Trigger warning: The biblical stories of the Rape of Tamar and the Rape of Dinah are discussed briefly in this chapter by four strong men of power and they briefly negatively discuss the validity of victim blaming. They also specifically talk about rape victims being women, as men of this time likely would not fathom men in that situation. I acknowledge the existence of and stories of male victims. Far too often we have made this atrocity a female only conversation and this is a place of recognition for the men who have experienced it too.

There is also a mention of the Church of England in 1739 finding homosexuality a sin. Anyone who wants to come to the comment section and agree can screw off. Yes, Philip is a religious man in 1739, but he's also actively trying to get it on with a fish. Our boy ain't judging anyone.

Birds of a Feather

The Curse of the Black Pearl

Chapter Forty-Eight

A Question of Faith

When Archdeacon Adam Rutherford was shown into the office of Philip Swift, it was exactly what he wanted to see.

Living in a mansion, there was plenty of space for Weatherby Swann to give his nephew his own office. Philip took the space to heart. A nice oak desk and matching set of chairs. Pages of blank parchment and drawers filled with brand new quills and inkbottles. Linen that had been painted with maps of Jerusalem, Egypt, and other Old Testament locations hung from the walls. There was statue of a cross hanging by the door and behind the desk was a painting of Philip the Disciple at the Last Supper asking Jesus to show them the Father, leading to the speech of the unity of the Father and the Son.

There were bookcases clustered with scripture, religious dissemination, and published sermons from around the world. One of Katherine Swann's closest friends had been an immensely successful bookdealer named Walter Shipman. He was famous throughout Britain for being able to find any text you desired. Whether it was your local preacher's sermon notes from the week you were born to first editions of Shakespeare manuscripts, he could find it. It may take time and cost you a lot of money, but Walter Shipman would find it.

Katherine had been his favorite customer and not because she spent a lot of money. She was passionate about reading and would treasure any text you could give her. Her own parents did not often feed the love of reading, buying books only for their sons, but those sons would bore of the texts and cast them off to their sister. That's not to say that Katherine never received books. Her parents would always buy her one for one for Easter, and two for Christmas, as poor Katherine had decided Christmas day was the best to be born upon.

Since buying books for Katherine was a rarity, Walter had started to keep a list. Whenever he came to the Skylark household to show off his wares and Katherine expressed interest in a book that her brothers turned down, Walter would add it to his list. Charles Skylark was very happy about the list because all he had to do whenever he wanted to get his daughter a present was ask Walter to send him something off the list.

It had also been that list that led to Weatherby Swann giving his wife the best wedding present Katherine could imagine. Throughout her years of friendship with Rebecca, Katherine had frequently commented on how sad looking and poorly stocked the Swann Manor library was. It was showpiece to demonstrate they had the wealth enough to own a library, but Katherine wasn't exactly wrong the time she told Rebecca it was not better than a broom closet with six dogeared books falling apart at the seams.

A month after their wedding, Weatherby had the library completely redone with new paint, furniture, and the installation of a grand fireplace for Katherine to cozy up next to. But best yet was that he had taken the vast list of all the books Katherine ever wanted and never was given, and Weatherby told Walter he would purchase all of them.

It was an act that his father would nearly have an aneurysm for when he saw the final bill. Luckily Weatherby had some money from his estranged Great Aunt Leah who had specifically told him to use it on something his father would hate. Rebecca had received the same money and missive too and was only too glad to donate to such a worthy cause.

But it was not just for monetary reasons Katherine and Walter had become very good friends. Their personalities meshed very well and true friendship grew over the years. Katherine delighted in her friendship with Walter, inviting him to her wedding, making him a frequent personal guest at parties and dinners, and she had even inadvertently introduced Walter to his future wife when the pair were both invited as house guests to the Swann summer home and ended up stranded in the house when a flood washed out the roads for a week.

