Disclaimer: I don't own POTC. Chapter title is a poem by Emily Dickinson.

Chapter 12: Not in Vain

James, being only loose, was still as sharp as ever. Camille noticed him squinting his eyes slightly and focusing too much on Jack's arm. As she put two and two together she elbowed her own half empty wine glass and made it pour into Jack's lap.

Jack jumped. "Hey!"

"Oh my, Jack I am so sorry!" Camille immediately reacted as she threw a napkin over the wet part of the table cloth. "I can be so clumsy sometimes."

"Not to worry, love. Though it does seem like a bit of a waste of perfectly good drink," Jack said casually, mopping up his soaked loins (YESSS!).

James was still looking at him a bit oddly, and Camille turned her attention from the spill to him. Their eyes met, and it was obvious that he was now suspicious.

He said nothing until the meal was over and the dishes were being cleared away. When the table was clearing and Ana Maria was in the kitchen with Priscilla and Sheila, James made sure to be very discreet. He made sure that the dining room was empty except for himself and Camille, who was clearing dishes.

"Miss Quartermaine, do you realize the danger you are in?" he asked in a low voice.

"James, what are you talking about?" she said, not making eye contact with him.

"Camille," he said seriously as she straightened up. "Captain Sparrow has the mark of the Devil's Dowry on him."

Her eyes grew wide. "You know what the mark means?"

"Of course, I would assume Sparrow would know just as well."

"But he doesn't. James, how do you know what the mark means?" she said in a whisper.

"You forget that the jails cells in Port Royale harbored the pirate John Silver for a short time."

"You got this information from Silver? So, he must've known what Jack did not. What else do you know about it?"

He looked at her, the effects of the strong drink beginning to wear off. "This is no topic to be discussing with you, Miss Quartermaine."

"Call me Camille. And if you have failed to notice by now, I am no lady," she said tiredly. "You need to tell me as much as you can about this Devil's Dowry."

"Is it not enough to know that the man possessing it is putting everyone under this roof in very real danger?"

"We have indeed figured that part out. But is there anything else that Long John said about it, can you remember?" she urged.

"He never gave us information willingly. The only way we knew anything was when he would mumble to himself about it, or toy with his key, or sing songs that pertained to any treasure. And might I add, many of us were and to this day are highly uninterested in any sort of dealings with pirates."

"Which is why your presence now is so greatly appreciated," Camille said, wiping the snobbish look off Norrington's face. "I know that Jack will be very rude, possibly even in denial at first about this information. But this is a very big deal to all of us. Now at least we have one more piece to the puzzle."

"What do y-"

Jack opened the door to the dining room, looking at the two cautiously. "There you are, Camille. Are you still here?" he said, addressing James.

"Jack, please don't be rude to our guest," Camille warned.

"I will be rude to any man who secludes himself with my woman," Jack said without changing the intonation of his voice.

"I am so sorry," she whispered to James, looking at Jack. "Captain, may I please have a word with you?" She nodded to James as he excused himself.

"What is the meaning of this? If I didn't know any better I'd think you fancied him," Jack said accusingly.

"Jack, you are not convincing me that you are worthy of hearing what I am about to tell you. Stop accusing me of being disloyal," she said fiercely. "James has just entrusted to me something that you will find rather important."

"Like what?"

"The Devil's Dowry. That's the name of the mark."

He looked at her angrily. "Norrington bloody knew that? How?" he demanded.

"Because Silver knew it. It was overheard by him."

Jack's expression hardened. "Does he even know it to be the truth?"

"Why would he lie to me about that? What purpose does he have to lie? It's not as if he's after the treasure himself."

"Don't ever make assumptions like that," he said sternly. "Anyone can betray you, you must learn that."

"Oh Jack, that is rubbish and I refuse to accept it! James was telling the truth, luckily for us because he saw your mark!"

Jack stopped. "My mark?"

"Yes, when you leaned over to get the wine some light from the candles shone on your arm. We should be thanking him."

"Thanking him? I could've found that out eventually."

"Yes, but isn't it just a bit more convenient that you've found it out now?" she asked patiently. Anger never went anywhere when it came to her arguments with Jack. It all came down to being calm and logical, which was very hard when he insisted on constantly accusing everyone except himself for treachery. "Think about it, Jack. James has had contact with many pirates. He could help us."

"I don't need his help, Camille."

"But he is no longer a threat to you. This could benefit you, and we need all the help we can get this time."

"We do not," Jack replied stubbornly.

"The more we know, the sooner we can sail to Colombia."

Jack contemplated this, deciding that she was right. She watched the process take place, being so used to it. "Do we have an accord, Captain?"