Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.

AN: Thank you for returning for the next chapter, and for the reviews, favs and follows. Always sooo very much appreciated! Hope you enjoy this new chapter. Let's see what we find about Ra's in this chapter.

Previously:

Dig sighed. "You are the closest thing to a brother I have left, Oliver. We're going to think of something. A soldier never leaves a man behind."

Oliver wanted to protest, but no further words would come out. He nodded, and put out his hand. Diggle shook it, turned around, and followed Maseo out of the cell.

Oliver was left in the cell alone watching Diggle leave the cell and supposedly his life. He knew it was the only choice he could make, but it didn't make the future any less frightening.

Oliver wasn't alone very long to contemplate his future. His stomach growling, he realized it had been hours since his last meal. Just as the thought crossed his mind, three guards entered the dungeon, walked over to the cell and opened the door. Without saying a word, one of them indicated for Oliver to exit the cell and to follow them. He fell into step behind the leader, with the other two following close behind Oliver.

After climbing several flights of stairs, and walking down numerous hallways, they entered what appeared to be the royal dining room. Tapestries hung from the walls picturing various battle scenes. The carpeting was lush roasted brown in color. Oliver's eyes followed a light brown, narrow rug which led to a long dark oak table, with Ra's sitting at the far end.

"Good evening, Mr. Queen." Nodding, Ra's indicated Oliver to take a seat to the right of him.

Sitting down, Oliver observed two of the guards leaving to take positions on either side of the door from which they had entered. The third guard stood at attention a short distance from Ra's and the head of the table.

Oliver took in the table, with place settings of fine crystal and china. The glasses were of light green crystal and lined with gold; the plates were trimmed with the same light green color. His lips tightened, for he assumed the choice of dinnerware must be meant as a nod to Oliver's choice of uniform color. An attempt to make it more homey for him perhaps? Instead it gave him a set of the creeps.

Ra's clapped his hands, and four servants marched in, each carrying a silver tray with various dishes on them.

"I hope you are hungry. I assume you are, for you certainly have had an eventful evening."

One servant placed plates with veal, grilled vegetables and rice in front of each of the two men. The next servant followed with salad bowls, and the third with a bowl of fruit set in the center between the two men. The fourth servant placed glasses of water to the side of each setting. All four servants stepped back at attention; Ra's nodded at them and they turned around smartly and left.

Oliver looked at Ra's for some sign to begin eating. Ra's began to eat his veal, stopped and looked at Oliver sideways. "Please begin, Mr. Queen."

Oliver nodded and began to eat. The food quality was at the level of the best chefs in Europe, at least according to Oliver's limited experience. Sitting there, wondering what was going to happen in the near future, Oliver found his appetite quickly disappearing however. The food lost its appeal and instead tasted like sawdust.

He didn't know if his face reflected this or not, after attempting not to show any emotion. However, Ra's stopped, set his silverware down next to his plate, and asked, "Is there something wrong with the food, Mr. Queen?"

Is there anything wrong, he asks. Of course there is something wrong. I'm here and not home, where I belong.

"Why do you ask, Ra's?"

"You do not appear as though you are enjoying it. My cook rivals the best in all of the European countries."

"I can certainly tell that, and I do appreciate it. I guess I am not as hungry as I had thought."

Ra's fixed a speculative look upon the younger man. "It will take some time, I suppose, to feel at home here."

You can say that again!

Oliver could think of no useful reply, so he sat in silence waiting for Ra's' next comment. He continued to attempt to swallow another bite of the excellently prepared food in which he had no interest and wondered how he would survive the future days.

~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~

As they had left the Fortress and boarded the plane, Diggle didn't speak to Merlyn. He couldn't. He was so filled with anger at what was happening, he didn't trust his own voice. Or actions. He didn't wonder if Merlyn questioned why he wasn't talking to him; he didn't care.

The plane had been in the air ten minutes when Merlyn broke the silence. "Are you going to tell me what happened? Where is Oliver? Why isn't he here with us?"

Not hiding his anger, Diggle turned upon the man. "You want to know? In order for you and me to be released safely, Oliver had to agree to stay in Nanda Parbat and become Ra's' Heir."

Diggle's anger increased thousandth-fold as he watched Merlyn attempt to stop a chuckle. He leaned even further into Merlyn's personal space and said in a dangerously low voice, "For all that's holy, don't tell me you think there's something even remotely funny about this?"

Malcolm, despite himself, recoiled into his chair. "I'm sorry, Mr. Diggle. It just took me by surprise."

"Bull shit."

"Wait, what? You expected me to have known something like this was going to happen?"

"I don't know, Merlyn. You tell me."

"No, Mr. Diggle, I wouldn't have imagined this turn of events in a million years." He repositioned himself and attempted to convey a nonchalant attitude. "This isn't at all in line with Ra's' usual behavior or personality. If I didn't know better, I'd think this was some kind of colossal joke being played on us."

"But it isn't."

Malcolm held out a hand towards Diggle, attempting to placate him. "I know it isn't. Like I said, if I didn't know better, I would think it was some kind of joke. However, Ra's isn't known for having a sense of humor."

"But you say this is out of character for him nonetheless?"

Malcolm tilted his head right and left, weighing the question. "I would think so. He has had Nyssa in place as his heir for years. However, he is a traditional man, in most things. He may have decided he wanted a male heir, despite all this time."

"I can't see this sitting well with Nyssa at all."

