A really interesting thread and very interesting thoughts, unfortunately I came a little bit late and now I can't think of anything I might add. Perhaps later
Only one thing to that thing with Thranduil you mentioned:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Might
So it seems that the Wood-elves had a system of laws, giving the king the right to hold strangers prisoners.
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I find it likely that the Wood-elves didn't need to have a system of laws (like a written codex or just tradition - but I'm not saying they didn't have) from what you quote here - I think that the king of Wood-elves has the right to decide what to do with the prisoners just because he is the king. And when Thranduil says "I have the right", he, in my opinion, does not mean "the law gives me the right to..." but just "because you made so much of a mess in here, you should tell me what's up!" A little bit aggressively, maybe, but not from position of law, but from a position of someone who sees a stranger parking a car on his new-mown lawn.