Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean or any characters involved. Nor do I own the song Swallowed in the Sea by Coldplay.

A.N: I'd like to apologize in advance for Tia Dalma's speech..I had to put in the accent as crappy as I might have made it so please..don't harp on me for that heh.

Swallowed in the Sea: A Path of Freedom

Chapter 3 – Never Trust a Sparrow

Elizabeth's shoulders slumped as she peered over the side at the murky, swamp water rippling against the wooden boat. She and some of the crew had packed into the longboat seeking to pay a visit to Tia Dalma for aid. If they hadn't been so obliged to request her assistance, the governor's daughter would have surely protested. It was no secret to those excluding Jack that the area held some painful memories for her which was the cause of the sudden aches in her heart. Most of these overwhelming feelings of anguish due to the guilt she felt subsequent to shackling the captain to his ship nearly a year ago. She cast a quick glance at him from the thought. He hadn't noticed her staring though for he was far too occupied with examining the surroundings considerately, pondering whatever it was that a man such as himself would mull over. Near him, Barbossa was seated; stroking the glossy apple nestled in his palm while Pintel and Ragetti rowed. Silence was indeed no obstacle for the two men who insisted on quarreling over something pointless as usual. They did manage to ease the tension in the air though so Elizabeth abstained from any sort of crude remark.

"—ye obviously address her as Calypso," Pintel grumbled while he waded his paddle through the water. His companion's wooden eye jerked this way and that.

"Then why's her name Tia Dalma?" he questioned, waiting on the stout pirate who snarled to replace an empty answer. Jack's eyes flashed up to the sky with irritation while the rest of the crew struggled to deafen their squabbling.

As the longboat neared the hut, Elizabeth found herself reminiscing about the night they'd spent at the shack when the Pearl had disappeared into the depths of the ocean, remembering her promise to save Jack in particular. As they rounded the corner, her memory gradually filled the vacant waters that she once stood in when she had cupped the candle in her hands and sent it downstream. Back when there was no hope, she believed he would be lost forever, the sea to keep him hostage for all eternity – with only her to blame. But to have him alive again, her past tears and promising pledge seemed nothing more than idiotic. The envisioned memory faded as they pulled up to the square deck and began securing the boat.

Jack was first to prod open the rickety door and enter casually. Elizabeth and Barbossa filed in after, searching the tree-hut crammed with trinkets and tools of voodoo use with their eyes to find its priestess absent. Her stare flickered to Barbossa to find an unfamiliar expression on his face. Many of times she had wondered exactly how Hector had been revived but found it wasn't really her place to question something so personal. She was even unsure about wanting to discover how in fear of knowing far too much for her own good.

Jack called out Tia's name cautiously while the group dispersed in search of her.

Elizabeth's tar stained hands drifted over some of the beads and unmarked jars with an indecisive look to her. Pirates were thieves; she had known this since she was a mere child. It wasn't like she hadn't stolen before. Will's medallion played as a perfect reminder that it certainly wasn't a first consideration for her. Still though, her fingers trembled over one of the beaded necklaces. Her stomach knotted, as she directed herself to conceal it under her vest. She cursed inwardly, her hand still hovering above the jewelry – she couldn't bring herself to do it. Perhaps her morals were acting up though it didn't seem probable for some reason. Her mind was practically screaming at her to steal the necklace until she felt she could no longer suppress her aggravation. Just…take it!

"Ah, Tia Dalma!" Elizabeth nearly tipped over one of the jars at the sound of Jack's voice. She spun on her heel and was surprised to notice the mystifying practitioner standing but a few feet away, a blank stare in her direction. The pirate's lips pursed, ready to explain herself, but Tia Dalma simply strutted over towards Jack without a word said, her smirk taken with her.

"And te what d' I owe de pleasure of your company, Jack?" her voice danced with mischief as she fingered the locket hanging from her bare, bronzed neck; shocking, that she had insisted on keeping the specific trinket that tangled in to such a twisted past. Then again, she was no ordinary woman to begin with so it shouldn't have been an unexpected act.

