Disclaimer: Anything from Lord of the Rings or Ocean's 11 I do not own. This is just fun for me.

Note to Readers: Thank you to anybody who took time to click and read this, and I hope you like it. Once again, this story is AU, which is probably obvious, and a warning, to anyone who doesn't want to see some of their favourite characters doings some illegal things, turn back now. You have been warned. Enjoy…

Strider's Dozen - Chapter Five - Legolas' Proposal

Laughter could be heard all around him, as he walked down the tunnels of the cavern he and a few of his friends were occupying. Few was an understatement, for this was the most popular place for the dwarven folk to spend an evening, just to get away and have a good time. He was somewhat out of it, that he knew, mostly because of the half bottle of ale he held in his gloved left hand. He knew he had had more than his share, and all he wanted now was to lay down.

The sound of conversation caught his attention, and he immediately turned back around and walked down the adjacent tunnel that led to one of the sitting rooms in the cavern castle. The voices were female, and there were more than three, which he had already expected, but it was the other voice, the different one that really got his blood boiling. As he entered the large room, littered with fallen pebbles, and fair sized wooden benches along the wall, the sight he saw proved to make this day just get a whole lot worse for the stout being.

"How did you get in here?" Gimli, son of Gloin boomed, when he locked his eyes on the fair being, that was positioned on the bench, surrounded entirely by the six female dwarves, who were drooling over the royal who had decided to join them and offer his company. The flaxen elf, wore an ensemble of greens, and greys, that only exaggerated the beautiful blues in his eyes. It was matched with the smug smile that he always wore when he was able to get Gimli to drop his jaw.

"I thought you would be happy to see me, master dwarf" began the young prince of Mirkwood, as he used one hand to bring a glass of spiced red wine up to his thin lips, while he wrapped the other around the shoulders of a dwarf maiden who was clinging to his side with lust in her eyes. "It has been too long, has it not?"

"Not nearly long enough" spat the smaller creature, as he rolled his eyes at Legolas who smiled again.

"That hurts" the elf mocked taking another sip.

"What are you doing here?" Gimli questioned again, "How did you get in?"

The fairer creature tilted his head, ignoring the fact that every part of him was being studied by his companions. He knew very well that dwarves prided themselves on despising his race, and yet, here he was, the object of the maidens' attention. Not that he could blame them, he knew very well that he was attractive, but it amused him how he could think of no female elf that had ever lusted after a dwarf.

"Speak," ordered the dwarf.

"I have friends here" replied the son of Thranduil with another brilliant grin, as he ushered around him with his golden head, causing the son of Gloin to sigh, and cross his arms before he responded.

"Yes," he began, "I can see that."

"I have a proposition for you," the first born spoke, as he freed himself from the females' grips on him, and rose to his feet, and approached the dwarf, who was still raising his bushy eyebrow at him. There was a lot of mistrust the two of them, but there was also a mutual agreement. Neither of them were stupid, nor hateful, and so unless pushed to their limits, they realized that they could be civil to the other. Somewhat anyways. "But it must to be told to you in private. Who knows how many ears these tunnels of yours have."

"Fine" said the dwarf, as he followed the elf out of the room, and back into the hallway. In doing so, he and Legolas both heard the eruption of gossiping that began amongst the dwarf women, who were all ready to gloat about how close they had gotten to the graceful being while he was in their presence. Gimli shook his head, not knowing why the race of elves was always so perfect in the eyes that saw them. Legolas however, didn't seem to give it a second thought, as the two beings came to a stop in another room, and closed the stone door behind them.

"I will never understand why you choose to live underground, when the world above offers so much beauty. Not to mention fresh air and light. Honestly I'm surprised your eyes have not outgrown your head, Gimli. It's positively dank inside these walls, cage like" Legolas began, obviously jesting, but the dwarf couldn't care any less at the moment. He was tired, and hungry. He wanted this meeting to be over as soon as possible.

"Beauty lies in the eye of beholder, master elf" he responded, almost cutting the other off, as he rubbed his eyes, ridding himself of the dust that had been collecting in their corners. Legolas turned to him, upon hearing his words, and let a hint of a smirk cross his lips. They were indeed quite different, and rarely got along, but he could not have agreed more. "Now would you please just get on with it, so I can get to bed. Or do you wish to further annoy me with you incessant babbling about your great friendships with the evergreens and pinecones?"

The immortal shook his head once again, rolling his eyes that had turned to a shade of silver due to the poor lighting, which had caused his flawless skin to give off a faint glow, which always put the dwarf in awe. "I'll get to it then."

"Thank you."

"Strider's out" began the prince as his eyes met those of his companion, whose interest has suddenly peaked. "That should be all you need to know, should it not?"

