This chap is dedicated to my 'teapot' friend! :P

And the rest of our (mostly terrible) fencing team!

Guess what, I'M ALIVE!!! I really have no excuse!! But I am so sorry!!

Just a head's up. In the first chap I said there was gonna be Javelin. I've changed my mind, it's gonna be fencing – cos I fence. Marian, Robin and Guy will do it as solo events too. Can't be bothered to change the list so just…remember it :P Sorry for the random changes.

Chapter four

Robin peeled off his tracksuit top and the white vest he had on underneath it. He dug his hand into the pocket of his trackiebums and felt the small black box. He was glad to see it hadn't fallen out during the day. He opened it and glanced – not for the first time – at the perfectly cut diamond ring inside. The rumours were true; he had been planning to propose to Marian. That's what the ring was for. But he never got the chance. He was offered the opportunity to go out to the east and train school kids – as well as continuing his own training, which Richard was insistent on. It was the kind of opportunity he couldn't turn down. Giving every child a chance at success was something that was important to him, and to Marian. He always thought she'd understand. And she did. But she was jealous. How come he got to go and not her? Why didn't he offer to take her with him? No one knew this was the real reason apart from Djaq. They all knew she felt abandoned but not like this. The chance to coach the less fortunate by Robin's side would have been a dream come true. And he should have known that. Obviously not.

'Rob, mate,' Allan stuck his head around the door, 'Richard says he wants us down for some training'

'What? We just finished!'

'I know but he thinks the fact we're home and won't have jet lag gives us an advantage'

'But I do have jet lag' he whined

'Oh yeah, Shame'

'Is it a nice easy sport?'

'Not really. It's fencing. Marian has her first round tomorrow so she needs to practise. Might as well all do it; she'll need an opponent. He also wants to tell us when we'll be competing in what'

'Fine. Give me a few minutes and I'll get my kit. Which weapon?'

'All of them I guess'

[Just to remind you. These are MY Olympic games. The events will be slightly warped. Partly for the plot and partly 'cos that makes it easier to write]

XxX

Robin threw his long sports bag into the back of the team mini bus. Then he pulled back the door and sat with the rest of his team who, like him, where dressed head to toe in the stupidest white outfits ever.

They arrived at the training centre in less than fifteen minutes and they piled out of the bus and into the large hall where Richard already had the boxes set up.

'About time. Ok, kit on. We'll train on a rota system. We'll just do matches. All of you gotta play all the others at some point. To put some fire in you're play we'll make it a competition. Score sheet is on the wall, I'll leave you to fill it out. I know you'll never actually play the opposite sex but, as always, you can learn a lot from them. Girls can move faster, but the guys are stronger and more powerful.'

There were a few scoffing sounds from some of the team.

'We'll start with the foil, then epee then we'll do the sabre if there's time. The list of when you're all competing and in which event is also posted up on the wall. Only Marian starts tomorrow. The rest of you are the next few days. The main event – the decathlon – is next week. Two events a day so you'll need to work on fitness. Ok, play. Marian, take Eve first. Go!'

They filed into the small changing room and pulled on their puffy white breeches and long socks. The boys shoved small cups down their breeches as the girls pulled their chest protectors on [like a massive plastic bra to protect your boobs, soooo funny]

'Aww man, I love those things girls. Can you wear them all the time?'

'Allan, you ask that every time, and what do I always say?'

'No' he hung his head

They finished off with a under arm plastron, a jacket, an electric jacket, a mask, a glove and a piston grip foil.

They plugged themselves into their respective boxes and saluted Richard and then their opponent in the ridiculous long way that was required.

Richard came over to referee Marian and Eve's game, they were playing to five.

'Are you ready? En garde and fence!'

Marian stepped forward and teased Eve's blade with her own. She faked a beat attack. Eve was – by standards – quite a weak fencer. She caved into pressure and Marian played this to her advantage.

Marian stepped forward and Eve stepped back. This continued until Eve reached the end of the piste and was forced to lunge and attack. Which Marian parried and hit Eve square in the chest. Thus scoring herself a hit. The red light lit up to confirm it.

'Parry, riposte, no counter riposte. One light, Marian'

They stepped back to their starting marks.

'En Garde. Are you ready? Fence'

This time Eve was quicker and went straight in for a direct hit which Marian skilfully dodged. Eve stumbled slightly giving Marian the chance to fleche, making the score 2-0.

Robin looked over from his fight with John, which he had already won. Like Eve, John wasn't famous for his sword skills. He was a weights man.

It's hard to imagine someone looking beautiful dressed in bright white breeches and a jacket to match. But Marian did. She won the game only conceding one hit – which Robin was sure she let Eve get – and pulled off her mask. She shook her long her out and ran her un-gloved hand through it. Robin's breath caught in his chest.

She shook Eve's hand as was customary and then shook Richard's too. Eve went to fill in the score, like John.

'Marian, you made it look easy'

'Well, no offense to Eve, but it kinda was. I know I'll be fine with this in the decathlon. But tomorrow they'll all have been trained especially for this one event. I have to be good at 10 so I'm not amazing at any'

'Why do you always have to put yourself down?' Richard laughed, 'Just make sure you don't get back to the end of the piste and you'll be fine.'

'What about my Balestra? Do I really have to do them; it feels stupid!'

'Yes, they help to close the distance without being obvious. It's a bit faster too'

'Fine. Who do you want me against next?'

Richard looked around the room, all the fights had finished now and they were just waiting to see who they were up against next.

'To be quite honest Marian, the only person even worth you training with is Robin. So him'

Robin smirked; he and Marian always got competitive, even when they were going out. They both hated to lose, which was what made them just good people to have on your professional team.

Robin pulled his mask out from under his arm and put it on in one smooth move [so hard, seriously]

'Do you wanna continue with the foil?'

'Not really, I don't even get why were doing it.'

'Let's step it up with the epee then'

'About bloody time, that's what I'm actually competing in!'

'Aww Maz, I love you'

'I'm gonna ignore that'

An intensive match began. Everyone else abandoned what they were doing to watch. Robin and Marian were at a stalemate, neither wanting to make the first move.

Marian crept forwards and ran the tip of her blade against Robin's. He disengaged and lunged forward with immense speed and power.

'Who says girls are faster?' he laughed as they returned to starting positions.

Marian's arm whipped out and caught Robin on the leg,

'I do. Pay attention Locksley' she teased.

It was half an hour later that the game was finally won by Robin, with just one point in it.

'Luckily for you, no one will be as good as me tomorrow'

'Shut up. I still have a blade in my hand' she warned

'Hey! It was a compliment, you'll wipe the floor with them.'

'I hope so…'

Richard walked over to them clapping,

'Great game guys. Really good. I think that makes Robin winner of our poule, having won every game.

I'll let you get changed in a sec but first I wanna let you know the plan for the week. If you're not competing on the day I'll want a 2 mile run every morning. Those who are doing you're individual events, see me and we'll get some last minute practise in. Ok, now off you go you bunch of sweaty people!'

XxX

Back at her hotel room Marian peeled her shirt of her sweaty back and climbed into a cool shower.

She pulled a small picture out of her purse and placed it on the side of her bed before getting under the covers – she needed an early night.

It was a picture of Robin and Marian laughing together at John and Alice's wedding. She had a long curve hugging red dress on and Robin looked dashing in his tux. They were smiling out at the camera, love evident in both their eyes. But that was many months ago. She didn't need love now, she needed to focus on her game.

There! I'm not really feeling this, it suddenly seems very complicated to write, not to mention read…

It's gonna be a one chapter is one day type thing. With maybe a few exceptions

R&R

x x x

Hannah