Boromir did not know how to react when Aeardis told him that Ioreth thought she was beginning to fade. For so long she had been constant, age had not touched her since the quest to destroy the One Ring; that would have been more than a decade ago now.

Yet it seemed to be true and he was just now seeing the first signs. Mingled with her dark hair was strands of silvery grey. Boromir rested his hand on her cheek and offered a soft smile. "If you think that a handful of silver hairs will make me love you any less then you're wrong." Aeardis laughed. A flush of deep red rising up to her cheeks. She felt foolish for having even entertained the thought that this would change anything.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Aeardis smiled as Boromir played with Elboron and Eldarion. They were both nearing nine now. They both charged toward the seasoned warrior, knocking him back off his feet and onto the white stone. He yielded to the two boys' advances with wooden swords and then stood with a soft groan as they continued to spar with one another. She stepped up to him and massaged his left shoulder for a moment, the tightness faded. "You're not young anymore," she chided him.

Boromir smiled, "but I am not old yet either." That was true as well, even though the first signs of grey had begun appearing in his beard and hair. Aeardis, though, still looked to be ageless, despite the news Ioreth had given her. He took hold of her hands and looked down into her murky sea green eyes, then suddenly he spoke, "let us go to Tol Eressëa."

Her brows furrowed, but she could not deny that this was a path that she had long dreamed of taking. "You are certain this is what you want?" She asked softly, for she could not imagine Boromir leaving Minas Tirith.

"I want nothing more than to grow old with you," he stated. She smiled and raised her hand to his bearded cheek. "Gondor is at peace, the realms of men have been reunited. There is no better time," he paused and a smile crossed his lips, "after all, I did promise you all those years ago that I would take you, that we would sail across the sea."

Aeardis lifted up onto the tips of her toes and leaned into him, catching his lips with her own. Boromir held her close until they were interrupted with Elboron and Eldarion both making gagging noises with scrunched up faces. Boromir glanced over his shoulder at the boys, chuckling at their antics, but nonetheless, when he turned back to Aeardis, he kissed her again.

Faramir was the first to hear about their plans. Oddly enough, he did not seem shocked by the decision. Boromir had been talking to him about it for some time. And though it would bring great sadness to see his brother depart for the West, Faramir knew it to be the best choice for both he and Aeardis.

She had worried about leaving her position as Aragorn's counselor, but the King assured her that all was well, that she should follow the path that her heart yearned to take. Gondor was thriving because of her deeds and he would not let that prosperity falter in her absence.

The evening before their departure there was a celebration within the entire city. Éowyn and Arwen had planned the event, both of them were now with child again too. The entire city was in attendance, circulating in and out of the Great Hall to partake in the feast and merrymaking. They spoke of tales on the battlefield, of Boromir the Bold and Tall, Captain of the White Tower, and of the ever-sweet Aeardis who consoled the grieving and helped those in need.

Aragorn may have been the true King of Gondor, but it was Boromir and Aeardis who had earned their love and respect many years ago. They celebrated well into the night, surrounding themselves on last time with the good people of Gondor.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Above them, the clouds parted and a bright light shone down upon the wooden deck of the ship. All others cowered in the hold below. Boromir glanced at Aeardis to find that she wore an expression of dread. He inched closer to her, brows furrowed, "Aeardis, what is happening?"

She squeezed her eyes shut and pretended that it was all a dream. "The Ban of the Valar," she whispered. Now, she felt foolish for not remembering the Ban and what had become of her when she saved Boromir on Amon Hen.

The ship dipped into the sea with the weight of the impact on deck. Aeardis immediately sank down to her knees, pulling Boromir down with her. Before them stood a figure bathed in light with a cloak of white feathers draped over his shoulders that matched a crown of silver hair. "Manwë," Aeardis whispered, voice trembling. Boromir

"Rise," he bade. "You seek to enter the lands of Valinor," he announced.

Aeardis took a hesitant step forward and lowered her head again. "I wish to return home," she stated.

