The two daughters of Ra's Al Ghoul stare at each other. Various emotions flicker over them too fast for Oliver to really make out. He wonders if the sister feels like he did when he realised that there was no pulling Slade back from the brink of his madness. The pain anger and betrayal the two brothers had felt towards each. Or when he discovered that Thea was lying to him and was training under Malcolm Merlyn even when she knew what he had done. When he had killed their father and their brother. When he had put his mother through hell for years and imprisoned their step-dad.
Seeing your family standing on the opposite side is a horrific feeling you can't really put into words unless you've experienced it. You can talk about the pain, anger, regret, betrayal and so on. But the combination in that one second hits harder than anything else.
Talia rips her gaze away looking towards Oliver with a new kind of fire. He can't tell the feeling that is raging inside of his mentor but whatever burns brighter than her mask ever could muster. "You brought my sister into this." She accuses him her voice slightly louder than she would have preferred.
Oliver hangs his head a little at her voice. He can understand her pain. He really can. "I really didn't want to but when she found out you helped to kidnap my sister and son there was no stopping my wife from getting involved."
Talia looks taken off guard for a moment. "Your wife." Her confusion can clearly be heard which in turn confuses him. Talia knew that he and Nyssa got married. He's sure of it. How could she have heard of everything else but not their marriage. Especially when her father had sent a message to her about joining them for the wedding.
Why did she sound so lost right now.
"Shame you missed our wedding. Sister-in-law." Oliver can't help but smirk at Talia while saying that. Roy has a similar look on his face. "We were expecting you. It was a beautiful ceremony. Your father was very pleased with our match." Losing his grin, he tries once again to get Talia to stand down. "You said you would do anything to protect your family. Nyssa is your sister. I am your brother by marriage. Your father's chosen son and heir brought by the prophecy. Thea is my sister. Your sister my marriage. And William is my son and your nephew by marriage. Talia, we are your family. Please don't fight us." He's not embarrassed by the plea in his voice. He really really doesn't want to have to fight Talia.
Talia's eyes flash between him and Nyssa. Everything he has said is being taken in and analysed. She looks the same. Her body doesn't' relax or twitch. Nothing changes. However, it's her eye that gives her away. She unnerved.
Talia's whole crusade against him to get justice for her father. To defend her family. Now that she is faced with facing a member of her family. When she knows that Oliver Thea and William are a part of her family she is conflicted.
The question remains is her loyalty to her father stronger than her love for her younger sister.
Seeing that this might be his one and only chance to get Talia to stand down he addresses her in Russian. He taps his comms so Nyssa and Malcolm can't hear what he is saying. This is just for the two of them. "Talia." He waits till he has her full attention. "Your father did a lot to hurt me. Hurt my sister. Hurt your sister and your brother." Oliver ignores the looks his team are sending him and the looks from Nyssa and Malcolm.
He wouldn't have any issue with Nyssa hearing what he says but Malcolm can speak Russian and he doesn't want him it hear what he is saying. No one else here can speak Russian. Well maybe Slade can but he's not bothered if he can understand.
He doesn't want anyone to know what he is saying because he is admitting to something that he has kept hidden from them. The real reason why he left Star City after the business with the league was over. Why he didn't hand Nyssa the ring.
"He hurt a lot of people." He can see her starting to get annoyed with him. But he doesn't let it stop him. "Your father admitted that he wasn't perfect. That he had made mistakes. Big ones that can never be fixed. He told me he hated the actions he had to take with his children. He never wanted that but to be Ras Al Ghoul he needed to do what was best for the league. The league took president over his family. He wished for you Nyssa and Dusan to be happy. To live your own lives. But as Ras, he needed to make sure my ascension was secure. That is why he had me marry Nyssa. He didn't want to have to his daughter killed. Not when he could see she was finding her own way in life. When I joined the league the plan was to dismantle it from the inside. To stop your father from wiping out my home. And that is the only reason why I killed him."
Talia doesn't relax her grip on her bowstring or move the arrow away from pointing towards Samantha. But she is solely focused on what Oliver is saying.
