A risk worth taking

A guest asked for a oneshot of Regina attacked Snowing's castle, so they (along with Emma) are hiding in the forest. Emma is 2 and falls into their bonfire at their camp. Snowing panic trying to treat her burns and hope they can get her to Doc.

Snow and Charming couldn't deny there were certain benefits to living the peasant/bandit life. There was less pressure on them in many ways. However, until they had enough people on their side to take back their kingdom from Regina they were stuck travelling from village to village trying to rally supporters. Snow and Charming had found this lifestyle a lot easier when it was just their safety to think about- they could each fight their own battles and fight them well- but now Emma was with them fighting was much trickier. They always had to make sure she was always safe. Regina and her men were still out mainly for her, where Snow and Charming kept their hearts. She had been so little when her home had been taken from her, yet she had coped like such a little trooper. She seemed to love the camping lifestyle. She enjoyed being close to nature- taking after her daddy. Tonight was one of the colder nights of winter, so Snow and Charming decided to light a bonfire, not wanting Emma to catch a chill. Emma enjoyed the flickering bright lights and crackling sounds the burning wood created. She would sit in awe on her mother's lap and just watch until she fell asleep during the nights her parents decided to take the risk of being spotted by the smoke.

But tonight is where things went wrong. Not because they were spotted, but because Snow and Charming took their eyes off of Emma for just a second when they thought they heard someone approaching. That was all it took for Emma to walk towards the pretty bright lights she loved so much. As soon as her hand reached out to touch some of it she let out a bloodcurdling scream. Snow and Charming bolted back to where she was. Luckily, they always kept a bucket of water beside their bonfire in case they needed a quick getaway. Charming quickly dowsed Emma in water, but they could tell her hand still needed treatment.

"We need to take her to Doc. He's the only one I trust to treat her just now." Snow said, picking up the howling Emma. "Get Neri ready to ride. We have to leave now. I don't want to risk this getting worse or infected."

"Snow, Doc still lives in the village closest to the palace, Regina makes him stay there because he does the best potions in Misthaven. I want her to see Doc too but we need to make sure we're prepared for the risks-"

"The risks be damned, Charming. If Regina thinks she's stopping me from healing my child then she's got another thing coming." Snow said with determination. Charming nodded, but before getting the horse ready he quickly grabbed their cloaks. They'd need to be hooded that close to the palace even though it was late at night.

Snow and Charming's hearts pounded harshly against their chests as they drew closer to Doc's cottage. The atmosphere had shifted to a tense, frightened mood hanging around the air. But they had come this far. Emma's hand was badly injured, and they trusted only Doc to mend it.

They eventually made it to his cottage. It was the dead of night, so they hadn't been approached by any guards. Charming helped Snow and Emma off the horse before tying her up round the back of Doc's house. The family then creeped in the back door. They found (or more heard) Doc snoring on the now only occupied bed of the seven in the house.

"Doc." Snow hissed, shaking him. "Doc, wake up!" Doc made a startled sound, sitting up in his bed. "We don't have much time, we have to disappear by daylight. Emma burnt her hand badly on our bonfire. Do you have a potion to heal it?"

"Of course." Doc said sleepily. He always kept potions for common ailments such as burns in stock. He used a candle to help him light his ways and read the labels until he found the right vial. He picked it up and returned to the princess, coating her hand in the potion.

"Within a couple of hours that should have it healed up nicely…your presence is missed here, all of you. Regina is a cruel queen. Please, hurry to rally the others."

"We are Doc, I promise." Charming said, quickly shaking the man's hand. "We must go now. Thank you." Then as quickly as they had arrived, the family vanished into the fading darkness of the night.