"Right," Allen said. "I am ready to be amazed by this marvellous plan."

"What are you implying there Allen?" Robin said, without paying any attention to his friend. He was checking the sharpness of his sword against his thumb. Everyone snapped into action at this. They all knew that this was a sign that Robin was preparing to move out.

"So what are we doing?" John asked.

"What do you think we're doing Johnny boy?" Robin asked with a smirk.

John looked a tad startled and did not quite know how to reply.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Robin said, treating the whole thing like a game, "Stunned silence was not the answer. So the question goes to Much! What do you think we are going to do?"

Much made a few choking noises under pressure.

Allen rolled his eyes, thinking to put everyone out of their misery. "We are going to throw caution to the wind and attack the Sheriff's men somewhere to make a point to him. And you will threaten him and somehow things will work out?"

"Very good Allen!" he said, "that is in fact what we would normally do."

"Normally?"

"Yes," Robin added, "because if you suspect we will do that, then the Sheriff will think the same."

Allen smiled slowly. "So as he and his men all wait in bulk in one location…"

"We shall sneak everyone around in minor groups that would easily be overlooked," Robin finished.

Allen considered his words. "I suppose that could work," I said slowly, not wishing to give out praise.

"True words of glory indeed," Robin said happily, seeing through the guise.

"But I suppose that you expect me to think of a cover story for each individual group and entrance routes don't you?" Allen said with a sense of foreboding.

"Well I can't be expected to do all of the work," Robin said with a grin.

"I come bearing apples!" Amelia called, breezing back into the church. She was followed by an enervated Luke who dragged forth a large wooden barrel.

"I'm fine. Really," Luke wheezed. His voice was barely audible.

Amelia was beaming as many a French person came politely up to her, using appropriate manners and thanking her with extreme enthusiasm. "Yes, yes. She is brilliant isn't she," Luke huffed, stretching out his arms in a series of deep clicks. "My back will never be the same again," he muttered.

"You know, you could all learn a little something from this lot," Amelia said pointedly to the nearest Merry Men.

"Yes, yes, we are rude bastards," Thomas said, sounding bored. "That is nothing new, love."

"Pass the apples over here!" John called from a distant pew.

He was greeted by Amelia's death glare. Now I have seen some sights in my time. But nothing could possibly terrify us more than that very glare. So John quickly changed his tune and added a "please?"

Amelia rolled her eyes and aimlessly tossed an apple in his direction. It fell short which was lucky as John's flailing arms would never have come close. "True skill there," Thomas said with a snicker. "Toss one over here!"

"Allow me," Lilly said with an evil smirk. She had long since surprised us with her impeccably strong arm. Within moments the apple was shooting toward Thomas with impeccable speed. He knew that all of his dignity was hanging upon that moment. With relief, both hands gripped around his target as he whopped in delight.

This minor event managed to fill in a small amount of the incredulous waiting time. Valarie had informed them of the moment in which the guards would be changing, which was our only opportunity. Until then, all they could do was wait. And oh how the time dragged. So Allen watched with slight amusement as the French continued to display grace and decency while the Merry Men called over rudely to demand their fruit. They also displayed a range of talents through this. Marian managed to gracefully catch her apple, one-handed with ease. Much managed to be struck in the head.

Robin ignored all of this action as he pretended to be planning teams and covers for the plan. Instead he just stole glances toward Marian and Gisbourne to check up on them. One could near feel the anger floating from him. Leon surprised him by loudly placing his apple onto the pew in front of him. "Subtlety," he said with raised eyebrows, "ever heard of it?"

"I wasn't…" Robin said, beginning to defend himself but he could see that it would go to no avail.

"That is just how Robin looks when he thinks," Allen lied, half heartedly as he sat beside them. Robin gave him a thanking look.

"Well now I am convinced," Leon said with a chuckle. He sat two pews in front of them, leaving his apple resting on top. Robin glared at it as a cover to continue to sneak glances. "I know that you are still looking," Leon said in a sing song know it all voice. Quick as a wink, Robin had lifted his bow, nocked an arrow and sent it jarring into the apple, missing Leon's shoulder by an inch. All the while, I laughed quietly. "Was that really necessary?" Leon moaned, his voice going very high pitched.