Oliver can feel the unsure what is happening stares being passed around him from his friends and family. But he ignores them. Pushes them to the back of his mind while he admits some dark truths about himself to the woman who made him who he is.
"Your father was my teacher just as you were. He taught me so much and made me see the world in a different view. He made me see why the league was so important. He took me in as his son. And I was proud of that. You taught me to separate my two selves. The Hood, the Arrow, Al Sah-Him. That part of me worshipped your father. I was his most loyal warrior. My plan to dismantle the league fell apart the more time I spent there. I wanted to be Al Sah-Him. Wanted to be the son of the demon. And if it wasn't for two reasons I would have never turned against him. And I hate that I did. That I had to." He had never told his team that if it wasn't for those two reasons he would have been happy to stay with the league. It's the main reason he ran off after the war was over. He felt lost.
The Arrow was publicly dead and he didn't know who he was anymore. So, he ran. He tried to make himself whole. Tried to hide that dark part of him and embrace being just Oliver Queen. And for a while he was happy. He wasn't a monster he was just a man living in a normal house and having a normal relationship with a normal woman in a normal time.
He told himself that he was happy. That he was glad of his new life. He told himself that lie enough times that he was starting to believe it. Believe that the darker side of him would never have to be brought into use ever again.
That dream didn't last long when he was dragged back to Star City and told to get back in the suit. And just like that he was splitting himself into halves again. Only this time the green arrow didn't have the same hold on his darkness as the hood did. Or the green arrow. Or Al Sah-Him. He tried so hard to not let the darkness out. Tried so hard to show everyone he wasn't the man he was in the league and that his role as Al Sah-Him was all an act. And because of that he didn't kill when it was called upon. And he suffered because of that.
Talia sees the truth in what he is saying. Intrigued by what caused him to shift from a loyal student and son to his murderer. "And what are those two reasons, Oliver."
"The threat of destroying Star City." Talia is not at all surprised at hearing this. It's the only reason that makes sense to her. "After I won he told me that he knew he had chosen well with me. That he was proud of the man I had become. After it was done, I was split. I had to choose to be Oliver Queen or Al Sah-Him. And I chose to be Oliver Queen. I turned my back on everything your father had taught me. What you had taught me. And Nyssa. I was scared. Scared that the darker side of me was stronger. That there was no more Oliver Queen. So, I left. I ran away. I give Malcolm the demons ring because I told him I would to get his help. I gave him it to prove to myself that I was a man of my word. That I wasn't all gone. I chose wrong. I should have taken the mantle. Should have done what your father wanted me to do. And if I didn't, I should have given it to Nyssa. Fuck all the reasons why I shouldn't. The league wouldn't follow her because she was still a traitor and a woman. No, even then she was the better choice. And I should have given it to her. Nyssa would have easily earned their respect back. It should have been her. Never him."
"On that, we can agree." Talia loses her grip on her arrow pointing back down towards the ground. Next to her Everlyn is watching completely having no idea what is going on but doesn't like how Talia and Oliver seem to be freely chatting and Talia lowering her weapon in response. "And the second reason. You said there were two reasons."
Swallowing Oliver risks a glance towards his wife who sends him a look asking what is going on. He offers her a small smile in response. Not that it answers any of her questions or helps her understand what is going on in front of her.
Returning his gaze back to Talia he makes sure she can hear the sincerity in his voice. "Nyssa... Your father hurt your sister. He hurt so many times. Yes, he said he hated what he put her through. That the league came first. But that wasn't true. He had a choice. He always had a choice. He decided to push Nyssa way past her limits. He mocked her mourning of the woman she loved. Called her weak for it. Taunting the leadership of the league over her for years before ripping it away. Disowned her as soon as he could to name me his heir. Then had me try to kill her. He wanted me to kill her back in Star City and expected me to do it. When I brought her back to Nanda Parbat he was going to allow me to kill her. He forced her to her knees and ordered me to execute her. He only stopped me when he realised that his blood could still be used. He forced your sister to marry just so he would give birth to the next leader after me. He wanted his blood to remain in the league." That thought alone still sickens him. "When we were going up against your father in Star City Nyssa wanted to be the one to kill. She was so lost in her own pain of his betrayal of her that she wanted to kill him. Only I knew from looking at her that she wouldn't have done it. She would have tried but as much as she hated him in that moment, she couldn't kill him. Ra's had marked her for death when she turned against him to protect the innocent people in the city. He would have killed her. He was planning on killing her. And I couldn't allow that to happen. I couldn't lose her as well. She didn't deserve to be killed for doing what the league stands for. For forging her own path just like you have done. Like Dusan was trying to do before your father but a kill order on him as well."
