5I know that the last one was a one-shot, but hey, it's five a.m, I've been up for two hours, and I got an idea. Live with it and please enjoy.
Elboron looked out at the rainy day and recalled the time from ten years ago. He remembered how the rain had fallen just the same way, and he remembered that it had been unnaturally warm for February like it had been all of those years ago. He remembered why he then thought that the rain was suitable for today.
The twenty-second anniversary of his uncle's death was today, and the weather seemed to morn him just as Elboron did. Even though Elboron hadn't ever truly met his uncle, he knew that he was a good man and that he deserved to be mourned, even though the people of Minas Tirith had long forgotten this day and his uncle.
Only the older inhabitants of the White City would have known, and they all would have ignored it anyways. Through the past ten years, Elboron told people why his uncle was tempted by the Ring and often yelled at people saying that they would have done the same thing- that he would have done the same thing as well. But they all dismissed it, saying that he was just a young boy, naïve and misunderstanding.
But Elboron was a grown man now, and he was a higher up in the army of Gondor, but the people still thought him as young, even though he was twenty. He had told everyone that was his age that his uncle was a good man, and they had shrugged him off. Unfortunately, nobody had believed him.
Today, the whole city got the day off, due to the curtsey of the King, knowing that Faramir would want to morn and not have to work. Elboron was thankful to that to, because he didn't want to be seen by the rest of the army all teary and depressed.
Though Elboron hadn't actually met him, and though he didn't know why he went through all of the trouble to make people believe that his uncle wasn't horrible, Elboron still knew him. Once, when he was only ten years old, Elboron had talked to his uncle in his dream. He was immediately caught up with how magnificent he had looked under the moon by the Anduin, and how strong and kind he was.
Now that Elboron had seen his uncle, he began to realize that he looked almost exactly like he had, and that he liked to wear a beard as his uncle had too. He was then told by his Father and by the king of Gondor that he acted like him as well. This made Elboron proud. He strode to be like his uncle, so that the world could see what the man was truly like. But even though he wanted to be like his uncle, Elboron wanted to be himself as well.
He was a young boy when he dreamed of his uncle, and he almost forgot the dream though he knew that he never really could. Every night in the last ten years, he had gone to sleep, hoping that he would see his uncle again, so that he could talk to him. He wanted to know what his Grandfather was like, for his Father never did tell him, and Elboron knew why.
It was his uncle who had told him that his Grandfather had not liked his father as much as his uncle. His uncle also told Elboron that his Grandfather had once tried to kill his Father when he thought that he was dead. His uncle explained why the hobbit, Peregrin Took, was so important to his Father.
It was Pippin, as the hobbit liked to be called- that had saved his Father from an early death. Pippin had also been a friend with his uncle, good friends apparently, and he had been there and seen his uncle die. Pippin also regretted not being able to save Elboron's uncle, though Elboron never did blame him. Pippin had saved his Father, that was enough to prove that he was a good person and not weak.
Elboron then walked back away from the window, the thoughts still swirling around in his brain, thinking about his uncle and what he had to do tomorrow. His father would be busy, and Elboron would have to lead an army by himself. He was worried that he would mess up, but he was too afraid to ask his Father for help, he didn't want to seem like a coward.
He was hoping that Eldarion, the kings son, would be with him to help lead the army, but the eldest son of the king was busy with his other work, meaning that Elboron would have to be alone. He was worried that the men that had trusted him with their lives would die under his command, and that their wives would be unhappy with him. He was afraid that the survivors might begin to doubt him, saying that he was too young to be leading an army and that the only reason he was the leader was because of his father.
Elboron then walked to his chambers, and prepared to go to sleep. He lay there in his bed for a couple hours, only listening to the pounding of the rain, which was too warm for February, and his own negative thoughts. He rolled over and cursed himself for being a coward, he didn't want to be a bad leader, and he should have when to his Father for help.
Sleep eventually did come to Elboron, in the quickly fall asleep kind that makes one wonder if they had been sleeping all that time they thought that they were awake. But his dream made it seem like he wasn't asleep, that he was awake, running through the fields of Gondor, to what, he didn't know.
In the middle of the field was a man, holding a sword and a large shield. In his belt, there was the horn of Gondor, something that Elboron had only seen broken in two, but here, it was full. The man's face was almost identical to Elboron's, the only difference was that it was drearier with age, but it still looked young and bright. Elboron then smiled up into his grey eyes.
"So, come to visit me again, Elboron?" His uncle smiled down at him. Even though Elboron had grown much, he was still shorter than his uncle by a couple of inches.
This comment made Elboron frown, and he then retorted with, "I would have come sooner if I was able to, Uncle, but I couldn't."
"So," Boromir laughed at his nephew, thrusting his sword into the ground and sitting down beside it. "What is it that troubles you?"
Elboron looked into the grey eyes of his uncle and then began to explain his situation. Boromir nodded and frowned at his words. After a couple of minutes of explanation, Boromir then said, "So that is your problem."
"What do you mean, Uncle, is it that I am just too-" Elboron was cut off when Boromir raised his hand, signaling him to stop.
"Elboron, if a leader does not have faith in himself, then the whole group with not have faith in the leader. Trust yourself, Elboron, and they will trust you. Losing men in battle is normal, Elboron, but it takes time to fully understand why men want go to battle," Boromir said, looking at his nephew smiling. "Don't let them see you weak, Elboron, and they will always feel strong."
Elboron let the words sink in and then he smiled. His uncle was right; he had no reason to fret over things like this. He was the son of the Steward of Gondor. He had the same blood that ran through his uncle's and his father's veins. He would be strong.
Before the dream began to melt away, Elboron asked, "Were you nervous the first time you ever had to lead a troop of men into battle?"
"I was indeed, your worry is natural. Elboron, I will be honest with you, even after I won my first battle, I still cried for all of the men that went down because of me," Boromir told him, giving Elboron a sad smile. "Now go, make me and your father proud."
Elboron nodded as his uncle vanished in the wind, leaving only the horn of Gondor in Elboron's hand. Elboron then woke up, smiling to himself. He happily got dressed and then walked down to meet his Father, ready to fight for Gondor.