Chapter 37

Of Canaries

And Heirs

Part 6

Disclaimer: The final part to Canaries and Heirs has arrived! Perhaps it'll even tickle your funny bone. And remember folks, like Joey Ryan says… Legalize Sleaze!

Two Days Later in Nanda Parbat…

It wound up taking the League bunch and Black Adam two days to make it to Nanda Parbat and Nyssa had been worried that her father would not like the man's presence there. Not because of what occurred in the past, though that could be a factor anyway, but because of what he wished in regards to her friend and comrade in arms Tuo ma. Of course her father wouldn't be the only factor to deal with in regarding her, but also Al-Owal too. Adam was confident the discussions would go well and Ta-er was just hoping it all would make for a front row seat that would need popcorn. And after entering the halls of Nanda Parbat, they had all immediately came to the room where Ra's seemed to favor meeting his warriors in that contained the Lazarus Pit. He had shown a brief bit of surprise when he saw Kahndaq's King with them, but it was gone quicker then a blink.

Al-Owal had rushed in not long afterwards, eager to see his daughter again after a week of not being able to see her. Though any large amounts of affection for his little girl would be done later in private so as not to gain Ra's' disapproval for public affection. Both Ra's and Al-Owal were pleased with the end result of the mission to Kahndaq even if there were some losses that had occurred. Nyssa would later talk privately with her father over a certain development regarding Ta-er but she could tell that his estimation of her Canary had risen a bit after learning of what she had done before Adam and Tuo ma had shown up in the nick of time. "Your actions Ta-er al-Safar are ones that others of the League should follow suit with. I have long expected those who serve to not only fight for me, but die for me as well. For if you are un-willing to die for the mission to be complete, then you are not fit for the League." He informed the stunned blonde as it was something close to praise from him.

Nyssa gave a small smile at seeing her Canary's reaction to the praise from her father. "Th-thank you." Ta-er softly replied, and gained a nod in return from the man before giving his attention to his daughter.

"You were correct in that it was time for Ta-er al-Safar to take lead during a mission, and appointing Qunbila as her second was also a good choice considering his knowledge. Your injury proved fortunate in that aspect." He calmly relayed to her and gained a nod of understanding from his daughter.

He finally gave his attention to Adam who'd been silent the entire time. "And you? What business do you have here that you would personally come here for?" He gave a subtle nod for Nyssa and her bunch to leave and they were about too until Adam spoke up.

"They need not leave Ra's, for they already know why I came here." At this, Tuo ma tensed up and only Al-Owal seemed to notice and it made him wonder what was going on. Not to mention fight the urge to pull out his sword.

Nyssa looked towards her father and he gave another nod that it was okay to stay. Ta-er was happy about it too cause she seriously didn't want to miss this! Hey, she might be in messed up city right now and heading out of it thanks to Nyssa, but seeing things like this was a great distraction from it as far as she was concerned. "Very well then, speak your piece." The Demon's Heir commanded, not giving a crap if the man was way older than him and a ruler of his own country.

Asdam gave the man a glare and quickly found himself annoyed when he realized it had no effect on the man. Ra's merely raised an eyebrow in return and Ta-er was seriously wishing she had some popcorn for this while Tuo ma was growing pretty worried over the whole thing. "I, Black Adam, King of Kahndaq, have come to state my intention of marrying the lady Tuo ma."

Ohh here we go! Ta-er thought gleefully while Tuo ma awaited her father's outburst as she knew Ra's was unlikely to do it. And she didn't have to wait long either.

"MARRIAGE!?" Al-Owal sputtered out in shock and anger. Shock that she was getting such a proposal so soon since for him she was still way too young for such a thing. And anger that this man who barely knew his little girl wanted to marry her! The audacity of it all! Well he'd just show this fool the error of his ways!

Ra's kept silent though was already forming responses he could use should this turn of events go in any particular direction. He knew that having her as the man's Queen could prove very beneficial for his liking. And even if it didn't happen, the fact the man asked him for his help was more than enough for him to have an in towards anything he might want, even if it was only a one time thing. "I absolutely forbid such an arrangement!" Al-Owal finally said in indignant outrage and his hand was on the hilt of his sword, ready to be pulled out any second.

Adam gave the man a decidedly unimpressed look that only made the father even more angered then what he already was. "My word is final, you two barely know one another and you are far, FAR too old for my little girl!"

