CHAPTER 10
Oliver woke up the following morning to find Felicity asleep. Her head was on top of his chest and her legs were wrapped around his. He slowly moved her until he got himself free. He put on his pants and proceeded to the balcony to watch the sun rise. Oliver did not want the night to end because he knew that when the sun breaks, he would be saying good bye to his sister, Diggle, and most importantly Felicity.
He closed his eyes and took deep breaths to prepare him for today amidst the cool breeze coming from the mountains. "Oliver?" he heard Felicity say which made him turn around and give her a smile that was exclusively hers. Felicity was wrapped in the sheets of the bed and from his observation, she was glowing.
Oliver felt awkward, just like a person doing the deed for the first time. He usually did not feel awkward after doing the deed but since this is Felicity, a woman whom he fell head over heels for, the experience was different which made him feel like a kid again.
A knock came from the door and an assassin entered. "Ra's wishes your friends to pack their things and get ready to leave." The assassin then bowed to him, left the room, and closed the doors.
Oliver took a deep breath. This was it, he would be saying his goodbyes and live a life of solitude. "I guess you better get dressed and prepare your stuff. We all might end up in trouble if you don't. I promise I'll be there to see you off." Oliver said to Felicity as she lied there looking stunned, sad and confused.
Felicity also took a deep breath around the same time as Oliver. She knew that this day would bring the heartbreak. She was going to leave Oliver behind. However, she was not giving up hope and that she would be holding on to the thought that one day, Oliver would be returning to her.
Oliver then turned around in order to allow Felicity to get dressed. After she got dressed and proceeded to the door, Oliver then said to her reassuringly, "I'll see you later."
~o~o~o~o~o~
As Oliver was preparing to say his goodbyes in his quarters, an assassin entered his room and bowed before him as was customary to leaders of the League which caught Oliver's attention and snapped him out of his thoughts. When the assassin stood upright, he said, "Al Sah-Him, Ra's Al Ghul commands your presence at the Dining Hall." The assassin bowed again as a sign of deference and respect, left the room and closed the doors behind him.
"What now?" Oliver thought as he heard the news that he was going to be face to face with the Demon's Head again. The last thing on his mind right now is talking with Ra's Al Ghul. He was trying his best to prepare himself from the heartache and pain he was going to be experiencing in a few hours and really did not want to talk to anyone right now. But, if he did not go to Ra's Al Ghul, his friends could be tortured or killed before they left. So, with a sigh, Oliver stood up from his seat and went to the dining hall to meet up with the Demon's Head.
When he arrived at the dining hall, he saw Ra's Al Ghul already digging into his breakfast. "I hope that you had a good night's rest. Come, join me…" he said as he was dipping his pita bread onto zaatar (an herb, similar to that of thyme and oregano that was crushed). To Oliver, it seemed like Ra's knew what happened last night. After all this was his place and it was his business to know everything that was going on in his palace. It was hard not to lie to him so instead, Oliver told the truth.
"Yes, I did."
"Good." Ra's replied as he took a bit into his zaatar soaked pita bread. "I am sending two guards to accompany you and your friends to the plane." He continued.
"But I don't need protection." Oliver protested. After all, he was more than capable of defending himself and feels like having assassins protecting him were like him having babysitters.
"Nanda Parbat is a dangerous place especially for you. Some assassins are still loyal to the former heir and do not agree to an outsider being my successor. As such, they might attempt to assassinate you." He said trying to explain the situation in the League of Assassins. Just before Oliver attempted to state that he was Ra's Al Ghul, he said "I know my position but they still might strike using different gear and different weapons and I will not have my heir die before his time."
With this explanation, it seemed futile for Oliver to argue. So instead of arguing, he said "As you wish", and ate his breakfast in silence.
As soon as he had finished eating, an assassin entered and said, "My lords, Al Sah-Him's friends are ready for departure."
"Have they eaten?" Ra's asked the assassin and the assassin replied with a bow which indicated that Oliver's friends have properly had their meals.
Oliver admired this about the man they called the Demon's Head. Even though he still thought that the man is evil, Ra's seemed to have a sense of dignity and civility when it came to his friends' accommodations and treatment. Oliver stood up from his seat and proceeded outside accompanied by Sarab and another assassin.
~o~o~o~o~o~
They arrived at Malcolm's jet using the horses that the league provided for them. Since Oliver is now heir, he got to choose a horse for him to use whenever he wanted to roam the far reaches of Nanda Parbat. He selected a white stallion which had a very shiny coat which looked like it has been cared for especially for the Ra's' family and his heir. Since this was the horse that he selected, the assassins dressed up the horse like it was fit for royalty prior to him riding it. Oliver had to admit, he felt dignified as he rode the horse to the airstrip where they left their jet.
