A/N: Ugh I so apologize for all the little mistakes I'm making, sometimes I really just don't spot them no matter how many times I read and well I got no one to point them out for me haha I mean I definitely proof read but yeah I miss stuff all the time cause my brain always does it with my own work ;_; (it wants to embarrass me online) anyway enjoy this part and hopfully it won't have too many mistakes...

Noxious Snow

Part 3

Exactly forty minutes later, Jon and Robb approached the Winterfell gates finding three ready packed horses and the rest of the Stark family already gathered around to wish both a farewell and a safe return.

"This will be at least a two week trip so say what you need to say now and then we shall set off," Ned explained, hugging his wife one last time before getting on his own horse having already said his goodbyes to his children. Both Robb and Jon stood before the many eyes of the Stark family. Arya was first to react, bolting forwards with the speed of a wolf and wrapping her arms around both her brothers at once.

"Are you sure I can't come along? It'll be boring without you two around…" she complained.

"For the last time Arya, you cannot go," Catelyn snapped having reached the end of her nerve with her daughters constant pestering, that and the fact that Snow was directly in her line of sight which always ignited a fire in her veins. The little girl grumbled before finally retreating back to her place at her mother's side, but not before telling the boys to come back soon and in one piece. Next up was Bran and Rickon who came together to give their siblings a hug each. Bran had mumbled something about being safe whereas Rickon being too young to truly understand just showed his affection physically. Sansa however only made a small nod of a gesture at them both to at least acknowledge their leave but other than that seemed to have a mind drawn elsewhere. Lastly it came to Catelyn, to which Jon decided to clamber onto his horse leaving Robb alone as she clearly had nothing to say to him, at least nothing he wanted to hear. Lady Stark's face softened as she placed her hands gently on Robb's cheeks and smiled proudly at him, "be safe my son, I want to see you home in the same condition that you left. Know that I will miss you and will count the days until you return."

"Farewell mother," Robb bowed his head. With a kiss to the forehead, Catelyn let go of her child and watched him climb onto his horse with ease. The Starks only looked behind them once more to see a bunch of waving hands as they left Winterfell and began their travels into the wild.

For the first ten or so minutes of the journey, all was quiet as they dwelled within the thought of leaving Winterfell behind and watching as they strode away from their family knowing that it would be more than just a couple of days before they would be graced with their presence once more. Soon enough though, the silence was broken by Ned who led his sons down the narrow, single file pathway through the trees, "it is hard to believe that two of my sons are already fully grown men when it feels like only yesterday that I could hold you both in my arms."

Jon turned around on his horse to glance at Robb who held one of those 'please-don't-tell-any-embarrassing-baby-stories' expressions. Sadly for both Robb and Jon, Ned had not yet finished talking about the topic.

"You were always such a loud baby Robb, tearing the castle down with your cries, demanding almost constant attention. Jon on the other hand was the opposite – as quiet as a gentle wind, barely ever crying. If anything you were a little too quiet and well you were very shy, once old enough to move you would hide behind tall furniture or under the table whenever someone would enter the room, even if it was me. Eventually, I had you introduced to one another and like you were blessed by the Gods themselves, Robb stopped all his constant wailing and Jon began to come out of his shell, ever since then you two had been inseparable during childhood," Lord Stark reminisced, taking his own glance at his clearly embarrassed sons who were awkwardly looking around everywhere other than their father. A hearty laugher then escaped the older man's throat before his tone turned deeply sincere, "you know I'm very proud of the men you have both become, I could never have asked for more than what I have already received. If all my children grow up to be a strong as you two I will die a very happy man."

Eddard Stark continued his monologue about his sons, managing to recite as many embarrassing details as he could remember to make both Jon and Robb flush more than once knowing full well that this would probably be one of the final times he would be able to spend with them both. Like he said, his boys were men now and men went on their own journeys in life, some that could take them far away from home.

As the sky turned red and the sun began to say goodnight, Ned found a clearing in the forest that would do as a camping ground for the time of the moon as travelling in darkness was never an advised idea plus like any other human they needed rest if they were to finish their journey deeper into the forest where the bigger beasts made their home.

