Eddard stood with Jon, Theon, and Robb atop the walls of Winterfell, overlooking the throngs of people surging along the Kingsroad. Wagons and carts stretched as far as the eye could see, disappearing over the horizon.
When Winterfell's riders and ravens spread the word, it caused a sensation amongst the people of The North, and they began to gather towards Winterfell from all directions.
They came from Deepwood Motte in the west, from the Mountain Clans in the north, from Last Hearth and Karhold. They came from The Neck in the south, from Barrowton, from the countryside outside White Harbor, from The Old Mountains, Flint's Finger, Widow's Watch, and Dreadfort. People drove their cattle and sheep, pulled wagons loaded with grain and daily necessities, and brought their families with them, heading towards Winter Town below Winterfell, just as they had done for countless winters over the past millennia.
The only difference this time was that it was still summer.
Robb frowned. "Father, I don't understand. At first, when you invited the people of The North to settle in Winter Town, no one came. Why are so many people coming now?"
Before Eddard could answer, Theon interjected, "Lord Eddard priced each house and one acre of land at 100 copper pennies. That's barely enough to buy a piglet. These farmers are looking for a bargain. They also have the chance to hunt legally in Winterfell, so they naturally came."
Eddard smiled. "Theon, you're only partially right. Do you know the deeper reason?"
Theon shook his head. Jon spoke up, "Lord Eddard, I do."
Eddard looked at Jon. "They say bastards are good at reading people, at seeing the truth. Jon, why are these people gathering at Winterfell?"
Jon said coldly, "Because of the fear of Winter."
That was it, the fundamental reason.
When Eddard had announced that Winter Town would no longer accept Northerners once the houses were sold, it had frightened the people of the North.
Summer had lasted six years, but even the longest summer had to end. The old men of the North had seen the power of Winter. Some winters could last for ten years, with food shortages and cold that could drag Northerners into an icy hell. When Winter came, Winter Town was their only hope.
When Eddard had invited the people to settle in Winter Town, they had either watched from afar or simply didn't want to come. But once they heard that Winterfell was selling houses in Winter Town at low prices and that the town would no longer accept people after the houses were sold, a tide of people, driven by their fear of Winter, began to surge towards Winter Town.
Outside Winterfell, a tent had been set up. Steward Wyman Poole was in charge of the house sales. For 100 copper pennies, one could obtain a house and an acre of land. People were lining up.
Jory Cassel, the captain of the Winterfell guards, led a troop of cavalry and spearmen to maintain order in the crowd. Farlan, the master of hounds, stood guard in the distance with a pack of hunting dogs.
The residents settling in Winter Town had their wagons and carts overflowing with goods. Eddard saw an old man with a white beard whose cart was piled high with wine, and a woman's cart was crammed with goats; a boy's cart held cages of chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits.
A butcher's cart was loaded with pork. Arya was chatting with a butcher's apprentice, and Bran followed his sister.
Sansa, Jeyne Poole, and Little Beth Cassel were moving through the crowd, their faces beaming with smiles.
When Eddard appeared in the crowd, it immediately caused a stir, and people bowed their knees to him.
A burly old man with silver hair walked up to Eddard. "Lord Eddard, my name is Karon. I'm a blacksmith. I worked in a blacksmith shop in White Harbor for decades, and I was also fortunate enough to serve Lord Karstark in Karhold."
"But every winter, I bring my family to live in Winter Town. I was born in Winter Town, and my three sons and six grandsons were born here. This is home. I'll never forget the Stark family's kindness in taking me in during the winter. However, this is the first time I've lived here in the summer."
Eddard smiled. "Karon, settle here then! Let's face the winter together. If you wish, you can also come to Winterfell and work as a blacksmith for me. I have Mick the Blacksmith, but I need more blacksmiths."
Karon nodded. "It's my honor to serve Lord Eddard. My sons and grandsons are all blacksmiths or blacksmith apprentices."
Now that more and more people were settling in Winter Town, the existing mills, blacksmith shops, and inns could not meet the needs of so many people. Eddard was planning to establish a forge in Winter Town, and he needed blacksmiths like Karon.
Ten days later, all the houses in Winter Town were sold, and nearly twenty thousand people had flooded into the town. At night, Eddard stood in the castle study and looked out the window. Every house in Winter Town was flickering with candlelight and torches.
Wyman Poole placed a thick ledger on the desk.
"My Lord, this is the registration list of every resident. Every house in Winter Town has been sold. Including taxes, the total income is 286,600 copper pennies. Winter Town is already full, but there are still many people who haven't been assigned houses. Some are requesting to live in the castle."
Jory Cassel, the captain of the guard, said, "My Lord, with the current overcrowding in Winter Town, it's difficult to maintain order. If the castle takes in so many outsiders, my guards won't have enough manpower. I think we should send these people back."
"No," Eddard refused flatly. "They've brought their families and traveled thousands of miles to Winter Town. How can we send them back? If the guard's manpower is insufficient, we'll recruit directly from the townsfolk."
Eddard turned to the steward, Wyman Poole, "Wyman, arrange for these people to stay in the castle. The abandoned fore-castle can be used; just clean out the rats and cobwebs."
Maester Luwin was startled. "Lord Eddard, didn't you say you wouldn't accept any more people once Winter Town was full?"
Eddard had indeed let it be known that he wouldn't accept any more people once the houses were sold and the town was full. This was just a tactic Eddard had used to coerce the people of The North to settle in Winter Town, but the honest Maester Luwin had taken it to heart.
Eddard sighed. "That's true, but I have a soft heart. I can't refuse my people."
Wyman Poole looked troubled. "Lord Eddard, Winterfell has plenty of empty space, but many more are flooding toward Winterfell on the Kingsroad. If we try to accommodate every Northerner, our castle's supplies will be depleted before winter arrives."
Eddard laughed. "Don't be so pessimistic. These people are bringing food with them, and it's not winter yet. We won't be eating into our stores. The land outside Winterfell will be cultivated soon, and manors will be built in droves. With the labor, our grain reserves will only grow."
"Perhaps!" However, Wyman Poole's expression clearly showed he wasn't convinced. "I can manage for now, but if there are too many people, I won't be able to find them places to stay."
Eddard gazed at the lights of Winter Town outside the window, a look of triumph in his eyes.
"Set up the tents in the warehouses, and build temporary shelters outside the castle. We'll be expanding the town soon anyway, and there will be more houses to accommodate those who come later."
(End of Chapter)