revenant|c.g.|

xxvii

"It's been a while, huh?"

It was silent within the church, the young Commander being the only living thing seated upon the pews. Everyone had said their prayers earlier, Clary walking away for a moment only to look upon the looming building. She didn't know what possessed her to walk in, after all, she had never really had faith in God, so why would she start now? That was the question that rang through her head as she sighed softly before looking to the large cross with a clenched jaw.

"My father believed in you. He said you always brought him back home... until you didn't. You failed him. You failed my mother, my sister... me."

Images of her father flashes in her mind, distant memories, all of a family she couldn't truly remember. A family that was hers what seemed like centuries ago, no longer anything to her. Just ghosts, memories, people she held onto mostly to remind herself that she had a life before this one.

"So I am asking you— hell, begging you—" Clary looked up once more. "Let us win. We have fought for so long and I— and we need this. Don't let me lose anyone else I love... please."

Clary's jaw was clenched, begging for any sound or sign that God had listened or that anything had listened, but it was silent.

"You seem troubled."

Clary couldn't help but let out a soft breath, not needing to turn to know that she was graced with the presence of King Ezekiel. With her hand resting upon the handle of her blade, Clary only continued to look at the communities as they gathered, a sight shared by the King with her. They both were almost mesmerized at the image, people from extremely different backgrounds and communities all willing to fight and die for each other. It was a rare sight.

"Not troubled," Clary declared, shaking her head softly. "Just hopeful. Hopeful that today may be the final day." At that, Ezekiel laughed softly. "That is a hope I share with you, young Commander. But for now, feel pride in what you've created." Clary could only smile softly, looking to the people for a moment more before turning to face the man.

Ezekiel had donned his usual armor, looking truly like a King ready to defend his people. A more terrifying sight was the tiger that followed close to him, moving only to go towards Clary with soft steps. Shiva's large head rubbed against her gloved hand, causing her to smile softly before she looked back again. "This wasn't just me, it was all of us. This couldn't have happened without everyone standing together."

Clary looked back to the man only to see him looking proudly at her. "Believe me, Commander, not one of us would be standing here had you not been so passionate to save those under the hold of the Saviors." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You kept fighting when so many of us had given up. When I had given up. You never wavered. You gave us hope." Clary smiled, thankful for the kind words.

However, Clary felt the words were misplaced as she realized the doubt creeping in her stomach as she wondered whether her decision to fight was well placed. With that doubt simmering, Ezekiel approached her before digging into his coat pocket and revealing two feathers in his hand.

Understandably so, Clary was confused, until she recognized the specific coloration of both the hawk feather and owl feather. Her remembrance ran deeper as she realized they had been the ones she wore while acting as a proxy for Solaris during her time in the Kingdom, the feathers being gifts from the King to establish her leadership. When she departed, she had left them behind as she held little leadership in Solaris.

Clary allowed her eyes to meet the King's, wide with surprise. "You kept them?" The man nodded with a smile. "I saw you becoming the next great leader of Solaris, and I was right. They were to be gifted back to you in time, but then Solaris fell." Clary clenched her jaw, remembering one of the reasons she would be fighting so strongly today. "You have only become a greater leader, and these feathers," he said, lifting them up to her, "... detail the very reason why you are someone worth following. Why you always have been." He smiled. "Why you always will be."