Jack cracked a smile but his expression was far from pleased, "Well, as you're quite aware of, the crew and I are on a hunt for the head of Blackbeard." She delivered a grunt that seemed more of a laugh than anything before taunting,

"Too bad dat compass of yours was claimed by de sea." Elizabeth shrunk into herself, soon glad to find that no one had noticed. Jack had been led under the impression the compass had 'accidentally' fallen overboard during one of their encounters with the Flying Dutchman since he knew no better than any one else of what had actually happened. The truth was locked away within only the heart of Miss Swann who had in fact been the one to hurl the device into the ocean out of pure spite and frustration.

"Clumsiness is not a burden one wishes to bear," he remarked flatly. Elizabeth exchanged a pleading look with Barbossa who merely gave her a slight nod that she knew not of how to interpret. She had only witnessed this sharp mood of Jack's a few times in the past though seldom failed to make the hairs on her neck stand. It wasn't so much frightening as it was uncomfortable instead.

"Tell me, how is it dat you think you're going to find de head without having your precious compass to point you in de right direction? Now Jack Sparrow has nothing to show him what it is he wants." If she hadn't been mistaken, Elizabeth was sure he had flashed a glance at her. She decided against the thought since it seemed ridiculous to consider.

For a moment, it seemed as if he were planning on standing there and taking her mocking blows but then, for the first time, Elizabeth witnessed an emotion she had never seen don his face so strongly before: annoyance.

"Well, I wouldn't have had to bother about that if it weren't for this dim-witted game you've set up—"

Tia Dalma slammed her hand flat on the table, sending the items upon its top into a quiver – including the portion of the crew who trembled at the sudden noise as well. "You forget who it is you be talking to, boy." Her voice no longer held it's lighthearted, mischievous tone but a dark and threatening one instead. Jack's frozen expression warmed into a smile. He was no fool, knowing this was one enemy he definitely did not need.

"My apologies, dear Calypso. I guess ol' Jack is just a tad bit frustrated, is all." Tia frowned; partly unimpressed with such a feeble confession. Her tense stance loosened as she stepped over to the table.

"You will be headin' for Isla Verde," she collected some shells from the wooden top in her slender grasp and circled it.

"My genuine gratitude, but if we are going to find this head, where are we to search on this charming isle?" He was careful to keep his tone far from demanding, fearing the wrath she held when enraged.

"De head will be hidden somewhere in a cave on de island. My advice, make sure dat you don't let Blackbeard get 'is hands on it."

Jack rubbed his finger-tips together then nodded with a pleasant smile, "Well, then. We best make haste. As usual, it has been a pleasure Tia Dalma." She nodded back politely, before she watched as he made his way for the door. Jack was like a flame to a candle. The wick only lit when needed, only visiting upon requiring something from her though it had never once concerned her for she fell victim to his every whim no matter how domineering she came across as. Acting on impulse was no reason to attempt to sway him into having more between the two of them, though. Neither was capable of such, and neither was bothered by such either.

"Wait." Everyone who began to follow came to a halt, peering back to the voodoo mistress who finished, "I wish to speak with Elizabeth alone." Elizabeth turned to Jack who cocked a brow questioningly but decided against an interjection. He had already offended Tia once and he refused to be duped into repeating the same mistake twice.

Though upset with having to stay behind, Elizabeth obediently waited until all but she and Tia were left. Her shoulders squared and a dismissive expression masked her features. Elizabeth had never been one to intentionally go out of her way to befriend someone, not even when she was a child. Most of the women she'd met at socials strayed away from her, usually appalled with her blunt speak of pirates and other such type of conversation that should only be saved for the gentlemen and not for a young woman like herself. It hadn't bothered her much however, since she had barely next to no interest in being included with their dull discussions that bored her to tears. Tia Dalma was surely not like the proper ladies she had once known, but to befriend a woman whom she'd witnessed once or twice tempting to catch the eye of her ex-fiancée was certainly out of the question. It was true that Tia had once saved her life during the war at world's end so it was understandable that she was indeed indebted to her. It seemed though that whatever prissiness that was left in Elizabeth had established that being indebted hadn't necessarily meant she needed to worship the woman let alone befriend her.

