Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I do not. I just own any original ideas found in this.
Oliver and Malcolm were brought back to their cells once last time. A separate guard brought them a tray with sandwiches, fresh fruit, and several bottles of water. Their handcuffs taken off, Oliver and Malcolm both rubbed their wrists in an attempt to get the circulation back into them.
Malcolm nonchalantly sat down on the floor, looked at the tray, grabbed a sandwich, and took a large bite. Oliver fixed a look of speculation upon him. Malcolm returned it with a shrug. "What? I need to eat."
"Are you doing okay?" Despite himself, Oliver was concerned about the man in front of him.
Malcolm shrugged again. "I knew there was a chance I'd have to face him, instead of you fighting him. I'd have preferred you and him dueling to the death, but what can a guy do?" Malcolm swallowed a bite of sandwich, took a sip of water, and continued, "By the way, I didn't like how you threw me under the bus yesterday."
"What? As if it wasn't something he wasn't already thinking of," Oliver snapped back. He grabbed a sandwich and ripped off a bite.
Fixing Oliver with a speculative look, Malcolm said, "Sorry, I really shouldn't continue to irritate you. It's just too much fun, though. But we should discuss some things."
"Like…?"
"Like…I know this goes without saying, but if I get killed, please take care of Thea for me." Malcolm busied himself with looking carefully at his bottle of water before taking another sip.
Oliver was about to snap at Malcolm, thinking what does he think, of course I'd take care of Thea. She's always been my sister, and only his daughter for less than a year. Oliver bit back his shook his head, saying "Of course. And if there is any kind of chance, I will get you to the Lazarus Pit." Noting Malcolm's raised eyebrow, Oliver added, "If I'm able to."
Malcolm rolled his eyes. "You don't know where the local Pit is. I'm not even sure I know where it is. But even if I did, I have absolutely no idea how you'd be able to get me there by yourself, here, with all of the League members around."
Oliver's face became somber as he persisted with making his point. "You do have my solemn vow that, if I can, in any way, I will." After a moment's silence, he said, "For Thea."
"Yeah, only for Thea." Malcolm couldn't help the note of sarcasm slipping into the phrase. He knew the boy was trying to extend an olive branch, but Malcolm couldn't quite bring himself to acknowledge it completely.
Silence fell upon the two men as they finished their meal. They ate until they had their fill, which was less than their usual appetite. Wiping his hands on a napkin, Malcolm leaned away from the tray as he breathed out a sigh. It wasn't very long until approaching soldiers were heard. Malcolm and Oliver exchanged glances and prepared themselves for the battle ahead.
~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~OQ~~
The sun mercilessly beat down upon the dry Mid-Eastern ground even at mid-morning. The dry heat was something to which Oliver wasn't accustomed. He wondered whether Malcolm's fighting would be affected by it. Oliver and Malcolm were led to a large field, with a temporary wall of swords at one end, a group of League soldiers gathered a distance away on the other side. Nyssa and Ra's were in the center of the field watching the two men approach, Ra's holding two swords similar to the ones Oliver had used in their duel.
Their guards separated the two men. Oliver was led to stand with the group of spectators. Ra's nodded at Malcolm, who walked towards the cache of swords. His mouth dry, Oliver acknowledged the deja vu feeling of watching Malcolm choose his weapons from the portable wooden wall. Malcolm confidently proceeded to pick up several swords at a time, and made a few swipes in the air with each one before replacing and taking another pair.
Oliver watched Malcom repeat the process of testing the swords. At least he didn't have to climb a mountain in the freezing cold and fight in the snow. Oliver tried to tamp down the worry he felt for his former enemy, but he wasn't very successful. The phrase "only the student has hope of defeating the master" repeated itself in his mind over and over again like a mantra. In equal amounts, the phrase both calmed and unsettled him.
After selecting two swords meeting his qualifications, Malcolm approached Ra's, who was waiting for him in the middle of the field. Malcolm met Ra's eyes and took off his shirt. A guard stepped up and received it from him, and waited while Ra's took off his own shirt. Ra's handed his shirt to Nyssa, who walked off the field towards the group of spectators and Oliver, with the guard following her.
A full minute was spent with Ra's and Malcolm staring at each other. Suddenly, Ra's lashed out, one sword thrust after another, but Malcolm was able to divert both of them. Ra's nodded, then the battle began in earnest. The uncanny silence covering the grounds was only broken by the sound of multiple swords clanging against each other as each combatant attempted to gain control of the duel.