"Apparently so," Robin said, finally smiling again.

It was then that Gisbourne made his first mistake. He had witnessed the whole event from a nearby pew. 'You should really bend your bow arm slightly," he said off handed manner. We all sucked in our breaths as the fool continued. "If your arm is more rounded, your aim will improve."

Robin slowly stood, rising himself to his full height. "Do you really think that I need archery advice? Do you know who I am?"

Gisbourne also rose to his full height. Unfortunately from Robin, this was a few inches taller. He ignored it. Gisbourne was still smiling with good intent, not quite realising the hole he was digging for himself. "So the mighty Robin Hood is unable to take criticism? Interesting."

Robin made a point of looking Gisbourne up and down and sneering slightly. "Especially from the likes of you."

On could tell how Gisbourne's smile was no longer true. Yet he still kept it on. "Well you know, there is always room for improvement."

Robin tilted his head. "I'm sorry, have you not heard of me?"

"Oh yes, I have heard of you," Gisbourne said. "Tales of you have reached France. The main tale would probably being the spring tournament from last year."

Robin's face turned stone hard. Allen let out a sputtered laugh and was met by a death glare. "I'm sorry," he sputtered, trying desperately to stop the laughter. But Gisbourne had just defeated Robin. And all of the others knew it. Most reacted as Allen had with muffled chuckles. The archery tournament was nothing out of the ordinary. Robin could never turn down an opportunity to show off and had attended in disguise. One of the Sheriff's guards shot an arrow toward Robin just as Robin was aiming his final shot. Robin always possessed amazing instincts and heard the twang. Dodging saved his life, but also sent his would be winning arrow askew. Naturally, the Sheriff spun the story a little differently. He flaunted the fact that the 'so-called perfect' Robin Hood had failed in a plot and embarrassed himself publically.

Robin hated the memory, not allowing any of us to bring it up under threat of death. It was the one time that the mighty Robin Hood had publically lost at something and it still brought the Merry Men an abundance of joy to think upon it. So Gisbourne's word created quite the stir. "I was being shot at," Robin said simply, knowing that it made little difference.

"Of course you were," Gisbourne said with a small smirk. "But maybe if your arm was a little more rounded, you could have made the winning shot in time."

Allen snorted. Marian's eye positively sparkled. "Am I to understand that the mighty Robin Hood was defeated by a mere guard?" she said with delight.

"No!" Robin said defensively. "He just… Well…"

"So yes," Allen said under his breath.

"What do you know of archery anyway?" Robin said accusingly to Gisbourne. "Who are you to question me?"

Second big mistake. Gisbourne's smile broadened. "Excuse me," he said politely to Benny. "Could I bother you for your bow?"

"Be my guest," Benny said, looking far too excited. But then again, we all were. There was something in the air that told us that Robin was about to be challenged. And this was long over-due.

Gisbourne received the bow with thanks and studied it briefly, running his fingers down the brittle wood. He did not say anything for Benny's sake, but it was obvious not a very good bow. And Benny was such a short lad so therefore, his bow was made to match. Gisbourne was much taller. Robin smiled slightly, knowing that the odds were in his favour.

"What is my target then?" Gisbourne said, not letting the bow phase him in the slightest.

Robin tossed Allen his apple. "Set this up on the altar," he said.

"Yes, master," he said sarcastically but did as instructed and jogged to the far end of the Church. He placed the apple as far forward as he dared. It would not fair well for him if Robin thought he was helping the enemy.

He needn't have worried. Gisbourne smoothly raised his bow, levelling it easily. He made a point of rounding his left arm. For his time aiming, one could scarcely see a twitch form him. He became completely still as he focused on his target alone. And then his right hand released the arrow. There was a single whoosh sound as the arrow soared across the Church to split the apple perfectly through the middle. Even from his far vantage point, Allen was struck with the flowing juices. Applause ran wild as the French praised their hero and the Merry Men rejoiced someone teaching Robin a lesson.

