Chapter 253: Great Migration Plan
Winterfell, Stark Lands
POV of Domeric Bolton
"What else?" The King asked.
Domeric took out another map, a map of the Seven Kingdoms this time, and pointed at King's Landing.
"Kings Landing has a current population of about 650,000." He said, "Of those, about 350,000 live in abject poverty. Begging on the streets, stealing purses, doing menial labor, and eating from trash. Their lives are a horror story, and they contribute nothing to the city except for bolstering its population and making the city smell of shit and piss. I would like to ask for your grace's permission to relocate these people to the New Gift. The faster we can do this, the better it'll be. I'll send my men to teach them how to farm. They'll add to the economy of the North, and the addition of this many people would give us an addition of 2,000 men for the defense of the Wall."
King Robert frowned at that and remained silent for a long moment.
"I'll not force them to relocate," King said while shaking his head. "But if you can offer them a better future and they leave on their own, then I'll not stop them either. This'll be in your hand."
"Yes, your grace." Domeric said and pointed at Gulltown, "Gulltown also has a population of about 200,000 people. Half of them are living in poverty. I would like to ask to be allowed to take the men from there as well."
"I'll allow it." The King said, "Anything else?"
Domeric nodded. "The Crown does not tax the North a lot. Mainly because the North is the 2nd poorest Kingdom, and its lands don't produce much. However, it still taxes us on timber, clothing, iron, wool, cattle, leather, and a variety of other goods. I would ask for the Crown to forgo the taxes from the North until the end of this Winter. It'll be of a lot of help to the Small Lords and help them prepare well for the Long Night that's to come."
"Done." The King said without a second thought, "What else?"
"That will be all for now, your grace," Domeric said. "I would have asked for you to send people from South to North to guard the Wall, but…"
"But the pampered shits won't come here. I know." The King said and sighed. "Even with all the stories and the Ice Sword, if Ned is not my friend, then I wouldn't have believed you. Hell, I still don't know how much I believe you. But this will not be enough for the people of the South. If you show them an Ice Sword, they'll claim that it's something you found in one of your expeditions and are using the White Walkers as an excuse to strengthen the North so that you could rebel in the future." The King bellowed a laugh before he became serious.
"I heard that you brought a Wight with you when you came down from the second expedition." The King said to him.
Domeric nodded. "I did. But one of the fanatics of the Faith of the Seven considered it an abomination to all that was living and burned it down before we could even show it to all the Lords of the North. Thankfully, many of them believed our account, and the ones who were skeptical joined in as well. The stories of White Walkers are still known in these lands. They believed us, and now we've started the preparation for the Great War."
"Great War… hah! I like the sound of that." The King said. "You must bring one of these wights to South, Domeric Bolton. Without it, the people of the South will not believe you. Hell, I doubt all of them would believe you even if you show them a living, breathing White Walker. But most of them will. And it'll be easier for me to send help up North that way."
Domeric frowned at that. "The last time I went up North, I almost died. And my men would have followed the same fate shortly after me. Finding a White Walker is a challenging task. Trying to find one and then killing it is even more difficult. But the fact is that it is very likely that all the Wights under a White Walker die if you kill the White Walker. So, I'm not sure if we'll be as lucky this time."
"I know. But this is a task that someone must do. And you're the man with the greatest experience in going beyond the North." The King said and put his hand on his shoulder, "You must do this task, Lord Bolton. For your people."
Domeric pretended to think about it, and then he nodded. "I'll prepare my men for another expedition as soon as I go back to Dreadfort."
"See to it, lad." The King said before he turned to Lord Stark, "Anything else I could do for the North, Ned?"
"The help of the Royal Fleet in transporting the people to the North will be appreciated." Lord Stark said.
King Robert nodded, "I'll tell Stannis to do it. Anything else?"
"No. That will be all, your grace." Lord Stark replied.
"Your grace, I feel there is one more matter I must mention. But it is a rather delicate matter. It must be heard only by you and Lord Stark," Domeric said, looking at the King, and then shifting his gaze to the king's two guards. His meaning was clear.
"Ser Meryn and Ser Barristan have heard more than you ever imagined, lad. Especially while they waited outside the King's chamber." The King then let out a short laugh and continued. "Whatever you have to say, you can say it in their presence."
"I'm sure they've heard a lot by now, your grace. But I'd rather not mention this unless you and Lord Stark are alone. Please consider it as if I never said it." Domeric said.
The King grunted, was silent for a moment, then turned to his guards and said, "Barristan, wait outside with Meryn for a moment."
"I cannot leave you unprotected, your grace." Ser Barristan protested, but the King gave the order again.
"Leave us alone. I don't think Bolton would try anything, and Ned is with me."
"Yes, your grace," Ser Barristan said, and he and Ser Meryn left the solar.
"Speak, lad," King said.
"First of all, you may not like what I'm about to say, and I don't have any concrete evidence to prove it. But I still think you need to hear it." Domeric said.
"Spit it out, Bolton." The King said impatiently.
"Jon Arryn was most likely killed," Domeric said.
"What?"
"WHAT!!!"
Said the King and Lord Stark at the same time. In contrast to Lord Stark's silent surprise, the King suddenly jumped to his feet and shouted.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.254: Giving Some Warnings
Ch.255: Sansa and Domeric
Ch.256: Sansa Takes Off Her Mask