Colin crouched beside a large tree, peering out from around the trunk at Velentham as the insane celestial tried to bait Gilean out of the warded protection of the cottage. Gilean had reached out mentally to he and Orn then Velentham had shown up, hoping that this would be a chance to force the return of Sanria. Orn had then arrived beside Colin before quickly transporting the two of them to the druid grove. The quickly begged for assistance form the few druids there, and while most where reluctant to get involved, two of the younger ones had agreed to assist.
Now Colin found himself waiting for an opening while Gilean, Orn, and the two druids bent nature and magic to their will, sending animated trees and rays of light at the taunting madman. As two of the trees converged on Velentham, Colin took his chance, rushing from cover and charging toward Velentham from the side.
Colin was met with the battered body of Kaliadra being tossed at him like a discarded ragdoll with minimal effort form Velentham. Colin instinctively dropped his blades and did his best to catch the broken elf, falling to the ground but managing to spare Kaliadra most of the impact. However, he was vulnerable.
Before he could even react, the celestial was inside his mind. Colin could feel the rough tendrils battering their way through his psyche and heard words spoken as if from a distance, 'Oh... this... he doesn't remember? Cousin! You say I'm a monster? What do you say - a man who uses the disadvantage of another to marry his wife?'
Colin grasped the sides of his head futilely. For all of his strength he could do nothing against this mental intrusion. He was completely at Velentham's mercy, and again, the celestial's voice filtered into his ears, 'What do you say? Let's let him remember, shall we?!'
'No!' But it wasn't Colin who said it. Suddenly, with a rough but precise shove, all the gaps were filled. As simply as a switch being flipped, Colin remembered everything. The memories came in a flood: he and Sanria on the beach, carrying Sanria in his arms to be married, years spent with her wandering dark landscapes, the birth of Orn, the birth of Leandra, struggling to be a father and husband while afflicted by instability. It was all back, and for a moment it was glorious.
Then the new memories merged with the current memories, and it was almost too much. Here he had been. He was back. He had even been with Sanria, unknowingly forming a new love for her even without the memories... but Gilean. How could his friend have taken advantage of his condition like this? How could he have taken Sanria, Colin's wife, as his own? No, this was all wrong. How could he?
The crack of stiff wood against body and a howl of pain brought Colin back to the present. He looked up to see Velentham staggering aside from Orn. Orn. His son, who he loved dearly.
The memories would have to wait. The questions would have to wait. The feelings would have to wait. Right now, they needed to take care of this monster. The rest... must come later.
