BLUE EYES: Chapter 36

A/N: As promised - the Finale (part 2). I hope the wait was not too long. I also wish you would let me know how this story has been for you ever since you started reading, as we are about to bid this fic farewell. It sure would be nice to know.

Summary: Oliver has a plan, and he does everything in his power to see it through. But not without help from the people that matter, especially her.

Oliver let go of Felicity's hand and lowered his bow. "Alright," he said, looking up to Malcolm Merlyn, who still held hostage his mother Moira and his sister Thea. Thea was still being held at knife point. Oliver then put down his bow, and in a swift, fluid movement, he removed the quiver full of arrows from his body, unobtrusively slipping his fingers adeptly into the hidden compartment at the bottom where he had always kept spare arrowheads for unexpected, urgent situations.

"No more bow and arrows. Now, let them go," Oliver told Merlyn, looking straight into his enemy's scornful eyes.

"Very smart choice, indeed," replied Merlyn. "Bid your wife farewell now, savage lad. I am willing to wager my entire estate that you will never see her again." He laughed derisively.

Oliver restrained himself from acting on impulse and attacking Merlyn on the spot. Instead, he turned and took a one step down the stairs to say goodbye to Felicity. He cupped one side of her face with his right hand – the one that was in full view of everyone else in the room.

He gazed at his Blue Eyes affectionately, a small smile playing on his lips. He wanted to comfort her with loving and reassuring words to keep her from crying, but he was too late. Felicity's tears had already pooled in her eyes, and as he began to speak, they rolled down her soft-skinned cheeks.

"Do not believe him," he told her earnestly. "I will come for you. No matter what happens, I will find you." She nodded, her lower lip caught between her teeth. As he spoke, he lifted his left hand and touched her upper arm with it. She winced at the feeling of his hand sliding down her arm until their hands met. Squeezing a hard, coarse object firmly against her palm, he added, "At the proper time, you must be brave. I love you. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Felicity answered affirmatively. A sigh escaped her lips just before she added, "I love you." She closed her eyes as Oliver planted a chaste kiss on her forehead, and then he let go of her hand.

At Merlyn's command, his men took Felicity and dragged her through the foyer, out of the front door, and into the carriage where Dr. Palmer was already bound and guarded. Merlyn untied Thea and Moira and shoved them both towards Oliver. He hurriedly left the villa and hopped into the carriage, which was loaded with things he needed to accomplish his plans in the city.

Just before Malcolm yelled the command to leave to the coachman, he ordered one of his armed guards that had led the manhunt earlier – a bearded man with a patched eye and a low, gravelly voice: "Take care of the bodies. And clean up the house quickly, before the servants start arriving from their quarters. Take the rest of the armed men, and take my wife and her… children… to the abandoned military post, and deal with them there. You know what to do." The armed guard signified that he understood the order.

As the sun rose above the horizon, well beyond the break of dawn, the carriage sped off in the direction of the mountain pass that connected Christentown to Paradise Point. With it were seven other armed men on horseback as Merlyn's escorts.

It was not exactly the reunion the Queens would have wished for. Moira had wanted to embrace her only son, whom she had believed had been dead for fifteen years, and ask him to tell her how he had survived and lived all this time. Thea had wanted to tell him how sorry she was for not having returned to him sooner, thinking that perhaps all of these horrific events that have just transpired could have been prevented if she had done better the night before. Oliver, on the other hand, had not thought of anything but their survival and safety in the last few minutes, since the astounding revelation that he still had a family after all. He had a plan, but he needed them to cooperate.

The first thing that Oliver would have told them when Malcolm Merlyn roughly shoved them down a couple of steps towards him was, "Go up. Stay in your room. Be safe." However, he did not get the chance to do so. Not only were the pistols and rifles of about ten remaining armed men still pointed at them; less than a minute after Malcolm stormed out of the villa, the three of them were being dragged through the front door at gunpoint, while three other men were left to take care of the bodies of the men that had fallen, including those of Yao Fei and Wandatu.