"So I see dat Jack does not know of de true misfortune de compass underwent." Elizabeth gasped lightly while Tia merely smirked, mischief in her dark eyes.

"Might I inquire as to how you know this?" the pirate snapped, undoubtedly offended by the way she was caught off her feet by such candor.

"Dear child, I know a great deal more than you tink," she cackled, caressing her locket once again. Elizabeth's wavy locks shimmered in the firelight as she paced around the room with a slightly irked expression.

"Then I hope you will not force me into recollecting why it was I did such a thing."

"I don't tink you need to recollect something dat never really went away, don't you agree?" Elizabeth fiddled with some trinkets carelessly placed around the hovel before she directed her attention to her with a frown.

"I suppose if that's all you wish to speak to me about then I'll be on my way," she gave a curt nod then stepped towards the door, trying to suppress any signs of haste.

"I can see by de way you move and speak dat your parting with William did not go very well."

Elizabeth turned and faced her again, but did not let their eyes meet. Trying to hide the bothered expression that had formed on her face, she muttered,

"How did you –,"

"I already told you, Elizabeth, I know…I know." Tia Dalma's voice fell as if disheartened. Elizabeth exhaled sharply then collapsed onto the nearest bench, head hung sadly. The priestess placed a reassuring hand upon her shoulder before she whispered,

"I knew from de day I met you dat you were destined for much, much more. Your place was not wit him and you know dat." The pirate sniffled and rubbed away tears.

"I just…" she paused to look up to her, "I just don't know if I made the right decision. I mean, what was I thinking?! Running off to become a pirate without even thinking it through and now look where it's gotten me." Elizabeth had expected Tia to be the last person she'd ever talk to about this, but there was no one else to approach and she found she couldn't keep things bottled up.

"You chose de right path, Elizabeth. You just haven't come to realize it yet; de past still has you worried. Wait here." She stood and watched as the voodoo goddess disappeared into the darkness of the hovel before she sauntered out from the shadows with an object cradled in her grasp. Handing it to her, Elizabeth noticed it to be the same necklace she had almost brought to taking for herself. "Dis is for you to keep," she cooed while closing the befuddled girl's hands around it.

"Why are you giving this to me?" she asked, suddenly guilty for having considered taking it.

"It's a gift. You'll know what to do wit it when de time is right." Elizabeth ran her fingers over the delicate, colored beads in wonder; entranced with the flickering firelight against each glossy coating.

"What am I supposed to do with them?" she questioned then averted her gaze from the necklace to find Tia Dalma had vanished. Stuffing the trinket under her vest, she took one last look at the hut before joining the crew waiting out in the long boat.

Jack stood at the helm, staring down and observing his working crew while privately contemplating ways to trample over his hesitation. Their laborious work and infinite loyalty to him seemed not enough to keep him from doing this. Well, attempting to do what it was he was going to do, anyway. "We're almost at the island, Cap'n," Gibbs joined up at his side, rubbing his hands together as if it were cold. Upon receiving no answer from his captain who appeared deep in thought, he requested, "Would I be stepping out of line to be askin' what it is we plan on doing on an island that is not the one that the head can be found on?" Jack's lips protruded out while he fixed his tri-cornered hat. Responding with a strict tone he declared,

"I'd say you would be taking a far leap out of line and would suggest you remain on track. Besides, 'we' are not to accompany 'me'." Gibbs mumbled silently to himself as Jack slunk away, taking a long swig at his rum. Rum, in his humble opinion, was the best way to ease any troubles.

