A/N: Hi all, I hope you're staying safe and hanging in there during this difficult time. I also hope that this new chapter will give you a much-needed reprieve from reality. As always, thank you for your amazing feedback and support for this fic. I continue to be blown away by it. Enjoy!

Felicity didn't think she'd ever miss the heat of Nanda Parbat. Sometimes the temperature rose so high it felt like she was boiling from the inside out—like a frog in a pot. Now as she climbed the frozen, frigid mountainside to reach the sacred League grounds, it felt like she was morphing into an ice sculpture. She tried not to dwell on the cold and kept her eyes open for Oliver. Although they'd gotten a later start behind him, Felicity hoped they'd catch up.

"How much farther?" Tommy called to Nyssa. She led their small group up a snowy path to the top.

"We're close," Nyssa answered without breaking her determined stride.

"It's frickin' freezing up here, Mr. Bigglesworth," he muttered. Diggle raised his eyebrow. "What? You haven't seen Austin Powers?"

Felicity would've smiled if her face didn't feel so numb. The change in altitude was also disorienting. The thin air and pressure in her head brought on a tinge of nausea. The connection she shared with Oliver was getting stronger, though. That was a good sign.

Dig shook his head and motioned for them to keep moving. Every now and then, they heard wolves howling and the wind rustling the trees. But as they got closer to the top, the lack of natural sounds became eerie. It was like even nature knew not to disturb League ground. They passed through the last cluster of trees and came face to face with a row of tall, pointed boulders. Their shape was too perfect to be natural.

"Silence," Nyssa instructed. "We are here." She and Sara drew their weapons.

Dig nodded for Felicity to follow them. "I got your back."

It's also what he'd said when Felicity told the group about Oliver's departure and her intention to follow him. Dig knew there was no talking her out of anything when it came to Oliver. Nyssa and Sara were prepared to make a quick departure, which wasn't much of a surprise since they knew how the League worked.

They passed between the giant hedges of stone and entered a small clearing leading to a cliff's edge. The entire mountain range was visible from their spot. Taking in the opposite ends, Felicity couldn't help but notice they'd walked into a natural cage. Her hands sweated despite the cold. They were so high up. Felicity had no desire to join Nyssa and Sara looking over the edge.

The pair paused for a moment and bent their heads together, whispering, before returning to the group.

"What?" Felicity asked

They didn't answer.

"Your timing is impeccable," came a deep, chilling voice.

Emerging from the other set of boulders was Ra's, followed by Talia and Sarab. Like Nyssa and Sara, their weapons were drawn.

"Daughter, have you come to your senses? Will you stand with your family?"

"I already am," Nyssa answered.

He gave her a pitying look. "A disappointment, though not a surprise." His gaze shifted to Felicity. "Neither is the presence of the woman who sowed this discord. Under my guidance, Al Sah-him could've been the greatest Demon's Head the League had ever known. And in the span of a few months, you have brought our fiercest warrior to ruin. One can only hope your presence today doesn't weaken him further."

Ra's was trying to get under her skin. Felicity refused to give him the satisfaction. "That's one of the many differences between you and Oliver. You see love as a weakness when, in fact, it's a strength."

He smirked. "We shall see."

Talia stood next to him wearing the same smug expression. Felicity held her gaze, glaring daggers back.

Dig moved in front of Felicity, shielding her. His gun was out and cocked.

"There is no need for your weapon, Mr. Diggle," Ra's called to him. "This battle is between Al Sah-him and me."

"Just the same, I think I'll keep it handy," Dig replied.

Ra's shot a look to Sarab. The other warrior stepped forward and said, "The ceremony cannot begin if open hostilities are on display."

"It can't begin without Oliver either," he pointed out.

Felicity placed a hand on Dig's arm. "Do as they say … for now," she whispered that last part.

A second later, her hand flew to her chest. The connection had suddenly pulsed. She felt a strong surge of determination course through her, and she scanned the tree line. Oliver was close, but still she saw no sign of him.

Felicity looked to Nyssa and Sara. "Why isn't Oliver here yet? He left before us. Do you think they did something to him?"

The pair shared a look; there was something they weren't telling her.

"Nyssa," Felicity stressed.

"He is here."

"Sort of," Sara added.

"What?"

"He took a different path."

The blond glanced around. "What path? Where?"

"Well, it's not exactly a path per se—" Sara began.

Nyssa interjected, "He's climbing up the side of the mountain."

"What?" Felicity, Dig, and Tommy all replied.

"It is our custom. Whoever challenges Ra's to a trial by combat must climb the mountain to the sacred ground. If he survives such an endeavor, then he is worthy to battle Ra's al Ghul."

