Oliver and Nyssa had been able to hitch a ride from the forest and from there were able to get a plane to Starling City, using one of Nyssa's private accounts that her father did not have access to.
Their plane had landed a short while ago and the pair was now on their way to the loft in search of Thea. Oliver had a distant look in his eyes as he looked out the window of the car they were in. "I'm not going to be able to stay here for long, am I? The League will come for us."
"Yes, they will," Nyssa replied, "My father has shadows all over the world, I wouldn't be surprised if the ones in Starling already alerted him that we were here."
"You know, I was hoping to get out of this. If I survived the battle against your father, I thought I could return to my life," Oliver said, "I was naive for that. Even if I did join the League as your fathers heir, there would be no way to leave as I once thought, Malcolm seems to be the only one who has truly been able to leave the League."
"You were under informed, not naive. It seems that Al Sa-her still never tells the full truth," Nyssa answered in response, "The League is for life, the only way out is to die or be released by Ra's al Ghul. But with your path my father would make sure there is no escapes. He would never release you, and if you killed him and became the next Ra's al Ghul, you could not release yourself."
"And if I was the stay in Starling?" Oliver asked.
"He would draw you out, either by injuring or kidnapping your loved ones, and by destroying all aspects of your life piece by piece." Nyssa responded.
"I see," Oliver said cooly, "Well, then I want to see Thea and explain everything to her."
Oliver and Nyssa exited the car, walking up towards Thea's loft. They opened the door to the loft, and much to Oliver relief, saw Thea in the living room. Oliver called her name softly, not wanting to scare her, "Thea."
Thea turned around and when she saw them her shock was clearly displayed on her face, "Oh my gosh, Ollie you.. you're still alive." She stated before running over to hug her brother to make sure he was real.
"I'm so sorry it's all my fault. Your team came and explained everything to me, even about you being the Arrow, with Malcolm," Thea said, her eyes darkening as she said her "fathers" name, "He drugged me Ollie, my own father, and I killed Sara, oh I'm so sorry, and she was with you Nyssa, I'm so sorry. I should have never trusted Malcolm over you."
"Woah, speedy calm down, it's ok. Nyssa and I don't blame you, and Sara wouldn't either. You weren't in control of your actions. As far as I can tell, Malcolm is responsible for Sara's death not you, and it wasn't your fault I had to challenge Ra's to trial by combat, it was Malcolms. He showed me a video, of you firing the arrows at Sara, and told me he would turn it over to the League, had I not asked for trial by combat." Oliver said, in an effort to calm his sister down.
"Al Sa-her manipulates in order to achieve his goals but do not worry Thea he will face justice for his actions," Nyssa said adding on to Olivers statement.
"You're going to kill him aren't you?" Thea asked.
"Yes," Oliver replied, "I'm sorry Thea, he's dangerous, I know he's your father but-"
Thea cut him off from saying any more, "He is not my father. Robert Queen was my father. Malcolm is the man who used me and sent my brother to his death. I have no issues with killing him, in fact it is welcome."
"It will be done," Nyssa said.
"You two didn't just come here to kill Malcolm though, did you?" Thea realised.
"No, we didn't. When I faced Ra's he won. He stabbed me through the chest and kicked me off the cliff in the ravine below. I landed on a ledge and died but only for a very short amount of time. I somehow came back to life and Nyssa has been bringing me back to health over these weeks. But, by surviving the blade of Ra's al Ghul, I became his heir, through a old prophecy, that Nyssa can explain to you. But now Ra's is hunting for Nyssa and I because he most likely wants me to join the League as his heir. Nyssa told me of the consequences should I refuse. And for a while I was going too, but he could come after you to get to me Thea." Oliver explained.
Thea looked torn as she replied to him, "But don't you have a life in Starling Ollie? Don't give up your life, and your work as the Arrow for me."
"I don't truly have a life here anymore though Speedy. The real Oliver Queen died when the Gambit went down. The Hood died during the Undertaking when he decided not to kill to honour his fallen friend. But the Arrow isn't me, I feel like I'm holding a part of me back, and the team doesn't understand either, Felicity even makes jokes about Lian Yu, calling it "Fantasy land." I lost friends and parts of myself on that island, it was no fantasy, it was hell." Oliver said.
"I'm sorry Ollie, I didn't realise how hard it had been for you to be back, I guess I was just so happy to have my brother back that I never considered what you were going through."
"It's fine Thea, I was very good at hiding my past." Oliver replied.
"Are you going to tell the team you are back," Thea questioned cautiously.
"Yes, I will, but mainly just for Roy. Roy deserves to know." Oliver said in response.
"Yes, your brothers former team, has always questioned his actions, and his intelligence, not giving him their full trust, despite Oliver putting his trust in them. He has finally realised it now." Nyssa added.
"I'll come with you then," Thea said following the pair to the door.
Once they arrived, Thea entered the bunker first seeing Laurel, Roy, Felicity, and Diggle. "Hey."
They all turned looking shocked to see Thea standing in the bunker. "Thea how did you get in here?" Felicity asked.
"My dad is a super villain, and your doors were unlocked. I also had help." Thea responded evenly.
"From who," Diggle questioned.
"From us," Oliver said as he and Nyssa walked out from the shadows behind Thea.
