marina disagreed.
"So you've finally decided to speak up!" Jack laughed, "thought you'd lost your tongue," he gave Marina a meaningful look.
Tia's smile fell.
"Let me see your hand!" She demanded, pulling Jack's palm toward her.
"The black spot!" Gibbs cried.
Tia stormed off into the back of her house, muttering to herself and moving things around.
"The black spot?" Marina whispered to Will.
Her brother shrugged, but creased his brows.
Marina caught Jack slipping something into his pocket.
Tia returned, carrying a jar of dirt, which she handed to Jack, and explained its importance.
Still, Jack seemed quite confused.
"This is a jar of dirt," he declared, staring at it.
"Relatively brilliant," Marina muttered, shaking her head.
"Is the...uh...jar of dirt going to help?" Jack prompted.
"Do you want to give it back?" Tia put her hands on her hips.
"No," Jack pulled back, suddenly defensive.
"Then it helps," Tia grinned.
"It seems, we have a need to find the Flying Dutchmen," Will changed the subject.
"It seems so," Tia agreed, and told them where to find it.
As the others filtered out, Tia stopped Marina.
"My girl, it's not just your bother who has that touch of destiny, eh?" Tia smiled.
Marina felt stupid and breathless, so said nothing at all, and merely looked down.
"The universe has many plans for you, yet, I think," Tia chuckled to herself, as if it was a shared joke.
Marina nodded and made her way out.
She was so concentrated on her feet and walking to the boats, she almost walked into Jack.
"She has that effect on everyone, don't worry," he patted her head fondly.
"She said something to me...I don't know what it meant, but it felt important."
"Oh, dear, you're just in love with her as much as the rest of us," Jack chuckled, "I wouldn't think too deeply about it."
A/N: Sorry these chapters are so short! I just haven't had the time to develop them more. Reviews are appreciated, but not demanded.