To clear up any further confusion – Jon Snow is with Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon. As to how Winterfell was taken, that will be explained later on.
Jon Snow – Part One
He can feel the temperature rise as they travel further South, the snow slowly melts leaving Kings Road a slushy muddy mess, sticking to their pants and the girls dresses, weighing them down. They are fortunate though, warmer weather also meant more wildlife. They fish with crudely made poles along the side of the Trident and Rickon has taken to making crude traps to catch rabbits to cook on a spit over a fire. They've fashioned rocks into sharpened points to cut and skin what Rickon catches.
They've been stopped just before the Twins, in the last expanse of woods, for a day now, while Robb decides what to do. They are heading to the Iron Islands, Robb has confided to him while the other slept. Jon is more weary of the Iron born than his brother, he has never trusted Theon Greyjoy. But Robb is the heir of Winterfell, a fallen Lord but a Lord nonetheless now. And his brother. He will follow him anywhere.
They are not so fearful anymore, now that they have left the ruins of Winterfell behind them. They have carefully avoided villages in their travels but have heard whispers on the road, stories of the burning of Winterfell and how King Joffrey has placed his mothers cousin, Lancel Lannister as the Lord of the North, a new title. The other houses have bent easily to him the whispers say, and the Starks are no more.
It comes as a relief really, to know they are thought dead. It's safer for them. That's why Robb is hesitant. The Frey's will recognize him, there will be no lying to cross, once the Frey's know that the Stark children live the whole of Westeros will know, then they must pray the Iron Islands can protect them.
Jon worries about Arya; she hasn't slept well since they set off. When they stopped to rest, the others would fall down in exhaustion, their eyes fluttering closed before they set up the blankets at times. Not Arya though, she tossed and turned in her sleep, muttering names he did not know and words he could not understand, until finally she would give up on sleep altogether and wander the perimeter of their encampment.
They walked alone, sometimes behind the others, other times out ahead; their heads close together whispering back and forth. Jon could not keep secrets from her, and so what Robb told him he would confide in her. She questioned Theon's loyalty too. Perhaps more so than even Jon.
She questioned most of Robb's actions, picking at everything he did, dissecting it and then when he would send her away, cursing under her breath. He watched them now, arguing while Sansa cooked.
"It'll take us almost two moons to go back Arya," Robb's voice was tight, trying to reason with his younger sister, "besides, the Neck is full of swamps. It's far too dangerous for you and Sansa. Nevermind trying to get Bran across on horse. It doesn't make sense Arya."
Jon arched his eyebrow, waiting for Arya's reaction. It was sure to be explosive, she didn't take well to being told she couldn't do something. She liked being compared to Sansa even less.
"I could cross the Neck just fine," she crossed her arms, grimacing, "besides, it's a good deal safer than admitting to Walder Frey that you live while his daughter suffers at the hands of the bloody Bolton."
"The crannogmen helped Joffrey's men Arya."
"How can you be sure?"
"I just know, alright?"
Arya rolled her eyes, "the Reed's pledged fealty to the Stark's, they wouldn't do that."
"As did the Bolton's, but you trusted Jon when he said they were with the King's men," Rob's eyes darkened, "trust me Arya. The crannogmen helped them. Southern men would never be able to survive the Wolfswood without help from Northerners."
"The Bolton's are Northerners too."
"And bloody idiots!"
Sansa tensed as their voices rose, turning to speak, "Stop it you two! It won't do any good to fight, we need to stick together. Besides, Robb is right, it would make sense that the Reed's would help."
The two turned to her surpised, having forgotten momentarily that they weren't alone, "and how would you know this?" Arya questioned.
"Princess Myrcella was promised to Jojen Reed. Honestly Arya, do you ever listen?"
"Not to stupid gossip about stupid people."
Sansa rolled her eyes, "It was thought to be a, peculiar, match, but now it makes sense. The Reeds may seem to be an insignificant house, but Joffrey must have needed them for something."
