Love's Eternal Flame

I know I said this was only a one-shot but after thinking on it, I decided to add one more chapter. Vote on the new poll on my profile regarding the next one-shot and stay tuned for chapter 12 of A New Beginning this week. Poll ends 8/4/2014

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters are copyright of their owners. I would love to own my Flame Atronach though.

Onwards!

Flare was getting angry…scratch that, she was getting irritated. She was being hit on yet again by a drunk. It has been a couple months since her and Rellius had begun their relationship and so far she has been on cloud nine as the mortals called it, right now though she was slowly losing her self-control. They were currently in the Imperial City at the Tiber Septim Hotel waiting on their contractor. Rellius had received another contract from the Fighters Guild and as Master he could've sent someone else on it but the client had asked for him specifically.

"Come on beautiful, we're both elvesh. Let's find someplash nicsh." The drunk slurred. Either he was so intoxicated he couldn't feel the fire from her or he didn't care that she was made of fire. Flare just sent Rellius a look asking for help but he was currently slowly scooting his chair away from her. He knew what was about to happen when the drunk decided to grab her. "How about you get up and come with me now and then we'll see how silent you are!"

As quick as lightning Flare had fried his entire arm up to his neck before snapping it completely and began dragging the screaming elf to the door before literally shoving a flaming boot up his ass and punting him to the next district. The other patrons just gave her a weird look as she walked back to Rellius still fuming. 'How dare he! The only one who is permitted to touch me is my master. Disgusting mortal pig!'

Rellius only shook his head before their client had walked into the hotel and made their way over to his table. "Hello again Rellius. It so nice to see you."

"Elante, nice to see you as well. I take it you're the contractor?" Rellius said with a friendly smile. He had to show proper manners as the Guildmaster but he was honestly hoping it would be a quick contract.

"Yes, I have found another Daedric shrine I wish to visit and since you helped me last time, I thought it best to ask you personally." She said. "I can see you have done quite well for yourself too." She added as she looked him up and down. Rellius started to feel a bit uneasy about this, especially when Flare just got calmed down.

"You can meet me at this location tomorrow and we will go. Don't be late." She said with a wonk as she got up and walked out with a sway in her hips. Rellius just stared while Flare was getting irritated again. 'That slattern, who does she think she is!' Flare exclaimed in her mind.

"Why me Flare? Only a couple months ago I was rotten away in a prison cell because I went to the wrong place at the wrong time. Now I'm apparently the best thing to happen to Cyrodil since Tiber Septim became Talos." Rellius said as they walked to his temporary residence in the Imperial City.

Flare had no answer nor did she expect to have one. What could she say; that she understood his problems? Daedra didn't have these kind of problems. To them it was a simple kill this or that and whenever they were back in their respective realms to keep the mortals that dwelled there in order until they were summoned or called or in her case to do her masters bidding until she was dismissed. She moved in closer to him and grasped his hand in hers in an attempt to comfort him. It was the best she could do for now.

Rellius felt the tingling sensation of her fiery hand and smiled. Every day he spends with her makes all his arguments against this grow smaller and smaller till eventually there wouldn't be any argument at all. She acted and felt emotions like any other mortal and that only added to her uniqueness that he is falling in love with.

-Scene break-

"This is where you think the shrine is?" Rellius asked as they approached Rock Milk cave. "I was just here a little over a week ago Elante and there wasn't anything here besides a couple bandits and plus these shrines take longer than a week to build properly."

"I'm sure it is, my contacts are never wrong." She explained but Rellius felt something was off about her. She kept stealing glances at Flare every couple minutes and when the met up with her on the way she had asked why he brought Flare along. "Could you have her look around inside first? Just to make sure it's safe to go in."

Rellius raised an eyebrow but told Flare to head on in and snoop around. Flare just sent him a worried look before heading inside. Contrary to belief she did have eyes and a mouth behind her mask. Her eyes blended in with her body and could only be seen if you were extremely close and the mouth was little more than aesthetics. She could open it and close it but she couldn't speak through it. Rellius watched her walk in with a slight sway of her fiery hips before she closed the door behind her. 'Tease.' He thought with a grin.

"So Rellius have you been busy since the battle?" Elante attempted to strike up a conversation.

"Not really, other than a few bandits here and there everything has quieted down. To be honest I'm actually happy with it as I have time to rest now." He replied as he watched the door for Flare to return.

"I see. Surely you must be keeping yourself busy somehow." She continued. "Perhaps a lovely lady has caught your eye." She finished with a wink in his direction.

'Lady, you have no idea how both accurate and inaccurate that statement is.' He said in his mind as he remembered the last couple months. He did have his eye on someone that was correct but lady wasn't the right word. Flare was anything but a normal lady; she was a flaming hot Daedra that loved him and wasn't afraid to show it. He constantly told her that she had to watch what she did in public or else their secret would be blown, but it just went in one pointed ear and out the other. 'I guess Daedra don't know the meaning of secret, then again maybe it's just their way of marking who is no longer single.'

