Hodor helps Bran dress for a meeting with Lord Wyman Manderly, who has come to Winterfell for the harvest feast. They pass the practice yard on the way to the great hall and see Big Walder and Little Walder joust each other. When the two Freys see Bran, they mock Hodor until Maester Luwin comes to put an end to it. Bran arrives at the hall, where Ser Rodrik and Lord Wyman have already begun eating. Lord Wyman suggest establishing a mint at White Harbor and building a fleet. Ser Rodrik says he will pass those suggestions on to Robb. The talk goes through midday, and Maester Luwin has Poxy Tym bring lunch. Lord Wyman brings up Lord Halys Hornwood's widow, Donella. She was born a Manderly, and Lord Wyman suggests that she become one again by marrying him or his son Wendel. He also mentions that Lord Tywin has sent him a letter offering to return Wyman's captive son Wylis if Wyman will sit out the war. Lord Wyman does not plan to accept the offer.

Lady Donella arrives at Winterfell that night and meets with Bran, Maester Luwin, and Ser Rodrik the next day. She states that the Bastard of Bolton¹ is massing men at the Dreadfort and may be coveting her lands. She says he is a horrid man and that he and his servant Reek engage in shocking acts of debauchery. After she leaves, the three men discuss what to do. There is no heir. The Tallharts, Flints, and Karstarks all have ties to House Hornwood through the female line and the Glovers are fostering Lord Halys's bastard² at Deepwood Motte. With the meeting over, Bran has Hodor carry him to the godswood. Summer greets him when he arrives, but Shaggydog slinks away. Osha is there too, swimming in one of the pools. She asks Bran if he has had more wolf dreams. He denies it, but she knows he is lying.

That night, Bran dreams of the three-eyed crow and is awakened by the arrival of Mors and Hother Umber. Mors wants leave to marry Lady Donella, and Hother wants ships to defend against wildling raiders crossing over the Bay of Seals. Ser Rodrik orders the Umbers to work with Lord Wyman to build the needed ships. The Glovers and Tallharts arrive next. Lady Sybelle is holding Deepwood Motte for her husband Robett, but she sends her steward to Winterfell. The Tallharts are represented by Ser Helman's brother Leobald, who reports that Helman's son Benfred has raised a company of teenage lancers who call themselves the Wild Hares and gallop around singing songs of chivalry. Ser Rodrik is not pleased and tells Leobald to make sure Benfred stays at Torrhen's Square. Leobald also speaks of Lady Donella and suggests sending his younger son, Beren, to foster with her. His wife³ is sister to Lord Halys, and he suggests that Beren might take the Hornwood name if he were named heir. Other houses send their regrets. The Boltons decline to come, and the Mormonts and Karstarks all went south and have no representative to send, while Lord Ondrew Locke is too frail to make the journey and Lady Lyessa Flint is pregnant and cannot travel. Howland Reed has not journeyed from his home in many years. The last to arrive is Lord Medger Cerwyn's son Cley, who tells Bran of Stannis's proclamation. Hearing about Cersei and Jaime's incest causes Bran to remember being pushed off the tower as he dreams that night.