Since he takes so long to form a response, the only thing she can take away from it is that he didn't like the tale. Perhaps it's a cultural difference. The elves celebrate their victories because there are so few.

"They would have moved on again," Ellana answers. "They were far in the Anderfels, a desolate land of desert. Once the darkspawn were defeated, they would have traveled back to more hospitable lands."