Oliver watched, marveling at how Malcolm was putting into practice the techniques he had taught Oliver the past four days. Besides training me, it also served as a good review for Malcolm. I wonder if he had meant it as a way of preparation for the worst case scenario. If so, then I'm glad.
Feints, lunges, and cuts continued to occur as the battle ensued. For a while, the two men seemingly exchanged the apparent advantage back and forth between them. Malcolm was able to get in a few deep cuts into Ra's' side, while Ra's was able to minister a bothersome cut to Malcolm's upper right arm.
After an apparently never-ending battle, Oliver became concerned when he noted Malcolm being the first man showing signs of fatigue. Oliver hoped it was part of Malcolm's plan, a subterfuge, a part of his strategy. It was only too convincing, though, as Ra's first knocked one of Malcolm's swords out of his hand, then managed to slice a long cut into Malcolm's side.
Malcolm looked at Ra's, fatigue clearly etched on his face, breathing heavily. Just as it appeared as though Malcolm would collapse, Ra's lunged, aiming for Malcolm's heart. Suddenly Malcolm's sword rose and caught Ra's in his heart instead, completely impaling Ra's aided by the momentum of Ra's' own lunge.
Ra's looked at Malcolm with wide, vacant eyes and fell backwards. Malcolm watched his opponent fall, then went to stand over Ra's' head. Malcolm slowly raised his sword to slice off the head of his opponent when a shout cut through the silence.
"Stop!" Nyssa rushed the field to the combatants. "Don't do it, Merlyn!"
"And why not? It's the only way my family and city will be safe."
Nyssa shook her head. "You have won the duel. All blood debts have been erased, yours, your daughter's, and Oliver Queen's. However, if you decapitate my father, it dishonors your duel and nulls the agreement."
"I have never heard of that rule before, Nyssa."
"It's because we've never had a scenario like this before for you to have seen it put into practice. However, the rule still exists."
Malcolm considered her words then held up his hand in surrender. "All right. You and your father better remember, if ever tempted to threaten us again, I could've beheaded him."
"As long as neither of you gain the wrath of the League again, we will leave you alone." Nyssa stated. She walked over to Oliver and handed him a cellphone. "Call your team and let them know you're on your way home. They're on their way here to storm the estate."
Oliver looked down at the cell phone, and noticed a number already dialed up as Felicity's. He put the call through. Attempting to keep his voice calm, Oliver almost cried in relief when he heard her answer. Oliver turned his back to the audience and focused his attention on the call. "Felicity! It's me, Oliver," he said.
"Oliver! Digg, it's Oliver. How? Where are you? You are alive. I knew it, didn't I say I knew it Diggle. Oh, you are alive. I can't believe it…"
"Felicity! Fe-li-ci-ty! Stop. Where are you?"
"I can see what I can only hope is Ra's' palace up ahead the road. Are you okay? Do you need rescue?"
"Malcolm and I are okay. No, we aren't needing to be rescued," Oliver looked again at Nyssa, seeking confirmation. Nyssa nodded. "Wait a minute, Felicity." Oliver moved the phone away and asked Nyssa, "Nyssa? Malcolm and I are free to leave now, right?" Oliver needed the reassurance, part of him not actually believing this nightmare was truly over.
"Yes, Oliver Queen, you and Al Sa-her are free to go. Your team can pick you up at the door whenever they get here."
"You hear that, Felicity? No need to storm the castle."
"Roger that, Oliver. See you in a few then." As Felicity hung up, Oliver handed the phone back to Nyssa, who accepted it with a nod.
"Nyssa, I would say it's been great, but…" Malcolm started with a grin.
"Oh, be quiet, Merlyn, and let's leave before they change their minds," Oliver said with a frown. "Nyssa…"
"No words are necessary, Queen. Just leave so I can take care of my father." Nyssa nodded to several guards, who motioned to Oliver and Malcolm to begin heading down the path they had previously taken.
As they walked through the palace, supposedly for the first and last time, Oliver marveled at the close call they had. He had the man beside him to thank for getting them out of the mess. However, at the same time, it was indeed his fault they were in the mess in the first place. Oliver couldn't help an eye roll.
