I'd say ''will you'' and ''would you'' are equivalent, neither more demanding than the other. But I just queried my significant other, English being her second language, and the first thing she said was that ''would you'' is more polite.
Tolkien would have been aware of the proper distinction, although I'm afraid I must here pass the torch to someone who knows these words better. Wouldst thou, wilt thou...
Perhaps Fordim will show up to help.
