Team GB were satin their team tracksuits in Marian and Eve's room watching the opening ceremony live. They weren't due to go on and parade for another few hours, so they were just lounging around.
'So,' Djaq said, 'carrying the flag is a big honour. Who's doing it?'
She winked at Marian who broke into a huge grin. All eyes turned to Richard,
'Well, um. As you know, this year a member of the decathlon team will be carrying it. But I wasn't sure who. So, I thought maybe Robin and Marian could do it together?'
Marian's smiled faded in an instant, her moment of glory was slipping away,
'But, no one does that!' she pointed out rather more angrily than she had intended.
'Yeah, but we're host nation! It's our job to lead the way in changes. Ok?'
'Why can't one of us do it at the opening and the other at the closing?'
'Because it's already been decided that who ever wins the most golds will carry it when the games close'
'Fine' mumbled Marian, even though it wasn't. She didn't like sharing, least of all with Robin. They'd agreed to be civil, but there were still deep feelings there.
Robin glanced over and saw the sulky look in her eye. He hated that he had put it there.
'Richard, I'm not fussed about the flag thing,' he lied, 'let Marian do it on her own if she wants'
'Out of the question! You're both doing it, end of story. Now, Djaq…' he turned to check something with her and the room erupted in chatter once more.
Marian felt an arm around her shoulder. She looked up and saw Allan,
'Marian, honey' he put on a camp voice
'Don't patronise me!' she laughed
'But seriously, don't let it get to you. He tried to get out of it. Besides, you've still got the even more important job of lighting the torch!'
'Yeah, I know. You're right and all. But I just wish that of all people I have to carry it with, it wasn't Robin. I think I have a problem!'
'Yes, baby. Too right you do!'
She shoved him lightly in the arm.
XxX
After 3 long hours, it was finally time for them to lead out. Marian and Robin were first. The each had one hand on the flag and were carrying it between them.
Marian felt Robin's hand touch hers, it was like an electric shock. She ignored it and focused ahead of her, but there was no denying that it had been there.
She reached the end of the stadium and handed the flag to Robin before slipping out at the back to get ready for her big torch moment. No one – safe Marian – really knew how she was going to light the flame. It was all a big secret.
Suddenly the stadium was plunged into darkness. All that could be seen was the bright light of a small flame coming down the centre of the stadium. All of a sudden the flame stopped and a spotlight landed on Marian who held the torch high above her head. She was hoisted into the air where she performed some graceful turns.
"That must've taken loads of practise" thought Robin to himself.
Still nobody knew where the huge torch was being hidden. But then, a helicopter could be heard in the distance, but it was getting closer. It came into view and everyone could see the torch hanging under the helicopter. It was lowered to the centre of the stadium as the glass roof slid open until it was just above Marian. She pretended to run in the hair as the harness pulled her higher until she was at the same height as the un-lit torch. She reached across and lit it. The stadium erupted in cheers and flashes on cameras. Marian grinned so much she thought she'd be stuck that way forever. She could feel the heat from the massive flame next to her. But her spectacle wasn't over yet.
She was lowered to the ground, still holding the smaller torch, where she walked over to a collection of fireworks. She lit them with the torch and the sky filled with reds, greens and golds. The sky was alive with noise and colour.
And that was how the city would stay until the games were over!
She was given the sign that she could go back to her team, she sprinted over to them and was soon buried in hugs!
'That was amazing'
'How did you keep all that a secret?'
'Wasn't that so much better than the flag?'
She was swamped by congratulations and 'wow's and the smile stayed firmly on her face.
The face that had sort of become the face of the 2012 Olympics. She had to rush off for her impromptu interview with Sue Barker in the media tower.
She was wizzed through hair and make up and was soon sitting on a plush blue sofa with Mark Foster opposite Sue Barker.
'Live in,3,2,1'
'Hello, and welcome to the Olympics! I'm Sue Barker here in the media tower and with me I have Marian Knighton and Mark Foster. Mark is a gold medal swimmer and Marian is a hopeful for a few golds this year, particularly the decathlon but she also carried the flag with Robin Locksley and lit the flame at today's opening ceremony. Welcome to you both'
'Hey'
'Hi'
'So Marian, how many events are you lined up for?'
'The decathlon, women's archery, 10K Cross country, Cross country horse riding and kung fu. So that's 5'
'But your main event is the decathlon'
'Yeah, it was the first thing I got into because it was a chance to do a range of sports'
'Of the ten events, what would you say is your weakest?'
'I'm told I'm good at all of them! But I know I could work harder at the weight lifting. But I don't really want a body with huge arms!'
'Now Mark, Marian swims the 200m freestyle and I know you've seen them all training. How is she?'
'Yeah, she's great. It's different to being a full time swimmer because your body has to be built for 10 very different events. But the team is certainly a good bunch of swimmers! In particular Robin Locksley. He was never a great swimmer but over his time away he's clearly been working at it and it's possibly one of his strongest events now'
'What's it like t win a gold?'
'It's amazing. You sort of blank out everything else. It takes away the pain that you've just endured and all you feel is the elation. Then standing on the podium hearing your anthem is amazing. I think especially so when you're at home because you've got most of the crowds singing along too and you feel like you've done it for them'
'And I'm sure Marian will get to feel that at some point in the next 2 and a half weeks! But Robin's sudden and surprise return has put the focus even more on Marian. Before he left they were an item, a very serious one. There were even rumours of an engagement. Now he's back everyone wants to see if one of the biggest couples will be back or if his return will effect Marian's performance. But also so see how he's changed and improved in his four year absence. Marian?'
'Well, don't expect any old flames to be re-lit! I don't think it'll effect my performance unless I let it. Once I go into game mode very little can pull me out of it, lots of my friends find it quite scary and intimidating! As for Robin himself, I haven't seen him compete yet. We had a training session this morning and he seems fitter. He's got more muscles than when he left. But we've all gotten older since the last games and we're now in the prime of our sporting life. So expect great things from all of the decathlon team. From all of team GB even!'
'Thank you for both coming along. Now we can go to Chris who can give us a run through of who's competing in what. Chris'
The red light on the camera went off and everyone breathed out a sigh of relief.
'You were great, both of you. We can get some really boring interviews here!'
They both laughed.
Ok, I think that got worse as it went on but I'll try and make it up to you in the next chapter with our first events!
Xxx
Hannah