Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I do not, just the original ideas.
AN: Sigh. Seems like I'm always apologizing for not getting a chapter out sooner than I actually do. Oh well. This one was especially difficult to write….don't know why. I suppose it's because it's so different from what I've written before. Sigh. So you know what to do….read, enjoy, and hopefully write a review (wink, wink).
Through the well-familiar haze of a mind under the influence of drugs, Oliver heard the voice of Ra's say, "You may wonder why I have drunk the ceremonial tea with you, Mr. Queen. It is also tradition for the initiate to be accompanied by the current Ra's on the beginning of his journey. I am able to do so because through the years I have developed a certain tolerance to some of the tea's effects."
Oliver didn't have the energy to roll his eyes at that. All of this mumble-jumble was truly wearing on his patience. He again reminded himself he would survive this as he had survived everything else he had experienced in Nanda Parbat, as well as what he had gone through during those five hellish years being gone from Starling.
"With the drinking of this tea, before retiring for the night, we have begun the process of clearing our minds to promote clarity." Oliver heard Ra's say. "The tea will begin to work on your mind as you sleep. It will reveal the truths you must begin to accept, on your journey in becoming the next Ra's."
Oliver was barely aware he was being picked up by two servants and half-led, half-carried to one of the tents and brought inside and laid down upon a cot. Before his head hit the pillow, Oliver fell into a restless sleep.
The next thing he was aware of, he was in a woods at twilight. Whether it was the same evening, or the next night or the next week, Oliver was unable to determine. He found himself crouched in battle pose, two swords were in his hands. Swords with blood dripping from them. Shaking his head in an attempt to clear it. Oliver felt as though he'd woken up in the middle of a dream. Scanning the environment quickly he couldn't see any immediate threats. He also didn't see any dead or wounded bodies or animals around him, leaving him to question what exactly had happened. Listening, he only heard a faint breeze rustling the nearby trees and foliage. He slowly lowered the swords and looked again in all directions, trying to determine which direction to walk. Lifting his face to the breeze, Oliver couldn't smell any unusual smells. All he could see, in the fading dusk of the evening, were trees and brush. Looking behind him, he observed broken twigs signifying someone had walked that way. Turning in the opposite direction again, Oliver couldn't see anything but more trees in front of him. He decided to follow the supposed trail ahead of him. Most likely he was backtracking his own steps, but without any memory, Oliver felt it was his best chance to figure out what had occurred that he couldn't remember.
He walked, only seeing more trees all around him. He wondered what type of woods these were. Even with his head fuzzy, Oliver was hypervigilant, keeping eyes out for any possible threats. As he made his way he wondered for what purpose all this served.
Without warning, a small cabin appeared in front of him as the foliage cleared the path. Oliver was surprised his first uncharacteristic impulse was to walk right up to the front door. He instead controlled that impulse and scanned the area for any possible threats. Seeing and hearing nothing, he slowly made his way toward the front door and the stairs leading to it. Mid-step, he stopped; his eye caught the glimmer of a red light, leading Oliver to deduce the steps were covered with a pattern of ultraviolet rays. He walked to the side of the steps, grabbed the railing and swung himself onto the porch. No alarm went off. He opened the door slowly and ducked as an arrow flew over his head. Entering the room, he scanned for possible dangers, but only saw a piece of paper on the coffee table in the middle of the room. He slowly approached the table but fell to his knees as another arrow flew over his shoulder.
Reaching the table he slowly picked up the piece of paper. Nothing else happened. He read the note, which said, "Welcome, Mr. Queen. Please take shelter in this cabin for the night. You will receive further instructions in the morning. Do not fear; you have nothing more to worry about for the night."
Oliver's eyes looked over the top of the letter at his surroundings, scanning again for anything out of the ordinary. He wished he could somehow have one moment to strategize but he was afraid that wasn't possible. Oliver debated whether he should stay in the cabin. Undecided, he began a cautious search of the cabin but was disappointed in not finding anything of use. No weapons or anything of significance. No hint as to the type of game Ra's was playing.
Having planned the search to end at the doorway, Oliver decided there was no way he was going to spend the night there. If he were going to take a moment to think through his strategy, this wasn't the place where he was going to do it. Once outside, though, he wondered what to do. It was now dark, but the stars weren't out yet. Looking up at the sky, he sighed in frustration as he realized it was going to be a cloudy night. Ruing his luck, Oliver debated what to do next.
Standing in front of the cabin, Oliver noticed the faint remains of a path running perpendicular to the cabin. Looking in both directions Oliver observed some of the vegetation faintly disturbed to the right. This time he decided to go in the opposite direction.
