Summary: Thorin and Dwalin worship and dote upon Fili. Their favoritism annoys Balin to no end. Missing scene from The Hobbit.

Author's note: Originally this was just supposed to be a scene that Tolkien mentioned but failed to expand upon ... then somehow a plot accidentally formed. Now there's actual backstory and characterization. Also, it's mostly from Balin's POV because why not?

Then one of the ponies took fright at nothing and bolted. He got into the river before they could catch him; and before they could get him out again, Fili and Kili were nearly drowned, and all the baggage that he carried was washed away off him.

- J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

As the sun dipped below the horizon, both the rain and the dwarves grew colder. Many of them groaned about missing Gandalf, and finding a semi-dry patch of forest did nothing to raise anyone's spirits. Balin's hood and beard were soaked through, leaving him to shiver uncomfortably.

Thorin shuffled to find a dry spot under their clump of trees for his bedroll, then prodded Bombur and set him to the task of supper. The fat dwarf normally grumbled when given chores, but at the suggestion of food he was soon puttering with supplies while Oin and Gloin argued over the cookfire. Bilbo hovered near the pots and pans, looking lonely without the wizard and observing Bombur's technique.

Before long, the entire company were milling around, digging up dry bowls so their meal might contain less rainwater than meat. The storm showed no sign of dissipating, and everyone scattered about to find a dry seat.

Balin filled his bowl with the thick mutton stew and pressed as close as he could under a rocky awning that had not yet been occupied. The whole group ate quietly, in bad spirits with the exception, as always, of the youngest brothers.

Thorin's nephews had ducked under the low branches of a young oak and pressed close together between two tall roots. Balin rolled his eyes when he noticed their weapons were stacked carelessly in a puddle, but couldn't object-practically the whole of forest floor had become a puddle.

The pouring rain drowned out most sound in their camp. Fili told a joke only his brother could hear, and Kili howled with laughter. As though there had a been a crack of thunder the nearest pony, a white male with a load of food strapped to his saddle, startled at the sound. The rest of the ponies sensed his fear and began struggling nervously, and Balin and the company sprang up to grab the beasts before more disaster struck.

The first white horse was overcome with inexplicable panic; he twisted fearfully, knocked Dwalin to the ground, and bolted away towards the river. The camp went into an uproar whistling and calling the beast back, but their efforts went unheard or ignored, and soon he was knee-deep in icy white rapids.

In mere seconds, Fili and Kili had stripped off their weapons and coats and splashed after the pony. They tossed their boots back to shore as they ran.

"Fili!" Thorin roared after them, but he and the rest of the company were preoccupied keeping the remaining ponies from also dashing off. Balin, too, could only watch in fear, both hands on a bucking mare, as the youngest brothers threw themselves against the hurtling rapids to retrieve the errant horse.

AN: If you're looking for more Fili/Kili action, do check out Ch2-and there's more to follow. Sorry for the uneventful intro.