Version 2.0
Winterfell was a sight for sore eyes. The towering wood walls stood strong against the biting northern winds, the hearths inside burning bright. As Brandon entered the gates, his people greeted him with smiles, just happy that he had returned home. Inside the keep, Elinor greeted him with an embrace. For a time, the weight of war was lifted, replaced by the comforts of home and family.
The days passed peacefully, though the tension of unresolved conflict still hung in the air until finally, Brandon got some news about the Slate lands.
Connell had made his move. He declared himself the King of the Slate Lands, shedding his old titles and taking on the name Connell Freeman. Connell had sent this message to every King telling of his alliance with the Red King, solidifying his position in the east.
The reaction in the North was swift and polarizing. Many kings, including the Ryder King and the Tower King, denounced Connell as a heretic and an opportunist. However, not all voices spoke against him. The Blackwood King, almost the same day, sent out his support, declaring that Connell's rise was a necessary challenge to the old order.
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Months turned, and life in the Winter Kingdom flourished. The winter crops were now a marvel of the realm and the most wanted commodity. Farmers tirelessly worked their fields, experimenting with breeding the hardiest strains of grain and vegetables. Livestock thrived, growing larger and stronger with the abundance of feed. Villages buzzed with activity, their people well-fed and bustling with energy. For the first time in years, people did not die of starvation or leave during the night to save food for the family.
The name of Benjen, the mind behind the crops, spread far and wide, his reputation becoming inseparable from that of Brandon Stark and the Winter Kingdom. Traders from every corner of the North talked about the Winter Kingdom's prosperity, and hungry peasants made their way towards it in droves, seeking salvation from the famine and poverty plaguing their kingdoms.
At Winterfell, Elinor moved through to the later stages of her pregnancy. Her presence brought joy to Brandon, and despite the strain of her condition, she carried herself well. Brandon found himself drawn to her more than ever, his heart both anxious and full of anticipation. The thought of meeting his second child gave him moments of joy.
Once the hint of the crops spread outside the Kingdom traders began to move. It began with a trickle of them, wary of a too-good-to-be-true deal, but they took the risks and filled their carts with goods in hopes of these winter crops. Soon, however, their numbers doubled and tripled and quickly the roads were crowded with desperate peasants, their eyes hollow with hunger. Many planning to move into these much better lands.
The markets of Winterfell swelled, teeming with the sounds of haggling and the clamour of the desperate. Some traders brought wealth, others news: word of the Winter Kingdom's prosperity had reached far and wide, and with it, envy burned in the hearts of others.
Reports of raiders soon flooded Brandon's solar. Every single outer village was attacked, not one survived, as they were the most vulnerable. Small bands of bandits struck swiftly, stealing crops and livestock. Then came larger bands, their numbers too great for village militias to repel. Even villages with palisades found themselves besieged by organized groups of armed men.
The stories were grim. Families were forced to flee their homes. Entire communities were left destitute as their hard-earned bounty was stolen whilst others picked up and moved further inland of the Kingdom, where often larger villages were, with bigger palisades and militias.
It was clear to Brandon that this was no coincidence. Jealousy of the Winter Kingdom's newfound wealth had driven many to violence. While the attackers ranged from common bandits to other kings' men. A massive target was pained on Brando now.
Brandon stood looking over the castle training grounds where the men had just finished training and where currently have the end-of-day meal.
"My King," Halvar said, "I've spotted the easy king, Blackwood, Ryder, Tower King's men, others are hiding themselves but they are trained and organised, so they are some Kings men. But there are also Bandits, desperate peasants, all kinds of people, this winter has been a desperate one and the harvesting season is coming up soon, we need to get rid of these problems."
"We've done too well," Brandon said, sighing heavily. "The success of the crops has made us a target. But I won't let these bastards take what we've built, looks like I am going back to war anyway."
The plan would be that Brandon would move everywhere taking any fighting he could, taking care of any problem, he saw. Jarl Amber would do the same. Both would defend every village they could and with the moving people settled others, giving them land to farm and protecting them whilst they set up the defences for the village. There was going to be a lot of building and a lot of defensive battles but that is what Brandon had to do.