DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from the Arrow series. I am merely borrowing them for a little while.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, I found the missing pages! I have been busy writing. Please understand, I never post until my stories are 100% complete. I only did that with this one because I adopted it from another writer and wanted to introduce myself and assure the readers that someone was planning to pick up the story. So I rewrote the first chapter in my own words and began writing my continuation from there. So, bear with me as I forge forward with this. I have to find my footing again. I have watched the show over and over... so some things will remain the same and as you can see here, some will most definitely not. That said, I will post as soon as I have a polished chapter to present you, knowing I am happy and content with it and not likely to wish I could have changed something later. (which is why I always wait till I'm finished.) I have a lot of stories in the NCIS: LA fandom, if you are interested... but this series is so much more complex... so I'm nervous... Can you tell? Please do me a favor and leave a review when you finish reading each chapter. I love hearing where the reader believes things are heading. It's fun to compare their thoughts with my own. SOMETIMES, I might be prone to making adjustments if I like an idea that has been presented in reviews. Just please keep your reviews kind and constructive in nature. That would be very much appreciated. As promised... a new chapter for you to read.
"Oliver Queen is gone, I AM Al-Sah-him" Oliver replied coolly.
"The Arrow… Second in command? Heir to the Demon… impressive… especially considering the young spoiled playboy who was friends with my son. So, I guess the stories Sara and your friends told us were true." Malcolm stated and though it was just a flash, he saw something of recognition in Oliver's eyes… however, it disappeared just as quickly.
"Enough!," Nyssa spoke, bringing his attention back to the reason of her visit. "This book has ghost ink on it's pages, which is odd since the ink has not been used in centuries outside the League. That said, considering your ties to the Queen family, my father has suspicions as to your possible involvement in whatever is happening in Starling City."
"I assure you, Nyssa, I am in no way involved in whatever whisperings you and your father are hearing. As for that book, I have never seen it before." Merlyn let the lie slide right off his tongue.
Nyssa eyed him carefully, "So you say. Very well, my father has a task for you. You are to bring him any and all information regarding this book or the trouble brewing in Starling City. You are to bring it regardless of whether it is confirmation of said trouble or proof that the rumors are false. I needn't remind you of what will happen should you fail to do so. Your family will suffer your failure," Nyssa finished as she turned to leave, followed closely by Oliver and the remaining assassins.
"Oliver!" Merlyn called to their backs, "Would you really go after Tommy and your family?"
Oliver and Nyssa paused briefly as Oliver responded lowly, "There are other ways to make someone suffer besides death… torture comes in many fashions. You would do well to heed Nyssa's warning." Oliver turned then and left Merlyn to his thoughts.
Merlyn quickly made his way out of the tunnels. The clock was ticking. He needed to get his tracks covered and find a way to distract Ra's, which would be no easy fete. However, he was not without options.
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"So, anyone else curious as to why we were called here?" Sara asked Slade and Shado as they approached the doors of Merlyn Global.
"Very," Slade grumbled.
"Any idea as to why?" Sara threw out.
"No, just received a call telling us Merlyn would like a meeting," Shado replied calmly.
"Same here," Sara mumbled, taking in her surroundings, ever vigilant.
Together they entered his office, finding Merlyn staring out the window, lost in thought.
"So, we're here. Now, why the cryptic invite?" Slade stated coldly. He had never trusted Malcolm Merlyn from the start and the energy in the room was doing nothing to change that.
"Thank you for coming." Malcolm offered, acknowledging their presence.
"What's this about Malcolm?" Sara asked. Her nerves tingled with anticipation and she knew she wasn't alone.
As Merlyn turned to face them with a grave look that encompassed his face, Sara could feel her companions were on edge as well.
Malcolm fought to find the right words. Despite current circumstances, Merlyn had always liked Oliver. Oliver and Tommy had grown up together. He had been a lifeline for Tommy after his mother had died and Merlyn had been too caught up in his own grief to see the pain his son was in.
"Malcolm!" Slade growled, losing his patience.
Without thinking, Merlyn just threw the news out there.
"Oliver is alive."
For a moment the room was thrown into a stunned silence. Finally, Sara recovered her voice enough to respond, "Why would you mess with us like this? What kind of sick joke are you playing at?"
To which, Malcolm shook his head, "I wish it were a joke. Tell me, what do any of you know about the League of Assassins?" He asked, watching them closely.
"It's a myth!" Slade scoffed.
"Who?" Sara asked incredulously, followed by Shado's own, "what myth?"
Slade glared at Merlyn before turning to the girls.
"Back when I was with ASIS, several individuals spoke of a legend. They told me about a group of assassins that could appear and disappear like shadows in the night. But it was just an urban legend. There was no proof that could substantiate the claims."
Malcolm gave a humorless chuckle, bringing their attention back to him. "Mirakuru was once considered an urban legend, was it not, Detective Lance?"
"So, you're saying there really IS a League of Assassins?" Shado asked cautiously.
"Yes, Miss Fei, there really IS a League of Assassins." Malcolm replied snidely.
"And you think Oliver is their prisoner?" Slade asked, becoming more and more annoyed.
