"My Destiny"

Title: "My Destiny"
Author: Augustina
Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Pairing: William Turner/Tia Dalma
Category: Het romance
Status: WIP
Disclaimer: All characters are property of their creators. I'm just playing with them for a little while. Honest!

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The Beginning


Tia Dalma's home, evening

Tia Dalma observed the group of people occupying her home as she prepared a refreshment. A pall of depression seemed to hang in the air among them, each one closed off with his own thoughts. She herself was nearly numb from the shock of hearing they had lost Jack Sparrow to the Kracken. She could plainly see that the woman, Elizabeth, was particularly upset. Many things could be said about Jack, some of them most unflattering, but Tia knew that despite his rougish qualities, Jack was liked by all who got to know him. Everyone in the group was having a hard time accepting the loss. Even the one named William Turner, the one whose beauty had struck her like a wind in a hurricane, and whose aura whispered things to her.

She brought a tray of drinks for everyone, a tea infused with a certain wildflower extract that was well known to calm the nerves. She made a point of serving William his drink last so she could observe him furtively. There was something else amiss with him, something that involved himself, Elizabeth, and Jack Sparrow. She would not question him. When he was ready, he would come to her.

Will Turner thanked their hostess as she offered him the good-smelling tea she had brewed for everyone. He looked into her eyes, which were clear and brown and seemed to shine with genuine kindness and concern. He knew that she could see more than just his physical self. How else could she have known his name? His exact name, not a random guess. And that enigmatic remark about having "a touch of destiny" about himself wasn't just an ordinary way to greet a stranger. He'd felt compelled to ask if she knew him. She'd asked if he wanted to know her. Did he? Truth be told, yes he did.

He looked over at Elizabeth, so obviously distraught over losing Jack. Why had she kissed him? Was he not the one she loved and wanted to marry? Could he have lost her to Jack Sparrow in the same way poor Norrington had lost her to him? Heaven's mercy, what was he to do, he wondered. All these questions only added to his hurt and confusion. To distract himself he sipped some of Miss Dalma's tea, suddenly realizing that he hadn't eaten or had more than a few cups of water for the entire day, maybe longer. The tea was quite good, he noticed. Delicious, in fact. He looked around for their hostess and spotted her towards the back of the house. He arose from his seat and took a few breaths to quiet his nerves, determined to have a talk with her. He hoped she would grant him some of her counsel and even perhaps help him.

"Miss Dalma?"

Tia turned around slowly at the sound of that velvety soft voice and looked at him kindly. What an unusual man, she thought. Not the type to be running with pirates at all. He is what the British call 'a gentleman'. He's a real one if he can address me like that.

"Yes, William Turner?'

"If you are not terribly busy I was wondering if I could have a word with you. It will not take long." he replied, shyly.

"I would not be a good hostess if I said no. Of course you may speak with me. Come." she said, gesturing for him to follow her outside the house. He obeyed, his eyes studying her from behind.
What an unusual woman, he thought, studying the confident and rather sensual way she walked. She led him to a porch at the back of the house and showed him to a comfortable padded bench where they would sit. Tia realized that he was standing there at semi-attention, waiting for her to seat herself. Now I am sure he is a gentleman, she thought, smiling at him as she sat. She was beginning to get a glimpse of the man he was, and she liked what she saw. Will sat there for a moment gathering his thoughts, looking out at the fireflies hovering above the water beneath the
house. How to begin, he wondered. Suddenly, Tia spoke.

"You may not be the one." she said. He looked at her in surprise, his head jerking around suddenly, his shiny dark curls brushing his shoulders.

"What? What do you mean?" he asked, his eyes wide.

"Do you mind if I speak freely?" she asked.

"Please do."

"You are troubled, Mr. Turner. And a lot of the time when a man is troubled there is a woman involved. You look as if you don't know which direction to go in next."

Will stared at her for a few more seconds, not knowing how to reply. She had given voice to the very thoughts that had been running through his mind for the last few hours. He knew he shouldn't be surprised, given the apparent powers this woman possessed. She merely looked at him and waited.

"That is an understatement. And yes...yes, you are right. My troubles do involve a woman. I guess I don't have to tell you who."

"She is sitting in the next room."

"She...I...I just don't know what to think anymore. She kissed him, Miss Dalma. She kissed Jack! I saw her with my own eyes. I don't think she knows I did because when we all got in the lifeboat I asked her about him. I saw her slip that cuff onto Jack's wrist and lock it. It was if her feelings for him were going in two directions at once. She has feelings for him, yet what she did to save the rest of us condemmed him to face the Kraken alone."

"And now you are unsure of her love for you because of the kiss. I understand, William Turner."

William turned to face her and looked directly into her eyes. He did not know why yet, but he wanted Tia to drop the formal way in which she spoke to him, he wanted to do the same. Just sitting near her was having a calming effect on him, he noticed.

"Call me William."

Tia smiled, noting the flawlessness of William's skin, slightly burnished from the Caribbean sun during his weeks of sailing with pirates. His eyes were the color of the bluest topaz she could imagine, bright and earnest and kind. His beauty cast a spell on her like no other man, drawing her in in wonder of it.

"Alright." she finally responded. "And you may call me Tia."

They looked at one another in that way, the way that was ages-old and signalled the beginnings of an attraction. William found the sheer exotic quality of Tia to be most fetching. Not to mention the fact that there was something slightly dangerous about her, judging from the...things sitting and hanging about her home.

"William, you will know soon enough her feelings for the two of you, because she will tell you."

"For myself and Jack? Then I was right. Oh Father in heaven, what am I going to do?" William stammered, his eyes growing hot and watery.

"I am sorry I could not give you better news, but that is what I see."

William nodded his head in agreement. "I am most grateful for your help, Tia.

"You are welcome." she replied, and looked out over the water, silent for the time being. She did not want to reveal it to William, but when she looked at him she did not see Elizabeth by his side, as his future wife. There was a woman near him sure enough, but not her. Whoever she was, she stood in front of William with his protective arms about her. That was all she knew.

She arose from her seat and walked to the porch railing. She looked down at the clear, dark waters below, all alight with fireflies. She wished to know the man behind her and hoped his feelings for her were the same. She felt herself drawn to him for reasons still unknown. Somehow, her future included him, this young Englishman whom she had only just met and barely knew. But how did he feel?

End of chapter one

A/N: I will post more as soon as possible. Hope the readers are enjoying my story. It just sat up one day and begged to be written. I couldn't resist. Why should I? Tia and Will are my favorite characters!