"Yet the two of you are only mortal," he remarked. Dismay fell upon her. They had come all this way. From the sea emerged a man with scaled armor that dissipated into a white robe and dark leather jerkin. He bore a silver-gold trident that calmed the seas. "Ulmo," Manwë noted, surprised at the presence of his

"I have watched over her since birth," Ulmo said whilst glancing in her direction. He had seen her and her father safely across the sea and had kept singing the song even when she was in Gondor. The Vala turned back to face Manwë, "and I will continue to do so. Ulmo looked between the two lovers and back to the mightiest of the Valar. "They shall continue their journey and have a long life together until the world is renewed." Aeardis felt her heart swell, Boromir squeezed her hand and did not dare to speak before these beings.

"That is not for you to decide," Manwë said to him. Another bright light came from the sky, but this time it was not just one, but all the highest ranking of the Valar had come. Yavanna was there, as was her lord husband, Aulë, and closest to Manwe stood Varda, Queen of the Stars.

Varda stepped forward in a dark blue gown, sparkling with a field of while jewels, she laid her hand upon Manwë's shoulder and looked up at him with clear blue eyes. "We have sung of this day for decades now." It was a rare thing when the Valar changed their song, but it had been done, the song had been sung, "Ulmo speaks for all of us. Let them pass and spend their days together."

"We have sung of this day and it cannot be unsung," Manwë proclaimed and upon his proclamation, he and those that had accompanied him left in the same blinding light. Only Ulmo remained and he leaned heavily upon his trident.

He reached forward and took her free hand, gently, running his thumb over the stone that had been set into the silver ring. He had crafted it long ago and few people had ever worn it. "The Lady Galadriel was wise to give you Ulmocor for you are a child of the sea." If she was not of the sea then her eyes would not look like the murky blue-green waters that surrounded her home.

Ulmo released her hand and glanced at Boromir, who still seemed to be in disbelief of what he had just witnessed. The Vala stepped over the side of the ship, the waves caught him and the sea rose. "Go now," he said, "live long and prosperous lives together, Aeardis of Tol Eressëa and Boromir of Gondor." With that he was gone, sinking beneath the dark surface of the water.

Aeardis let out a relieved gasp, not realizing that she had been holding her breath. Boromir did the same, but quickly turned and took her into his arms.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

She and Boromir stood at the bow of the ship, several of the enchanted isles had come to pass but now on the horizon stood an island larger than all the others. "There!" She exclaimed pointing over the glistening sea, "just on the horizon, that's Tol Eressëa."

Boromir looked around at the clear waters and evergreen trees, even on the north shore were snow and ice met the sea. It was a place unlike anything he had ever seen on Middle Earth and the awe was reflected in his deep grey eyes.

Upon the docks stood several tall figures, all garbed in fine robes of silk. They had high and fair features with long hair that ranged from copper to the darkest black. Faces and names that she had almost forgotten, but they had not forgotten her. "Lady Aeardis." Osric stepped forward and extended his hand toward the seaside castle, "welcome back."

Word had reached the old stately home of her impending arrival and thus the grounds were pristine, with pale white and blue flowers adorning unlit sconces. It was as she remembered, even down to the last seashell.

Boromir's heart clenched as he watched her move through the halls and rooms. Eyes like hers should always be near the sea and he knew that deep down this was where she belonged. Something excitable and childlike had reemerged in her eyes. It pained him that he could not know her like this all along.

She stood on the balcony that overlooked the dark Sundering Sea as the sun set and imagined a different time. When her father would sit her on his shoulders and point at the far horizons naming the distant lands. Now though, she stood alone, until Boromir came behind her and settled his arms around her waist. He now understood why she was so reluctant to leave as a child and so eager to return. Tol Eressëa was a perfect land.

That night, Aeardis laid her head upon his bare chest and traced over his old scars, humming a song that Merry and Pippin had once sung years ago by a campfire in Eregion. Silence fell over them though, and she glanced up at Boromir in a state of repose. He craned his neck down and caught her lips with his own. "Ned i postog a nin, ni bant," she whispered, smiling.

All was right in the world once more.

I think we deserve
a soft epilogue, my love.
We are good people
and we've suffered enough.

Translations:

Ned i postog a nin, ni bant. - When I lay beside you, I am complete.