Arrows and Riddles

The Star of Starling City

A/N: enjoy! I do not own arrow or DC.

Chapter 1: The Star Of Starling City

Artemis Queen stepped out of her private plane and into the blinding sunlight. She squinted and waited for her eyes to adjust to the brightness. She preferred the darkness and shadows. The wind whipped around her lone figure and snagged at her dark curls, flying across her tanned face. She breathed in the heart aching familiar scent of Starling City. The city she once held dear to her heart, now. She wasn't so sure. Then again, she hasn't been in Starling City for seven years. Artemis moved down the steps and her leather boots clanked on the the metal steps as she descended. Forest green eyes spotted the tabloids straining against the guards about twenty five feet away. One thing she didn't miss was the swarming vultures that fed off of every morsel of gossip. Artemis moved her emerald gaze hidden behind thick, dark sunglasses. She saw her family; Mom and Thea. She was reminded in her reasons to return to Starling City. She gripped her yellow ledger page that she wrote the pros and cons of returning home. Gripping it within her coat pocket as if it were her anchor. The paper was folded and now worn even though she only wrote it two days before. She was sweating too. The brown wig she was wearing wasn't helping her cool down.
Thea was so big now. She was taller and looked like a young woman, eyes bright as people who still remained oblivious to the horrors of the world. Artemis felt a pang in her heart. She missed Speedy, so much over the years. Her little sister, her partner in crime. Artemis looked to her Mother and she had aged so much over the years. Her blonde hair was now greying. The stress, Artemis realized. She blinked away the tears and hide the mixed emotions that rose up her throat. Would this be how she acted when she saw Oliver?
Artemis hadn't realized she was on the the pavement of the runway, walking to her family. The family she fled as well as her city. She ran because she wasn't strong enough to stay.
Her family stood in front of a limo, along with a tall man, who stood firm beside her family. Dark hair and a strong, firm look. Professional in a expensive suit that hidden the power of his body. Secrets lay in his gaze. A younger man stood next to him, not wanting to be close to the older man. He looked similar to the man but with boyish looks and a kind smile on his softer face. Malcolm and Tommy Merlin.
Artemis faltered a step, he came to welcome her back? Artemis once more shoved the waves of emotions back behind to mental dam and pushed on. "Hey! Why are you all standing around a car for? We have a Oliver Queen to attend too."
"Missy!" Thea cried out, happily. Shooting forward to wrap Artemis in a tight hug.  Artemis was forced back a few steps at the ferocity of the sisterly embrace.
"Heya, Speedy." Artemis whispered and squeezed back the warm hug. Wrapping her up with her arms and they rocked back and forth. Both had wide grins on their faces. "You've grown to much."
"Leave me out, then. See if I care." Tommy said from behind Thea. The Queen Sisters, each held out an arm for the one and only, Tommy Merlin and he joined them in a tight embrace. They laughed despite the current situation, Artemis laughed because she was with the people she loved. Tommy laughed because that's the man he is and Thea laughed because of her sister. They just needed Oliver to complete their incomplete circle. No Laurel or Sara Lance to finish it off.
The trio split apart and Artemis extended a hand to Malcolm, a friendly gesture despite the stiffness of her body. He took her hand in his bigger one and pulled her into a hug. Not like the warm one like the one she shared with Tommy and Thea. "Hello, Kamaria. Welcome back to Starling City." He whispered the welcome to her and Artemis stiffened at the familiar Arabic name.
"Hello, Magician." She replied back in a low growl. She stepped away with a fake smile plastered across her face. She turned to the last person, her Mother. "Hello, Mom."
"Artemis. You have grown. Come, you must want to go and sleep off the jet lag." She waved her to the car. Artemis bit back the rising sneer, Gotham to Starling City wasn't along enough flight to warrant jet lag. Excuses. Instead, Artemis nodded, briskly at her and opened the trunk of the limo like a obedient daughter. She had an act to keep up, after all. She placed her black suit case and matching duffle bag inside. She held on to her leather messenger bag. "I won't be with you, I have to pick up Oliver."
Of course you are. Artemis hissed within her mind, anything for the golden son. The only true Queen. She didn't say anything like what she thought but she smiled and said," Of course, see you at the house." She smiled, once more. Her gut twisted with dark thoughts and secret wishes, she wished nothing more than to never had come. Oliver could've visited Artemis in Gotham if he wanted to see her.
They piled inside the limo and they headed to the Queen Manor. Artemis drew out her phone and selected a contact, she typed a message and hit send.