"What did my father want?" Amelia asked as Nightwing joined her by their chairs.
"Oh, he just wanted to, um, thank me again, ya know." Nightwing lied. He actually had been keeping a ring in his pocket since Paris, but he was still debating the pros and cons.
"Oh, okay." They sat there in silence for a while, just watching the dancers float by. They spotted Elizabeth and Robin. It looked like Elizabeth and Robin were trying to dance the foxtrot with everyone else, but ended up just twirling around the dance floor. Young Love.
"Do you want to come outside with me for a moment?" Nightwing finally said. Amelia nodded and followed him out the door and into the night air. They strolled along the gardens with the moonlight shinning down upon them. They walked silently through the bushes and trees to the edge of cliff. The salty breeze filled their lungs.
Amelia shivered. Nightwing quickly took of his jacket and wrapped it around her arms. She smiled her thanks.
"So," Nightwing said.
"So." Amelia replied. " Do you know what this reminds me of?" Amelia asked. "That night, a couple years ago when we fell in love." she sighed. "Remember that?" Amelia laughed. "When you came in on me when I was dancing,"
"And you almost took my head off?" Nightwing smiled. "Yeah, I remember."
"Don't forget the part when it started pouring!" Amelia giggled.
"Look, Amelia," Nightwing started, but a sudden crash and scream drew their attention.
"What was that?" Amelia whispered. They looked back to the castle and saw a helicopter, stationed on top of the roof. Amelia ran back to the hall with Nightwing on her heels. They burst into the room.
A boyish giggle.
"Oh not this guy." Nightwing cursed.
Indeed it was Valentin. He was standing in the middle of the ballroom with a gun to Robin and Elizabeth's heads. Elizabeth's eyes were wide. Robin stood there, somewhat relaxed.
"Look who decided to come and join us!"
...
Robin and Elizabeth were having a grand time just spinning around the dance floor. They weaved in and out of couples. From the corner of Robin's eye, he saw Nightwing guiding Amelia outside. Elizabeth leaned into Robin's ear.
"What do you think their doing?" she giggled.
"My guess would be for some privacy." Robin replied.
"I bet you he's going to ask her to marry him!" Elizabeth squealed. Robin winced. What would Zatana, what would Batgirl, what would Batman think?!
"He must know what he's getting into then." Robin said under his breath. They returned to dancing until a terrible crash came through the roof.
Glass went everywhere.
It showered down on top of the guests, and Robin and Elizabeth were in the danger zone.
Robin quickly pulled Elizabeth down to the ground and whipped out his cape (which he kept a spare rolled up in his belt which he took everywhere) and held it over both of them.
The glass stopped falling and the sound of cables whizzing and people's screams took its place.
Something warm gushed down Robin's leg. He looked down and found a gash in his calf where one of the glass shards must have hit him. Elizabeth gasped. She took out her handkerchief and pressed it to his leg. They got up and strong hands grabbed them.
Robin looked to his left and saw Elizabeth, scared to death, at gunpoint. He felt the cool metal of a second gun on his right temple. He then knew, if one would fight, the other would surely be shot.
Amelia and Nightwing burst into the room.
"Look who decided to come and join us!" Valentin said with a laugh, or more like a giggle.
"Let them go Valentin!" Nightwing shouted from across the room. He took a step toward them.
"No, no, no!" Valentin sung. "One more move lover boy, and they both get shot." Nightwing stopped.
"Fine." Nightwing scowled.
"What do you want?" Amelia's voice cracked.
"What every man wants! His true love." Valentin cackled.
"But I thought you died. I thought you were dead!" she shouted back.
"Well, I most certainly am not dead, so," he looked into Amelia's eyes. "I am reclaiming your hand."
"What is all this nonsense!" the King stormed into the hall. He laid eyes and Valentin and his daughter. Rage swelled through his face. "Valentin!" the King roared. "What are you doing here?" he said.
"Your majesty, I have come to reclaim your daughter's hand in marriage. You yourself gave it to me." he said with a smile. Robin was standing extremely still. He was waiting, waiting for just the right moment to strike.
"I did. But now I withdraw that and offer it to-"
"You can't do that!" Valentin screamed. He momentarily let go of Elizabeth and Robin to go into a pouty tantrum.
Robin struck.
Hard.
Valentin dropped the guns and doubled over, kneeling, on the floor in pain. Elizabeth quickly lifted her skirts and kicked the guns away from Valentin's reach. Guards surround the place as Amelia and Nightwing ran to them.
"My hero!" Elizabeth sighed. She hugged Robin and kissed him on the cheek. Robin blushed a fierce shade of rose red. Nightwing clapped him on the back.
"Better have that looked at." Nightwing told Robin, who was still bleeding.
Two guards had grabbed Valentin and held him in front of the royal family.
"Orders sire?" one guard asked.
"What do you think my girls?" the King smiled and asked his daughters.
"Execution!" Elizabeth said excitedly. Fear spread across Valentin's face.
"No, that won't do." Amelia said. She put her hand up to her mouth in thought. "I vote for eternity in the dungeon!" she finally said.
"No! You can't! I will get out! I will have my-" Valentin was shut up by a swift punch to the face. Robin, Elizabeth, and the King stood in shock.
"That's my girl." Nightwing said. He was the only one unfazed. The guards dragged a now unconscious Valentin off to the dungeons. Amelia looked at Nightwing and smiled.
"Now what was that thing that you had to ask me?" she asked. Nightwing blushed.