Thorin lacked tact and he knew that. This was why Balin was a trusted advisor and go to concerning matters that he himself wasn't good at. But neither Balin nor Bilbo were here to assist him, he only had their wise words of counsel. So he shook his head, wondering why she seemed to want to defend him suddenly, but then Bilbo's face came to mind and he immediately silently understood.

"He isn't being seen in an ill light. But what do you plan to make of it?" It wasn't the easiest way to put this but for the life of him, Thorin had no idea what to say. He had to know the other's intentions for Kili was bent on defending her and had worried a lot about how Thorin would handle this.