DISCLAIMER: I do not own any characters from Arrow... I'm simply borrowing them for a moment in time.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just to let you know, I have read this over but to be fair, I am very tired. Please forgive any slight errors. Also, please leave me a note when you are done reading. I only ask that all reviews be kind and constructive. I'm eager to hear what you have to say. Thank you in advance.
"So, this 'Undertaking' as you called it, is some kind of plan to save the city?" Sara asked curiously.
"It is probably best you don't know the details. Suffice it to say, Ra's would not approve. If he were to find out about the 'Undertaking' and its architects… he will kill everyone involved, their families included. He is not of the sentimental sort," Merlyn warned.
"I continue to be confused as to why you are involving us… aside from the kid," Slade stated.
"I didn't take you for being quite so dense, or obstinate, Mr. Wilson. Very well… Robert Queen was involved and so is Moira. As such, this makes both she and Thea targets should Ra's find out." Merlyn reveled in the look of alarm on each of their faces.
"Oliver would never turn on his family." Shado protested.
Merlyn laughed but there was no humor in it. "Even if I agreed with you, Oliver is only one assassin. Ra's has many at his disposal. Make no mistake, the Oliver that has returned to Starling City most certainly isn't the same Oliver you once knew."
"Then we need to get one of us on the inside. We find Oliver and we'll beat some sense into him," Slade stated in a matter of fact tone.
"Yes, well that barbaric option will not work on our boy," Merlyn attempted to stop the condescending roll of his eyes at Slade's rather simple solution. "Look, you may have taught Oliver everything you know about self-defense and fighting but Oliver just spent the better part of the last three years being trained by the best of the best. What he knows, what he is now capable of would make you and your special ops buddies look like junior boy scouts.
Slade seethed at the insults so Malcolm continued, "Trust me when I tell you, he is as dangerous as they come. He is adept at fighting using any weapon on hand and if none are available, well, let's just say it won't stop him from improvising. He has been taught the art of torture."
"The…. 'art'… of torture?" Shado interrupted.
"Oh yes, Miss Fei. He knows exactly where and how to inflict the most pain with the least amount of blood loss in order to draw it out until he gets what he wants. It truly is an artform in the teaching… until you are the recipient… and then it is hell on earth." He could see the look of disbelief in their eyes, "and before you start with more time-wasting questions, "No, the Oliver you knew wouldn't have done that. All the more reason for you to realize this is not likely the Oliver who's come home. One must go through an initiation to become a member of the League… by the time he'd realized what was happening, it would have been too late." Malcolm tried to explain.
"Too late for what?" Sara asked with concern for her friend building.
"Certain herbs are used in his food and water. That, mixed with various techniques, makes the mind more controllable."
"Mind control?" Shado nearly shouted, "You mean brainwashed, don't you?"
Merlyn sighed in frustration from all the interruptions. "One must relinquish their past life and their very identity in order to accept their new life and name within the League. Oliver Queen is no longer, he is now known only as Al-sah-Him… "The Arrow" by translation, Warith-al-Ghul, Heir to the Demon." He let that sink in a moment, but to his dismay, the needless questions, in his opinion, continued as they processed this latest information.
"You didn't have to relinquish your identity, Malcolm, why did he?" Shado asked.
"Not everyone is put through this particular initiation process, because they search out the League for varying reasons. However, Ra's, undoubtedly, saw something in Oliver… he saw his replacement. He had to be sure his commitment was secure. In the process, he would ensure a future heir by securing a marriage between his daughter and Oliver."
"So, what's your name, Merlyn? Do they have a name for untrustworthy sleaze?" Slade sneered.
Merlyn chuckled, "Very nice, Mr. Wilson. Classy as always. I bring you good news regarding your friend and you insult me. As for my name, it was Al sahir, 'the magician'."
Slade rolled his eyes as he paced across the room. "You don't do favors, Merlyn, unless there's something in it for you… So, I'm going to ask you just once… What do you want?" he growled.
"I want the same as you, of course. But you need to realize, this won't be easy and may not even be possible." Merlyn gestured innocently.
"Yeah, that's not your only reason," Sara scoffed.
Merlyn smirked, "I want what's best for Starling City and the League isn't it."
"I doubt your intentions are as noble as you suggest. However, I don't really care. We will talk and get back to you with a plan." Slade grumbled again, turning to leave.
The three friends found their way back out of the building, lost in thought.
"Well, that was not what I was expecting to hear today." Sara breathed in the fresh air as they exited the Merlyn Global building.
"He's married," Shado almost whispered.
"Wait… after EVERYTHING he just told us, THAT'S your take away?" Sara asked in surprise.
"Oh, Come on. Don't tell me you believe this crap?" Slade all but shouted, "We were all there! Oliver died on the Amazo. He DIED!"