The friendship was so fruitful that Philip ended up calling him Uncle Walter, and Walter would feed Philip and Elizabeth's desires for reading even all the way across the sea. Monthly, packages would arrive from Uncle Walter including texts on religion and pirates and all sorts of material that caught their interest.

So when Rutherford saw how well stocked on religious material Philip Swift was, he vaguely wondered if the Vatican had as many texts.

"Archdeacon Rutherford," Philip stood from his desk and offered his hand. "Welcome to my humble office."

Weatherby was waiting in the office with Philip and Pastor Thomas had accompanied Rutherford, so they made pleasantries while Philip and Rutherford shook hands.

"You have a lovely home, Governor," Rutherford told the man. "I hope you've spent as much time caring for your ward as you have for your ambiance."

If it was a slight, Weatherby didn't let it show, "By leagues, far more. Philip is the closest thing I will ever have to a son and I adore him as such."

"Oh? So you intend on never remarrying?"

Weatherby wasn't sure why that particularly mattered to Rutherford, "No. My Darling Katherine was called to Heaven but as far as I am concerned my vows stand until my death."

"Governor Swann and I have had this conversation more than once, Archdeacon," Pastor Thomas chuckled. "I have expressed to him the holiness of a marriage again after the death of one partner. After all, Ruth married Boaz and from them eventually came King David."

"It is not a decision made on scripture but rather the heart. I couldn't possibly love another after having experienced Katherine Skylark."

Philip couldn't help but tease, "I mean, it's not like you've ever tried."

But Weatherby just smiled, "When you have tasted the sweetest wine, all others merely taste like sour grapes."

"I can understand the thought," Rutherford said. "I myself am a widower and none has compared to my Madeleine. I merely inquire because of some questions I have for yourself."

"For me?" Weatherby was surprised.

"Yes, Miss Finson I believe you call her."

That made Philip on edge, "What about her?"

Rutherford considered his words, "There has been talk. A wealthy widower brings home a beautiful virginal woman who no attachments-"

Weatherby sprung, "I didn't bring her home for me. I brought her home for-"

He trailed off. Saying he brought her home for Philip likely would not reflect well for his nephew's holiness investigation.

But Rutherford could see right through it, "Mister Swift, would you mind recounting to me the events regarding the pirates and Miss Finson and yourself? I'm afraid I've become a little muddled. Could you officially set the record straight?"

"Of course," Philip warily watched Rutherford produce a pencil and notebook from his jacket pocket. There were already pages of scribbles and he come have sworn he saw the name Gillette noted down once or twice.

"Good on," Rutherford gestured with his pencil.

Philip launched into the story that the Swann family had agreed upon.

"The pirates were performing some sort of heathen blood curse to live forever. I don't know the details in depth. All I know is that it involved a phase of the moon and needing two virgin maidens, one of whom has the world in the palm of their hand, and one who has lost all. They attacked a village in Florida and found Syrena, a girl whose only sister, Tamara had abandoned the family. Apparently one of the pirates used to have a dalliance with Tamara and knew of the little sister."

"Tamara," Rutherford wrote down the name. "Continue."

"To ensure Syrena had lost all, they killed her parents in front of her, ransacked her home, and then burned it. There were two pirates who had a particular eye for Syrena, Twigg and Koehler."

"Oh yes," he consulted his notebook. "Twigg died on your voyage home, is that right?"

"Yes," Weatherby Swann cut in firmly. "A truly reprehensible scene. The brigade attempted to do something I dare not mention in front of ordained ministers and Miss Finson protected herself."

"By stabbing him repeatedly in the throat?"

Pastor Thomas paled; apparently, he had not heard that detail.

"Unfortunately, yes," Philip answered. "I think you'll understand when you have heard more of the story, but truly, when the Bible recounts the Rape of Tamar, does it not tell us that Amnon was stronger than Tamar and that was how he was able to force himself upon her? Does that not say to you that had he been weaker, she would have been able to fight him off and imply that she at least tried?"