Swaggering down the first few steps, he kept to his thoughts, making sure nothing would distract him into hesitation. The stairs squeaked wildly under his feet as he came to a halt upon noticing a certain crew member of his, bent over the rail of the ship. 'What do you mean you'll be right back?!' Elizabeth would scream in that voice of hers that made him cringe – yet, an argumentative tone he couldn't have helped but miss during their distance for the past year. In response to her shrieks, he would insist that it was merely a pit stop and that he would return soon. Unfortunately, she wasn't like some of the women whom he'd known that hung on to his every word as if he were god. No, she was one of the stubborn ones who would refuse to give up and claim that she would accompany him on his 'visit'. No amount of rum could tame this particular trouble named Miss Swann.

Jack grimaced; drawing a blank as he thought up a way to leave her behind. This stopover was vital if he wanted to save his soul. Old selfish Jack's heart had seemed to have hardened during that past year and it was undeniable as to why. Sleepless nights had gone by due to her pesky heart teasing when she had crawled back to her precious eunuch that he'd never admit was the cause to anyone. He had even tried denying it himself, but the truth was that he needed her but she had stomped on his heart. 'I could always…' the more he schemed the more he felt a pang in his heart that he shrugged off instantly.

He flew up the stairs and joined up beside Gibbs once more. "Wait a few moments after I go into my cabin then send Elizabeth in. Savvy?" he instructed quietly.

The crew member's eyebrow angled but he merely nodded dumbly in agreement. No sense making a fuss over something that would not land him an explanation anyway. "Good," Jack finished before he nearly fell down the stairs and into his cabin.

Gibbs waited patiently; ever so often casting a glance down at Elizabeth, who was hard at work tying some knots, then back at the doors to his captain's cabin until he finally decided it was about the right time to send her in. "Uh, Elizabeth!" he shouted with much uncertainty from his place up from the rudder. The early bronzing woman faced him from the main deck with a bemused smile. "Cap'n wants to see you in his cabin." The crude comments that erupted were enough to send her to her last nerve which resulted in a few vulgar words until their shouts lowered to inaudible murmurs.

Elizabeth closed the doors to the cabin behind her and observed her surroundings thoughtfully. This had been the second time she'd been in the captain's cabin since her capture upon the ship with Barbossa. It hadn't changed too much though everything seemed completely new to her. It could have been because it was no longer a room draped with heavy velvet and dismal patterns but now a cluttered, yet, comfortable space instead. The setting sun shedding pale beams through the windows gave the room such stillness that it could be put on display for all to see. She took a few more steps, her eyes briefly noting some foreign trinkets and a countless number of candles scattered upon the glossy counter bordering the oak walls beneath the windows. Elizabeth slipped her fingers over chests and other mysterious items as she made her way towards the table hidden beneath maps and a few books scattered upon its top. She tipped a bottle of rum accompanying the other items, judging how much had actually been spared by the captain who obsessed over the drink as if it were air itself.

"Thirsty?" Tensing up, she turned to find Jack stepping forward from the shadows and into the rays of sunlight. His dark eyes seemed glassy against the light; telling stories of the past from having once absorbed the adventures he partook in – later withstanding as memories alone.

"I'm not really in the mood for rum right now," she answered while maneuvering herself around the table.

"I figured a sophisticated woman such as you would enjoy the finer tastes of something better." She watched as he grasped two chalices from the ledge filled to the rim with red wine and offered one out to her. For a moment, she half expected him to pull out her chair for her but quickly snapped to attention when he gestured for her to take a seat with his hand. She obeyed cautiously and commented,

"Being the rum lover that you are, I hadn't guessed you'd have any other type of liquor than that."

"Ah, well," he leaned against the low shelf, raising the glass to his lips before finishing; "There's always room for a smidgen of class."

Elizabeth smiled and took a sip of the beverage. It had a funny taste at first, but soon sweetened on her tongue. He held up the bottle for her to survey before explaining,

"This particular wine was aged for exactly ten years, so the governor's wife of Antigua had told me so long ago." Elizabeth face contorted before she questioned,

"And how, if I may ask, did you find yourself conversing with the governor's wife to begin with?" Jack smirked as if reflecting on some private memories between him the woman before he answered,

"I'd held her captive for ransom, so the story goes I'm told."