"Father! His age matters not to me! And yes, we barely know one another, but we are still drawn to one another and given time we can come to know one another!" Protested Tuo ma, only to gain a glare from her father. But she wouldn't back down from her stance, which surprised her a bit as she never went against anything her father said.

And this is why I tend to prefer and insist on a lack of personal attachments as much as possible. Thought Ra's.

The champion nodded at his intended's words, pleased that she was willing to fight her father for what he wanted for the two of them. "She is right, we truly are drawn to one another and I have not felt such feelings towards any woman since my wife centuries ago. You need not fear for your daughter, I would never raise a hand against her and I would treat her like a true Queen." The King informed his future father in law with conviction heard in every word.

"And besides, its not like I would keep the two of you from seeing one another." He could be an ass, but he wasn't that much of an ass. Nor did he wish to have League members bringing wrath down on his people for being an idiot over his intended.

Al-Owal pulled out his sword then and there and put it right at the King's Adam's Apple while Adam himself stood there unflinching as he looked into Al-Owal's eyes head on. He wasn't flinching because he had anything to worry about from the blade, but because he knew he was being tested by his intended's father and was not about to fail it. The assassin stared at him for several moments, as if judging him possibly. "Would you do whatever it took to keep my daughter happy? Would you crush a man's head with your own two hands if he harmed her?" He asked the King dead seriously and everyone held their breaths in anticipation. Well, everyone but Ra's anyway but he was interested in hearing the answer.

"Yes, yes to both your questions. In fact, after crushing the head of the fool who would dare to harm her, I would throw his body into the desert for any number of creatures and the Sun itself to have their ways with the remains." Adam responded quickly and very seriously as well to leave little doubt in anyone's mind that he wouldn't hesitate at all in doing it.

Well that's damn romantic! Thought Ta-er, and whether or not she was being sarcastic remains to be seen.

Tuo ma felt her heart swelling up at what she'd just heard from the King and it had her thinking that if this didn't get through to her father, then she didn't know what would. Nyssa was rather impressed by the man's words and wondered if she should make such a declaration as well in regards to Ta-er? Qunbila just wanted to roll his eyes and was sorely tempted to walk off and go elsewhere, mostly his quarters but had yet to do so as he didn't want to seem rude about things. As for Ra's? He felt the man could have been even more creative with his punishment but that was just him. Damn him! Al-Owal thought somewhat annoyedly, though he was impressed by the promise that was given to him.

The father studied the man's face and eyes a bit as if judging him, and eventually, sheathed his sword, causing Tuo ma to feel instantly relieved. "Very well then, I Al-Owal, father of Tuo ma, give my approval for I see now that you are worthy of her." He said stoically, though several could hear a hint of resignation in his voice over the thought of his daughter marrying Black Adam.

Said daughter rushed to her father and wrapped him in a hug, surprising herself in the process but happier then she realized she would be over the fact he had given his blessing to Adam. Her father hugged her tight and willed himself not to cry in front of everyone for he didn't want to lose face with any of them. Sure, he's the "First One' and every bit a bad ass if not more so then most members of the League, but he was still prey to emotions. And considering it was his daughter that was making him emotional, it could be understandable for one in his position. Not that Ra's would exactly care since family dynamics and scenes such as this weren't his thing unless he could use it to his advantage. "Thank you father!" Tuo ma told the man as she hugged him.

"Y-you are welcome my child. Just do not forget about this old man when you are with him hmm?" He requested, not giving a damn at all over how ridiculous he was likely sounding.

He might be a hard ass when it comes to training and most other things in life, but this is proof enough that he's not 100 percent a hard ass. Ta-er thought to herself, and it was nice to see too.

Tuo ma gave out a laugh over how her father was acting and assured him she wasn't about to forget about him anytime soon at all. It was then that Ra's cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention. Seeing that he had done so satisfactorily, he began to talk. "Now that we have that… Out of the way, I believe we should speak of preparations for the wedding. Such as when the two of you wish to marry. I could perform the ceremony myself if you wish, or I could bring the Priestess to do it." Normally, he wouldn't do such a thing, but since she was like a granddaughter to him, he figured he would be… Nice enough… To offer.

Here is where Tuo ma looked apprehensive, something Adam had been prepared for since he knew he had given the girl quite a shock days before at the Palace. She pulled away from the hug she had with her father and walked tentatively up to Adam with a worried look on her face. Grabbing his hands as she looked into his eyes, she spoke. "Um… While I get the feeling you would prefer something like around now or in the near immediate future even. Despite the bond we've formed, I must admit I am not yet ready to marry. But if you are willing to give it time, I would be willing at a later date?" She requested, worried as Hell he might not want anything to do with her now. Sure she felt something for him but marriage was a big step and usually things like that in the League were done quickly, but she at least wanted to ensure this would be something they wouldn't later regret despite their growing bond with one another.

