Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I do not, just the original ideas.

AN: Thanks again for continuing to read this story, and for all the reviews, favs and follows. Hope you like the next chapter.

Previously:

"All that is left for you to do is formally agree to become my heir, and marry my daughter Nyssa."

"Wha…What?"

An evil smile crossed Ra's face.

Oliver waited for Ra's to continue. When no answer came, Oliver asked again, "What did you say?"

"Oh, you heard me, Mr. Queen. You are to marry my daughter and carry on my bloodline. For the sake of the League."

"What if I say no?"

"I will now remind you of the danger to your city, your family and your friends. Remember, my threat. I trust the initiation hasn't totally annihilated that from your memory."

It hadn't, not completely. The conversation Ra's referred to seemed to have taken places years, not weeks, ago. But Ra's was partly correct as to question whether he remembered. Oliver's memory was rather scattered. Again, Oliver truly doubted Ra's true purpose with all of this. Darn if he knew what it was, however.

Ra's again broke through his thoughts. "Oh, we can certainly make this arrangement more…palatable. I know your heart is with another. As I discussed with my daughter, historically concubines have always been a part of any royal marriage. You may certainly have yours as well."

Oliver shook his head, as if that would help clear the cobwebs, which he doubted. This was getting more and more ridiculous as the moments passed. Ra's was suggesting he have…mistresses…? And Ra's seriously thought that was what was objectionable with his suggestion?

"I would even agree to bring Ms. Smoak back here, as one of your…concubines, if you so desire. All I ask is you produce several heirs with my daughter; then you can do whatever with whomever you choose."

Oliver couldn't stop the reaction crossing his face. His face flushed with anger, he struggled against the soldiers' hold. "How dare you suggest such a thing? Why would you believe I, much less Felicity, would agree to such an arrangement?" Oliver fought to control the chills brought on by Ra's "suggestion" to bring Felicity back to Nanda Parbat.

Ra's shrugged nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter to me who you choose as your concubine, or concubines. I am only interested in the final results."

Oliver struggled to get his breathing, and his feelings, under control. He needed to change the topic before his head exploded. "Does this mean these…games of yours will stop now?"

"Yes, this part of the initiation will end. After the wedding, you will then be spending some time with our High Priestess learning the ways of the League. As well as reviewing war tactics and fighting techniques with my High Commander. Among other things."

Such as the day-to-day running of an international assassins' club?

Oliver sighed in resignation. All of his resistance, all of his fighting, now appeared to be in vain. From the moment of his first challenge, it appears now as though this was all a part of Ra's' grand scheme...a game as well as the final objective. For reasons Oliver still didn't know, Ra's had chosen him, a past screw-up playboy from Starling turned vigilante to succeed him as ruler of the largest, most violent group of assassins the world had ever known. It would boggle the mind...if he only would be allowed time to think about it.

Another thought burst through his mind and fought for attention. Ra's had said "bring back Ms. Smoak". Did it mean...he looked up to ask but Ra's beat him to it.

"Yes, your friends left several days ago. As a gesture of good will, I thought I'd release them. Since I no longer required their assistance. Or presence." Pausing for effect, Ra's then continued. "Unless a reason develops."

That must mean Ra's thought he had him where he wanted him. Part of him was relieved, because his loved ones were no longer in immediate danger. On the other hand...Oliver was certain he wasn't comprehending all it could mean. One thing for sure. Ra's did have Oliver exactly where he wanted. For now.

Looking up to again meet Ra's' eyes, Oliver was again unsettled by the satisfied gleam he saw in those orbs.

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~

Previously:

Roy interrupted. "Thea, please don't get angry. We can discuss all that later. What we need now, is Malcolm's help so we can rescue your brother."

Thea glared at Roy, opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her eyes wandered up to Diggle, standing with his arms crossed. "Please, Thea. We will discuss this for as long as you wish. Later. But for now, please help us get your brother out of there."

Thea looked at the three people in front of her and nodded. "Okay. I'll talk to Malcolm."

"I…I better go back to work first, though." Blindly, Thea stood up and brushed off Roy's attempt to assist her. She made her way to the staircase and turned around. "I'll be in touch."

Roy would've followed her, if they were still together. However, in this case, he didn't think he would be welcomed. He watched Thea climb the stairs, held in place by the encouraging look from Felicity.

"She'll be all right, Roy."

"I know she will. I guess. She's not a Queen for nothing." Realizing what he said, Roy hurried on. "Well… you know what I mean."

Felicity nodded silently. Diggle got up and paced a few strides up and back. He stopped, and turned towards the younger people. "Well, I suppose I better make my way home. Discuss this with Lyla and see how I can contact Waller."

Meanwhile Thea had blindly made her way to her office. She stumbled towards her desk chair and collapsed into it.