"Where are you taking us?" Moira demanded to know, but not one of the men spoke.

They walked away from the villa, secured behind and before by Merlyn's armed men. With his peripheral vision, Oliver could see that a tall, bearded white man with a patched eye was carrying his bow and quiver. He was willing to risk his life and take on ten armed men with his bare hands and feet, but he stood a better chance against them with his weapon. He wondered how he could get to them and when he would make a move. He knew he needed to exercise extra care to ensure that no harm would come upon his mother and sister, who might get caught in the middle of a blood bath.

As they approached the gate of the estate, Oliver took silent, deep breaths and steadied himself, preparing his mind and body for a surprise attack on the two guards that walked between him and the one-eyed man. He was about to strike the one walking behind him with an elbow to the face when he heard a familiar bird call. He recognized the sound, but he did not stop walking; instead, he closed his eyes and sighed in relief. He would have smiled, but he reined in his emotions so as not to give away his excitement. It seemed that the God that Felicity and her father believed in had heard his prayer earlier. Help had come, and it was just a matter of minutes, maybe less, before they had the chance to be freed. Merlyn's men had no inkling of the impending doom that was to come upon them.

As soon as the last three guards behind them passed through the gate of the estate, the first arrow flew in the air and hit its intended target in the neck. The bearded, one-eyed man fell to the ground and breathed his last. When the other guards saw it, they panicked and sought to fight, but they saw no one around them. Another arrow flew, hitting the man nearest Oliver in the chest. That was when Oliver made his move and struck the guard near him. The other guards made a move to restrain him and keep him from escaping, but scarcely had they touched a hair on his head when Kinanyao warriors emerged from their hiding places in the foliage and attacked them with arrows, spears, and machetes.

Oliver immediately led his mother and sister to a nearby tree to take cover. He then ran back to pick up his bow and quiver and to help his fellow warriors subdue their captors. Moira and Thea watched as Oliver and his fellow warriors put down the armed guards one by one. The element of surprise had worked to the advantage of the Kinanyao. Not a single shot had been fired from the pistols and rifles of Merlyn's men. There were no casualties among Oliver and the warriors.

When the bodies of Merlyn's men finally lay lifeless on the ground, Oliver counted just four other warriors standing in the midst of the carnage. "Thank you for coming to my aid, brothers," Oliver said in native Kinanyao language. The men placed their right fists on their left chests and nodded in acknowledgement of his expression of gratitude for saving his life and those of her mother's and sister's.

In the distance, they heard the sound of horses' hoofs pounding against the ground, coming from inside the estate. They saw Big John Diggle and young Roy Harper riding horses, each one guiding a horse alongside his own.

"I see you've managed to put them all down," Big John remarked, impressed at the feat. Five Kinanyao warriors had taken on armed men twice their number, and they had prevailed.

Big John dismounted and enveloped his friend in his huge arms. "I am glad you are safe."

In response, Oliver said, "Thank you for your help, Big John. You brought Kinanyao back here?"

"Roy here helped us escape. Your half-brother insisted on staying behind to free you. We fled up the mountain and headed for the village to ask for help. We had gotten as far as the Kipot River when we met them," Big John answered, pointing his chin in the direction of the warriors that stood beside Oliver. "Your father, the Chief, had sent them after us. The Chief had gotten concerned that no word had come from us since we left days ago. We told them that you were still being held at the estate, and they told us that Wandatu and Felicity had gone missing. I am happy that we got here just in time."

"And your friend Lyla?" Oliver asked.

"Ms. Lyla is on her way to the village with one of the warriors. She will be safe there for now," answered Big John as he sighed in relief. His relief was short-lived, however. Moira and Thea Queen had come out of hiding and had drawn near the group, but he did not see Felicity with them. With a frown, he asked, "Where is Felicity?"

"Merlyn took her to Paradise Point," replied Oliver.

"I knew it," said Big John. "From afar we saw the carriage leave the villa in a hurry, but I thought it was only Malcolm Merlyn fleeing. While the warriors set out to rescue you from the armed guards, Roy and I headed straight to the stables to get horses in case we wanted to go after him."

