hiraeth | c.g. |

xx

All Clary could hear was silence. She had prepared herself for the screams, for the calling of war and bloodshed, but there was none. There was only silence as the people gathered for the last time within the Hall, looking on to their Commander as she stood before them. Carl and Daryl stood a ways behind her, there for support and comfort although they wouldn't tell Clary, rather saying they were there to help in Solaris' move. 

"Yesterday, Alpha told Daryl and me about her new borders," Clary began, the room growing quieter as she spoke softly, not able to muster up the ability to be any louder. "My first thought had been how to fight. We— we're a community of soldiers and we've fought for our home before. Against the Wolves, the Saviors... people within our own walls." Clary shook her head. "But we've grown, and we've suffered, and we've learned. I've learned... and I know when to fight and when to surrender."

With a deep sigh, Clary looked to her people to see their own somber faces. They knew what she would say and they knew it was the only way.

"So I'm surrendering," Clary admitted. "Even if we wanted to fight, Alpha and the Whisperers have thousands of Infected ready to plow through our home. We could fight, but we would die, and then Solaris would truly be gone. And I won't let that happen."

"We can fight!" A voice called out, Clary looking up to see one of her students. She was bright-eyed and full of hope and Clary was envious of that. She wondered if she herself had ever held that look— maybe if she still had it Alpha wouldn't be tearing her community from her fingertips.

"You taught us how to! Commander Boswell did! We can't lose Solaris!" Clary smiled sadly, proud of the love her people had for their home. "You're right, we can't lose Solaris," Clary spoke. "I saw what Alpha and her... people are capable of. I saw eleven reasons why we should back away."

Images of the decapitated heads filled her mind, causing her to choke. Her family— dead.

"I hope you will never have to see what we had to," Clary spoke shakily. "Burying our people... those kids... my sister— I will not allow myself to bury anyone else." Clary stood up straighter. "Which is why we won't lose Solaris because it is not this place. This place housed us but it is not Solaris— it's just four walls. Solaris is, and always has been its people!" Clary declared forcefully, almost as if she was trying to convince herself. "So long as we survive, Solaris survives, no matter where we go. We just need to live."

The people gathered were silent, no loud cheers or claps because this was not a situation that allowed for such. Instead, Tris moved to stand by Clary's side from the shadows.

Beatrice Murphy was one of the strongest women Clary had known, but even she had been a wreck. Leon had saved her just as he had saved Clary, the man the closest thing she had to a brother. Losing him and the community in one fell swoop had shattered her— but she stood strong by Clary, and that was more the Commander could ask for. "Gather your things. We leave at dawn to Alexandria."

The roads of Solaris were silent as dawn approached. The neighing of horses and supplies being packed away were all that could be heard from where Clary stood on the balcony of the Big House. Her fingers skimmed the edge of the railing, the metal somewhat cool to the touch. However, the metal's temperature was nothing close to the chill that took her body as she watched her people prepare to say goodbye.

Solaris had housed her for almost a decade. It was where she had grown up, where she had learned to become strong and how to fight. Where Leon had taught her to use not only her sword but her words to fight.

It was where her sister was buried, now with the love of her life being buried right next to her only hours prior to their move. A small grave was positioned between them: Layla Dean-Boswell. The family had now been put to rest, yet it was in a place that Clary would not be able to visit for who knows how long.