A/U, written for the “Salty” challenge at Tolkien_weekly.

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“What land is your purpose?” The outlander spoke their tongue in a stilted, halting fashion.

“We are taking salt and coffee to Tarqa.”

“This is a distant place?” Pale eyes stared out of the sun-burnt face.

“It lies to the south, through hundreds of leagues of jungle and desert.”

“I am hear you have need for one teamster more.”

“Yes, that is true, but the journey will take some months and you will find no men of Gondor in Tarqa.”

“Such pity.” The outlander laughed, a sound like the cracking of stones that have lain too long in the fire.