"A prisoner? No."
Slade's eyes bore into Merlyn with an intense hatred for the man in front of him, "Enough with your games, Merlyn." Slade growled as he headed for the door, followed by his friends.
"This is NOT a game!" Malcolm shouted.
Both Sara and Shado jumped at the unexpected outburst but it was enough to catch Slade's attention and get him to turn back as Merlyn continued, "I assure you; this is no game. Oliver IS alive… I have seen him."
"You've seen… he was here? When?" Sara asked, stunned by the news.
"Yesterday. He was with them." Merlyn replied.
Wait, this League of Assassins are here? In Starling City?" Shado asked.
"Why would the League of Assassins be here? Better question… what do they want with you, Malcolm?" Sara questioned.
"Because you were one of them." Slade replied, "That's why you're so afraid, why you're so sure they exist. You were a member."
Malcolm regarded the trio for moment, considering his words carefully.
"Yes." He finally admitted. "My wife was murdered when Tommy and Oliver were young. I left Starling City in hopes of finding a purpose… something that would help control the grief. I eventually found my way to the League. I spent much time there in their service before coming home. We parted on good terms." Malcolm explained, "However, once you are a member of the League… you are ALWAYS a member… always answerable to the Demon."
"Why do I find it hard to believe that you could part with ANYONE, let alone the League of Assassins on good terms?" Slade mumbled under his breath.
"Even so. Are you sure it was Ollie?" Sara queried.
"I know what I saw, detective Lance, and what I saw was Oliver Queen, dressed in the League garb… and from what I can gather… a high-ranking member, at that." Malcolm responded.
"Why? What makes you say that?" Shado asked.
"Because, he is married to Nyssa-al-Ghul, daughter of the Demon." Merlyn explained.
"Married?" Shado asked softly.
"Don't take it to heart, Miss Fei… Oliver would have had little choice, Nyssa either, for that matter. It is to appease the desires of Ra's-al-Ghul" Malcolm explained.
"But why Oliver?" Sara asked as she put a comforting arm around her friend.
"That is a question only he can answer." Malcolm replied simply.
"What I don't understand is, why you are telling us?" Slade growled, ignoring Sara's attempt to control him.
"Well for one, Mr. Wilson, I thought you were his friends." Malcolm charged before continuing, "For another, the League is coming and they won't be concerned with collateral damage when they do," he warned.
"Why are they so interested in Starling City?" Slade demanded.
Merlyn looked at each of them in turn, debating exactly how much he should divulge. He began to selectively explain why he was visited by the League. Enough lies mixed with just enough truth to get them on board in helping him to not only reach Oliver, because he wasn't a complete bastard, but he needed them to act as a distraction until he could still meet his goals.
ARROW - ARROW - ARROW - ARROW - ARROW - ARROW
NANDA PARBAT - SAME TIME
Ra's and Oliver clashed swords several times before Oliver whirled around and struck him in the side with his sword. Ra's gasped in pain as Oliver pried the sword from the Demon's hand. Crossing them, he held the tips of each sword at the side of his neck… the edges touching the pulsing skin at his carotid arteries.
"Dead" Oliver spoke in a cold and detached voice.
"Well done, Al-Sah-him, "Ra's said as Oliver handed the man his sword., "You have now surpassed me. You are nearly ready to lead."
"Thank you, my liege." Oliver stated blankly.
"Dismissed," Ra's said as he headed over towards the pit.
Oliver nodded and departed, making his way through the castle, heading toward his chambers. As he closed the door, he turned to find Nyssa standing in the center of the room. She turned to face him as he approached her.
"So, how was your sparring session with my father?" she asked, accepting his sword and laying it on the table next to the fireplace.
"I won", Oliver said flatly.
She nodded, "Well done, sit."
Oliver did as she requested, after which, she helped relieve him of his shirt.
"How are you, my husband? I know it cannot have been easy to be home after so long and not see your loved ones," Nyssa asked with concern as she rubbed the tension from his shoulders.
Oliver let his head drop as he began to relax. "I would be lying if I said I didn't miss them," he admitted with a soft sigh, "but, the best way to keep them safe, is to stay away from them and act like they mean nothing to me. At least for the time being."
"…and the realization that your friends are still alive?" she asked pointedly.
Oliver thought a moment. There was much that remained foggy in regards to his memory after all the herbs Ra's had used during his initiation into the League but one thought still remained… they left him behind. The moved on. They made it home and took over the life that should have been his, as well. "What is there to say. They left me for dead."
Nyssa leaned down and left a trail of kisses along the back of his neck and shoulders, "I have drawn you a hot bath," she whispered.
"You have, have you?" he returned as he stood and headed toward the other room. She never tired of looking at him, despite the many scars. To her, they stood as proof of the very strength that allowed him to survive all that he had been forced to endure, not only at the hands of her now sadistic father but the brutal years before, on Lian Yu.
Perhaps it had been her father's desire that they marry but the love she felt for the man, now, was very real.
"Hey, penny for your thoughts", he whispered in her ear before returning just a few of her kisses, "join me…" he requested softly as he walked away.