Oliver didn't tell her that part of his journey, and Felicity had a sneaking suspicion he was once again trying to shield her from the brutality of the League. She'd deal with that little omission from him later. "Sounds to me like a bs rule made to weaken an opponent," Felicity replied. "How is it a fair fight if he must waste his strength and energy climbing a mountain before the fight?"

"It is our way," Nyssa answered as if it made total sense.

"You said he's here." They didn't have her connection, so how could they possibly know that? Then she thought about how Nyssa and Sara had paused at the edge of the cliff. Although toeing the edge filled her with utter terror, Felicity was determined to make sure her husband was still in one piece.

When she first saw the long drop, Felicity was overcome by a wave of dizziness. She took a deep, calming breath and scanned the side of the mountain.

Nyssa and Sara were right; Oliver was close to the top. She watched him carefully choose his next foothold and hoist himself up. He was only a few feet away from reaching the edge. Felicity wanted to call out to him but feared the interruption would break his concentration. She didn't dare move; just stayed rooted in her spot, waiting for him.

When he was almost to the edge, he finally looked up at her. She looked down at him with concern and knelt, about to offer him a hand. Oliver shook his head.

"You cannot help him. He must do it on his own to prove his worthiness," Nyssa said from behind her.

Felicity could think of ten reasons why that was utterly ridiculous but said nothing. She wouldn't give Ra's a reason to manipulate the rules of the ceremony against her husband. She let Nyssa guide her away from the edge.

No sooner had Oliver hefted himself over the edge and onto the ground, did Sarab demand the removal of his shirt. "It is custom."

Felicity rolled her eyes. Climb a mountain and remove his shirt in below freezing temperatures? Seemed to her like they were trying to kill Oliver before the battle even began.

Talia stepped forward to remove her father's robe. Ra's then took off his Demon's Head ring and shirt, handing them to her. Talia's gaze lingered on the ring before she placed it on top of the folded robe.

As Oliver moved to take off his garments, Felicity stepped forward. She made quick work of removing his coat and gear. A shiver ran through her at seeing Oliver's naked torso exposed to the biting wind. Not that long ago she rested atop his chest in front of a warm, cozy fire. How fast life could change.

When he was finally stripped of his garments, Felicity spared him a quick glance. The pride and admiration she saw staring back at her nearly stole her breath away. Her heart skipped a beat, and the connection surged between them. There were many emotions swirling inside of him; equal to his love was a deep-seated protectiveness and desire for retribution.

She stared up into his intense eyes and let her faith in him permeate their bond. With a light touch to his chest, over his heart, she reminded him in a whisper, "Fight to live."

"Choose your weapons," Sarab directed.

"I was eleven years old when I first killed a man," Ra's stated. Instinctively, Oliver brushed her behind him and stepped forward. "I remember the look on his face—when the light went out behind his eyes. Such a subtle change. Almost imperceptive—between life and death. And I felt ashamed." He walked back and forth in front of the open chest of weapons. "I'd stolen from him the most precious gift of all: life. But I also felt something else: pride. Because I had taken up arms against someone who sought to do ill against my family." Finally, he chose a sword. "And I realized what I had done was necessary." He faced Oliver. "You see, I had replaced evil with death. And that is what the League exists to do. I have killed several thousand more men since then, and the world is better off for it. You think you're ready for such a feat, boy?"

Ra's spared a glance at Felicity, and she felt her husband's temper flare. "You think you can command the most powerful army in the world without fear when the fate of one woman cripples you so easily?"

Oliver walked past him, his stride strong and steady, and grabbed a sword of his own. He swung it in his hand, getting a feel for it. Felicity wasn't a weapons expert, but it looked similar to the one he normally carried. Oliver faced Ra's, his blue eyes bright like the center of a flame. "You've taken your last life."

"You have lived your last day."

Felicity bit her lip, trying to keep her expression blank. Yet her heart raced in her chest, her faith in her husband battling with the natural instinct to worry for his safety.

"We are ready," Ra's announced, and Talia and Sarab stepped away. The others did the same.

Ra's smiled, though it lacked mirth. His eyes were dark and the curve of his lips predatory. "Fight me, boy."

Oliver didn't hesitate, and Ra's was just as eager to meet his attack. They both advanced with their swords raised and their opposite hands behind their back. The way they advanced so fluidly, their movements a mirror image of synchronicity, was both fascinating and unnerving. Sparks flew as their blades clashed with deadly force. They swung and retreated, ducked and dodged, only to repeat the same dangerous dance.

Catching Ra's sword with his own, Oliver knelt and rolled on the ground. Ra's followed, and Felicity gasped when he sliced through the air toward her husband. Oliver raised his sword in defense and drove him back.

"He's holding his own," Dig reassured her, sounding almost proud.