Once Oliver's friends and family dismounted on their respective horses and gathered up their things, he announced to them, "This is as far as I go…" which caught everyone's attention.
"Oliver, the jet is just over there, you can still come with us." Diggle said, pleading with Oliver to come with them. Diggle always thought of Oliver as his brother and would always want to protect him. In some ways, he also thought of himself as Oliver's "bodyguard" and even admitted this fact to Laurel when he first learned that Oliver was dead. Now, it was hard for him to say goodbye and he was having difficulties coming to grips that he was going to lose his friend, brother and confidant once again.
For Oliver, it is just as hard to say goodbye to Diggle. For the past 3 years, Diggle served as Oliver's brother, confidant, and rock and was there to give him sage advice when he needed it. Diggle was also the person that he could rely on when it comes to stating the things that he needed to hear, even though at times, it was not exactly what he wanted to hear. He knows that Diggle wanted him to come with them, but at this point, he knew he couldn't because Ra's Al Ghul could just kill all of them once they landed and he wanted to keep everyone safe. Oliver took a deep breath before replying to Diggle, "Where are we going to fly to?"
Diggle realized what Oliver was trying to say. He knew that the League of Assassins are everywhere and Oliver had to stay behind in order to prevent them all from being killed. He did not argue anymore because he knew that this was the best case scenario and if Oliver went with them on the plane, Ra's would just ask his assassins to keep their eyes on Airports and kill them when they landed.
"Ollie, what's going on?" Thea asked, still seemingly confused after her resurrection the day prior to their departure.
Oliver took another deep breath as if to brace himself to say goodbye to his sister. His sister, whom was the reason he was there for. The sister whom he saved at the risk of his own life. A sister whom he loves so dearly that all he wanted to do is protect and cherish. "Malcolm's going to take you home."
"Aren't you coming with?" Thea inquired using that sweet and innocent voice like a child asking a parent.
"You go and I'll catch up." Oliver replied before giving Thea a big hug while cupping her head with his one hand and wrapping his other hand around his sister's waist before giving it a tight squeeze. He then whispered so that only his sister could hear, "I love you Thea…never forget that ok?" before he let his sister go.
Malcolm then led Thea onto the plane.
Oliver rubbed his eyes, trying to wipe away the tears from his face before Diggle approached him and said, "Oliver, I don't know what to say."
"I do." Oliver replied before continuing. "John, you're the best man that I've ever known. Whatever happens, you're my brother." Oliver then gave Diggle a brotherly hug and using one of his hands, gave Diggle some gentle pats on the back during the hug in order to indicate that he was genuine with his words that he considers Diggle as his brother.
Oliver then let go of the hug and Diggle proceeded towards the plane.
Now comes the hard part. Oliver took a deep breath and as he proceeded towards Felicity who seemed rooted to the spot and unable to move. It was Felicity who spoke first. "I'm afraid that I will never be able to forgive myself for leaving you here or for not even trying to get you out of here." She started on the verge of tears.
Oliver only wanted happiness for Felicity and at this time, she was not having it. He knew that she was going to lose him and vice versa and Oliver needed Felicity to live her life happy. In order to console her and give her strength to continue on with her life, just as he needed her in his own life, he began: "You told me once that life is precious, and that you wanted more from it than I could offer you. Don't give up on that. The only way that I am going to survive this is if I know that you are living your life out there… happy."
Felicity gave Oliver a small nod indicating that she understood. However, that speech did not make the pain that she was feeling any less painful. It seemed to Felicity like her heart has been stabbed by a blade, much like what Oliver had experienced when he was stabbed through the chest by Ra's Al Ghul and kicked off the side of a mountain. Looking lovingly into his eyes, she then slurred, "You know we're always saying goodbye to each other… you'd think that I'd be good at it by now."
Oliver smiled, amidst the tears creeping up on his eyes. Despite the fact that they were going their separate ways, Felicity was still able to make him smile. If anything, his memories of her would be the ones to give him strength in this ordeal, until he is able to find a way out of this mess. "Well, let's not say goodbye this time." Oliver replied before closing his eyes and giving her a passionate kiss, savoring each moment and remembering the softness of Felicity's lips upon his. He then let go of the kiss and gently placed his forehead upon Felicity's forehead before he finally stood upright and Felicity walked away towards the jet.
Oliver looked back at Felicity unable to hide his emotions any longer. His tears were falling down his face. This pain is the most difficult that he had to suffer through. It seemed to him that all of his wounds had re-opened and salt was being rubbed roughly over them. Saying goodbye to his family and friends was possibly the hardest thing he had to do in his life, most probably, even harder than his experiences on the 5 years that he was away.
As the jet took off, Oliver gathered his bearings as best as he could, before mounting his horse that was being held by Sarab and then said, "Let's go. Ra's must be waiting for us." and they rode off and headed back to Nanda Parbat.