This is the brief deleted of the unknown exchange between Thorin, Fili, and Kili, while the Dainsons are off having their own little family argument. This is at the beginning of the chapter "Troll Hoard," after the trolls turned to stone.

Nothing Going On

"There must be a cave nearby," said Thorin, the thought striking him as he turned around.

He then started giving orders to the Comapny. "We will split up. Half of you return to camp to recollect the equipment and check on the ponies. The others-Dwalin, Nori, Gloin, and Bofur-you come with me. There may be a hoard from where these beasts have dwelled, and more of where they come from, so be on your guard." He then turned toward his nephews. "Fili, Kili, come here."

Wincing nervously, both young dwarves obeyed, shrinking slightly away from Thorin's piercing glare.

"Do you know why we are here?"

They nodded. "Yes, Uncle," whispered Kili.

"We failed to look after the ponies as you ordered," said Fili, his eyes hardening but not meeting Thorin's, "and we carelessly put our hobbit in danger without foreseeing the risks. We realize this, and it will not happen again."

"Be sure that it does not." Thorin paced in front of them, eyes noarrowing. "But that is not all. You two had willingly put yourselves at risk when your lives could have ended there, and this time, it is not a running river that would have taken them. Kili, your actions were not heroic, but foolish. I will not tolerate such recklessness. Fili...may I ask what it was you were doing, exactly?"

Fili looked confused. "Uncle?"

"The girl...is there something that I should know?" Thorin said softly.

"Nothing."

"You call rolling on top of the girl, exposing yourself to the troll, and deliberately attempting to fight it off with your hands tied 'nothing?'"

"I am certain you would have done the same, Thorin," Fili said mildly, "if you had been in my place."

"Perhaps you are right, but that is not what I am asking."

Fili paused. He inwardly cringed when he realized that Kili may not have been the only one to notice his reactions around Maia. Especially when in danger of getting eaten by three giant mountain trolls.

"Whatever your feelings toward the Dainson girl, it has made you careless, and it ends now!" hissed Thorin, taking both his sister-sons by surprise. "If befriending her and her kin demonstrates such problems, particularly for this quest, then I will not allow it to continue if it ever happens again. Her life is of little worth compared to yours. Remember who you are."

"I remember, Thorin," said Fili, his face turning red with a barely controlled temper, "but what would you have us do? Protecting them from the wild is the only thing we can do for them, and to abandon them now after everything would be..."

Disgraceful, the word hung unspoken.

"They are our friends, Thorin," added Kili, who was grasping Fili's arm in a tight grip.

Thorin grunted. "Very well." He eyed Fili. "But if I find anything more going on, particularly with the girl-"

"Maia," gritted Fili, "and there is not. We are good friends, that is all."

After a minute longer, Thorin finally nodded and turned to leave. "Run back to fetch the supplies and ponies. Take the others, and meet the rest of us further up the hill."

When Thorin finally left them alone, apparently willing to take his word for granted, Fili let out a breath, though his face was red with mortification.

"You alright, nadad?" asked Kili gently, though his expression was grave.

"Nay, but I will be," muttered Fili. He then added, while glaring at the spot where Thorin had been, "Now do you see what I mean, Kee? This is why she shouldn't know."

"Aye," whispered Kili, but then nudged him, "but I'm still holding you to your promise."

While Thorin was speaking with Gandalf, Bilbo went into the trees to follow the Dainsons. Though it was his motive to make sure Maia wasn't too rough with Kyle or Lori, he mostly wanted to get away from the dwarves before they rounded up on him for his previous improvising. It only took him a minute's search before he heard their loud voices and found them arguing behind a nest of tangled roots.

Well, Thorin definitely had something to say to his nephews, especially to Fili. This shows strongly of why Fili needs to keep his feelings for Maia a secret. Ugh! Life can be so unfair sometimes, or rather strict dwarves king-uncles can be!

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