A/N Here is my new story! First of all, let me tell you it's very dark, way too dark for an Asterix story so it may be kind of AU, I guess… There is also a lot of violence, pain, mentions of death etc. Maybe it's just that I was very depressed while writing it. So you've been warned. Don't like – don't read.

The first chapter is quite short but the others are going to be longer.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters were created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.

At Any Cost

Chapter One

Obelix was holding a long bloodstained sword which seemed way too heavy despite his superhuman strength. He was staring right forward, terrified of what had just happened. Had he done this? Right in front of him stood a staggering Asterix with a deep wound on his chest. Obviously, he understood this was the end. The weirdest thing was probably the change of his expressions: first it was extreme surprise as though he couldn't understand why his best friend had put the blade into his heart; then the surprise disappeared growing into deep thought which soon changed into… gratitude? Finally, the little Gaul's eyes shined with some kind of warmth and a friendly smile appeared on his face. He was still smiling when he fell to his friend's feet. It all happened just in a couple of moments. Obelix threw the weapon away with disgust, ran away sobbing and shaking badly and… woke up.

It was quite a challenge for Obelix to come to his senses after a dream like that. Drops of sweat were covering his forehead. The well-covered Gaul walked up to the window – it was still night. Having taken a deep breath he lay down again but didn't fall asleep till the very morning.

* * *

The hunt passed as usual. Well almost as usual: Obelix seemed to be miles away. Even Dogmatix was puzzled, seeming not to recognize his master, glancing at him from time to time and whimpering slightly.

"What happened to you?" asked Asterix. "You even don't notice the boars".

"Nothing," Obelix muttered, trying not to look at his friend. Every time he did, he saw the terrible scene from his dream which had been hunting his mind since he had woken up.

"But I can see something is wrong…" the little Gaul argued.

"Look, Asterix, will you let me think a little without you interrupting me?!" Obelix exploded. "Leave me alone!"

Asterix was slightly offended by those words but decided not to say anything. First, Obelix would calm down very soon, and second, the little Gaul was so surprised he had nothing to say.

* * *

However, Obelix's mood didn't change after they had returned to the village.

"I know what can cheer you up," Asterix suggested. "What do you think of a good punch-up with Romans?"

"No, I'm not in the mood," was the answer.

"Are you alright?" Asterix started worrying – this was not like his friend at all.

Obelix sighed.

"Yes," he said. "It's just an odd mood. And please forgive me for my behavior in the forest – I just wanted to think in silence for some time".

"It's okay, it can happen to anybody," Asterix smiled. The smile was so similar to the one Obelix had seen in his dream that he flinched unwillingly.

"To think?" Asterix thought. "Obelix worries me more and more…"

"Okay," he said. "Coming for a lunch? I invite you".

Obelix decided he had to take his mind off the bad things. And what could be better than nice roast boar?

"Yes, thanks," he said without much enthusiasm.

To tell the truth, roast boar was effective. Obelix stopped thinking about his dream, and even when some images came to his mind he just sent them away. It was just a bad dream after all!