A grave look passed over Rutherford's face, "In my line of work, I have been unfortunate to face the victims of those tragedies many a time. We may discuss the topic further at a later time, but know that having scene the effects of that vile sin far too many times in my life, I would never lay the blame with the woman."

"Governor Swann," Pastor Thomas spoke hesitantly, "I have been meaning to approach this issue with you. You know you can approach me as a source of confidentiality and comfort if you are experiencing a trying time in your family. If Elizabeth has been-"

"She has not," Weatherby said firmly. "And believe me, I thank God every day that she was not."

Rutherford raised an eyebrow, "And what of Miss Finson?"

"She wasn't either," Philip answered. "Not for lack of trying on the part of Twigg and Koehler. But she has remained a virgin."

Weatherby shot his nephew a look that clearly read It better stay that way.

Philip blushed.

"Then continue on with your story," Rutherford instructed.

On the story went with the pirates seeking out the Governor of Port Royal's virgin daughter who they kidnapped. Philip told the truth about how he and Will broke out Jack and went to Tortuga to recruit a group of pirates.

The only detail changed was they went with Elizabeth's original lie about pretending to be the daughter of Gibbs. That was twisted into a mention of how they had met Gibbs when they were younger and Elizabeth always using a fake name of Beth Gibbs when she needed one – something that Pastor Thomas unfortunately said he had never heard of, but Weatherby and Philip were able to patch things up quickly. So – according to Philip – Jack and Gibbs thought they had kidnapped Elizabeth because Gibbs owed Barbossa money.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Syrena were allegedly locked up together in a cabin on The Black Pearl and became friends. Philip also joked that the pirates had made a grave error in not taking away everything from Syrena, and her pet monkey Jack had snuck onto the boat after her. So, the two women and a monkey bonded and tried to come up with an escape.

From there the timeline was twisted. Instead of it take a month to get to Isla de Muerta, Philip alleged that it took about a week and the ships arrived the night of the New Moon.

The pirates supposedly got the phase of the moon needed wrong and brought the girls to the island on the night the moon disappeared. They attempted a blood ritual, but it failed. While the pirates bickered among themselves, Will and Philip saved Elizabeth and learned about Syrena. Philip and Will were attempting to save the other girl when they were attacked. Will and Elizabeth were able to get away, but Philip was caught.

Jack Sparrow was also kidnapped and upon learning they were attempting the ritual, stupidly revealed that it needed to be on the Full Moon, not the New Moon. When pointed out that Elizabeth had gone, Barbossa declared the ritual didn't need a female virgin, and kidnapped Philip as the other half of the ritual.

Philip and Syrena spent two weeks getting to know each other and – as he openly declared – falling in love. During that time, Twigg and Koehler kept trying to attack Syrena, seeing just how far a virgin she really needed to be. However, two pirates, Ragetti and Pintel protected her and started calling her "Fins" which was short for Finson.

The day before Elizabeth was found on the beach with Jack, the Interceptor was true to its name and came upon the Pearl. They did battle, and Philip and Syrena used the distraction to attempt escape. They failed as the crew of the Interceptor was captured and their ship destroyed.

Explaining why Elizabeth was left with Jack on the island turned out to be really easy for Philip.

"To be honest, I don't know why they did. It was a bit of a confusing mess and next thing I knew, Will was locked in the cabin with Syrena and I, and Elizabeth was just gone. It made sense to Barbossa apparently."

Thankfully, Rutherford didn't press further.

The rest of the story was much the truth if not a bit twisted. Twigg and Koehler attacked Syrena to "save" her for themselves when she didn't need to be a virgin anymore. To explain Will's injured hand, Philip said that when Barbossa couldn't find Syrena, he substituted Will for the other virgin – which confused Pastor Thomas who openly confessed he thought for sure Will and Rachel had been together.

The story was concluded was mainly the truth of Philip, Will, Syrena, Elizabeth, and Jack fighting against Barbossa until the latter killed him. By then, Philip was in love with Syrena and as the girl had nothing to go home to, offered to bring her home with him.

