The Elvenking arched an eyebrow at her warily, his head tilting again. He was seriously considering her offer. "You would do such a thing? And what, pray tell, would you expect in return?"

Mel knew he was only asking as a matter of formalities. If he believed that she really would retrieve the gems of Lasgalen for him then Thranduil would give her anything she wanted, they meant that much to him.