Felicity hadn't even realized she'd grabbed hold of his arm. Her fingernails dug in when Ra's landed a kick to Oliver's torso. He went flying onto the ground. Talia beamed proudly, and Felicity longed to pick up a sword herself and take a swing at the little witch.

Oliver parried Ra's swift swing and just as quickly struck his feet out from under him. Ra's went down hard, and Oliver was upon him. But before he could strike a blow, snow and dirt were flung in his face. Oliver shouted, flinching, and drew back. He rubbed furiously at his eyes and just about raised his sword in time to stave off Ra's.

Cheater! Felicity's anger mixed with her husband's.

"It'll take more than a few snowflakes to defeat me," Oliver growled and came back swinging.

The pair was locked in a deadly embrace, their swords nearly at each other's throats as their bodies strained to overpower the other. Though they were both seasoned warriors, Felicity noticed that Ra's looked more strained. His movements were fast, but not as fast as Oliver's. It seemed The Pit could no longer mask his true age, she thought with satisfaction.

Oliver knocked Ra's sword away and got him in a headlock; then he flipped Ra's onto his back in the snow. His sword came down, but didn't reach its target. Ra's had stopped it with his bare hands. Felicity gasped and shouted when he launched it back at Oliver. The hilt hit him in the head. The cut had barely bled when Ra's struck like a cobra, punching Oliver in the throat. Her husband gasped for breath. With the sword still in hand, Ra's took the advantage and slashed out at Oliver's side.

"Oliver," she screamed.

"First blood," Ra's announced, grinning. He shoved Oliver back, tossing him right near the cliff's edge.

As if sensing she were about to intervene, Dig wrapped his arm around her to hold her steady. She looked to Nyssa and Sara, but they would not meet her eye.

The Demon's Head loomed above Oliver, who was still wiping away blood and trying to catch his breath. "If you had done what I asked of you, I might've let your lovely sunflower live." He kicked Oliver in the gut, pushing him even closer to the edge. "But since you were willing to destroy the entire League to fulfill your selfish desires, I think I'll keep her for myself. Abad-eshams will make a fine addition to my harem. She'll finally learn what it's like to be with a real man." He smirked. "Soon she'll wish you'd never resurrected her. Soon she'll beg me to let Talia finish what she started."

Felicity gasped, but not because of Ra's sick taunts. The pain and underlying fear she'd sensed in Oliver moments ago was gone and replaced with white hot rage and determination. It built up inside of him, ready to bubble over.

You can do it. You can defeat him, she thought, sending waves of encouragement his way.

Seconds later, Oliver let out a loud, fierce roar and lunged up at Ra's. He knocked the sword out of his hand, and the pair rolled around in the icy snow. The grunts and smacks of knuckles and fists hitting bare flesh seemed to echo in the open space. It was an all-out brawl. Oliver gained the position on top and landed punch after punch to Ra's, finally drawing blood.

They tussled in the snow some more, getting dangerously close to the edge once again.

"You sure you don't want me to shoot him?" Dig muttered.

"Oliver can do this … but hold that thought," she added.

Sara cursed in Arabic when the pair rolled right to the edge.

Now Ra's was on top, laying into Oliver.

"Finish him off, Father," Talia shouted.

"If only I had a yellow snowball," Felicity muttered.

"That can be arranged," Tommy replied.

She'd laugh if she weren't terrified of her husband possibly falling over the edge. Ra's was forcing his head back, trying to use the lack of solid ground to target his neck. Despite Oliver's precarious situation, Felicity didn't sense fear in him. His fortitude was as strong as ever. That's why it shouldn't have come as a surprise when Oliver acted swiftly, breaking Ra's hold on him with a brutal blow before tossing him up and over him the edge like nothing more than a sack of potatoes—a very evil sack of potatoes, she amended.

Her breath caught in her throat, shocked at what she'd just witnessed. Oliver had done it. He'd defeated Ra's!

Felicity let out a cry of relief just as a loud screech pierced the air.

"Father!" Talia had grabbed one of the swords and charged at Oliver. He reached for his sword, but it wasn't close enough. Talia was almost upon him when a shot rang out; she crumpled to the ground. Seconds later, the snow turned crimson with her blood.

"Ceremony's over and karma's a bitch." Dig aimed his gun at Sarab. "You want to be next?"

Sarab shook his head and raised his hands in surrender.

With the threat neutralized, Felicity rushed to Oliver's side. She clutched his face, looking him over, before pulling him into a tight embrace. She whispered prayers of thanks as she clutched him. When her eyes reopened, her body stiffened. A bloody hand appeared over the edge. Felicity barely had time to register what was going on before Oliver shoved her away from him.

It all happened so fast, the scream got caught in her throat. Ra's suddenly vaulted up from the cliff's edge and drove his sword through Oliver's back. The tip pierced through his abdomen and blood spurted from his mouth.