'Oh my god, Oliver," Felicity cried as she ran and hugged him.
Oliver lightly hugged her back, and Felicity pulled away noticing, "Oliver, are you ok."
"Truthfully, no I'm not. I am mainly here to talk to Roy, and explain some things to you guys." Oliver said.
"Why," Laurel asked, "Aren't you back now?"
"No," Nyssa replied, "We will not be able to stay long or your city will be in danger."
"Why are you here," Diggle asked angrily, "Oliver what does she mean?"
"When I fought Ra's al Ghul, he won. He killed me. I must had not truly died, or somehow come back to life, and Nyssa saved me after I fell from a cliff onto a ledge above a ravine. Over these past weeks she helped heal me. Nyssa also informed me of a League prophecy," Oliver looked towards Nyssa, "Can I tell them?" She shook her head saying no.
Oliver nodded and started to speak again. "I can't say the full prophecy, but there is a part that states whoever survives the blade of Ra's al Ghul will become Ra's al Ghul. I survived his blade and now Ra's wants me as his heir. The League tried to attack the house Nyssa and I were in just as we escaped. Ra's will wreck havoc in Starling if I don't accept his offer, and I don't want to risk Thea being hurt."
"You can't just leave us again, we thought you were dead. You don't trust us to help you, but you trust Nyssa?" Felicity said.
"No, I don't trust you, just as you don't trust me. I trust Nyssa with my life, considering she has already saved it after I nearly died." Oliver said cooly.
"What are you talking about man, we trust you." Diggle asked.
"No you don't. You question most of my actions and don't trust my judgement," Oliver responded, "What was it Nyssa said to me, when we were fighting Slade's Mirakuru army? Your reticence to do what is necessary is why your city burns. She was right, if I had killed Malcolm, then Sara wouldn't be dead, and Thea wouldn't have been used by him. You are all so against killing, it clouds your judgement sometimes."
"Killing is wrong," Felicity stated, confused by Oliver's words.
Oliver shook his head, "I just wanted to say goodbye, there's no telling when I'll be in Starling again."
"Oliver you don't have to do this man, we can fight the League," Diggle said.
"No, you can't," Nyssa added moving to stand near Oliver, "The League has thousands of members. You would not stand a chance against them, or however many trained assassins that are most likely on their way to Starling City right now with my father to bring Oliver and I back to the main League Fortress."
Roy was the first one to accept the severity of the situation, walking over to shake Olivers hand, "Thank you. You saved my life, and then changed it for the better, I could never repay you for that."
Oliver gave him a small smile, "Take care of Thea, and you won't have to repay me."
Felicity and Diggle looked to be still contemplating what Oliver said, as they said quick goodbyes, while Laurel gave Oliver a hug.
Oliver looked relieved as he finally left with Nyssa and Thea. He looked towards his sister, "What do you say speedy, do you want to hang out with your brother for the day?"
Thea smiled, "Of course Ollie."
The League of Assassins Fortress, Nanda Parbat
Ra's al Ghul was discussing preparations with Al Sayf and Sarab, when the phone he used to communicate with shadows rung. "My lord, Oliver Queen and Nyssa al Ghul are in Starling City. They just entered Thea Queens loft."
He nodded to Sarab and Al Sayf to prepare the squads to leave, "We will be there soon Al Assad, contact Al Dhiyb, and Thel al lail. I expect you to be in the League safe house when we arrive."
"Yes my lord," the shadow responded, before Ra's hung up.
"Prepare a plane to leave for Starling City," he said to his guards, are they exited the fortress.
Chapter 4 is done!
Thank you for all your reviews. I got one that asked for shorter authors notes and more history, I'm confused by what they meant by more history, but I will try to make the notes shorter.
Oliver and Nyssa arrived in Starling, and told Thea the truth. And talked to the team. Oliver has seemingly accepted that he has to accept his place as the heir to the demon, or has he?
For the next chapter, Oliver and Nyssa find Malcolm and are confronted by the League.
Also, if Oliver accepting his place in the League too quickly doesn't make sense, then keep these few thoughts in mind. First, he has experienced death, and it was not pleasant, he would not wish that upon any of his friends of family. Experiencing death (and Nyssa's insight), have changed some of his opinions on the world. (Hence Oliver now understanding that killing is necessary in some situations). Second, in the show when he faced the League, he had no idea what he was truly up against. In this fan-fiction, Nyssa spent time explaining, the League's ways and its strength too Oliver. Oliver is able to understand that no matter what he does there is not hiding from or avoiding the League of Assassins. Third, he mainly thinks about others before himself, especially his little sister Thea, and even when at odds with the team, he would still not wish for them to be harmed. Oliver also knows that there is no escaping destiny, despite how much he has tried. Lastly, ever since the Gambit sank, he has not felt truly in tune with himself. The real Oliver Queen died when the Gambit went down, and a new one was forged on Lian Yu. Because of that he has never felt truly at peace with himself or at home since he returned to Starling City. Oliver might think that he may could a new home with the League, where hopefully he will find peace with himself, and his inner darkness.
Just a quick note on the names, Al Sayf means The Sword. Sarab means mirage or illusion (Maseo). Al Assad means The Lion. Al Dhiyb means The Wolf. Thel al lail means shadow of the night.
I hope you are enjoying the story!