"So, this bringing her home," Rutherford asked, "is it with the intention of marriage?"

Everyone looked to Philip. He could have sword even the small portrait of his parents that sat on his desk was waiting for an answer.

"Perhaps," Philip honestly didn't even have an answer for himself. "It's still pretty new and I've never had experience with anyone like this before."

Pastor Thomas chuckled, "As someone who was hoping you would end up with his daughter, I'm not sure if I'm glad or upset to hear that."

Weatherby laughed and clapped the man's shoulder.

But Rutherford said nothing. He just sat and stared at Philip, no doubt reviewing the story in his head. There was something in his eyes that told Philip that there was something about it he didn't completely buy.

"Gentlemen," Rutherford said, "would you mind if I spoke to Mister Swift alone for a minute?"

The men traded nervous looks but complied. Before he left, Weatherby patted Philip's head and Pastor Thomas said 'Best of luck.'

Then they were alone. Philip sat across his desk from the arbiter of his fate, the man who would determine the very course of his future.

Rutherford finally spoke, "Are you familiar with Hebrews 10:26?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Recite it if you can."

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins."

"What do you think of the verse?"

"I think it an easy one to take out of context," Philip answered without batting an eye.

Rutherford just looked at him, "Explain."

"Most would think that it means if you know the Lord, any repentance of sins would not be covered by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This is untrue. After all, did Peter not sin thrice before the cock's crow? Did he not doubt the ability to walk on water and nearly go under as a result? Did Thomas not need to see Christ's hands to prove the Lord had returned? Were all of these men condemned forever to Hellfire for their actions?"

"Then what does the verse mean?"

"It speaks of how physical sacrifices of bulls and sheep to repent sin are no longer required and we are now covered by the blood of the Lord. Indeed, the section is titled The Full Assurance of Faith. There is a difference between accepting the Word of God and stumbling on sin every now and then, and then repenting vs saying you accept the Lord but intentionally living a life of sin without regret. 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

"You seem quite ready to speak at length on the main struggles of Faith."

Philip shrugged, "I have been studying for the faith since I was six years of age. Hopefully nearly fifteen years of intimate examination shows the Church my competence to be a Deacon."

"I'm not here to test you on your knowledge of the Bible and ability to preach," Rutherford said. "I am here to judge your fitness to represent the Church of England."

"I understand your reasoning, however it does make me think of 1 Corinthians 5:12-13."

"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven," Rutherford recited knowingly. "Be it not me who prevents a believer from sharing the Word of God, but you must recognize that not everyone is fit to be one of the Lord's priests. David was a King, Esther a Queen, Joseph a carpenter, and Malkijah a goldsmith. Not all who are called by God are called to ministry. We all have our place in the world and those who take on the mantle of priesthood must be chosen carefully. After all, did Jesus call all tax collectors to him that day or did he just call Matthew? Did the Holy Spirit choose all of Jesus's followers to replace Judas or did he choose Matthias?"

"I see your point. When it comes to my acting in sin while knowing the Word of the Lord, I do want you to know that I truly regret my-"

"Do you regret it?" Rutherford challenged. "Or would you do it again? Would you go save your sister? Protect your friend? Rescue your lover? Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me that if given the chance to do it over, you would not make the same decisions?"

Philip was silent.

"We all commit sin, and we may not ever regret it. Yes, sin itself we may grieve making ourselves unclean, but the act itself we may feel justified. When their sister, Dinah was raped, Simeon and Levi never apologized or repented for killing her rapist. In their eyes the sin committed against their sister was so great that it overcame the sin they themselves committed. Some may even say that they are heroes of this story, avenging their sister as Absalom did Tamar. My job here is not to condemn you for acts such as those, but rather discover if God still calls you into the role you desire. I admire the courage and strength you have shown in saving your sister, your friend, and your lover from vile Pagan rituals. But has God used this opportunity to call you to a different path?"

