A Picture Made With Threads

Writers: Devin, Estelle
Date Posted: 5th August 2026

Characters: Tr'vel, Gilbek
Description: Gil gives Tr'vel the tapestry he'd commissioned
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 17 of Turn 13
Notes: Mentioned: Talryne, Tavhei

Tr'vel

"Sorry I'm late. I got swallowed up with hidework," Tr'vel said as he entered the weyr. He headed over to the seating area, intending to greet Gil with a kiss, but something caught his eye and he stopped in his tracks.

A new painting was on the wall, a dragon in a very familiar shade of blue. "Is that . . . ?" As he moved closer, he realized it wasn't a painting, but a tapestry. And the missing eye made it clear the dragon was Eboroth. The threads were woven with skill, Eboroth turned partly toward the viewer, the image as beautiful and proud as the blue was in real life. His scars were neither hidden nor displayed for sympathy, but shown as part of him in a way that somehow enhanced his dignity and grace. "This is . . ." Tr'vel was at a loss for words.

"Do you like it?" Gil came up behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder, hardly able to conceal his nervousness. All the time he'd been waiting for Tr'vel to return, he'd alternated between trying to read and jumping up to make tiny adjustments to the tapestry where it hung on the wall. Since he'd seen it revealed that afternoon, it had dawned on him how much work had gone into making his gift: Tavhei's sketches, Talryne's delicate craftsmanship, the fine materials she'd chosen. If he'd misjudged, then it would all have been for nothing.

Tr'vel tore his gaze away long enough to look at his weyrmate. There was a slight shimmer in his eyes. "I love it. They've captured him so perfectly. Where did you get this?" And how had he paid for such a beautiful piece of art?

"I went to the weavers, and Talryne offered to make it. We talked about how it should look, and she found a young harper to make the sketches. And the Headwoman said that she'd arrange it so my work covers the cost." Gil held up his hand, the blue stone of his ring glittering on his finger. "I wanted to give you a gift like this, that would show how much you - and Eboroth - mean to me."

"Oh, Gil . . ." Tr'vel was at a loss for words again, so he pulled him into a kiss full of love and gratitude.

Gil relaxed into his arms, light-headed with relief and pride, that he'd chosen well and the gift had made his weyrmate happy. Now that he wasn't so anxious, he could regard the tapestry with unmixed pleasure, and he leaned his head against Tr'vel's shoulder, enjoying the small details, the subtly lighter threads that put a glint in Eboroth's faceted eye, the shading of his limbs and the delicate texture of his wings.

"Is it all right, hanging there?" he asked. "I thought that he could see it from the entrance, when he puts his head in, but we can move it if you like."

On cue, Eboroth stuck his head in. His rider's strong feelings had caught his attention and his eye whirled with curiosity as he studied the image. }:Oh! That's a picture of me?:{

**A tapestry. It's a picture made with threads.** Out loud, for his weyrmate's benefit, Tr'vel said, "Gil got this as a gift for us."

The blue warbled in delight. "He says thank you."

Gil glanced over at Eboroth with an affectionate smile. "It's almost as handsome as the real dragon, isn't it?"

Eboroth made another pleased sound. "Almost," Tr'vel agreed with a chuckle. He studied the tapestry again. He knew N'vanik's weyrmate was a weaver, but while he was no expert, this seemed far beyond apprentice level. "I can't believe how beautiful this is."

"Isn't it? I was stunned when I saw it for the first time. Talryne is so talented, as is Tavhei - the harper who made the drawings of Eboroth." Gil slipped an arm around Tr'vel's waist. "I don't know much about the weaver craft, but I said she could use it for her journeyman's knots if she needs to. I hope that's all right? I suppose it'd only be a matter of the masters taking a look at it."

"I'm tempted to take this to them myself and demand that they at least consider promoting her," Tr'vel said.

"I had a feeling she needed as much convincing as the masters." Gil sounded thoughtful. He only knew a little of Talryne's history, but something in him recognized another person who was still rebuilding herself after dark times. "Perhaps you should encourage her to go for it as well. As Eboroth's rider, your word would carry weight."

Tr'vel nodded thoughtfully. "She might appreciate if I approach her first before going to her Master." He wouldn't want to upset her by inadvertently overstepping.

"Whatever she decides, I'm sure she'd be pleased to know that you like her work." He turned his gaze from the tapestry to his weyrmate with a slight smile. "I wondered if we should host another party so your whole Wing could admire it, but we're still recovering from the last one."

}:I want to show the others this very handsome picture of me.:{

Tr'vel groaned. "Eboroth is going to have half the dragons in the Weyr sticking their head in here to admire it. So much for a quiet evening."

"We could leave them to it," Gil suggested, with a playful squeeze of his arm. "Go down to the training grounds and get in some wrestling practice before dinner."

"Mmm, I was definitely thinking of putting my hands all over you." Tr'vel tugged him close so their bodies pressed together.

"Well, there's wrestling practice and...wrestling practice," Gil said, with a suggestive emphasis on the latter as he shifted his body against Tr'vel's. "If you're in the mood."

"Very much." Tr'vel kissed his weyrmate as anticipation heated his blood.

}:Lirioth! Come see how handsome I am in this picture!:{

There was a rustle of wings as the green landed on the ledge and snuggled up next to Eboroth. }:A picture? Let me see.:{ She waited for him to extract his head, then with a graceful curve of her neck, she peered into the weyr. }:Oh, what lovely colors! You look magnificent. Did your rider get it for you? I want one! I'lek!:{

}:My rider's mate. He's very thoughtful,:{ Eboroth said warmly.

Tr'vel heaved a sigh as the green appeared. "We should go before this gets worse."

"Perhaps we'd better head to the training grounds after all, in case her rider decides to take a look, too." Gil grinned as his hand slid lightly down Tr'vel's back. "Work out for a while until it's quietened down, and then we can come back to bathe. I'll scrub your back..."

"Tease." Tr'vel kissed him briefly, ending with a little nip. "All right, let's go."

"Yes, let's get you fired up with a few bouts in the ring," Gil suggested innocently as they left together. He'd not expected his gift would prove so popular with the dragons that they'd be driven out of the weyr altogether, but when he thought of what awaited later...perhaps it was even more of a success than he could have foreseen.

Last updated on the August 11th 2026

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A Picture Made With Threads