Chapter 9: Winter Town Trip
""Winter Town""
A young girl wakes up in the middle of the night to the sound of bells.
"What? What's going on?" she asked, jumping out of bed.
The voices seemed to come from Winterfell. She walked out nervously, trying to figure out what was going on. When she came out of her shabby shelter, she saw many of the townspeople taking to the streets curiously.
The voices were indeed coming from Winterfell.
Winterfell... looked even more majestic at night. In the yellow light of the torches, its tall towers and walls looked even more daunting. Especialy, one of the towers was reaching skyward above the others. The old "broken tower". It's no longer the broken. There has been a constant renovation on winterfell for the past 2 months. I heard recently that, this was again the little Lord's idea. For those living in Wintertown, the renovations were good news. All construction work requires workers. These workers came from wintertown. So everyone was able to earn a little more money. Except for people like me of course.
There isn't a lot of work for a 12-year-old orphan girl to do. Sometimes I think, maybe I should accept the brothel boss's offer. I still haven't bleed, but it will be soon, and even after that, I won't have to work that way for a few more years. Lord Regent Stark was very clear about that. Children will not be employed in any brothel. I could be a waitress there for a few years, but I'm afraid of the aftermath. When I'm 16, they're going to ask me to "work". If the Starks hadn't been helping the townspeople with supplies for the past 2 years, I would have accepted the offer long ago. All these aids also came from the little lord. The men who delivered the aid always said, "We are here in the name of Lord Torrhen Stark." He's a lord who's half my age now, and he's helping us. I wonder what he is like.
While I was thinking these things, I went to a woman who was out on the street and looking at Winterfell like everyone else.
"Excuse me! What's going on here? Why the bells ringing?"
When the woman heard my voice, she turned and looked at me.
"Looks like we have a new lady. Lady Stark has give birth a daughter."
'So there's a new Lady Stark. I wonder what it would be like to live in a castle.' I thought.
""Winterfell""
---Torrhen's Pov---
It was pretty busy last night. Sansa was finally born. So we have a little feast today. My uncle and Robb are with Lady Catelyn and Sansa. That leaves me and Jon. My uncle was going to continue his daily work at first, but as a result of my insistence, he was convinced that a day's rest would do nothing.
So I took care of the little preparations for the feast since morning. It's good for me though. My uncle gives me more responsibility, even if it is a very small thing. It means he trusts me. Anyway, my work is almost done. I have other plans for today. To celebrate Sansa's birth, supplies will be distributed in Winter Town. This time I'm planning to go to Winter Town with the guards. Jon will come with me too. I didn't want him to be alone while Robb was busy. Of course he went to see sansa too, but he didn't stay long, like me.
"2 Hours Later"
I'm finally done with my work. Now we're going to Winter Town with Jon, the guards, Bennett and the 10 horse carriage carrying supplies.
After a short walk, we came to the Winter Town square. You may be asking why we walked on the way here. It's because I'm still too young to ride a horse and I refuse to ride a goddamn carriage for such a short distance.
The town square suddenly became crowded with our arrival. My guards lined up to keep them in order. I waited until the square was full. About 3500 people currently live in Winter Town. This number increases to 5 times in the winter, but in the summer, the town is usually like this. I'll have to change that too soon. I need a lot of people to work on my plans.
When the square was full, I signaled one of the guards.
"Silence! Be quiet! You are before of Lord Torrhen Stark, heir to Winterfell and the North."
After a few whispers, the square fell silent. I went to the platform prepared for my speech. In silence for a while, I looked at the gathered people.
'Well Torrhen, you can't screw this up. You rehearsed for it.' I thought.
After a while, I took a breath and started my speech.
"The people of Winter Town, honorable people of the North. The reason I came here today is to share my joy with you. As you know, another cousin of mine was born last night. In honor of this, I come to you with presents. I have also come to hear your wishes, needs and complaints."
I pointed to the tables placed to the side with paper and ink on them.
