Gatafix had noticed how quiet it had gotten. All the customary sounds of village life; talking, working, arguing; they were absent from the morning. It was as odd a feeling as if all the birds and all the insects of the world suddenly fell silent. It left only an empty perception. A shadow of how things should be. Gatafix didn't like it...he didn't like it all. It made him want to rush outside and shout at the top of his lungs so that the dreadful quiet would be shattered. He wanted to run out there and start one of those village brawls he so disapproved of. Anything would be better then this.

But he couldn't. He had to stay with Cacafonix. And it wouldn't have done any good anyway. A glance out the window and the druid could just make out the villager's standing lined up on the parapet of the village gates. He was curious as to what they could be watching so intently.

Gatafix sighed. He would know soon enough. He sat back in a chair he had set up beside his bed, close to his injured friend.

The light sound of movement caused the white bearded man to turn back to his patient. Cacafonix was shifting, his mind trying to make its way back to consciousness. He slightly tossed his head from side to side weakly. Gatafix gently laid a hand on the bard's arm, careful not to touch any of the angry-looking burns. A moment later, Cacafonix's eyes fluttered open.

He just sort of stared into space at first; his expression blank for the most part, with just a hint of confusion. The eyes themselves were unfocused, roaming the ceiling uncertainly.

"Cacafonix..." The druid's voice was softer then he had intended, and the bard didn't hear it. He tried again, louder, but still gentle. "Cacafonix?"

The thin musician's gaze turned to him at once, struggling to focus on his face. His expression became even more confused, greatly worrying Gatafix.

"Cacafonix, it's me...Gatafix."

Much to the druid's relief, the bard's confusion quickly became a look of recognition. He gave a weak smile, trying to sit up. The smile faded at once as the many cuts, bruises, burns and other injuries practically screamed in protest. The pain alone was nearly enough to render him unconscious once again. He fell limply back onto the mattress, breathing heavily. That's when he noticed how much his throat hurt.

"Don't do that, Cacafonix!" Gatafix said in alarm. He hadn't expected his patient to try to move. "You are very hurt, you must stay still!" His voice softened as the obviously sharp discomfort subsided in the musician's face. "Now, you are in pain?" A silly question, but he asked nonetheless.

Cacafonix nodded miserably. He didn't even try to speak, his throat was too sore. It was painful enough just moving his head.

The druid shook his own sadly. "That is not very surprising. You...you were badly burned. And your right ankle is broken." He stopped there. Causing undo stress in his patient would do little for the bard's health. He decided not to tell him about the other...possible injuries.

Cacafonix was slowly beginning to remember what had happened. He could feel the throb in his leg, though he hadn't noticed it until Gatafix had mentioned it. He could also feel the burning sensation all over his body, due to the places where the fire had managed to get him. The fire! The flying ball of flame coming...coming at him! Can't get away! Pain! Fire!...Help...

"Cacafonix?...Cacafonix!" The voice cut into his thoughts. His eyes focused back on Gatafix, who had somehow shifted from his chair to being seated on the bed, griping the bard's wrists gently, but firmly. The bard blinked a few times, before settling back into the cot, weak and terribly tired.

Gatafix slowly released his hold, but remained on the bed. He was really quite alarmed. One minute Cacafonix had been perfectly fine, the next he had become withdrawn into his own world. The bard had turned terribly pale and had started shaking. It had taken a lot to snap him out of it, which frightened Gatafix far more then he would ever have admitted to anyone. It also bothered him that the bard had not yet spoken. Even in the throws of whatever invisible terror he had just experienced, Cacafonix had remained absolutely...silent. Just like the village outside.

Gatafix was relieved, however, that, if Cacafonix had indeed lost his voice, the bard was still blissfully unaware for the moment. His throat probably hurt, which meant he would refrain from even trying, at least until the pain went down. The druid sighed as he watched Cacafonix's eyes slowly closed in sleep once more, thoroughly exhausted from his short time conscious. Gatafix only hoped he was wrong; that Cacafonix still had his voice.

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A shocked silence enveloped those on the parapet. Spacious grinned as he saw the total disbelief and fear flit across the face of every Gaul.

Suddenly, Soporifix, Panacea's father, called out. His voice was mostly filled with anger, but the slightest hint of panic was audible. "Y-you're lying! My-my daughter lives in Condatum!"

"Indeed," the Roman smirked. He motioned toward the woods behind him. "Bring forth the prisoner!"

The Gauls felt their hearts sink as a soldier emerged from the forest leading a very familiar figure.

"Panacea!"

"Father!"

The beautiful woman looked up at her parent's frantic cry. Her eyes met his and for a moment it was as if only they existed. Panacea wanted nothing more then to fling herself into her father's arms, as Soporifix wanted nothing more than to hold her.

Panacea struggled to get away from her captor, but her hands were tied firmly behind her, and the guard held her arm tightly, making any chance of escape impossible. The soldier brought her to stand beside the Roman Commander.

"As you can see," Spacious gestured, "She is not in Condatum." He cupped her chin in his hand, giving her a sickening smile.

"Leave her alone!" Everyone jumped as Obelix's booming voice broke out into the morning air. Even the Roman regiment stepped back, startled.

Obelix felt positively sick. When the Roman had mentioned Panacea he had turned pale. When she had been brought into sight, he had become as white as a sheet. Everyone knew that Obelix had once had feelings for Soporifix's daughter. When Panacea had gone and married Tragicomix, Obelix had been very disappointed, though happy for the new couple. His love for her had not died, however. It had simply changed. He loved her now as though she were a sister. A little sister. One he would defend with his life. "Leave Panacea alone!"

Spacious removed his hand and glared up at the Gauls. All humor had left his voice. "You will surrender to us within a week! If you do not..." He turned to Panacea with an evil grin, "She will die."

A collective gasp went up from both the Gauls and the Roman soldiers.

"If you try to save her, she will die. If you try to escape, she will die. If you try to get help...She. Will. Die." The commander smiled. "One week."

Waving to his men, Spacious retreated into the depths of the forest. Panacea sent her friends one final frightened glance before she too disappeared into the woods.

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The women and children watched as the dazed men made it back down from the parapet. They had caught snippets of conversation from above and beyond the wall, but nothing that they could piece together.

Impedimenta took Vitalstitistix's hand in her own, sensing that something was terribly wrong.

The men, shaken and terribly worried, recounted what had taken place. The women's eyes widened and they lay their hands over their mouths in horror. The children, forgotten for the moment, heard their desperate situation and clung fearfully to their parents' legs.

Obelix and Asterix stood to the side, watching; trying to process everything that had happened since they had first awoken. It was like a nightmare...but they couldn't wake up. Because they were not asleep.

"A-Asterix?" Obelix whispered, his normally cheerful and kind face twisted into a look of painful desperation. "Wh-what are we-" He broke off, unable to finish.

Asterix shook his head, his eyes falling on the still smoldering ruins of Cacafonix's tree. "I don't know, Obelix...I-I really don't know..."

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Here we go! Another chapter, while I have the time to write! I don't have as much homework this weekend, and I intend to make full use of that spare time!