Oliver spoke again, "We have to go after them."

"But there are only four horses. We can't all go after them on foot all the way to Paradise Point. We can't overtake them," Roy pointed out.

Oliver thought for a moment. He knew that time was of the essence. If he wanted to overtake the carriage, they had to leave now on horseback. If Merlyn reaches the city, it would be almost impossible for him to recover his wife, since Merlyn had a network of corrupt government and military officials there to help him.

He looked at Roy and said, "Thank you for everything." He placed his hand on the young man's shoulder and added, "But I need your help. One more time. Go with two Kinanyao men. Bring my mother and sister back to the village. Wait there. We will come for you." Roy nodded and said, "I will."

"Please be careful, Oliver," Moira begged, moving to stand in front of her son. "Thea and I have just gotten you back. I don't know if my heart could take another news of you dying." Thea clung to her mother's arm and looked at her older brother with the same pleading eyes.

Oliver nodded. "I will come back."

The two women could no longer hold back their emotions. They said goodbye to Oliver by surrounding him with their embrace, after which, Roy and two of the warriors led them away towards the villa.

Turning to Oliver, Big John said, "Alright then, let's go get your wife back."

"Yes." With one small word whispered in trust, Felicity had let her beloved know that she did understand what it was that he had wanted her to do. But as she sat in the carriage that sped down the mountain pass – the same one that she and her father had travelled on just more than a week ago – courage began to wane, and she was no longer sure if she could do it. What if Malcolm Merlyn discovered their ploy? What if she did not recognize Oliver's signal when the time came? What if she lacked the bravery and resolve to follow through with the plan? What if she failed, and both she and the man she loved perished because of it? Those questions plagued her mind during the hasty flight to Paradise Point.

Ray Palmer had asked her if she was alright, but consumed by anxious thoughts, she had not even noticed him speaking to her. She had been busy staring outside the small window of the carriage. She also had not noticed Ray and Malcolm exchanging words of strife. Ray had tried reasoning with Malcolm to change his mind, casting doubt on his own ability to recreate his father's atrocious scientific breakthrough. Malcolm, in turn, had threatened to harm Felicity if Ray fell short of his expectations and if Ray tried in any way to alert the authorities in Paradise Point. After an exercise in futility, Ray had given up and opted to remain speechless the rest of the way.

Felicity's rumination had included whether or not she would see Oliver again and be reunited with her newfound family. She had no qualms whatsoever about his intent to go after her; she was sure that he would… if he made it out of the villa alive. She wanted so much to believe that he had made it out alive somehow, and she hoped that his mother and sister had, too. It took every ounce of her will power to choose not to doubt it. It helped that her palm could feel the hard, coarse, pointed object in her dress pocket. It reminded her that her husband would find a way. But it also reminded her of what she must do, when the right time came, and the thought of her failing worried her.

A loud voice ripped through her silent musing. "Mr. Merlyn, Sir!" cried one of the armed men on horseback, riding beside the carriage. "We have company!"

Malcolm Merlyn looked out the carriage window and saw men on horseback in pursuit about fifty meters behind them. He yelled back, "Tell the others to fall back and fight them off. You will ride with us."

The armed guard signified his understanding of the order and shouted commands to his comrades. Merlyn ordered the coachman to go faster. He looked out the window again, and this time, he recognized the long-haired but white-skinned warrior leading the charge. He hissed a curse, realizing that he had once again underestimated the son of Robert Queen and of the Kinanyao chieftain.

This made Felicity's heart soar with pride and hope. Oliver had indeed come for her. He had done his part, and it was now up to her to do hers at his signal. She could do this, she thought. The sound of the hoofs of horses in pursuit behind them was like music to her ears. A smile began to break out on her face. She didn't care if Ray noticed or not how her cheeks blushed at the thought that her Oliver was on his way.