"Those of you who can read and write, can write their wishes, requests or complaints on their own. Those of you who do not know can get help to write from the guards next to me. I will evaluate all your letters as soon as possible and I will try to find possible solutions."
So I finished my speech and stepped aside. The guards immediately lined up everyone in the square.
---Ros's Pov---
I heard the little lord speak in the square. The supply aid was a pleasant surprise, but the real gift was that he would listen to our requests.
When the guards told us to get in line, I did it right away. Those who wanted to write a letter first went to the tables and prepared their letter and then went to get their food. While waiting for my turn, I watched the people take their rations and thank the young lord as they left. Most letter writers had the guards do it. After waiting for a while, it was finally my turn.
"Do you want to write a letter or not?" one of the guards asked.
"I want."
"well, do you need help?" he asked.
"No thanks. I can write myself"
He seemed surprised when he heard that I could write.
Then I went to the tables, got a paper and started writing.
---Torrhen's Pov---
I was watching people thank me as they left the square. A bag of supplies and the promise of listening to their problems can make these people so grateful. It's actually kind of heartbreaking to see them like this. At first, I only came here for my classical propaganda work, but as I walked the muddy streets of Winter Town and saw these poor people living in those ruined houses, I realized that at least I had to make their lives a little easier. If these people are going to support me, I must protect them. Maybe I'm being soft, but I have a heart too.
Also, to richer the common people is make to richer the state. If the people are rich, trade will increase and tax revenue grows. In other words, it will be useful for me to increase the welfare of the people.
While I was thinking this, a red head caught my eye. She was alone at the table writing her letter. Looks like 12-13 years old at most. It's amazing that a girl this age is literate in a place like Winter Town. After a while she finished writing and hesitantly approached the cars. I called out as she was about to put his letter in the bag.
"You don't need to put it in the bag, come here. I will hear your request now."
"Did you call me Milord?"
"Yes I did, come here."
the girl came to me shyly and a little bit curious.
"You don't have to be afraid, I just wanted to talk to you." I said.
This girl looks familiar to me for some reason. I think I may have seen her on the show, but she's a kid now. I can't quite understand who she is.
"Can I learn your name?" I said looking into her eyes. She was a really beautiful girl. She will be a pretty woman when she grows up.
"My name is Ros, Milord." said shyly.
Ros... Of course! The prostitute girl on the show. Now I found where I remember her from. When I looked at the girl again, I remembered how she ended up in the show. She died at the hands of psycho bastard Joffrey.
"Nice to meet you Ros. Aren't your mom or dad here?"
When I talked about her parents, I noticed that she got a little nervous.
"My father died a year ago, Milord. My mother died when I was very young."
I understand now. What such a beautiful girl can do to live alone in such an environment is limited. I think knowing that made me understand her future better. Maybe I can change this future...
"Tell me, Ros, do you want to work for me?"
She looked like she didn't believe what I was saying.
---Ros's Pov---
I cant believe. I really can't believe this. Now... I don't have to be afraid anymore, I won't have to do things I don't want to live in the future.
"Well, Ros, I didn't hear your answer, do you accept this? If you accept, you will become my personal maid and assistant."
I remembered that I still didn't answer when I heard the young lord's voice. I said to I will accept his offer immediately, fearing that he would think I had turned down his offer.
"Yes my lord! I would love to accept that." I said hastily as my eyes filled with tears.
The young lord approached me and wiped my tears with a warm smile on his face. "I'm glad you agreed, Ros. We'll return to Winterfell when we're done here." he said.
So I walked over to him and waited for him to finish. In the meantime, I met two other kid standing next to him. One was his cousin, Jon Snow, and the other was Bennet, my Lord's own Aide-de-camp. I had never heard of this title before. My lord said it was like a personal secretary or assistant.
While we waited, I heard my lord ask. "By the way, Ros, what did you write in the letter? If it's still something you need, I can take a look."
I smiled when I heard what my lord had said. Indeed, the ancient gods must have made me meet him.
"I asked you, my lord, if you could employ me as a maid."
"Well, I guess that's no longer necessary."
"Yes, my lord, I have no further requests."
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