"I have never intended to stay in one place," Philip said. "My goal has always been to preach as a missionary, traveling the world to rescue those who cannot be saved by themselves."

"If so, then this may be a fitting parable to reveal God wishes that path for you. But still, not all missionaries are ordained ministers. I must dig deeper to understand what the Lord is trying to tell us with these events."

"Then dig away. I have nothing to hide." Philip truly believed those words, not remembering he lived a lie every time someone pried into Syrena's history.

Rutherford began the interrogation, "Considering your background, a degree would not be out of the ordinary. Did you attend university, and if so, what did you study?"

"I have no university education," Philip admitted. "Our family has suffered many tragedies, so my uncle was hesitant to send me alone to London for the type of schooling he had. Instead, I have received a plethora of the finest tutors in the Caribbean. I was educated in the same general subjects a man of my station is meant to: history, politics, economics, and so forth. But my primary educational focus has been biblical studies. I've had tutors who focus on scripture, had an ever-expanding library of published sermons and religious theory afforded to me, and I have been attending to Pastor Thomas in almost what one might call an apprenticeship had it been a trade every day since I first stepped foot in Port Royal eight years ago."

"And it was your father who inspired you to this calling?"

"He and my mother. They both spread the Word of God together while still pushing the limits of society in the ways they believed God intended. After all, Jesus did flip over tables and whip people in a temple to clear out ungodliness from it."

"Indeed, he did," Rutherford smiled. He particularly like the postulants that had a fuller picture of Jesus than just a prim and proper man walking around with a folded hands and a halo. So far, he had to admit, Philip Swift did commit that rare act of Postulates of truly digging into the Bible to see beyond quotes into the context of the written word. "Do you believe you are called because your parents were?"

"I believe I have been called because of the place I have been put in life," Philip answered. "I have been set up to have holy supports raise and guide me from my very birth. I have been given an adventurous spirit to seek out the corners of the world God has been shut out from. I do not sneer at the wicked as Jonah did but rather practice the idea that no one is beyond redemption… though admittedly some people may be a bit of a long shot. And…"

Philip hesitated, his cheeks reddening.

"I will admit, I am handsome, charismatic, and well-spoken," Philip could hardly meet the man's eye, especially when he heard the laugh. "I'm the kind of man people want to listen to rather than some droning, judgemental, ancient."

Rutherford smiled, "A fair point. So tell me, how did you use the events of your adventure to spread the Word of the Lord?"

"I preached to the pirates." Philip then confessed, "They chained me to a door at one point in exchange, but I tried to reach those around me. When the sailors of the Dauntless had doubts of God after the adventure, I assured them that the Pagan rituals were the work of Satan and brought them back to the Lord."

He paused.

"And I think I've saved Syrena," Philip confessed. "Her beliefs after a life of tragedy were shaken and I was able to help open her eyes to the wonders of God."

"You've converted her then?" Neither of them had to voice the assumption of Port Royal that a half-French and half-Spanish girl must be Catholic rather than Protestant.

"Not… quite. Her theology is complicated, I admit. But she has opened her heart to My God, as she calls it. And she was willing to follow me afterwards and share in the life I intend to pursue. Perhaps not right now, but I think some day I will bring her to the light."

To be honest, Philip wasn't sure if he was telling a lie. He didn't want to drag her kicking and screaming into Christianity, but he refused to let her burn in Hell. Even if marriage was not afforded in its gates, Heaven would not be heaven without her soul in it.

"It takes a strong man to admit that to me," Rutherford said. "You do realize that the Church could forbid you from being with her? Would you choose the Church or the Girl?"

"I will have God and I will have the Girl," Philip said firmly. "God sent Syrena to me and I will honour him by honouring the partner he sent for me."

"You think the girl a soulmate?"

"I think she has been sent to me as Rebekah was sent to Isaac."

"Would you marry her?"

Philip's mouth went dry, "I…"

Rutherford raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Philip said. "I think when God calls me to marriage, it will be to Syrena."