Felicity shouted as hot tears burned against her frozen cheeks.

Despite the injury, Oliver acted swiftly. His hand slipped into his pocket and drew out a dagger. Felicity recognized it as the one Talia had tried to kill her with. Her husband then whipped around and slashed at Ra's throat before driving it into the Demon Head's heart.

Ra's died instantly, and his dead weight once again fell over the edge. He was gone—this time for good.

Felicity scrambled on her hands and knees in the freezing snow to reach her husband. "Oliver, honey. It's gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay." She furiously wiped away the tears blurring her vision. "Oh my God, there's so much blood." It stained the once pure snow. "Stay with me, Oliver. Do you hear me?"

He leaned into her, and she desperately tried to keep him upright. But his weight was too much. Sara and Diggle helped lay him down on his side, and he mumbled something.

"We need to remove the sword and make a tourniquet," Sara said.

Dig replied, "If we don't do this right, we could end up hurting him even more."

"Pull it out," Oliver grunted.

"But—" Felicity protested.

"Pull it out."

They did as he said, as carefully as they could, despite Oliver's painful moans.

Felicity moved his head onto her lap. He looked so pale, struggling for air. "What are you trying to say, baby?"

Another strained, garbled mutter. Then he finally got out: "Vial … my coat."

"Check his coat," Felicity shouted to Tommy. He was the closest to the pile of clothes.

Tommy frantically rummaged through the pockets. "I don't feel anything. There's nothing—wait." He drew a small vial out of an inside pocket. "Is this it?"

"Bring it here. Hurry!" Felicity exclaimed.

"What is it?" Tommy questioned.

She didn't have time to answer. Oliver was slipping away; she could feel it. Felicity opened up the vial and directed it to Oliver's lips. She poured it into his mouth and shut his jaw, urging him to swallow.

Felicity leaned down and pressed her forehead to his. Through their connection, she sent him waves of hope and love. You're strong. I love you. Heal. Live … please stay. She held onto him for dear life. I love you.

"Look," Dig exclaimed.

The wound in Oliver's side healed itself. The one in his back soon followed. His color returned and his breathing evened out.

"Oliver," Felicity murmured.

His eyes opened and met hers. "Hi, shamsi."

Her cry turned into a choked laugh as she leaned down and placed kisses on his forehead and cheeks. "You're alive. Thank God you're alive."

Oliver sat up and immediately drew her into his arms. She clung to him, crying into his neck. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

"I'm staying right here with you. That's a promise."

She gripped his face between her hands. "I love you."

"I love you too." He drew her in for a long, deep kiss.

"Good idea taking some of The Pit water," Dig said once they'd parted.

"I didn't trust Ra's to fight fair."

"Well, you did it. You beat him." Felicity stroked his face, beaming. "You're free."

"We're free," he corrected and kissed her once more.

"Uh, Al Sah-him," Sara said, "not to break up the victory celebration but …" She motioned over to where Nyssa knelt over her sister's body.

They all exchanged glances.

"Is she …?" Felicity trailed off, trying not to sound too hopeful in the face of her friend's grief. Talia was a treacherous, murderous snake. The world would be better off without her. And yet, Felicity knew firsthand that, with family, sometimes there's no getting around the pain of their loss—even if the person had done wrong.

Sara went to Nyssa's side and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I do not mourn for who she was, but who she could've been." Nyssa placed her hand over Sara's, seeming to draw comfort. "She was my father's daughter. She never would've stopped until she had power. It had to be this way." She muttered something in Arabic under her breath that sounded akin to a prayer.

Dig motioned to Sarab. "What about him?"

Felicity and Tommy helped Oliver to his feet. When Oliver stood, Sarab knelt. He held out Ra's robe, with the Demon's Head ring atop it, offering it up.

"These now belong to you, Sidi."

Nyssa approached him and collected the items. She then held them out to Felicity. "You are his wife. Would you like to do the honors?"

Felicity stared at them, feeling as if what Nyssa offered her wasn't garments but a grenade. Not too long ago they'd been worn by the most evil man she'd ever encountered. Her body tensed just thinking about touching them. "It would mean more coming from you," she answered.

The brunette nodded. With Sara, she placed the robe on Oliver's shoulders. Then Nyssa slid the Demon's Head ring on his finger.

"Ra's al Ghul." She saluted him and knelt. Sara and Tommy did the same.

Dig, meanwhile, never took his eyes or gun off of Sarab.

Felicity, not sure what to do, hesitated before moving to kneel. Oliver didn't let her get far. He pulled her up and into his side, staring deep into her eyes. Though he was silent, his message was clear: you belong next to me.

He leaned down to kiss her then, and she eagerly rose to meet him.