Thranduil has the beginnings of one—I know he'd welcome your thoughts. And your hands, at that. Competence is in short fucking supply and I, for one—

I'm confident in him. I'd be even more confident if you were there, too. What do you think a strong bargaining position looks like? Talk to me like I'm a fool. I never did well, in Orlais.

( it's wry, more than anything else. practise on her, and be ready for the less sympathetic ears. )