"Frightening for her I'm sure…" she remarked sarcastically before taking another sip of her wine. She hadn't meant to, but she found after taking a sip, another followed. The wine was sweet on her tongue that she found it hard to resist. That's when she noticed he was watching her carefully. He chuckled under his breath when she swallowed the remaining wine in her mouth.

"Something amusing, Mister Sparrow?" she questioned bitterly, feeling extremely self-conscious from his mocking laughter.

"I'd say so, yes," he cocked a brow as if provoking her.

"Do share," she swirled the wine around in its glass then indulged in another large gulp as he admired the rings on his fingers.

"Just thinking back on the day I rescued you from your close-to-being watery grave."

"You seem to forget that upon rescuing me you also held me hostage," she laughed, feeling enormously giddy all of a sudden.

"How could one overlook such an unusual preamble to the adventure that followed?

"I was never afraid of you, not once," she added, trying to refrain from focusing on the sudden euphoric feelings pulsing through her.

"A very bold damsel, you were. Awfully mouth, though," he went on with a playful smirk. She smiled back before she glanced at her glass. It was near empty but it couldn't have made her drunk; it was only wine! Besides, it was only one glass. Elizabeth tipped the goblet and watched the crimson liquid sparkle in the remaining sunlight. That's when she took notice to some small, unidentifiable grains floating in her drink.

"Jack, what did y--," A wave of dizziness came over her as she struggled to stand. Elizabeth squinted painfully, trying to rid herself of the headache she had just encountered.

"Lizzie, it's crucial that you know that… I'm not sorry." She glared up at him, still struggling with her eyesight but intrigued enough to wonder what it was he was going on about. He didn't sound at all spiteful but instead poignant.

"I don't understand," she finally got to her feet but was far too woozy to keep her balance. Before she knew it, she was falling through the air and into steady pair of arms.

"Oops; careful there, love. That herb I slipped in there is terribly potent," he explained as he helped her over to his bed. Elizabeth found her vision coming and going at this point. By the time he helped her onto his bedside, everything was blurry; only able to hear his voice. "As I was saying before you took a tumble, I'm not sorry. Not sorry for dragging you into this. Back a year ago, when you told me you weren't sorry when you chained me to the Pearl, it was plain to see that you were pure pirate and would be able to go on. And being such, I'm positive you'll be able to pull through and take on this venturous task…even if it is all by your lonesome."

"What are you talking about, Jack?" Elizabeth's voice cracked as she grew frightened; baffled and beginning to lose consciousness. Jack sighed then whispered,

"I'll be back soon." She felt his weight on the bed lighten as he headed for the door. When she felt she could no longer suppress her wooziness and was planning to give into slumber, she had managed to say one last thing,

"Jack…" He stopped and looked back at her, "I was sorry."

He stared at her, passed out on his bed. There was a sinking feeling in his chest and he knew right away what it was; guilt. Moments like these usually passed by easily for Jack though this one seemed a bit too much to bear. Luckily for him, he became preoccupied with his thoughts when he began observing her sleeping form. A lecherous smirk crept upon his lips. Taking advantage of her would be simple in the state she was in. Suddenly, his features solidified; he could not and would not bring himself to do that to her. Lizzie wasn't just some sleaze he had picked up in Tortuga. She meant more to him no matter how hard he tried to deny it. Besides, he was a good man. He smiled; she had been the one who had helped to show him so. Even if he was planning to sell her out on her own if his plan followed through, he wouldn't let any other harm come to her before hand.

Jack sauntered out the door after locking it behind him. Gibbs met up with him on deck to inform him that they had arrived. Jack nodded and set out for the long boat in order to bring himself to the island in eye's distance.

"No one goes in my cabin and no one comes out, savvy?" Jack threatened, his face falling serious. Gibbs nodded blankly. The captain then headed off to his destination, leaving poor Gibbs befuddled.