A/N: Rating: I've gone for M to be on the safe side, since there are some things that might bother some people. I've lowered this to T, since there are no 'suggestions of adult-themes' - just whump.

This has not been beta'd so any mistakes are mine. Hopefully, there should not be many since I have gone over this many times. So, enjoy!

Disclaimer: BBC owns everything, I own nothing.

Introduction:

It was one of the harshest winters in living memory, snow lay thick and heavy across the whole of the country and the temperature was so cold that people could not leave their houses for more than a few minutes at a time. The very young and the very old suffered the most and there had been some deaths caused by the extreme cold. In an attempt to save the poor in the lower town, Arthur had opened the palace itself and offered shelter to any and all who would come. The result was that most of the city was now crammed into the palace, making it confined and rather messy but the sheer mass of bodies kept the temperature up and each citizen had brought whatever food or wood they had and added it to the general stockpile. It was not the most pleasant way to pass the winter but it kept all of Camelot's citizens safe and in relatively good health.

The king also sent out riders to most of the outlying villages to see how his people further afield faired. Most of the riders returned with news of suffering and loss, whilst others returned having been unable to reach their destinations, even the warmest clothing and covering the horses only helped so far before the cold was too much. Winter was always a difficult time for the common people, food was scarce and any wood had to be rationed since good, dry wood took time to produce. It bothered Arthur that whilst he could help the people closest to the citadel, the villages that lay further out were basically on their own. He charged taxes so that they could be protected but when they needed protection from anything but violence he was unable to do anything.

Putting the issue to the Council (after the council chambers had been cleared of families and bedding), Arthur asked for suggestions only to be met with blank looks from most of the noblemen sat at the table.

"Sire, I am unsure as to what you expect us to say," began Ewan of Chester, "you have already done more than you needed to by allowing peasants to live in the palace. It is unfortunate but this is the way of things. Commoners die during the winter months." His words encouraged hesitant nods from several of the other councillors.

"So you don't think there's anything wrong with taking these people's food and furs as tax and then abandoning them when such things may have saved them?" Arthur demanded.

Ewan frowned in confusion. "It is your right to take those taxes, my Lord."

"It is not my right to sit here enjoying the warmth of a good fire and hot food when my people are dying!" Arthur growled. "Some of the villages are too far out to reach, as much as it pains me, there is nothing more I can do for them. Those villages closer though I will do whatever it takes to help them."

"What are you thinking, Sire?" Leon asked.

"We will split the knights into groups and send carts and horses with them to gather as many people as possible and bring them back here."

"My Lord, you cannot be serious!" Ewan exclaimed, "The palace is already overrun with peasants, where will we fit more?"

"I do not care, Ewan," replied Arthur dangerously, "if I end up with five families living in my chambers! We will find space!"

And so it was decided. A day later all the knights were sent to any villages that could still be reached with carts and horses to collect any who could be found.