Chapter 2: Resplendent Victories, Hollow rewards

Ras arrived back at Nanda Parbat still reeling from the victory and loss of his battle in Starling city. Ras knew that he could no longer hold on to false promises and vows to friends who had long since passed their time. He had to grow stronger, had to fight harder, but most of all he had to show this world that he was the unstoppable force for change that the league was known to be. Ras knew his first act would define his reign, and he cared not for how long or how short his time as ruler of the league would be, rather he thought about all the good he could do while he had time to do it in.

Ras contemplated his first acts as he watched the priestess come towards him, and welcome him as her liege-lord. She told him of the ceremonies that would take place in 3 days on the eve of a blood moon. The night in held a significance as the start of a Ras Al Ghul and more importantly the start of a new beginning. Ras, walked towards the waters of the Pit, and shed his clothing, and asked to be left alone. As he entered the pit, he could already feel the healing properties of the pit working on his body, healing every fracture and correcting every small and some would argue insignificant damage to his body. Further than that, what he would not discover till much much later was that its powers was already working on his soul, changing it, and helping him to be that ruthless killer he once was. What he was not prepared for however was for a beautiful enchanting woman to walk into the room and immediately kneel in deference to Ras and call him Father.

Nyssa walked calmly into the halls of her home, greeting important and high ranking members of the league, as she ventured towards her Father's chambers, she knew her fate would be decided then, to live or to die. She cared not what her father would choose, both her beloved and her husband had been taken from her. She had nothing to live for anymore. "Father, I kneel before you today despite my betrayals and not ask for leniency nor, do I ask for your forgiveness. I ask that you judge me as any other member of the League and pass my sentence on to me." Nyssa said with only the barest of a hitch in her voice as she trembled before a man who was the only man to inspire fear in her.

What happened next both shocked her and at the same time, brought ever rushing feeling of love and adoration for her husband into her mind, her body, and her soul. She looked upon the topless half of her husband, Oliver Queen, had won and became the new Ras, and she truly was bride of the demon and hoped she would be able to prove her love to him, once and for all.

"Rise, my wife. You need not kneel before me. Rather I ask that you stand at my side as per our vows and stay true to our marriage." Ras spoke with indifference in his voice. Showing his wife that he did respect her. But his eyes showed something more than respect. There was adoration and a hint of love in his eyes towards her as well. Ras knew that if he were to ever have the love of any woman, be it Nyssa or Felicity or someone else entirely, than he had to keep his heart open to such matters and closed off to all other matters.

Tears ran down Nyssa's face and unabashedly she let them run, hearing something no man or woman, not even her beloved Sara had said to her. Nyssa knew that while her beloved was now Ras Al Ghul, he was also still her husband, and on top of being a force for change, he was now also learning to accept his role as husband and someday father. "Beloved I stand before you and accept you as my husband, in every way. You know not just how blessed I feel knowing that you have not been taken from me and that I vow to prove to you every day how much it is that I love you." Nyssa vowed her voice never once wavered as she gazed into her husbands eyes with love, respect, and deference to not just her husband but to the leader of the League.

A/N: So… The reviews I got were overwhelmingly supportive. I know I have a history of starting fics and then abandoning them. I am hoping it wont happen with this one, but my life is extremely complicated right now.