"I certainly wouldn't want to be in the area when she finds out, that's for sure."

Diggle leaned back in his seat, rubbing his chin with his right hand. "So, is there anything we can do to get Oliver out of this?"

Malcolm shook his head slowly. "I don't know, Mr. Diggle. I really do not know. I have to think about this."

"Maybe I should have Lyla convince Waller to drop an JDAM on Nanda Parbat and take care of Ra's once and for all."

"Nice try, Mr. Diggle. Not sure if that would really work, however."

"When will you have something for us to use, then?" Diggle asked, barely holding back his anger.

"I'll contact you tomorrow with what I've come up with by then," Malcolm said. "Until then, why don't we try to get some rest before we land back in Starling." He turned toward the wall and proceeded to snore lightly after several minutes.

Diggle's lips curled downwards as he considered everything he wanted to do to the man beside him. However, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. Nothing I can do for the moment. I suppose I better get some rest like the scumbag suggested.

~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~

Diggle was dreading what he had to look forward to once they landed and spoke to their team. He couldn't believe the turn of events which had occurred. It was just…mind-blowing, unbelievable. Unspeakable. He especially wasn't looking forward to a certain blonde tornado's reactions. Diggle wasn't sure if he'd still have a head after she was done yelling at him.

Upon landing, Malcolm made some excuse about having some leads to check out and hurried to a waiting car. Diggle spent a moment wondering how Malcolm had a car waiting for him, then brushed it aside. Luckily, the company van was still in the temporary airport parking lot, so he retrieved it and drove to the Lair.

Despite the hour, Felicity was at her computers, fingers flying across the keyboards. Diggle stood near the top of the stairs watching her for a moment, his heart breaking at the news he was about to deliver. When Felicity looked up and caught his eyes, Diggle took in a deep breath and walked down the stairs towards her.

"Hey, I was wondering when I'd hear from you guys. Why didn't you send word? A girl gets to worrying, you know," Felicity said, in an attempt at levity. Diggle could read her so easily and knew her nerves were barely holding together.

As Diggle took a seat next to her, Felicity craned her neck around to look up the staircase. "Where's Oliver? Did he have a hot date first before he came back here?" She began to worry her lower lip as she waited for Diggle's answer.

Diggle swallowed, attempted to keep his voice light and level, and said, "We ran into several problems in Nanda Parbat."

Felicity's face paled, but she again attempted a sense of levity. "We wouldn't be us if anything ever went smoothly. What happened?"

"Oliver and I were captured before we could rescue Merlyn."

Diggle didn't think Felicity's face could become whiter, but it did. She worried her lip and asked in a softer voice, "What happened? Is Oliver still alive?"

"Yes, Oliver is fine. However…in order for Merlyn and me to be released unharmed…um…Oliver had to stay in Nanda Parbat and become Ra's' heir."

"Ra's' what?"

"Heir. He wants Oliver to take over leadership of the League of Assassins."

"What? You gotta be kidding me. How is it even possible? Why in all that is holy Oliver would agree to that, even…" Her shoulders slouched. "Of course he'd agree to something like that, to keep someone safe. Especially you." Looking at Diggle, hope in her eyes, she said, "Did either of you come up with a plan to get him out of this before you left him there?"

Diggle shook his head, his eyes sorrowful. "No, no we didn't." Before Felicity could protest, he quickly added, "But we will think of something, Felicity. We will."

Felicity looked up at the ceiling, her bright blue eyes brimming with tears, which were then hidden as she closed her eyes. Her face scrunched up as she tried not to cry, or yell. Her head fell into her hands and she sat there for a moment collecting her thoughts. Diggle watched her, not knowing what to say. Suddenly, he could tell when her indomitable spirit kicked in. She inhaled deeply, sat straight up, placed her hands definitively in her lap and looked him straight in the eye.

"We're going to get him back, Diggle."

Diggle could do nothing else but give the young woman a smile, nodded his head, and said, "That we will, Felicity. That we will." Somehow.

With a determination which impressed Diggle, Felicity asked, "So what do we do next?"

Unsure as to her reaction, Diggle went ahead and told her anyway. "Malcolm is to come tomorrow and we will discuss any plans he might have developed overnight."

Diggle cringed as he watched Felicity get ready to use her 'loud voice'. "Malcolm is coming here tomorrow? Do you think there is a planet in this universe where we should even be considering thinking about working with him?"

"I know, Felicity, I know. I don't trust him either."

"Trust him? Trust him? I want to kill him. He's the reason we're in this mess in the first place. If I didn't care for Oliver, I would just leave Oliver there in Nanda Parbat as punishment for his refusal to leave Malcolm to rot."

Diggle stifled a smile in response to her statement despite the circumstances. "I know, Felicity, I know. I feel the same. However, Malcolm spent several years in Nanda Parbat, I guess, and he knows a few things about it. So, hopefully, he can steer us correctly to a plan which would work."

Shaking her head, Felicity clearly had her doubts. "I don't know, Dig. But for you and Oliver, I will give the rodent half a chance to prove his usefulness. Because I will not trust him any further than I can throw him. And I can't throw him very far, being only 5 feet 4, you know."

Diggle let out a laugh. He couldn't help it. "And ninety pounds dripping wet."

AN: Thanks again for reading another chapter! Hope you are enjoying this slightly different story. Some surprises are in store as we go down the line, I believe. As always, make a gal happy and write a review and let me know what you think! Always, always appreciated!