Few minutes ago I was on my way to join Stormcloaks in Windhelm. Long story short, Idolaf Battle-Born was stupid enough to mock Grey-Manes just as I returned from saving Kodlak's soul, so I just cut his head off.
Yadda yadda, I payed my bounty and wandered to Windhelm. So as soon as I set my foot in there, three hired thugs came to claim my head. But as soon as they unsheathed their weapons, whole city was on their throats; Guards, homeless, patrons, even that Dark elf woman who's being mocked all the time. They massacred hired thugs, I didn't even get the chance to offer more than few blows.

Reason why I am mentioning this, I've never witnessed something like this in my Skyrim career. I had hired thugs on me many times, but I never had help from anyone. In Whiterun, when thugs are after me, guards are like; "Oh look, a fight.." and they move aside. Same thing happened in Solitude and Markrath.
But in Windhelm, for the first time I've witnessed someone actually aiding me against them. Is it perhaps good old Nordic love for battle that helped me there, because the true Nords hail from Windhelm, or was it just random?
Did anyone had similar experience like this?