"I see," said Rutherford. "Have you been sexually immoral with this girl?"

"No."

"Have you come close to that temptation?" Rutherford asked knowingly. He was talking to a twenty-year-old who had confessed only minutes ago that he had never involved himself with a woman. Either the boy was fighting with some major repercussion or there was another reason he didn't involve himself with women, and that meant they needed to be having an entirely different conversation.

Philip felt he had no choice but to be honest, "…Yes. There have been instances we I have come close to falling into temptation with Syrena. But I stopped myself. Sex is a gift from God to a Man and Wife. I would dare not cross that line."

"Wouldn't you? I've heard rumors."

"I have made mistakes," Philip said firmly. "But I have not compromised either her virginity or my own. I will not make love to a woman that I do not call my wife."

"And in your heart do you call her wife?"

He had to take a long time to consider it.

"No," Philip finally admitted. "I do not see Syrena as a wife. She could be some day, but for right now she is merely my love and one I am forbidden to touch."

"Very well," Rutherford spent a very long time writing something in his notebook. "Just a few more questions."

On they spoke, and Philip got the since that Rutherford was impressed by him. True, the pointed questions and tendency to bring up things he really didn't want to talk about – how in the world had he found out about the swim on Saint Albinus – made Philip worried. He still didn't believe that he was in the clear, but maybe the September Ember Week wasn't so far out of his grasp.

After a few hours, Philip and Rutherford finally emerged from the office to the waiting committee of Weatherby, Elizabeth, Syrena, Jack the Monkey, Anne, and Hannah, who still wanted to show her support of Philip even if the potential of marriage had gone up in flame like a bonfire. The only person missing was Will who Elizabeth nervously waved away with something about getting caught up on his backlog of work.

They all shook hands and bid appropriate farewells. Syrena was very aware that Rutherford's eyes kept straying back to her. She wasn't even fooled when Rutherford made a show of shaking Jack's little monkey paw like he was another gentleman of the house.

Still, she couldn't help but feel her spine freeze when Rutherford bowed and kissed her hand.

"If there's anything else I should know," he whispered under his breath, "now is the time to tell me."

Syrena just looked him in the eye and said, "I will do anything to support Philip on his path to the Lord. Anything."

And he nodded.

Rutherford reflected on the strange family when he got in his carriage. A month ago there would have been no question – and had been no question – that Philip Swift would have easily been ordained during the nearest Ember Week. Now… now Archdeacon Adam Rutherford wasn't sure.

He took a moment before setting off to consult his Bible. There was a passage he liked to turn to whenever faced with the fitness of a Postulant. It was Titus 1:7-9.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Philip Swift certainly did seem to fit that bill. It frankly was amazing considering all that he had seen that the man was able to cling to the Word of the Lord and not give in to temptation, especially the temptation of the flesh.

But there was still something more he needed from Philip: honesty.

A light patter hit the roof, and Rutherford frowned.

"What's going on?" he called up to the driver that had been afforded to him during his visitor.

"Just the rain," the driver answered. "Starting to drizzle. It's fine for now but I wouldn't be surprised if it turned into a right one. I don't like the look of those clouds."

"Then let's get a move on," Rutherford ordered.

The carriage set off and Rutherford reached into his pocket. He pulled out the letter that had been passed to him Sunday morning. A letter he had read over and over and still didn't entirely know what to do with.

There were just a few words scrawled across the parchment. Five simple words that could be the difference between life and death in the wrong hands. And they were now in his hands.

Syrena Finson is a Mermaid.

A/N: So in this chapter I mentioned that Katherine Skylark had been born on Christmas, and that's because I finally settled on my image of who would hypothetically "play" each of the OC parents and followed the actor has the same birthday rule.

Katherine Skylark would be Georgia Moffett, Rebecca Swann is Kate Mara, Nathaniel Swift is Josh Hartnett (no joke, he and Sam Claflin actually look stupidly similar), and Sarah Smith is a blonde Emily Blunt.