Saying all this to Talia. Saying it out loud to someone feels like a great weight has been lifted off of his back. He hasn't told Nyssa that she was one of the reasons as to why he killed her father. He doesn't know why he hasn't told her either. Maybe he thinks it's saving her some guilt. Or she will be angry with him for what he did. He really doesn't know why he hasn't talked to her about it. He guesses it's just a part of their lives both of them refuse to talk about.
They have talked about their marriage and what it means. Talked about both fights with her father. His reasons for giving Merlyn the league. But he never really talked about why he turned on the league like he did. He guesses she just assumed it was to protect his city and the people he cares for. How would she react to the fact that she was a main factor in his motivation.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me for killing your father. I know you never will. I never will. And I'm not asking you to go against Chase. He is your student. But please. Don't take your anger out on Nyssa my sister, my son and his mother. They are innocent and members of your family. The only reason Nyssa has come today was to make sure Thea and William are protected. Otherwise, she wouldn't stand against you, and I never would have asked her to. Family is family. Torture me. Kill me. Unleash Chase on me but not them."
Talia mulls over his words. He glances around seeing that Harkness and Everlyn are getting twitchy. They won't just stand by and let the two of them talk for much longer. He needs to wrap this up before the decision is taken from him. but how can he wrap a conversation like this up. There is so much baggage between them to heal with. One conversation isn't going to fix any of this. "What would you have me actually do Oliver."
"Let the four of them leave. Just them. You can have me and everyone else. You can still get your justice and Chase can take his revenge. I'll still suffer."
"You ask me to spare Nyssa as well as Thea William and his mother. You count her as one of the three most important people in your life." Talia asks searching him for something.
"She's my wife. Your father matched us for a reason. More than just the joining of our families. He knew that there was something between the two of us. Knew that we cared for each other more then we should have. More than we even knew at the time. Talia, I love your sister. And I know she loves you. But if you take up arms against Thea and William, she will be forced to protect them."
"What if I was to kill you right now. Would she fight me." Ok not the question he was hoping for. The direct threat to him doesn't fill him with confidence.
"I've asked her not to. That her only goal is to save my sister and my son. It's why she didn't get involved when you first appeared. After you helped to take me hostage and tortured me. This issue is between the two of us. Only we can deal with it... Whether or not she listens to me is up for debate. She's always done what she believed to be right, and I can't stop her from doing anything. I would never try."
"My sister never openly rebelled against our father. She did it in subtle ways. Ways I'm sure she wasn't even aware of. But when pushed to decide on something important to her. Her loyalty would evaporate." Oliver nods in agreement with Talia while also taking on this new information about his wife. He never knew that she rebelled against her father when she was younger. He knew that Sara changed Nyssa. Made her see that she could be her own person. That Laurel showed her life outside of the league.
He does wonder how she rebelled against her father. If he and Talia ever patch things up he will have to ask her.
Oliver goes to answer her when Harkness interrupts them. "I'm sorry but get we move this along." Harkness doesn't flinch when both Oliver and Talia glare at him. Can't he see they are having a private moment here. "You two have been chatting for a while now and I would much rather move this conversation on and get to the killing each other part."
Roy shoots him a shut the fuck up look. "It's six vs three. Do you really want to take your chances."
Harkness raises his hand in an apologetic gesture "Now come on lad you were thinking it too. We're all just standing here while those two have a nice little catch up."