Gimli laughed, "he's planning something already?"

"Yes" was the elf's answer in a very flat tone, immediately going into the parts he could tell right now. "This is bigger than anything he's done before, and a lot more risky."

"What's the target?"

Legolas was hesitant, not liking to disclose too much about the mission before Gimli had even agreed to help, but he already knew the answer he would receive and so he answered. "You have heard of Dragon's Pit, haven't you?" he questioned, causing the smaller being to ponder for a second until the place came to his memory.

"The old castle in Ithilien?" Gimli started, as the elf nodded, "yeah I've heard of it. Word says that Alatar the Blue holds rank there, that he hires men to bring in jewels and coin from across the plains. Stealing it back from the thieves who have took it from the peoples of Gondor, and then rightfully returns it to the owners."

"How noble and diplomatic of him, it would appear" Legolas jested causing a smile to form on the dwarf's lips for the first time since their meeting. Gimli shook his head, his grin growing into a full out burst of laughter.

"Wrong you are, master elf, yet again. That is what I would call a boring waste of time."

"Spoken like a true dwarf" Legolas mocked with a hint of mirth.

The dwarf groaned, hating when the prince talked down to him. Especially considering the fact that this was obviously the target, meaning two things. One, that Legolas was going to be involved but still took jabs, and two, that this was going to be a tricky plot to pull off, even for Aragorn. "Well" he began, ignoring Legolas' jest, "you are obviously in need of a dwarf or you would not be here. Now, what's the plan, we break in, rob the place and split the treasure for ourselves?"

"Something like that" Legolas replied, "but with twists."

That was a given. Anytime anyone worked with Aragorn, twists were involved.

"This isn't a three man job, and it'll cost plenty coin to pull it off."

The elf nodded, "already taken care of," he began again, "it's a crew of twelve if you're in, and Bilbo Baggins is filling our empty pockets for the trip."

Gimli looked down at his feet, as he scratched the tip of his chin in deep thought, leaving his companion waiting for any type of response regarding whether or not he accepted the offer. "Wait a second," he started, locking eyes with the immortal who rose an eyebrow as he continued. "If Strider is the ringleader here, and it's his gig, then why does he send you to offer the job to me. Does he not have the decency to ask me himself?"

"Dwarven pride" the prince muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" Gimli asked, " I heard not what you said."

"He is busy," Legolas assured, not bothering to cover himself. "Like you said this is going to be a tricky job to pull, and the planning for it is taking up most of his time. I assure you though, despite my suggestions to find another, he wants you for this. However, if your pride will force you from accepting the offer, he will have no choice but to listen to my suggestion."

"I shall think about it and get back to you," the dwarf responded, being as difficult as he could.

Taking a step forward, towards the stout creature, the young elven royal spoke again, this time in a much more serious tone of voice. He had not the time to waste, and being underground was already getting to him, and making the feeling of being trapped grow into a larger problem than he wished it to be. "You're the best in what you do Gimli" he began, hating having to try and persuade the cave dweller, "but you are not the only one. I care not for the money, I do not need it. I'm in this only because Aragorn asked for my help. I will give it to him, even if I have to find someone not quite as skilled. It will have to do it seems. Now I need your answer, and I need it now. Are you in or out?"

Gimli sighed, knowing that that was the closest thing to a beg he was ever going to get from the proud son of Thranduil. He always knew, from the second Legolas had mentioned Strider's name, that he would be involved, but the idea of tugging at the elf's strings was something he would not pass up. With a nod, he answered, causing the elf to do the same.

"Of course I'm in."

"I thought so" Legolas replied tonelessly, as brushed the dust from the stagnant air off of his clothing as he walked over to the door, and prepared to leave. "Now get some sleep and pack a bag, we leave for Osgiliath at dawn."

"Where are you going?" the dwarf asked, as he followed behind his fine companion, whose speed lessened as he turned back to Gimli with a hint of laughter on his ageless features. He approached the dwarf one more time, and in doing so, handed him the glass he had been holding since earlier, the smile still there as he responded.

"Master dwarf, I have been in the walls of this cave for the past six hours," he began, with narrowing yet amused eyes that were deceptively young. "I'm not going anywhere until I bathe."

*Well I hope this chapter was enjoyable for you, and given that I am finally able to type again, the next one will be up asap. I hope I made the characters somewhat believable. I know it's AU, but I don't want them to be too off key. I really don't know if Legolas was the boy toy type, but I'm trying to make him like the Rusty Ryan character. Wait….was he the boy toy type? Anyways, all comments or suggestion are gladly appreciated, and I hope to hear from you. Until next time, Adios.*