Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters were created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo. Based on "Asterix and the Actress" by Albert Uderzo.
Chapter Seven
Asterix was sitting in the tent, looking at the Romans (he had figured out they called themselves like that) with great curiosity. Strangely enough, he felt cold and shivered slightly all the time. But he didn't want to show it – he didn't want to look like a weeper.
"So what are we going to do now, Centurion?" one of the Romans asked centurion Idioticplanus.
"We've got to use him somehow…" centurion replied thoughtfully.
"We can ask them to give us their magic potion," one of the soldiers suggested.
"Hmmm… it's an interesting idea. But I'm not sure if their druid gives it to us though… But we'll try. We'll give them the choice".
Asterix couldn't understand what they were talking about. "Why would they ask for Getafix's magic potion? Why wouldn't he give it to them? It's strange… These Romans are crazy!" The last statement seemed so odd… as though he had heard it somewhere… If he only could remember! His head started aching again.
"The choice?" the soldiers asked. "What choice?"
"Either they give us their potion, or they give up and leave the village," Idioticplanus answered.
"Centurion," a Roman started humbly. "I don't think it's a good idea… They are unlikely to ever give up…"
"Then there will be one Gaul fewer!" Centurion said harshly. "And stop interrupting me! I forbid you to talk!" he added, seeing that the soldier was about to say something again.
"What do you mean?" Asterix felt reality slipping away from him so he had to ask something. Besides, he did want to know what they meant. The odd thing was that his voice was so hoarse… and it hurt to talk.
"You'll find out soon," Idioticplanus smirked.
Asterix was unable to think. His head became heavy and he fell asleep somehow.
Soon the Romans took the sleeping little Gaul with them, left their camp and headed to the village.
* * *
Sarsaparilla still got no answer about where her son was. Nobody seemed to pay attention to her as the panic rushed in the village. Everyone ran, carrying some objects or shouting something. Only Obelix did nothing – he seemed not to notice anything around. Sarsaparilla sat down and cried desperately.
Soon the Romans came closer. The Gauls were just in time to have drunk some magic potion. They left the village gate and ran forward. They were getting really close when suddenly Vitalstatistix exclaimed: "Hey, it's Asterix!"
Things like that were completely out of his character. Everyone stopped and stared at the Romans. Indeed, Asterix was among them. The little Gaul was half-asleep and couldn't stand by himself. He was supported by a Roman soldier who was holding a sword by Asterix's neck.
"Only one step forward," the centurion warned, "and he dies".
Having heard all that, Obelix (who had walked in the last row of the Gauls) pushed his way to the first row to see what was going on.
"If you touch a hair of his head, I…" the well-covered Gaul was literally choking with his helpless rage.
"What do you want?" Vitalstatistix asked finally.
"You have a choice," Idioticplanus smirked. "Either you give us your magic potion, or leave the village forever… or you'll never see your friend again… alive".
The villagers froze. The situation was too complicated.
"Oh, and if you tell us you are leaving you must swear by your gods you'll never come back," the centurion added.
Vitalstatistix just couldn't believe this was happening, and neither could his fellow villagers. They were petrified, terror visible in their eyes.
"You have time until tomorrow evening," Idioticplanus said. With that the Romans turned round and went back to their camp, leaving the Gauls in panic.
"See?" the Roman centurion said fatly. "It IS a great plan!"
That very moment Asterix fainted completely.
"What's wrong with him?" Idioticplanus asked nervously.
"He has a fever," one of the soldiers replied. "He's sick. What are we going to do about it?"
"We must be sure he's alive at least until tomorrow evening," centurion waved his hand.
* * *
"What are we going to do?" Obelix sobbed again. They were at Vitalstatistix's hut. Sarsaparilla was crying softly in the corner, where Vanilla and Impedimenta were trying to calm her down.
"I can't give them the secret of the magic potion," Getafix said. "I'm sorry".
"I… I am sorry about Asterix but he's alone, and there are a lot of other Gauls here," the chief was barely heard. "I can't sacrifice everybody for one person".
Obelix let his head fall to the table.
"But they will kill him!" he exclaimed.
"It would be a bad decision," Getafix said thoughtfully. "If they do, they will face a fate worse than death…"
"Yes!" Obelix hit the table with his fist and it broke into pieces. "I will make them see it is possible!"
The druid sighed.
"I hope they realize that, too…"
