A/N: This story takes place before Snow Falls

Snow White took careful aim, held her breath and let the arrow fly, it struck home killing the rabbit instantly and she let out a sigh of relief. They hadn't had meat in a few days and it was a big animal. It was enough for dinner for her and Red at least. She gathered the fallen animal and took out her hunting knife to clean and gut the creature, something that a year ago she couldn't imagine watching much less doing. But a year ago seemed like such a long time ago, and that life was starting to feel like a dream she couldn't quite grasp. Still she was pleased with herself and Red would be happy. If they were lucky she'd found some prey too and they could have a feast tonight. The autumn harvest time was near and while they didn't have a bountiful table they could celebrate together.

Just ahead on the path she saw a fluttering piece of paper nailed to a tree and let out a small sigh. The Evil Queen, she didn't have the heart anymore to think of her as Regina, had papered the forest with wanted posters. Without looking at it she reached to tare the paper down but for once when she looked at it, it wasn't her own face looking back.

A Royal Proclamation, she read carefully, a small frown forming on her face before folding it and stuffing it in her pocket.

She found Red back at their camp, she had indeed done well having caught what looked like four trout. She smiled on seeing Snow's hands. "You are getting good with that bow, rabbit is small game to hunt with an arrow. We normally use traps for them."

"Hard to use traps when we can't stay in one place long," Snow shrugged and handed the animal to red to start cooking and took the fish to clean. She might be able to do the dirty work now but she was still not the best camp cook.

It had been a month since their encounter with the wolves, and a month since Red had killed her mother, and the light was finally starting to return to her eyes. After dinner was finished, Snow took the paper from her pocket, "Do you know what the Queen's Peace is?"

Red nodded. "Of course. It was a royal proclamation of temporary amnesty. Ten days at harvest when exiles and criminals could come into the towns and return to their families to help with the harvest without fear of arrest. It was one of the only ways some of the farms made it."

Snow didn't know that much, but she nodded as if she did. "It was my mother's idea. She convinced my father that showing royal mercy once a year was good for the kingdom."

"It's going to be hard on a lot of families without it now that your father is gone."

Snow handed the paper over to her. Red looked at it a moment and sighed handing it back, "You know I can't read that well." She said with a shrug. Snow winced, she was getting better about remembering that kind of thing but she hated to embarrass Red that way.

"It's a royal proclamation from the Evil Queen, for this year's Queen's Peace. I was thinking…."

Red's eyes went big. "No."

"She can't hurt me during a peace."

"She's a mad woman, Snow, she wants you dead. We should take the ten days to go deeper into the forest while the Black Knights aren't chasing us."

Snow sighed. She knew Red was right of course. "I just… want to see my parents graves."

"Your parent's graves … in the Queen's castle?"

Snow nodded without saying anything.

"You are such a sweet girl, Snow. Sometimes I think my job is to protect you from yourself."

"Sometimes so do I." Snow fingered the wax of Regina's seal and put the paper away. A foolish thought.

The next day they were walking together along the river, away from the cities and towards the endless forest having decided that even if the Queen's Peace was a trick it was wise to try and use the time it gave them to get further away. Red heard the horses… or smelled them… before Snow did. She sent Snow into the forest for cover, after all it was her face they knew not Red's. When the Black Knights arrived they didn't dismount.

"Can I help you?" It was the daylight and not wolfstime so she couldn't attack them with anything but her bow if the men were seeking something other than information.

"Do you have information on the bandit Snow White?"

Red did her best acting, "If I did I wouldn't be hunting for food for my family, I'd be living on the Queen's gold."

The knights laughed and looked between each other before one of them smiled. "She's been looking forward to meeting you."

The lead knight laughed and threw a bag of powder in Red's face and she dropped to the ground unconscious. Snow reached for her bow there were many knights and she wasn't quite yet a fighter. Still she thought about the paper in her pocket.

The Queen's Peace.

When she could go and beg for her friend's life.

Red woke up her hands shackled and chained to the floor. "Please forgive my lack of hospitality but I have a healthy respect for your strength and I wouldn't want you killing my men."

Red noticed that she was still wearing her red cloak and outside the cell was standing a striking woman in a dark blue gown with pearls and diamonds. She didn't need an introduction. "Your Majesty…"

"Good, you know me. I thought you were a smart girl. Though making friends with Snow White was not your wisest move, we'll forgive that as you are young and something of a desperate soul."

"I don't know what you are talking about, Your Majesty."

"Do not lie to me," the anger flashed in her eyes and Red wondered if she was a dead woman.

"She knows I wouldn't want her to risk her life for me."

"Oh don't worry dear, I know your little friend very well. Capturing you was the point. She will come in on her own to petition for your release."

Red's eyes narrowed.

"The Princess and I have much to discuss. And you might even survive this." The Evil Queen smiled, "But I wouldn't count on it."