A/N: So.. I tried to upload this all in one big file, but it apparently didn't want to work. We're going to split this up into two or three... I hope you all enjoy it.
Nyssa trembled with rage. Her fingers shook as she stared at Oliver Queen, who was now Al Sah-him. She tried to hate him, wanted to with her entire being, but she knew of one person that she loved who did not. And that person did not deserve to know he ended up like this.
"Father," Nyssa called out. Ra's turned toward her and she paused for a moment. She gazed at Al Sah-him for a long second. "I propose that the waters of clarity be used for this marriage… and if they say something else, I pledge my fidelity to the one who is intended to be Al Sah-him's bride."
"Why do you want to go down this path?" her father muttered. Al Sah-him came forward, nearer to her, and his voice silenced her father's doubts.
"It would solidify our bond to know if we were destined by the gods," Al Sah-him told Ra's Al Ghul. "If not, then she has given her word to be bound to the woman I marry. Either way, it ensures our families uniting. An oath of fidelity does not vanish easily."
Ra's considered their statements for a moment. He nodded and turned to Nyssa. "Talia will be heading the ceremony, I presume?"
Nyssa nodded. She almost breathed a sigh of relief, but kept her gaze blank. Al Sah-him did the same, but she felt his mind running through the different reels. She hoped her assumption was right, and it was a very big assumption. Her heart felt it was right, but that did not mean fate and her heart shared the same path.
She only hoped.
Talia joined them a few moments later with a very old and rusted bowl, with writings from a language long forgotten. Nyssa sat still as Talia chanted the right words, and as Talia began to move the water in a certain way, how Talia seemed to understand the ritual was something that Nyssa never ventured to understand.
Though she watched her sister with increasing awareness, she was not showing interest. She was trying to figure out what was going on.
Talia brought the bowl to Al Sah-him. "Drink a sip."
He did that and her sister began chanting something else. Al Sah-him's eyes closed and Nyssa gazed at the bowl. She heard her sister chanting become louder and then she heard a thud. Nyssa turned and saw Al Sah-him on the ground, unconscious.
Talia's eyes glazed over and her chanting stop. Nyssa sat awkwardly until Al Sah-him gasped life back into his lungs. He gazed at Talia for a long moment. Talia's eyes popped open and she gazed at him. Nyssa felt like sighing out of frustration, but held her tongue.
Talia's surprised gaze met Al Sah-him's. "You know this woman?"
"Yes," he replied. His gaze turned to Nyssa. "Laurel Lance was shown to both of us."
"How?" Nyssa asked. Al Sah-him's expression turned dark. "Very well, milord. I pledge my loyalty to the one who the waters named. Shall we go and retrieve her?"
Al Sah-him nodded. Nyssa got up from the floor and turned to her sister. "We will talk soon?"
Talia nodded. The sisters gazed at each other for a long moment. Talia smiled. "Bring your beloved's sister… home. We will settle our matters then."
Nyssa nodded. Al Sah-him marched out of the room and Nyssa followed him. She couldn't keep the confident grin on her face. Life was very ironic.
Al Sah-him felt the emotions roil beneath his skin. He heard Nyssa behind him, but he did not want another person in his presence as he processed the vision.
He sat on the edge of a bed. He felt the silk sheets crumple beneath his legs and felt two loving arms surround him. He eased back against the figure. Her lips kissed his neck up to his cheek, and then grazed his ear.
"Can we be happy?" she asked in a husky voice. He grabbed the arms and pulled her face to him. Contentment spread throughout his body, a response so foreign… but familiar.
"Until you don't need me anymore," he quietly admitted. He heard someone else breathing in the background. He turned his head and saw Talia standing next to the bed.
"Interesting, is it not?" she asked. The woman gazed up at Talia and smiled warmly. "The heart reveals the oddest things when we ask it honest questions."
"Why did I think you up?" he questioned the woman in his lap. She smiled at him and her green eyes danced with mischief. He felt his heart burn at her tender smile, something he had not seen on her face in a long time. "We never mourned together, did we?"
"What is it about me that makes everyone leave?" she asked him desperately. He kissed her forehead and tears started running down his cheeks.
"I couldn't protect you, but I wanted to protect her. Forgive me," he breathed. She nodded. He looked at her for a long moment. "I will protect you, Laurel."
"As long as I protect you," she whispered back. His gaze shot to Talia. Talia watched the scene with interest. Oliver's gaze hardened.
"Why her?" he asked.
"Because she brings out the most Oliver Queen in you… And the most Al Sah-him." Talia gazed at Laurel's retreating form. "It is very interesting, indeed. Your two sides at war become at peace with her around…"
Nyssa walked with Al Sah-him by her side as he guided her to Palmer Technologies. She was apprehensive of their journey, one made solely at night, until she saw Laurel surrounded by the other members of Oliver's team.
Thea being there, however, started to raise Nyssa's anxiety. If the younger woman offered resistance, Laurel would be less likely to come with them… and then, all of Nyssa's fears would turn true.
Sara's dying wish wouldn't come true. And Nyssa couldn't survive with that happening.
A/N: Part 1 done.
