It was a bit of an epic journey. I had to... um... solve a troll's riddles to cross a bridge. And then also solve a minotaur's maze? There was a surprising amount of solving on this journey! [A meek laugh.] It felt like the world was keeping me away from this ball tonight. From you.

[He looks into her eyes, trying to deliver that as passionately as he can!

While his feet are doing the exact opposite. He doesn't know what he's doing, and he's likely to have stepped on her foot at least once so far.]

Wait, all night? That- that seems like a long time! [For someone with a midnight curfew!]