Were he any other man, Adam wouldn't have been a very happy camper, but as he'd been prepared for such an eventuality like this he was able to understand where she was coming from. A perk from being chosen by a God who granted him access to all sorts of wisdom. Nyssa and Ta-er's eyes widened at this turn of events, Al-Owal was surprised as Hell and couldn't quite find anything to say at the moment, Ra's just found himself annoyed at where this went but he could work with it anyway. Squeezing her hands gently, Adam smiled at her, something that made the girl feel relieved as she felt he got what she was going for. "My Noor, were it not for the wisdom of the God Zehuti, I would not be nearly as understanding of what you speak of. I am prepared to wait however long you wish, something we can discuss privately as well if that is what you desire." His response made her pretty happy too and it was something he could easily see given the expression on her face. The fact he called her 'his light' made her heart flutter a bit too.

"Thank you my King, may our journey together prove fruitful for us both." She told him with a smile, unaware that her father was happy as can be that she wasn't about to be married off just yet. Though if he knew she was thinking of a six month waiting period between her and Adam, he might not be as happy.

"Fruitful indeed!" Adam replied, eager to see where their path would take them. And when the time finally came and they were married, he would give her some of his power so that she would be even more his equal.

Before more could be said, Ta-er spoke up next while raising her hand up into the air a bit and making her girlfriend wonder what in the world she was up too now. "So um… Can I be a bridesmaid?" Cause seriously, she would freaking rock as a bridesmaid! Sure she and Ollie rocked the world Max Fuller's fiance once upon a time, but that's a whole other thing and so not what she was going for with this! Plus, Nyssa would not be happy! And an unhappy Nyssa is definitely not something she wanted, especially if it was hurtful.

Ra's had to resist the urge to facepalm himself over the girl's words. I suppose I should have expected such a thing to happen. He groused to himself.

Adam just looked at her strangely while Tuo ma was embarrassed by her friend's question. Though she would love it if the girl was one of her bridesmaids though. Qunbila found the whole thing hilarious and the others with him were shaking their heads at the blonde. Nyssa slapped Ta-er on the shoulder without much force to it. "Ow! What was that for?" The blonde questioned her girl while rubbing where she'd been hit.

The look she got from her girl told her they'd be having a conversation about this in private later, making her groan a little on the inside. "I believe… We can discuss that at a later time." Adam finally said while thinking that this girl was a bit off, and if he hadn't of seen her in battle, would likely have suggested something be done with her.

Ta-er gave him a thumb's up, earning her another light smack on the arm from Nyssa with another muttered 'ow'. Ra's sighed in slight aggravation. "I believe it is time we dispersed for the time being, I gather some of you would prefer some rest before doing anything else." He was strongly hinting for all of them to get the Hell out before his patience with everything finally went out the window.

Ooh, Big Chief is getting fed up! A certain Canary thought to herself a bit excitedly even though she knew from word of mouth that an angry Ra's was not a good thing at all.

"Very well father, I would speak to you soon of a private matter." She informed him and gained a nod of understanding before walking away, prompting Ta-er to start following her and wondering what the private matter was though she knew she was unlikely to get an answer.

The others quickly left as well after getting the message, though Al-Owal was sure to keep an eye on where his daughter and her intended to go. Ra's, now that he had the room to himself was immensely pleased. Peace and Quiet are true blessings. The man thought to himself as he stood there thinking over the recent events. Especially the private matter his daughter wished to speak of with him, and he had a feeling it related to her Canary as well. The possibilities of what he could get as payment from the King was another thing to consider too.

A base of operations in Kahndaq is assured for the League after our aid was a success. Not to mention one of ours marrying him adds to our favor in getting this to happen. Yes, such a place would prove beneficial for any League members who were in that part of the world for when they needed a place to rest up and or hide until it was safe to travel. And perhaps send Ta-er there as well to stay there a good long while to keep her out of his hair, even though he knew his daughter wouldn't be too happy over it. But League needs always came first, personal needs a low priority til otherwise.

Author's Notes: And I think that's as good a place as any to end the Canaries and Heirs arc! Originally I considered having them get married then and there or even a day later. But I thought a decent waiting period would be better. Up next, the return to Ollyville! R and R!