It was amazing how she had woke up this morning oblivious as to the drama happening to her brother and his friends. Her brother...a hero. A wry laugh escaped her. Growing up, he was always a hero to her. Her hero. The big brother she loved with all her heart. Which he broke the minute she found out he had "died" on the yacht. How difficult it had been to survive that. But survive it she did. But now? Now an insane megalomaniac was threatening to take him away from her, from his friends. From his self-appointed mission. Like hell was she going to allow that to happen!

Thea picked up the nearest stack of papers from her desk, then set it down again. Who was she kidding? She wasn't going to be able to concentrate on anything else until she talked with Malcolm.

She went downstairs and found her assistant manager, Gwen. After verifying everything was going well, Thea told Gwen she had to leave for a family emergency. Gwen reassured her everything was under control and running smoothly, so Thea felt better with leaving early for once.

Thea rushed to the high-security apartment complex where Malcolm was living, after ensuring through a complicated series of backtracks and false starts she wasn't being followed. It was taking a chance, going over there without calling first, but she doubted Malcolm was out. Usually he stayed close to home in the evenings. Or anytime, actually. At least that was the impression he had given her. Thea was no longer the naive girl she'd been so recently to totally believe Malcolm was staying out of trouble while in Starling, but she'd decided a long time ago for her own sanity to not delve too deeply in her biological father's affairs. As much as possible, that is.

She was allowed into the building after she identified herself. Malcolm opened the door wearing a silk black robe over what she presumed were pajamas. He greeted her with a smile and a gesture to enter his apartment.

"Thea, what a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you, since it's too late for you to be out?"

"Something's come up. With Oliver."

Thea walked over to one of the armchairs in the living room and sat down. "Why didn't you tell me Ra's al Ghul was going after my brother?"

Malcolm attempted to appear nonchalant. "Who told you that?"

"Who'd you think? My brother has been over there for two months. And again no one told me."

"Why'd they tell you now?"

"Because we need you to help us get Oliver out of Nanda Parbat. And I've been elected to get you to help us."

"Ms. Smoak and Mr. Diggle actually are asking me to help?"

"They figure we have no other choice. They weren't thrilled with the idea, and I'm not happy about it either."

Malcolm gave his daughter a small, sarcastic smile as he walked over to the other armchair in the room and sat down across from his daughter. "Oh, I feel so loved."

Thea rolled her eyes at him. "Dad, you aren't going to rub it in their faces, are you? I understand why they aren't so thrilled about having to trust you, you know."

The smile disappeared from Malcolm's face, and he became serious. "Ok, Thea. I will help you get your brother back. Because I know how much he means to you."

~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~

Previously:

"I never intended to threaten you like this, dear daughter. However, you will do what I say. Otherwise, I will kill you and use the Pit to bring you back, only to kill you again and again. If necessary, you will die a thousand deaths to bring about your obedience."

"Am I understood, Daughter?"

Recognizing his dismissal, she realized she could only agree. At least for now. "Yes, Father."

With as much dignity as she could gather, Nyssa turned and left the room. Holding her head high, she walked down to her bedroom, entered, and closed the door. She leaned against the closed door, looked around the room, not seeing anything. Shaking her head, attempting to get her ragged breathing under control, Nyssa straightened up, made her way to her bed and sat down in a heap. Putting her head in her hands, Nyssa wondered what she was going to do.

Sitting on her bed, Nyssa attempted to gather her thoughts. She knew she had no choice. Her own father was making her marry a man…a man she had no attraction to. In this modern age. How dare he? But she had no choice. Unless she came up with an idea on how to combat him, Nyssa will be married to Oliver Queen before the next full moon. That insufferable fool. Even though he was her beloved's first crush, Nyssa still found Oliver to be utterly irreprehensible at times. She sometimes wondered whether her beloved had been temporarily insane to have fallen in love with such a young man. No, Nyssa reminded herself, just young.

She rose and began to pace. She couldn't believe her father really wanted to carry out this stupid plan of his, to give her birthright to the insufferable Oliver Queen. At this moment in time, the only solution Nyssa could come up with was….to kill her own father. She spent several minutes thinking of the various ways in which her father could die, and she was amazed by the comfort she gained by thinking such thoughts.

Nyssa again mourned the relationship she never had with her father. It wasn't until recently, with getting to know the Lances, she'd realized what was missing. What she never knew was supposed to happen between parent and child. However, she had to be strong, to do what was right. For herself, as well as for the League. Because, no matter how strongly her father believed, Oliver Queen wasn't the person to lead the fearsome League of Assassins. Nyssa squared her shoulders and resolutely looked out her window, and began to make a different plan.

AN: Thank you so much for reading, and sure hope you enjoyed it. If you like, please let me know what you thought. See you here next time!