At first, Tauriel laid out food for him. It was the best, something she could easily acquire as captain of the guards. He wasn't cautious. If Tauriel had poisoned the food he would die.
Luckily, she had other uses for him.
He even complimented her on it. She only raised an eyebrow in reply.
His bow needed some work. It needed to be repaired, and obviously wasn't of elvish make. She analyzed it while he ate. He ate at an incredible speed, and when she brought him back to his cell she gave him some medicine and a small flask of water. When asked why he needed it, she just said it was for what would come later.
He certainly got more than a stomach ache from what she heard later.
He was always excited when meals came around. Sometimes Tauriel wanted to question him on it, but she knew why he felt that way. Before she'd become captain of the guards she had experienced the same as him.
She would cry if it weren't for the joyed look on his face whenever his tray of food was brought to him.
Thranduil, as good of a king he was, could not get answers out of the dwarves. Tauriel was a master at it.
She sat on Kili's lap, giving him food by the hand. The smile never left his lips, and from what she could feel of his waste he was gaining back the weight he'd lost.
Despite what Thranduil and Legolas thought, this would get answers out far faster than threatening torture or keeping them locked up forever. He told her of Erebor and his dreams of seeing it, but also his doubts on if it would really be worth it. He had only heard stories of it. She listened, and pitied him.
The world truly was an awful place, and she had living proof other than herself that it was true.
Time went on, and the dwarves were far from leaving. Tauriel's eyes wondered over Kili. He certainly was doing better.
A smile crossed his lips, and she smiled back. This was the best part of her day.
"My uncle taught me a song about Erebor," he said. "Do you want to hear it?"
"Later," she said. "You really must try these rolls."