Gale chuckles at that, eyes dropping away. His smile is rueful, something resigned to it perhaps.

"You have no need of wings to be magnificent, Istredd. You will always be the most beautiful, most impressive man I know. I cannot imagine anything that would turn my heart from you, not now. Seeing you here, proud, flushed with victory -- I know there is nowhere I would rather be than at your side."

He looks up, expression softening to something fond. He can see the faint signs of fluster in him, but Gale knows he can sometimes be... overmuch. It's possible he just needs to... resist the urge to keep talking. Then again, if he doesn't say it all now when will he? He's held onto this for years. He could hold onto it a few years more, but it would be agonising.