"We will spend the night here and set up camp, we will then continue our journey at first light tomorrow. Robb I want you to secure the horses, gather wood and make a fire. Jon and I will go hunting for tonight's supper, there are plenty of deer around these parts of the forest," Ned instructed, dismounting his horse and handing the reigns to his eldest son, "get your bow Jon, you will be doing the shooting tonight." Jon nodded as he unpacked his bow and a quiver of arrows from his horse. Although far better with a sword, Jon did have decent skill with a bow that would more than suffice at shooting down an animal out in the forestry.

"Good luck Jon, you better shoot us something good to eat tonight or I'm going to cut off all your precious hair in your sleep," Robb warned in a blatantly obvious jovial tone, snaking an arm around his brother's shoulders.

"Well then for the sake of my hair's survival I will make sure I don't miss," Snow stated playfully, shrugging himself out of his siblings hold so he could join up with his father who was ready and waiting for him at the edge of the clearing.

"I want a nice, crisp fire by the time we get back Robb," Ned commanded to his eldest who nodded in response before turning his attention towards his other son who was equipping his quiver.

"So you ready Jon?" Eddard questioned inspecting his son for any traces of nerves that could affect his aim, he found none.

"Yes."

It took an hour of near silently stalking through the forest finding nothing but fallen leaves and broken twigs for Jon to speak. By now the moons rays were filtering through the gaps in the tall trees, highlighting the earth like lunar lit waves on a river's surface, glimmering like starlight.

"Robb must be wondering where we are by now…" Jon sighed, pulling an irritated expression as he heard yet another owl call – which appeared to the only animal in existence in this forest.

"I'm sure we will find something to eat soon enough," Ned added, he knew Jon was patient but even he knew that his patience had a limit and this was indeed pushing it. If they didn't find something soon they would indeed have to travel back to the camp empty handed instead of risking Robb starting his own one-man search party which would be dangerous. After a few more steps Jon then stopped in his tracks to turn to face his father directly.

"What is it Jon?" Ned asked easily guessing by the look on his son's face that he had something important to say.

"Father…I just want to thank you, you didn't have to do this for me, you could have just taken Robb for his name day, but yet here we are," Snow acknowledged, bowing his head in gratitude towards the one parent that he actually knew.

"What kind of father would I be to neglect my own son? I swore the day I brought you back to Winterfell that I would take care of you and bring you up to the best of my ability, Starks always take care of their own," Lord Stark disclosed bringing a hand up to ruffle Snow's dark brown curls, once again noticing the sheer resemblance Jon had to his sister Lyanna.

"Do you think that maybe you can tell me about my mother now?" Jon asked meekly, not noticing Ned's eyes as they caught sight of the deer in the distance, grazing on the grass of the forest floor. Ned had indeed heard the question that his son was asking and thanked the Gods themselves for this well timed distraction as he really didn't have the heart to tell Jon the truth about his mother just yet.

"Jon, look," Eddard whispered, as Jon immediately dropped his question and followed his father's gaze towards the animal. Instinctively Jon's grip tightened on his bow as he carefully slipped out an arrow from his quiver not wanting to make any unnecessary noise to scare off probably the only chance they had at eating tonight. Making his way a little closer to get a better aim at the deer that was obscured by a think bark and many shadowy leaves, Jon's footsteps were almost soundless. Eddard watched from the background, observing his son slip deeply into concentration as he drew back his arrow perfectly and within a moment released. The arrow skimmed the air and within a blink the deer dropped to the floor in a heap. Jon broke into a smile as he looked behind him to see his father praise him with a pleased expression. After that Snow darted towards his fresh kill followed shortly after by Ned. The deer lay sprawled across ground, frozen in its moment of death was a glassy look in its black eyes. An arrow stood horizontal from its neck, imbedded deep into its windpipe with a small streak of blood trickling out from the well-aimed wound. Ned Stark patted his son on the back as he saw the clean kill, "you'd make a pretty decent marksman."