They reached the grand entrance, and the one of the two footmen there opened the door. Oliver breathed a sigh of relief to see Diggle and Felicity waiting for them in a jeep outside the door. Oliver smiled when Felicity was going to jump out of the jeep, but was stopped by Diggle's arm. She looked at Diggle as Diggle shook his head.
Oliver and Malcolm walked out, seemingly calm, and got into the back seat of the jeep. Diggle controlled the impulse to go squealing out of the long driveway. Instead, the jeep left in a normal speed.
Felicity bounced up and down in her seat, alternately looking out of the windshield providing commentary to Diggle as to where to go and turning around to look behind her to make sure Oliver was still in the back seat. Oliver could tell she was on the verge of another word babble and decided to head it off.
"We're both okay, Felicity."
"I don't even know where to begin. What happened? Why didn't you let us know you were alive? Why are you with him?"
"Before you start with all that, where exactly are we going?" Malcolm interrupted.
Felicity glared at him. Malcolm could tell she was only tolerating his presence because she must. "We flew here in a private plane, which Diggle's friend from the army is guarding for us. So that's how we're going home."
Malcolm acknowledged the information with a solemn nod. "And now we probably should address the probable anger you feel against me…"
"Probable anger? Yeah, try real anger. As you can see, we didn't believe you when you told us Oliver was dead. Why did you do it, when it's now so obviously clear right now not to be true?"
"Oliver needed time to recuperate, to regain strength to face Ra's again."
"He could've recuperated with us just fine, in Starling."
"No, the moment he showed up, Ra's would've come for him. In his weakened state, Oliver would've had no chance against him."
"We could've kept it quiet."
"No, this was just too important. Ra's is just too good a detective. He could pick up on the tiniest clue. We couldn't afford that."
Felicity didn't want to, but she had to admit the low-life scum had a point. "So, how did you guys end up here?"
"I don't know how he found us, but he did. Luckily we were able to get in four days' of practice before they captured us and brought us here."
"Which ended up serving you tremendously well, I must say. Malcolm, I admit this grudgingly, but you did great in your battle with Ra's." Oliver spoke up, finally having a chance to break in.
Diggle spoke up, asking, "What, man? You didn't battle him again?"
Malcolm said, "No, I took one for the team and admitted it was all my fault. So I ended up battling Ra's because of it."
"What…was your fault?" Felicity glared at Malcolm, suddenly feeling cold.
Oliver sighed. He had debated about telling the team about this, but knew they deserved the truth. Sensing Malcolm's reluctance, he prodded. "Come on, Merlyn. You started, you better finish it."
"Suddenly I'm not sure it's a smart idea to tell her now."
"What? You're afraid of little old me?" Felicity then mumbled, "You should be." She shook herself. "I didn't mean to say that," she whispered to Diggle.
"It's okay, Felicity, he deserves to be frightened." Diggle shook his head at the antics. He looked in the rearview mirror at the man he detested. Malcolm met the cold look headlong without flinching. "Well, Merlyn, what did you do?"
"I'm sorry. I decided to have Thea kill Sara, in the hopes of both getting into the good graces of Ra's, and if necessary, have a means to manipulate Oliver into battling Ra's, if the first plan didn't work."
Felicity's eyes narrowed as she fixed upon Malcolm what she wished would be a death glare. How could that man sit there and tell them calmly how he had killed Sara? How he manipulated his own daughter to do the deed. All in order to escape a death penalty.
"So you actually had the balls to admit to Ra's what you did? But it's so uncharacteristic of you to do such a thing. Why did you do it?" Felicity asked.
Malcolm was silent. Oliver suddenly knew he needed to coral the discussion. "He partly hoped it would still shift the focus off of him. It didn't work. Ra's knew Malcolm was behind it all." He paused, gave a smile, and said, "He did offer me the opportunity to battle Malcolm. I of course declined."
"What?" Diggle snorted. "I kinda wished you had taken Ra's up on his offer, Oliver."
Malcolm was going to speak the retort hot on his lips, but seeing the ARGUS plane in front of him, he decided to delay it.
"Looks like we are at the plane. Why don't we hold off any more discussion until we take off?" Malcolm asked with a smile.
AN: We may be nearing the end of this particular adventure, with only one more chapter to go. I'm not sure yet. Sure appreciate all of you for reading, reviewing, favoring, etc. If you like, please let me know how you liked the fight, and/or this chapter as a whole. Thanks!