The companions were watching the east as Earendil's Star came down from the heavens and Elwing's swan-winged form rose to meet the shining boat of mithril and elven-glass. As the two descended together towards the Halls of Mandos, the first hint of dawn tinted the sky a rosy shade.

The sun slowly mounted over the horizon, and the high, distant mountains of Ilmarin were bathed in the golden light. The mountains shone red, purple, and green with the reflecting sunlight, veiled thinly by a sheet of mist that gave the scene and ethereal quality. Gimli sighed as the beauty began to fade.

"It reminds me of the Glittering Caves, Legolas."

"Only much more so," Legolas teased.

"Oh? Need I remind you that Eomer said that he had never seen anything as beautiful as the Glittering Caves in their full glory?" Gimli sniffed.

"He told me that Queen Arwen was much more lovely than any old caves," Legolas retorted, grinning.

"He WHAT?!?" Gimli roared. "The only thing more beautiful than the Glittering Caves is the Lady herself!"

"Stop arguing, you two," Frodo ordered, trying to suppress a smile at the two's friendly light-hearted quarreling. "I thought we came out here to watch the dawn, not argue over who or what is more beautiful."

"What's that, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked. Frodo sighed inwardly. No matter what he did or said, he couldn't get Sam to stop calling him Mr. Frodo. He decided it didn't matter and turned to the hobbit beside him.

"What's what, Sam?"

"That boat, Mr. Frodo," Sam replied, straining his eyes seawards. "It looks like there's nobody in it. Funny, it reminds me of the boats the Lady gave us, somehow." Legolas stood up and gazed out in the direction Sam indicated, shading his eyes from the sun with one long hand.

The object of his scrutiny was a small boat, grey, with a high prow, and there were marks of great age upon it. It rode low in the water, as if there was someone in it, but no sign of life could he see.

"It is one of the Lorien boats," Legolas said, "or I'm a dwarf."

"Well, you certainly aren't a dwarf, thank Aule, so it must be true then," Gimli muttered as he came to stand beside the elf.

"What are you doing, my friends?" The light voice form behind him made Frodo jump.

"Gandalf!" The wizard strode forwards, smiling.

"Hello, Frodo, Samwise, Legolas, Gimli. It's a lovely dawn."

"Look at that boat, Mr. Gandalf," Sam said, pointing it out to the tall Maia.

"What do you make of it, Mithrandir?" Legolas queried, turning towards him.

"It seems to be one of the boats of Lorien, but very weather-beaten, as if it had been wandering aimlessly through the Sea for many years," Gandalf said, clearly puzzled.

As they were speaking, the boat had floated closer to shore. It was almost grounded, but began to turn away.

"Look at the boat! It's going out to the Sea!" Sam cried, pointing. Legolas hastily waded out after it, just barely catching the prow before it went completely out of reach.

"Here is a strange thing," he called as soon as the boat was beached. The others hurried over to where the elf stood. Looking in, they made a disconcerting discovery. In the boat, which was almost filled with clear water, was the body of a man.

He was clad richly in red and gold, but there were the marks of many wounds on him, and piled about him were the helms and arms of many Orcs. His hands were clasped about a sword-hilt, the blade of which was shattered, and there was a tall helm at his side. His head was pillowed on a folded grey cloak, and his long dark hair was arrayed about his head. Under his feet lay many orc-scimitars.

Suddenly Gimli gave a cry.

"Legolas! His belt!" About the dead warrior's waist was clasped a fair belt of linked golden leaves. Frodo heard the sharp intake of breath form Legolas in the sudden hush that fell over them all.

"Boromir," the elf said slowly. "But how? And through so much, after so long…" his voice faded away. The five companions stood staring at the body, as if that way they could unravel the mystery that surrounded it. Their silence was broken by a light and merry voice from behind them.

"Why so silent on a day such as this?" Gimli turned eagerly at the sound.

"Lady Galadriel!"

"Mae govannen, Lock-bearer. But what is it that has you all so solemn?" she asked. They parted so that she could see the boat and its strange passenger. Galadriel walked over to the edge and stood looking down, her grey eyes unreadable.

"Whence came this boat?"

"It floated in on the tide, Galadriel," Gandalf said. "I can only suppose that it has wandered over the Sea these past hundred years. And how the body was preserved, I know not. Eru's grace, perhaps."

"This is a strange turn of fate, that he should come here after a hundred years of wandering," Galadriel mused. "And that you five, of us all, should be here, and find him-" she was interrupted by the arrival of her husband, Elrond, and Celebrian.

"Mae govannen, Galadriel, Olorin, Legolas, Gimli, Ring-bearers. Galadriel, Elwing wishes-" Elrond broke off abruptly upon seeing the boat and its contents. "What is that?" he asked sharply, brows furrowed.

"That is Boromir, if I am not very much mistaken," Celeborn said calmly.

"How did he come here, and how was he found?" Celebrian asked calmly. Like her mother, whose golden hair and piercing eyes she had inherited, Celebrian did not say much, but when she spoke it was with great wisdom.

"We four, Legolas, Gimli, Sam, and myself, were watching the dawn together. Sam spotted the boat…" When Frodo finished his tale, there was a long silence from all. Then Elrond broke it.

"It is not now a matter of importance how he came here," the elven-lord said quietly. His deep, rich voice was sad, but there was an undercurrent of the ever-present joy of Valinor in it. "We shall bury him beside Bilbo and Shadowfax. Thus shall he know that he is forgiven his misstep, and honored for the valiant part he played in the Fellowship of the Ring."

They buried him in honor and grief, his sword and helm beside him. When Frodo, Sam, and Gimli in their turns died, they were buried alongside him, and thus the Company were together even to the uttermost end.

The orc-stuff was given to the Sea, but the elven boat was kept in great honor. Legolas took Gimli out in it many times, and the dwarf eventually became almost as adept at handling the craft as Legolas himself.