"A lucky shot," Robin said, pushing the thought away.

Amelia pulled for a rag. "This is not what I had in mind when I laboured to bring you lot those apples."

"You laboured?" Luke said incredulously.

"They are going to destroy the Church now aren't they?" Tuck said flatly but no one was listening.

"Set up another apple!" Robin called, drawing forth his own bow.

"Because this should definitely be our top priority," Allen muttered as he ran back to fetch the next target. Knowing whom he was dealing, Allen saw fit to snatch an additional few. He then thought better of it and took back the entire barrel, knowing that blood was about to be spilt.

"Make a little harder Allen," Robin called to me, thinking to impress. "I have no business making easy shots," he said pointedly.

Gisbourne put a hand to his heart. "I am ready to be astounded."

Allen looked to his surroundings. There was little more space to go further back. The front of the Church consisted of a large stained glass window, surrounded by a wooden frame. This frame jutted out slightly which allowed him to balance an apple upon it. Allen hoped this would appease Robin since the altar would most likely cover most of the target. Robin would have little more than an inch and his arrow would have to skim the altar without going off course. Robin knew this and concentrated completely. He too, shut off the rest of the world, seeing only the red of his apple. And once again, Allen felt the spurt of apple juice.

There was more applause. Even Marian seemed a tad impressed, though she tried to hide it. Things were as they should be. Robin had learnt a lesson but still won. This was ideal. If Robin had learnt nothing, he would have been intolerable with ego. If he had lost, he would have been intolerable with defiance.

But then Gisbourne spoke again. "Would you kindly throw one of those into the air?" he called down to me.

Allen pulled a face. Surely not. A moving target at such a distance. Interesting. Gisbourne proved him wrong by perfectly splitting the apple again. And for a brief moment, Robin looked worried. But then that moment ended. "Allen," he called down calmly, "do you have different coloured apples?"

Looking to the barrel, Allen called back, "Yes."

He ordered for one red and three green. "Throw them all at once."

"Oh for goodness sake," Marian muttered.

"Just you watch," Robin said to her with a wink. "I will hit the red."

"And we shall all wonder at the marvel that is your skill," she said sarcastically. But even she was slightly agape as I juggled the four apples in my hands and threw them to the heavens. The rest of us took a moment to search through the sunlight to find the red. And by that point, Robin had already split it.

"Please say that it is over," Leon said.

Gisbourne considered. "Add two extra apples," he called to me. "Two of mixed colour."

It took a moment to search the barrel for such colouring but eventually two were found. After a pause, they too were flung. And once more, the targeted apple split.

"We are never going to be done are we?" Leon said, to no one in particular.

Robin looked to Allen. "Same again. But I want two targets."

Benny dropped the goblet from which he had been drinking. "Oh Lord." Tuck greeted him with a look.

Finally, Gisbourne seemed concerned. Surely no one could make such a shot.

He obviously did not know Robin as the rest of them did. Robin flicked his fingers back and forth briefly to test their speed. Satisfied, he drew his first arrow. His quiver was ready with one final arrow. Benny's quiver was emptied, showing that Gisbourne had no more chances. All was riding on Robin's final targets.

"Ready?" Allen called down nervously.

Muttering a silent prayer, Allen threw forth the enormous bundle. Seven apples went flying into the air. Three green. Two multicoloured. Two completely red. Instantly, one was split but in the time it took for Robin to draw his second arrow, they had long since began their descent. Allen had throw askew and the fruit began to fall in all possible directions. To find the pure red apple would have been impossible. And yet, suddenly Allen felt a spraying of juice from atop his head. The red apple had fallen above him. And he felt a breeze atop my head. He had been wearing a brown cap, the very image of Robin's green article.

As they all looked to wooden frame, there was a universal gasp. Robin's arrow pinned both the apple and Allen's hat to the very edge of the window. One inch to the left would have cracked the window. One inch down would have hit Allen. It had to be said; Robin was good.

"You may now close your mouths and praise me," Robin said happily.

Gisbourne slowly lowered his bow. "Touché," he said simply.