Oliver studies Talia who is studying him right back. He knows she has something up her sleeve. She always has a backup plan. He's just waiting for her to trigger it. And he knows that she knows what he's doing.
It's Nyssa who shouts out the warning. "Ambush." Before she fires an arrow over both Talia and Oliver's shoulder into one of Talia's students who was trying to sneak up on him. And just like that, all hell breaks loose.
Dozens of Talia's students jump out of the wilderness firing arrows at them. Harkness makes his move lifting his gun to shoot at Slade. But Slade is too fast for him grabbing the gun pushed into his face and redirecting Harkness's aim slightly so the bullet whizzes past his head. Slade then moves on to hook his arm around Harkness. Moving around him landing an elbow to his gut before throwing him over his shoulder. It was the same move he had first taught Oliver to use when disarming someone.
Slade tries to end the fight there and then while Harkness is on the ground, but Harkness is able to roll out of the way of Slade's next take pushing himself onto his feet. Slade wasn't the only one trained by SAS.
Harkness tries to attack Slade only for his punch to bounce off his mask allowing Slade to deliver a powerful punch making Harkness stagger back. Slade pulls out his sword and Harkness pulls out two boomerangs and wields them like blades deflecting Slade's attacks. Both Australians are locked in a battle of skill. However, Harkness starts to waver under Slade's constant attacks. Not seeing any other choice Harkness dodges Slade's next attack moving a few paces back before throwing one of his boomerangs.
Slade seeing the attack coming was able to doge and then parry Harkness's charge as he tries to stab Slade with his other boomerang. Knocking Harkness's armed hand away he senses something coming from behind him and grabs Harkness spinning both of them around so Harkness is used as a human shield against the incoming projectile. The swift spin and unwavering grip means Harkness is unable to move out of the way as his own boomerang sails through the air and impales him on the shoulder. He grunts in pain as Slade throws him to the floor.
The moment after the assassin behind Oliver fell Everlyn decided now would be the moment she kills Oliver Queen. She takes her aim smiling knowing she is about to do what Chase nor Talia were able to do.
However, when she went to squeeze the trigger something small and hard smashed into the side of her gun. The force is too much to maintain her grip and the fun flies out of her hand. Her head snapped in the direction the black blur appeared from. The sight that greeted her was the dark-haired woman dressed in purple who had come here with Oliver holding up her crossbow. Said woman winks with a smirk plastered on her face as she lowers her weapon.
Infuriated Everlyn codenamed Artemis the Goddess of the hunt moves to take out the woman who dared get in her way of justice. Once she was done with this wannabe, she would make sure Oliver witnessed her skill in taking down one of the people he brought with him. Killing two birds with one stone. Take out the competition and land a painful blow to Oliver.
The idea of seeing Oliver crumble at watching someone he cares about die by her hands pushes her to spring forward and take out his downgrade of herself.
Helena easily side-steps the traitor's incoming attack with ease. Her smirk doesn't falter when Everyn falls past her after overexerting her attack. Due to this Everlyn is off balance and Helena delivers a swift and accurate kick to the back of her knee causing her to stumble and fall.
A small chuckle escapes Helena as the younger girl falls face first into the dirt. All around fierce battles are taking place and she ends up facing the little girl who really shouldn't be here. Why on earth did Oliver take her on in the first place. He has much better taste in picking his teammates then this. And he certainly wouldn't let someone untrained out into the field.
Everlyn flips herself over glaring up towards the woman in purple. "Who the hell do you think you are." She spits at her rage and humiliation coursing through her.
Helena raises her crossbow on the arrogant brat. "I'm the huntress Bitch." She sees Everlyn's eyes widen for a fraction of a second in recognition of who she is. But that was cut off with Helena firing a bolt into her shoulder. Everlyn cries out in pain but is quickly silenced by a kick to the head from the Huntress. "Well, that was easy." She says to no one in particular.
Just then an arrow flies past her landing in one of the assassins closest to her followed by another one. Right huge battle happening. Scanning the battlefield, she makes out that Roy is being surrounded and moves to help him.
She first however fires a bolt in the direction of one of the cages.