Oliver walked for about five minutes, constantly scanning the woods. The silence was disturbed occasionally only by the night sounds of what he assumed were the animals native to the Tibetan area. As he walked, his mind quickly reviewed what he knew, what had happened since he woke up, and what possible traps Ra's might have set for him. No matter how he looked at it, Oliver couldn't come up with any possible explanation for such an occurrence as to what was happening at the moment. Perhaps it comes down to the matter of League traditions only. That's the only explanation that makes sense. Oliver shook his head as an idea occurred to him. I just thought of another explanation. Ra's is simply crazy. No other explanation needed. My life is being controlled at the moment by a truly insane man.
He continued to walk another thirty minutes, and still didn't discover anything. Just woods. Never-ending woods.
Without warning, six League of Assassins soldiers, armed with swords, jumped out of the shadows. He would've rolled his eyes if he had been allowed the moment, but instead he went into battle mode, brandishing the two swords he still was holding. He took out three of the assassins with one round of kicks and punches, but not without receiving a deep cut in his side and several cuts on his arms. After centering himself against the pain, Oliver concentrated on battling the remaining three, slicing and kicking his way out of danger. However, after he dealt with them, six more assassins came out of the woods and Oliver began the process over again. Blocking, feigning, kickboxing right and left, Oliver's skill and mastery was only dulled slightly by the mixture of drugs and abuse which he had suffered over the past few days.
After the second set of assassins were also lying unconscious around him, Oliver heard a slow clapping. He looked up and wasn't surprised to see Ra's approaching him.
"Well done, Wareeth, well done. I do believe you may have taught several of these assassins some new techniques."
Fighting off his exhaustion, Oliver glared at Ra's. He lost the battle of restraint and found himself asking, "Are we done, Ra's? Have I proven myself yet to you?"
Giving a short laugh, Ra's slowly shook his head. "Not even close, Wareeth, not even close."
"May I ask, who or what did I battle earlier this evening, and why can't I remember?"
"All will be revealed in due time, Wareeth, as the Fates determine."
~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~
Felicity woke up the day following the breaking of the news still confused and scared. She had pondered the subject as she got ready for bed, as she attempted to fall asleep, and, even though she couldn't recall them, she was sure she also dreamed about the situation.
Team Arrow had been ushered to their separate rooms last night without any further opportunity to discuss the news Oliver had shared with them. Felicity had been tempted to ask if they could've had more time to be together, but changed her mind with Oliver's expression. He did know her so well. So instead, she woke up wondering what they could do. And came up with no answer.
Felicity spent the next three days as she had the past month. Upon rising, she would be informed she would be going to the computer room for the day. There, she continued to find different ways to break into secured websites of various cities throughout the United States. Without being told, she realized her task had widened to include the entire country, not only the three original cities.
She attempted to ask one of the guards, the first day, as to how Diggle and Roy were going to spend their day, but got a blank look and a shake of the head as answer. She rolled her eyes in disgust and accepted the fact she would have to wait for any answers until she talked to Ra's.
It took three days before she saw Ra's again. As each day ended, her anxiety increased as to the well-being of her three men. Finally, when she thought she was about to burst, on the fourth morning, she was met with a different guard she hadn't met before when she answered the knock on her door.
"Master requests your presence for breakfast. Can you join us in fifteen minutes?"
Upon reaching the dining room, she was comforted but also scared by the presence of two of her teammates. Looking around the table, she was disheartened to see there wasn't another place setting for Oliver.
Looking at the head of the table, she gave Ra's a weak smile. "Good morning," stumbled out of her lips as she took her seat.
"Good morning, Ms. Smoak."
Felicity exchanged smiles with Roy and Diggle sitting across the table. Her two men smiled back at her, Diggle with an added nod of encouragement, and Roy a wink. She returned her gaze to the man at the head of the table, finding him looking at her with a speculative look in his eyes. Trying to hide her discomfort, she asked, "So where is Oliver?"
"That is why I decided to have you three join me for breakfast today. I know Wareeth informed you of his acceptance of my offer."
"Wareeth?" Felicity again sighed as she interrupted him. "And the word 'acceptance' implies he had the option to decline." As soon as she spoke those words out loud she gasped and covered her mouth.
Fixing his gaze on her, Ra's paused, then continued. "Wareeth al Ghul is Mr. Queen's name now that he has begun his initiation. I wish to inform you Mr. Queen began his initiation three days ago."
"What does that mean?" I still cannot control my mouth? Really? Felicity exchanged looks with Roy and Diggle.
Thinking he should attempt to divert any possible wrath of Ra's from Felicity, Diggle jumped in with the obvious follow up question. "What is all involved with this so-called initiation?"
Just as he thought, Ra's wasn't forth-coming with an answer. "I do apologize, Mr. Diggle, but those are League secrets. Just know that upon his return Wareeth will be ready to accept his position as my heir."
Felicity, for one, knew she didn't like the sound of that at all.
AN: Not sure why, but this feels like a good place to stop. The Muse wants to stop for now. Darn that Muse. And Ra's. What does he have in mind for poor Oliver? Not to mention the rest of Team Arrow? We shall have to wait and see until the next time, I guess. Thanks again for reading and following, hope you review for it makes me feel good!