So Much For a Dignified Announcement

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 10th June 2025
Series: Guarding Gil

Characters: Tr'vel, Gilbek, I'lek, Terella, Ochyra, D'stan
Description: Gil and Tr'vel face Lightning Wing the day after they finally get together.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 4, day 26 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Panitath

Tr'vel

Gil looked across from where they stood at the dining cavern entrance to
Lightning Wing's table. He felt almost as nervous as the first day when
Tr'vel had brought him to eat with them as a prisoner. Over the months
since he'd grown to like and respect them all, but he also knew how much
the tight-knit group cared for Tr'vel. What would they think of this new
development?

"Would you like me to tell them?" Tr'vel murmured, resisting the urge
to give Gil a comforting touch. "Before they start guessing?" he added
with a hint of humor.

"Perhaps you'd better. Though I don't think it'll take them long." Gil
glanced at Tr'vel, unable to hide the way his heart lifted at the sound
of his voice.

As they approached the table, a few heads turned, and it quickly became
clear that an announcement would be unnecessary. I'lek caught sight of
them, let out a delighted scream, leapt over the bench and threw himself
at Tr'vel for a hug.

"I knew it! I knew it!"

"_Finally_," Ochyra said, rolling her eyes.

Tr'vel made an incredulous sound and stared at them. "It can't be _that_
obvious!"

"You can't see your own face." Terella smiled indulgently as I'lek
stopped squeezing the breath out of Tr'vel and pounced on Gil. "You look
like a pair of new weyrlings on their Hatching Day."

"When you didn't turn up for dinner yesterday evening after Panitath
rose, we assumed you must have got lucky," D'stan added. "Then, you walk
in together this morning. Doesn't take a Masterharper to deduce what
happened."

Tr'vel looked over at Gil. "So much for a dignified announcement." A mix
of embarrassment and happiness swirled inside him.

"I don't think it was ever going to be that." Gil sounded rather
breathless from I'lek's embrace. "But this is good." Since there was no
reason to hide any longer, he reached out and took Tr'vel's hand.

"Come and sit down and tell us all about it!" I'lek bounded back to the
table and patted the bench. "We want to know everything. Details."

"No, we don't," Terella reproved him. "The Weyr does have some respect
for privacy, Gil, despite what you might have heard."

"You're right that it was Panitath's flight," Gil said, taking a seat.
Hopefully talking about weyrlife in general would distract them. "It
had...an effect on me." He colored. "I didn't think it could be so strong."

Tr'vel squeezed Gil's hand. "And it gave me enough of a nudge to finally
ask if he was interested. I wasn't sure, with him being holdbred and
all. I mean, he practically fainted the first time I took him to the
bathing cavern."

"In my defense, people do go to bed together at the hold, but they don't
usually go about in public with no clothes on," Gil said. "You do see
some odd behavior as a guard, but it's definitely frowned upon in mixed
company. It was a shock!"

"But you're used to it now, right?" I'lek asked hopefully. "Does that
mean...?"

"Well, never say never." He shook his head firmly. "But not yet."

Tr'vel gave I'lek a look that was part-frown, part-thoughtful. "Not sure
I'm ready to share him yet, either." He ran his thumb over Gil's knuckles.

Gil turned to him, his eyes bright with the promise of what that light
touch inspired. "We can work on my holdbred ways together. You can keep
taking your shirt off outdoors, though," he teased. "I wouldn't want to
stop you doing that."

"Thank the Egg." Ochyra grinned. "That would be a tragedy."

"How could I deny you all the pleasure of seeing my fine, muscular
form?" Tr'vel laughed.

"You won't hear any objections from me." I'lek eyed the bluerider
appreciatively. "We can all gaze at your rippling muscles and wish we
were Gil."

"I agree. More races, please. And did I hear there was wrestling? Hot."

"And they all lived happily ever after," D'stan said with an air of
great forbearance. "Except for I'lek and Ochyra, who were too busy
lusting after Tr'vel's body."

"Don't worry. Soon they'll turn their minds to finding a mate for the
next most eligible dragonman in the Wing," Terella predicted, a
mischievous glint in her eye.

He gave her a narrow-eyed look, then thought of something and relaxed.
"You're right. Where is C'nal?"

"You know, I almost feel sorry for him," Tr'vel muttered to Gil.

I'lek sat up straight. "What an excellent idea! He can be our next
project." He considered the problem. "He poses more of a challenge than
Tr'vel. This will require some serious thought."

"But if we succeed, we won't have to put up with him glowering at wing
meetings any more," Ochyra said. "Are you in, Tr'vel? You must want to
spread the joy."

"Tr'vel will be busy." Terella gave D'stan a look, as if to ask him what
in Faranth's name he'd started.

"Very busy," Tr'vel agreed, giving Gil a warm look. Faranth, it felt so
good to be with him, and to see how happy his wingmates were for both of
them.

Gil returned his gaze, his thoughts full of what they might be busy
with. When he thought of where he'd been, less than a Turn ago, it was
hard to believe in his good fortune, that he wouldn't wake and find
himself back...but he wouldn't think of that, not with the comforting
presence of Tr'vel's fingers entwined with his. He would never have to
think about where he'd been, or what he'd done, again.

Last updated on the June 13th 2025

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So Much For a Dignified Announcement