More knights flooded into the room, but to no avail - the prisoners were armed with gold, and while some of them were still shot down, so were the robots. There was screaming, and it stank of smoke and sweat and fear - but they were winning.

Finally, the robots were all defeated but one, stood in the centre of a sea of gold. The cross on it's face began to fill with purple light.

'Prepare yourselves!' Called the Doctor.

A laser beam hit one plate, then bounced to another, and another, before hitting the target square on.

The crowd erupted into applause, cheering and whooping as the robot burst into flame and black smoke.

The Doctor grinned. 'I think it's about time we all went home. Come on!'

The woman appeared at her side as the crowds surged past. 'You saved us all, my lady.' She curtsied. 'Thank you.'

'No, thank you.' The Doctor stuck out her hand, wiggling her fingers. Hesitantly, the woman took it. They shook once - it was more of a squeeze than a handshake - and parted. The Doctor watched her leave. Something still niggled at the back of her mind, telling her to stay, that her job wasn't quite done.

'ENGINE CAPACITY AT EIGHTY-TWO PERCENT.'

The Doctor spun to see the Sheriff slowly make his way down the steps toward her, guarded by another two robots. She sighed. 'Oh, just give up already.'

'The battle isn't over, Doctor. Where is your fighting talk now?'

'I've foiled your plan. Your ship is still broken and your robots defeated. It's over, Sheriff. Admit it.'

'Not yet. Not while I still stand.'

'It won't fly. You'll explode and take half of England with you, maybe even a bit of Scotland - and, let's be honest, relations are rocky enough as it is.'

'Liar! From my sky vessel, I shall rule omnipotent.'

'And I thought I was stupid. Look, Sheriff. Can I call you Sher? No? Alright. Look, Sher; you are one silly little man. Are you so blind to think these automatons care for riches or power?'

The Sheriff had picked a knight's head from the the ground as the Doctor spoke, and now threw it into the crucible for melting. 'All the more for me.'

The Doctor sighed. 'Aren't you listening? They don't care about your little scheme. They don't care full stop. They have one purpose, one order to follow - repair the ship. That's all they're doing. They're not even doing it well. This ship sets off and boom! Gone. But we can end this. There's still time.'

'I am their leader. They do as I command.'

'Well I am the Doctor, and I will do everything I can to stop you.'

'And I,' Came the jubilant cry from above. 'Am Robin Hood!'

He stood on the balcony, head held high, Lincoln green and all. Clara appeared at his side.

'Clara.' She waved. 'Hiya!'

Robin stuck his knife into a wall hanging and they descended as the fabric tore, his arm wrapped around Clara's waist.

'My men have taken the castle.' Announced Robin once they had landed. 'Now I'm going to take you.'

The Sheriff smirked. 'This one's all mine.' His hand reached up to the large medallion that hung around his neck. He pressed it, and his robot guards deactivated. 'What do you say, outlaw? A final reckoning?'

Robin seemed thrilled. 'Oh, yes.'

The two men drew their swords.

'I thought you were dead.' The Doctor whispered to Clara.

'Did you?'

'No. But I worried.'

'Me too.'

'Hug?'

'Hug.'

It didn't last long. They pulled apart, equally uncomfortable.

'Still weird.'

'So weird.'

The Sheriff and Robin clashed swords, their movements fast and agile. As talented as he was, Robin seemed to struggle to keep up.

'Doctor.' Clara whispered.

'Yes, dear?'

'This place is about to blow up, right?'

'Yepp.'

'Just checking.'

Back in the sword fight, the two men bickered as they exchanged blows.

'I'll have you boiled in oil at the castle by sunset.' The Sheriff sneered.

'Can we make it a little earlier? 'Cos that's a little past my bedtime.' Robin cut a through a thick rope that hung from the ceiling. With his other hand he held on, and it yanked him off the ground. He landed on a cross-beam high in the air.

'I'm too much for you, outlaw. The first of a new breed; half man, half engine.' The Sheriff sliced another rope, and met Robin up on the beam. 'Never ageing, never tiring.'

'Are you still talking?'

The sheriff finally managed to cut Robin's arm. He dropped his sword.

'Doctor!' Clara hissed. 'Do something!'

'This is something he has to do for himself.'

'No it's not!' Came Robin's strangled reply.

'My mistake.' The Doctor ran over to the sword, skidding to a halt. She flicked the blade off the ground with her foot, caught the handle, and launched it as high as she could.

Robin caught it just in time to block the Sheriff's blow.

'That's cheating!' The Sheriff exclaimed.

'I'm an outlaw.' Retorted Robin, striking him back. 'What did you expect?'

The Sheriff wobbled, front and back, arms reeling. He just about regained balance when Robin caught his tunic.

'Surrender?'

'Never!'

After a second's hesitation, Robin released his grip.

The sheriff tumbled and fell down, down through the air and into the bubbling vat of gold.