Why were Gimli, Legolas, and Boromir chosen?

[doug*platypus]

Gimli was the youngest dwarf present. In fact, wasn't Glóin the only other dwarf present? Legolas was probably chosen as being expendable from Elrond's point of view. He wasn't too keen on sending Glorfindel! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Would he have had the courage to choose the Paths of the Dead at all?

In a word, yes. At least, Aragorn did say he would take the Paths of the Dead alone, if need be. Very nice point about the crucial help that Legolas and Gimli gave to him, though. I hadn't fully noticed that before, and I'm sure I'll enjoy the book a little bit more this time around because of it!