Aragorn's Ancestors

[Gilthalion]

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Re: the debate turns canonical

I appreciate Lindil's plea for a peaceful discussion, for I would not wish to see this one ended ended in anger. It is fascinating to one such as myself who does not have the resources you folk cite.

(It also seems to me that constructing a new Silmarillion is not &quot;easily contrive[d]&quot; however one goes about it!)

My questions for y'all are about the pragmatic issues (not that any of this has anything to do with the original question of the thread, which I think is answered):

What size populations are we discussing here, and how far were they separated? How much communication was there between them? How much did it really matter on a day-to-day/year-to-year basis to the elves which &quot;king&quot; or &quot;chieftain&quot; was named High King, or how long it took to resolve the issues?

Certainly, a population that had crossed the Helcaraxe, slain their kin at Aqualonde, and set off after Feanor against the wishes of the Valar, would have quite an interest in who their leader would be. But would they be willing to take a longer view of the settlement of such disputes (especially in light of their Enemy not so far away)? What was the actual role of the High King of the Noldor? How much autonomy did the lesser kings/chieftans have? How deeply was loyalty bestowed and to whom?

These are the things that this discussion makes me wonder...

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