Dorella went alone into the Misty Mountains, alone that is except for her faithful horse Bryn. And she looked about her and saw that it was cold and lonely in these mountains and she said "Yes, this will do for me. Cold and alone in the mountains, that seems about right." For on the long ride into the mountains Dorella had become sick at heart thinking about all those she loved who had been lost to brigands and goblins.
But she wasn't alone for long, for as she rode north through the ice and snow she came upon a small Dwarf encampment. There she was greeted by 4 or 5 Dwarves, who were delighted when she greeted them with "Dorella Gillyflower, at your service!" but even more delighted when she opened her pack to reveal the various foodstuffs she'd brought from Rivendell, which she gave to the Dwarves. And in return they gave her a place next to the fire while they set about cooking and asking her questions about Rivendell and Bree. And after a meal of crispy bacon followed by bread and jam all washed down with hot tea, Dorella began to feel sleepy, and the Dwarves showed her a nice warm cave not far from the fire where she could set out her bedroll and get some rest. And no sooner had she laid her head down than she was fast asleep.
The next day, Dorella bid the Dwarves farewell, ready to resume her journey. As she mounted Bryn, she looked about her, and perhaps her confusion and anxiety showed because one of the Dwarves asked "Miss Gillyflower, you are heading to the North High Pass are you not? Do you know the way?" Dorella didn't answer, not wanting to admit that she wasn't quite sure of the way. And the Dwarf smiled and said: "It's easy, here I have a map. You'll want to head north quite a way, and then look out for this path east, here" and he pointed to a spot on his beautifully drawn map. "Here, you can take this if you like. Also, I have another" and he reached into his coat and took out another map, not so well drawn, depicting tunnels and with pictures of skulls all over one corner of it, which made Dorella shudder. "This is a map of Goblin Town" said the Dwarf. "Only it's not finished yet. Perhaps you'll find it useful. And perhaps you'll find the time to finish it for me, if you're heading that way?"
"Thank you," said Dorella. "But what are all these skulls you've drawn here?"
"Oh, yes well. I used those to mark the spots where I found danger. But I stopped bothering to draw them after a while because the whole place is full of danger. I'd give the whole place a miss if I were you."
Hardly heartened by these words, Dorella nonetheless thanked the Dwarf and took the maps and continued on her way.