Malcolm Merlyn looked out the window as Oliver, John Diggle, and two other Kinanyao warriors rode behind them in hot pursuit, drawing closer by the second. He watched one of the warriors let his arrows fly, missing his armed men a couple of times. But when Oliver nocked an arrow and aimed, he shot one of Merlyn's men, causing him to fall off his horse.

Seeing that they were down to six men, the other armed men retaliated, firing their pistols at Oliver and his friends, until a bullet grazed the arm of one of the warriors, who continued to ride on even with a bleeding arm.

Oliver turned to look at his injured fellow warrior, and he saw that the man would no longer be able to shoot his arrow efficiently with his good arm. Oliver knew they had to close the distance between them and the armed men so that his fellow warriors could try aiming at their enemies with a spear or a machete. Once again, he focused his vision straight ahead, kicking the side of his horse to make it gallop faster. When he was comfortable with the speed and his position, he let go of the horse's rein and pulled out two arrows from his quiver. With a steady aim, he released his arrows at the same time. In a split-second, both arrows found their targets, hitting two armed men who were riding in close proximity simultaneously.

Merlyn was down to four men plus a coachman, and Oliver and his friends were gaining on them. Ray Palmer saw this as an opportunity to try something heroic. Eyeing the pistol beside the distracted Merlyn, Ray lunged forward and snatched it away, but Merlyn grabbed him by the wrist. A struggle ensued inside the carriage, and Felicity was caught in the middle of it. Malcolm and Ray were fighting for the pistol, which was pointed away from them, but unfortunately, at her. She tried to move away from the barrel's aim, but the space inside the carriage was just too small for any of them to avoid a possible stray bullet.

Meanwhile, Oliver and his friends had caught up with the three men on horseback that were keeping them from reaching Merlyn's carriage. The men were still shooting, but in fear of their attackers (as well as their lack of skill), they were not hitting their moving targets. The warriors saw this as the perfect opportunity to go on an offensive. One of them aimed and threw the spear in his hand, hitting one of the armed guards at the back. That man fell forward on his horse and was instantly killed. The other warrior flung his machete forcefully, and the blade of the weapon became embedded in the other guard's shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain and fall off his horse.

Big John rode off swiftly and overtook the third armed man that had run out of bullets. When he was riding side by side with the man's horse, John sprung from his horse and tackled the man, sending them both down to the ground with a rough and loud thud. They rolled on the ground and wrestled. The man kept punching at John's hard, muscular torso, but John did not even flinch. With just a couple of punches of his own, John knocked his smaller opponent unconscious. One of the warriors slowed down and stopped to make sure that John was alright.

Oliver had also overtaken the escort that rode beside the carriage. He shot the man with an arrow and hit him in the arm. The man kept riding and pulled out a pistol from the holster that was tied around his waist. Before the man had the chance to fire it, Oliver rode closer and kicked his hand, and he dropped the weapon. Oliver pulled out another arrow from his quiver, and with a mighty thrust of his hand, he struck the man with the arrow, its pointed head going deep into the man's flesh between his shoulder and his neck. The man fell back, unable to fight or to ride anymore.

Oliver rode even faster. He was going for the coachman, so that he could stop the carriage and get his wife out of Malcolm's clutches.

Even in the midst of the struggle inside the carriage, Felicity saw through the window that Oliver was already riding beside them, trying to subdue the escort that now had an arrow sticking out of his arm. She saw him defeat the man and hop onto the front of the carriage. Now she could hear not just he grunts and groans of the two men inside the carriage with her, struggling for the pistol; she could also hear the grunts and groans of the two men fighting for control of the horses outside. She knew it was just a matter of time.

Just then, Felicity had an idea. At the proper timing, she thought she could unlatch the carriage door and kick Malcolm or Ray, or both of them, out of the moving vehicle. When she did, it had been Ray that had fallen off the carriage. It was a good thing that Ray had fallen as he did, for the pistol in Malcolm's hand went off, the bullet going straight into the cushion of the seat where Ray had been just a second ago. Her former suitor might have fallen hard on the ground, but he'll live. It was certainly better than having been shot. The other warrior slowed down and stopped to see to Dr. Palmer.

