It wasn't hard to get the others to agree to hold the meeting in Gatafix's hut. Especially when Asterix told them the druid's reason for having to remain there. Their hearts softened immediately, and they had hurried over at once. Soporifix showed up to join them and, since it was his daughter being held prisoner, they agreed to let him attend.

Gatafix had set up a ring of chairs by the hearth, giving everyone a place to sit in the glow of the burning embers. Each Gaul took their seat, sending concerned glances toward the corner where Gatafix was ministering to the wounded bard.

Gatafix finished rewrapping one of Cacafonix's burns, then came to join the group. They all looked exhausted; worry, and lack of a full night's sleep taking its toll. They couldn't even seem to sit straight, instead slouching against the chair, each other, or anything they happened to be sitting next to.

"He's fine for the moment," Gatafix said, reading their looks of concern directed toward the minstrel. Even though his fear for Cacafonix was great, Gatafix knew they had to focus their attention on the Romans. "So," he said, trying to shift the conversation, "I have been told of our most...unwelcome guests."

Vitalstitistix was silent for a moment. "Gatafix...are we out of magic potion?"

The druid sighed, holding a fist to his tired head. "Except for that which Asterix holds, there is no more."

The other's faces filled with fear as their hearts filled with an overwhelming jolt of dread. Everything that Roman commander had said was true. They really were helpless. They all sat in silence for a long time.

"Then we're finished then."

Asterix's eyes flew to their chieftain, disbelief evident on his face. "We can't just give up!"

"But they've left us no choice!"

Asterix stood angrily, glaring daggers at them all. "Choice!" he yelled, "A choice between what?!" Gatafix signalled him to keep his voice down, and the little Gaul only complied for fear of waking Cacafonix. "If you think surrendering will save all our lives, you're wrong," he hissed. He knew he was out of line, but he didn't care. "What do you think they'll do with us, eh? Incorporate us into their way of life? I don't think so!"

"He's right," Gatafix interjected. "We'll all be sold as slaves. Or worse, sent to the arena."

"We've been a thorn in Caesar's side far too long for him to just brush his hatred of us under a rug!" Asterix looked the chief in the eye. "We can't surrender."

Vitalstitistix hung his head. He knew Gatafix and Asterix were right. The Romans would not treat them kindly. That's an understatement. They'd parish for sure. But, if they stayed, wouldn't they die as well?

"How much time did they give us?" Gatafix asked, breaking into the chieftain's thoughts.

"A week."

The druid nodded sagely. "And how much food have we got stored here in the village?"

"A good portion of vegetables," Geriatrix responded, eyes never leaving the floor. "But no meat."

It was true they never stored meat in the village, other than during the winter. But it was summer; they hadn't even started storing that yet.

"And those vegetables won't last too long, not with all these mouths to feed," Unhygenix commented. "Not to mention that some may go bad before too long."

"Like you care about things being fresh," Fullautomatix said under his breath.

"Ah," Impedimenta said quickly, trying to defuse what she knew could become a fierce argument. "Couldn't we just send someone out to rescue Panacea and bring back some meat?"

"I'm afraid not," Asterix said sadly. "The minute we leave the village they'll know, and kill Panacea."

The thought was horrible. Panacea was one of the sweetest, most beautiful woman any of them had ever come across. To lose her was...unthinkable.

Soporifix had remained very quiet. His mind was on his daughter and he cringed at Asterix's words. He looked up when the silence stretched on and realized they were all looking at him. Their faces were full of concern and sympathy.

"Please..." the fatherly Gaul whispered, eyes pleading. "Please...save my daughter..."

The plea tore into their hearts. They all looked away, afraid that their sorrow would show in their expressions.

"...Please..."

...

The summer sun shone down through the leaves, casting waving patterns of dark and light on the forest floor. Birds sang cheerfully, and nearby the croaking of frogs in a stream could be heard. Colorful butterflies fluttered through the foliage, weaving between the bright flowers that graced the thick green grass. It was beautiful.

But its beauty was lost on Panacea. She didn't even notice.

The woman sat on the ground, knees drawn up to her chest. Her blue and white dress was soiled and her golden hair was frizzled and untidy. She glared up defiantly at the two soldiers guarding her. They appeared unnerved in her presence; or at least one of them did. Or perhaps they were afraid of the Gaul's wrath for capturing her and holding her prisoner. Humph! In that case they've a right to be frightened! Panacea knew that her friends would not take her situation lightly, but she feared for them. Oh, if only she hadn't been caught! The woman thought back to that dreadful day...

She had just left her home city, Condatum, to visit her friends and father in the Gaulish village. It had been a long time since she had traveled to see them, and she had been planning the trip for weeks. So, apparently, had the Romans. They must have been watching her every move; it was the only possible explanation. As she neared the border of Gaul, she had been ambushed. She didn't even have time to shout for help before she was gagged and whisked away.

Tragicomix wouldn't be missing her any time soon, assuming that she was safe, visiting with the village. No help would be coming from him for at least a week, and by then...it would be too late. Panacea felt like planting her face in her hands and having a good cry, but she wouldn't give her captors that satisfaction.

And so she continued to glare at them.

The two Roman soldiers who were at their post were an odd pair. One, tall, muscular and serious, paid her no attention, no matter how much she bored her eyes into him. He stood straight as a board, hand on his sword as if at any moment the 'savage' woman would leap upon him like a wild animal.

The second guard was far shorter. In fact, he was dwarfed by his companion. His stature was thin and small. He glanced back at her, nervously wringing his hands as she turned her intense gaze to him. He seemed to wither beneath it, and Panacea felt a mild sense of satisfaction in his reaction.

But then her mind wandered back to the frightened look on the faces of her friends and, especially, her father. What were they going to do? The Romans had them pinned down hard, and, if there was any truth in the Roman commander's words, they had no potion to fight with. That frightened Panacea terribly. It meant that the Commander had thought everything very carefully, timing each stage of their attack perfectly.

Her eyes fell on the catapult that stood in the short grass on the other side of the glen from her. Tall, stocky, and extremely imposing, the wooden structure gave a very menacing impression. Panacea shivered. Spacious had gloated about it when she had first arrived, and she had been forced to watch in horror as it launched a ball of fiery stone through the air, smashing right into the tall treehouse at the center of her beloved village. She had gasped in terror, knowing that, at that time in the morning, its inhabitant would be there, asleep. Cacafonix couldn't have lived through something like that...

Anger filled her once more as that thought sharpened her hatred of her captors.

...

Sorry this chapter is so short. :)