Sara took in the pained look in his eyes, he seldom allowed his emotions to show. The only other time she had seen him get this emotional was when they first came back and she asked him why he was staying in Starling City. At first, she thought he was angry with her but then she realized, he was just as lost as the rest of them. Where once they belonged, now they had to fight to find a new place to fit in. Slades son had moved on as did his wife… so he stayed out of respect for their friend, to watch over his family. "Okay, but what if he didn't. What if he survived? I mean, why would Malcolm fabricate such an elaborate lie?"
"I… I have no clue, but nothing would surprise me out of that guy… EXCEPT his ability to do ANYTHING for ANYONE out of the pure goodness of his heart… because, he has none. I'm telling you, this ain't real. I don't know why… yet… but he made this up because he needs or wants something from us." Slade argued.
"Okay, I see your point but what if…" Sara began again as he rolled his eyes and she held her hand up to stop any remarks, "What if, he IS, in fact, telling the truth? You know, Malcolm Merlyn wasn't always like this. When his wife died, it really messed him up… I remember how messed up Tommy was and how his dad just kind of forgot he even had a son. It was like his world ended when she died… I don't know… I'm just saying that maybe we should consider the possibility that he's being honest… for a change."
"How do we find out is what I want to know," Shado added.
Almost in unison they answered their own question, "Tommy"
"Fine, we talk to Tommy. Then we come back here and break every bone in his body… slowly." Slade growled.
That night found little peace for any of them. The three friends were encompassed with memories of their time lost on Lian Yu. The horrible things they faced when on their own, as well as the war they waged together in order to get back home… The horrors they faced, the havoc they wreaked. Their lives were forever changed because of it… innocence lost forever. From that point on, everyone they met was suspect and the only ones they trusted were each other. The thought that Oliver may actually be alive, and yet still lost to them was unthinkable.
ARROW ARROW ARROW ARROW ARROW ARROW
NANDA PARBAT
"Good morning, husband." Nyssa greeted with a smile as she presented a tray consisting of cut fruit, coffee, and a plate of eggs.
Oliver offered a smile she rarely saw but the memory of the night prior lingered between them.
"Breakfast in bed?"
"Yes, well, it was the least I could do… last night was…" she began.
"I agree… which is why I should be bringing you breakfast in bed." Oliver smiled.
"Well, there is one solution to our quandary…" she offered as she climbed into bed next to him and setting the tray aside, leaned over to kiss him, striking a hunger that would not be quenched with food…
Later, as they sat curled up next to each other, sharing the tray of food, Nyssa offered him a grape, "The eggs and coffee are cold."
"Well, whose fault is that?" Oliver smirked as he accepted the offering.
"I know not what you mean," she stated with faux disinterest.
"Mhm…. I'm sure," came his reply. Any further discussion was curbed by a knock on their door.
"I'll get it," she offered when he pulled her back for a quick kiss.
"Stay, I'll go," Oliver replied as he grabbed for his pants and shirt.
"I shall await your return," she smiled wanly.
He glanced back over his shoulder once more and took in the beauty of the woman he now considered his other half. He didn't always feel that way. In fact, at one point he downright hated her. Oh, he always found her attractive, after all, he wasn't dead. Although at their first meeting, he very nearly was. He tried desperately not to flashback to those days prior to waking up in these very chambers. Back then he had another love, Shado Fei. She, too, had saved him, but not from a physical wound such as was the case here. She saved him from something far harder to heal… his inner self. The demons within. He shuddered at the memory. Anger crept to the surface as it often did when thinking back on that time. Anger over how quickly his friends left him behind. How quickly Shado was willing to accept his death rather than look for him. No, he wasn't back in order to save them… he was here to save his family… his mother and Thea, his sister.
To say he had vanquished his demons would prove a lie. Under the guidance of Ra's-al-Ghul, he had learned to embrace them, depend on them even. All traces of his previous life nothing more than a distant and unreachable memory, until the day Nyssa weaned him off the drugs her father had used to create the warrior… the assassin he now was. There were days he longed to forget that which returned with the loss of the drugs. The memories of his mother and sister and Tommy Merlyn were the only blessing he received from the act. That and the realization that somewhere along the way, the marriage he was forced into had become sincere in his love for his Raven-haired beauty… as deadly as she was beautiful.
Oliver shook his head as he forced the memories away from the forefront of his mind. There was no room for such things here. The last thing he could afford would be if Ra's figured out he had regained any memory of this past life.
Sobering his thoughts, Oliver opened the door to one of Ra's guard.
"You have been summoned," was all that was said.
"Tell him we will be there shortly," Oliver ordered.
"He requests your attendance alone. You are to come immediately," was the reply.
The hair on his neck prickled, his nerves hummed with energy, "very well." Oliver glanced back toward the room where his wife waited for him before closing the door and following the guard.