"No, not really. I've mainly just been relaxing after everything that has happened. The Fighters Guild practically runs itself, My position as Arch-mage is really just a figurehead on the Mages Council, the Priory of the Nine is gone so I'm a Knight Commander of nothing, so there's really nothing left for me to do right now." He stated with a sigh. He was a little restless as things were winding down from what happened but he was content nonetheless.

"Oh, I see. Well then maybe we will just have to rectify that after we are done here don't you think?" She said as she moved a bit closer.

'So that's her game. She knew there wasn't anything here; it's just a ruse to get me alone. Too bad Flare ruined it.' He thought.

"You're damn straight." Flare said to him through her mind. She had been hiding by the entrance the entire time listening to them. She knew something was up ever since they met her last night and it seems she was correct. "Would like me to toast her, my love?"

"Miss Elante, I'm sorry but I'm not interested in anything right now. Can we just get this contract finished?" He said and was witness to her brow furrowing.

"Excuse me?" She said with a frown. "Did you just say you weren't interested?"

"I believe I did. Now let's just get this over with." He said as he made his way into the cave. Elante followed all the while glaring at his back.

After a few hours of exploration and confirming what he knew all along they parted at the entrance. She didn't say goodbye, just turned and walked away with a final angry glance at him. 'Is she really that upset or is she just trying to make me jealous.'

Flare simply took his hand and led him back to Bravil for the night. When they arrived at his home he made his way to his bed for some much needed rest, travelling with someone who was upset because she was turned down really made him tired. Flare followed him a few moments later and laid beside him. She gently encircled her arms around his chest while his went around her waist and they held each other. "Rellius?" Flare began. "Did you mean what you said? Are you not really interested in anything right now?"

Rellius just smiled at her before lifting her mask off her face and planting a kiss right on her lips. She followed suit a moment later. She didn't need any other answer besides that.

-300 years later-

Rellius shook his head at the memory as he stared into the vast ocean of lava that surrounded Flare's tower. A little while afterwards he got word of some kind of faction arising in Alinor called the Thalmor and a year later Elante showed up at Frostcraig with a few members in hopes of getting him to join their ranks. She and those following her were promptly shown the bottom of the mountain courtesy of Flare, Chill, and Twist. "I'm not surprised with how things have gone since then. Seems the elves thought that humans were only good for slaves." News had reached the Daedric realms of the Thalmor's conquest of The Empire and Rellius figured he died at a good time when the movement was still young. Had The Empire acted on it sooner than maybe all of this would've been avoided, but it was too late to dwell on that option.

"My love? Are you ok?" Flare asked in a quiet voice.

Rellius turned to her and held out his hand. She regarded it for a moment then slipped an unarmored hand into his. She had decided to forego the gauntlets and boots for today leaving only her chest armor and mask on. As he felt her skin-like fiery hand touch his skin he brought it close to his mouth and kissed it. She let her fire rise a few degrees in embarrassment while letting a soft giggle through her mind. "I guess that is a yes then."

"I am Flare, just remembering what was so long ago." He replied as he went back to looking over the lava ocean.

"I see." She replied as she too gazed over the ocean. "Do you ever regret me bringing you here and denying you the chance to rest with your ancestors?"

"I did once when you first brought me here." He conceded. "It was a very surreal thought that scared me."

"I-I see." She replied as she bowed her head. In truth, she was selfish in wanting to spend eternity with him and when the opportunity came she took it without a second thought on how he would take it. Now it seems like that decision is coming back to bite her.

"At first I was but as I spent time here it hasn't been so bad. There are a few mortal villages here so I'm not alone as the only one and plus I have something else here I never want to leave." He said with a smile.

"What is-" She never got to finish as he removed her mask and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him let herself go in his embrace. After a few moments they broke apart and she had to bring her temperature back to normal. "Rellius, I don't know what to say." She said as small amounts of a flaming liquid substance escaped her eyes.

"What was it you said a few days ago?" He questioned as her entire body lit up in happiness.

"Come back to bed my love, it's getting cold without you." She replied as she felt him lead her back inside this time. She didn't hesitate to surrender herself to him.

As they lay in bed that night, they looked at their joined hands with a black marking around their wrists that showed up the night they finally became one; a symbol of the eternal flame the burned between them.

And that's the wrap, I know it became a two-shot but this story just called and said hey one more chapter. I hope you all like it, and don't forget to vote in the poll for the next one-shot. You can vote for up to two choices.

One final note, I am only writing chapter 12 of A New Beginning this week. Between two job interviews and a home situation that is getting worse somehow, my time is really strained this week. I hope you all understand and continue to support my stories as I strive to get them written and out for your enjoyment.