Nov 5: Spare (TA 2997, Minas Tirith, Gondor)

Erchirion snatched up a rock and flung it hard so that it skipped a half dozen times before it vanished into the depths of the fish pond. “It's not fair! I was supposed to go with Father to pick out my pony, not Elphir and Boromir!”

Another rock skipped across the pool, and he turned to see his cousin, who looked just as unhappy as he felt. “You got left behind, too.”

“That's what happens when you're the spare,” Faramir said, resigned, and gazed longingly over the garden wall for a glimpse of the Pelennor's horse fair.