The shadow of a smirk crossed Robb's face as he turned back to Arya, "See? The Reeds were involved. Now please, I need to think. Help Sansa cook or something."
Jon remained quiet, Robb and Arya were strong personalities, it wouldn't do to get involved and if he sided with Arya it would turn into an all out war between the siblings, that was the last thing they needed.
"I'm going for a walk," Arya announced, kicking at her skirts annoyed, "join me Jon?"
Robb bite his tongue, deciding against telling her it wasn't safe. Jon would protect her, they both knew that.
He nodded in agreement and stood, following her into the deep forestry.
"Mother and father have barely been dead a full moon and Robb already thinks he is the mighty Lord of Winterfell," Arya complained, kicking at pebbles, "if I had needle with me I'd stick him for talking to me like that."
Jon chuckled, though no longer a child at six and ten, she hadn't lost many of her childlike qualities.
"He is the Lord of Winterfell Arya."
"Winterfell's gone Jon."
Her voice cracked ever so slightly when she spoke, biting back emotion. Arya seldom cried since they began their journey, only allowing herself to feel anger. Jon knew this was how she kept going, still it hurt him to watch her morph into a vengeful, blood lusting person instead of his sneaky, always laughing Arya.
He watched her as she came to stop by a little creek, staring down into it thoughtfully, as if she didn't recognize the reflection. She had grown this past year into a woman, perhaps not as pretty or soft as Sansa, but there was something quietly attractive about her lean body, only the shadow of curves filling out her thin frame. Her long dark hair was swept away from her face in one long plait, revealing the hollow of her pale neck.
She caught him watching her, her steely eyes full of confusion.
"There were whispers these past few moons, of the Targaryen and her dragons," Jon said, quickly diverting her attention, his voice a hushed whisper. Even the woods had ears.
Arya nodded, "I heard father discussing it with Jory before the feast. Her name is Daenerys, they say she has white hair and purple eyes though no one in Westeros has laid eyes on her in years. Father thought she was plotting to take the Iron Throne from Joffrey."
Jon had heard this as well, and more. He was like a ghost at Winterfell and often went unnoticed, allowing him to hear many important private conversations.
"It would be her birthright."
Arya looked up to meet his eyes again, "She's all the way in Qarth though. Whose to say she really has dragons?"
"There's a reason the Dothraki still follow her, rumor says a red comet appeared in the sky when her dragons hatched and that she's nursing them until they're big enough to fly."
"I won't sit by at Pyke while you and Robb take back Winterfell. I'm not Sansa, Jon, I won't sit by idly." Her voice was pleading, searching Jon's face for his answer.
He knew she would say this, though Robb had not revealed what he had to decided to do beyond making it to the Iron Islands, they both knew he would return to Winterfell, and he would want Jon by his side. Rickon was too young, and Bran was a cripple since falling climbing.
"What do we do then Arya? Robb won't allow you to come."
Arya worried her lower lip between her teeth, her expression resolute, "We have to find Daenerys."
Jon was afraid she would say that.
xXx
In the end it was decided Robb would approach the Twins alone, so if things did not go well Jon could protect the others. He left just after the sun rose the next day, stepping out into the open sunlight for the first time since they had left Winterfell. It was a short distance from the woods to the entrance to the Twins, and the others stood on the edge of the forest, watching.
Arya had laced her hand through Jon's, her tight grip the only sign of life in her. He knew she worried about Robb, despite their fighting the two loved each other as fiercely as any siblings ever had and he knew if she had been allowed, Arya would have accompanied Robb.
Sansa was whimpering quietly, her arm around Rickon who was clutching his stone dagger, a constant companion since Shaggydog had disappeared with the other direwolves.
"He'll be ok, won't he Jon?" Rickon asked, turning his dagger over and over in his hands.
Jon stared straight ahead, willing his voice to calm, "Yes Rickon, Robb will be ok."
He felt Arya squeeze his hand harder.