"I guess it's just you and me now, my dear," Malcolm sneered at Felicity.

Felicity retorted with a sarcastic glint in her eye, "I don't see how I am of any use to you, though, now that you have lost Dr. Palmer. Your plan is never going to succeed."

Malcolm's eyes narrowed at her in anger. "Then I guess I'm just going to have to kill you, too." He pointed the pistol straight at her face, but when he pulled the trigger, the carriage suddenly came to a screeching stop, and he missed.

Felicity scampered to get out of the carriage before Malcolm had the chance to get up. But just as she descended the steps, Malcolm's arm snaked around her torso. "Not too fast," he hissed near her ear. He pointed a gun to her face as he prompted her to move forward. Taking her hostage again was his last-ditch effort to escape, for he had no one to protect him now. Sure enough, when they were both standing on solid ground, Oliver was right in front of them, his bow at the ready.

"Lower your bow, Oliver," Malcolm ordered. "This bullet can do more than just destroy your wife's pretty face."

"Let her go," Oliver countered with a low growl. His arrow was still nocked, ready to shoot.

"I think not. I have never thought twice about taking a life, all in the name of power. I will not hesitate to do that now. My ends justify my means."

"Oliver…" Felicity uttered, her voice trembling. She was not afraid. On the contrary, she was emboldened by her husband's chivalry (if that was even appropriate to describe a native warrior that had come to rescue her). She had spoken his name to ask for a sign, for she did not know when it was that she was supposed to act as he had told her, when he bid her farewell in the villa. Malcolm mistakenly took it to mean that she was scared to death by her predicament, and so he was oblivious to the movement of her hand as she slipped it into her dress pocket.

Oliver did not reply to her subtle request. He looked straight into Malcolm's eyes and said, "I will say it one last time. Let my wife go."

"No! You stand down, savage. I will not let her go!"

Oliver saw in Malcolm's eyes that he would not stand down. He had her, and he was going to hurt her. There was no choice to make.

"Oliver…"

Without shifting his gaze from Malcolm to Felicity, Oliver told her, "Felicity, I love you."

With those three words, she understood. She pulled the arrowhead out of her pocket and thrust its pointed edge into Malcolm's thigh.

"Agh!" Malcolm cried out, loosening his tight hold around Felicity. She ducked, allowing Oliver to shoot his chest with an arrow. And another. Another.

No one would realize until later that it had taken him three arrows to put Malcolm Merlyn down finally – one for each of the people dear to Oliver and Felicity whose lives the treacherous man had taken unjustly. One for his father. One for Felicity's father. One for Oliver's half-brother. No one would realize until later that the carriage had stopped at almost the exact same spot where the ambushes that had killed his father and hers had occurred before. Vindication had come at last.

Oliver lowered his bow and rushed to embrace Felicity. When they pulled back, they looked into each other's blue eyes and smiled, tears streaming down both their faces.

"You came for me," she uttered softly.

"I'll always come for you," he replied in complete adoration, as he ran the back of his hand down the side of her face. "Ay-ayaten ka."

"Ay-ayaten ka."

He lowered his head towards hers, and she went up on her tiptoes to close the remaining distance between them, as they captured each other's lips in a passionate kiss.

A/N: I have always intended from the beginning for the plot line to come full circle, climaxing and ending at the exact same spot where tragedy had taken their dearest loved ones in the past. It was how to get there that proved to be a struggle for me as I wrote the last few chapters. Every detail had to fall into the right place in a way that made sense. I hope you liked the way the story ends. And just in case you forgot, ay-ayaten ka means "I love you."

I truly appreciate your patience in following this story to the end. The epilogue is coming up soon. This has been an awesome journey. So much has happened in my personal life during the time I was working on this fic, and it took more resolve than ever to see this through to the end and not quit. Thank you so very much to all of you who have read, followed, "favorite-d," and reviewed - including the Guests. You are all amazing!